Inga Foundation

Congo, Madagscar, Haiti – Going Global

Issy — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:09:16 +0000

There are so many exciting developments happening at the moment that its hard to know where to start. Aside from our main projects in Honduras, our new projects in Congo and Madagascar are making strong progress and we are also going to be supporting work in Haiti in the near future.

In the case of both Congo and Madagascar, given that it would be irresponsible to introduce Inga as an exotic, the current focus is to find a replacement native species that can play the same role in each region as Inga does for us in Central and South America. In both Congo and Madagascar, we’ve been working closely with Kew Botanical Gardens and have now narrowed down a promising shortlist of potential Inga substitute species. In Congo, there is now a huge new tree nursery capable of holding several hundred thousand seedlings and trials have been started of our shortlisted species to determine which is best suited to claim the title of ‘African Inga’. The first few trials are also now beginning in Madagascar, meanings its full speed ahead with both projects.

Haiti is plagued by deforestation and the devastating soil erosion which follows, making Inga alley cropping an ideal solution to to help farming families struggling to cope with these challenges. Whats more, several species of Inga are native to Haiti, so there is no need in this case to find an replacement species. We are therefore planning to work together with the Clinton Foundation, as well as organisations in Haiti, to introduce the Inga alley system to the country and will keep you posted all the goings on as this project develops.

And then there’s our main projects in Honduras. All our teams dedicated hard work is really starting to bear fruit, with the number of families getting involved growing so fast that our chief worry now is making sure we can keep up with demand! There are now 64 families on board and counting – double the number involved just 6 months ago. By giving up slash and burn and switching to Inga alley cropping, each family not only improves there own food security and quality of life, but also protects the biodiversity rich Honduran rainforest and helps reduce carbon emissions. Our new Project Center in Honduras is also really coming together – in fact there’s so much to tell that it merits a blog all of its own. So watch out for next weeks blog to find out everything that been achieved at our Project Center already, plus all our exciting plans for it’s future.

Perfect Timing

Issy — Wed, 22 May 2013 08:54:44 +0000

Just when we really needed it, we stumbled across this new supply of Inga seed from a local farmer. Even better, the trees in our new Inga seed orchard are growing up fast. Another years’ time and our recurring headache of finding enough Inga seed will be solved once and for all.

A Sea of Inga

Issy — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:55:10 +0000

Completely covered by grass less than a year ago, our new Project Centre is now a sea of rapidly growing Inga trees. Another year and these demo Inga alleys will be ready for use, allowing this Centre to serve as the hub as we work to spread Inga alley cropping across Central America.

Leading By Example

Issy — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:40:03 +0000

Pablo Pinot, Honduran farmer and the newest member of the Inga Foundation team, with his young Inga alley plot. Not only will this plot provide food security for Pablo’s family, it will also serve as a living example of the effectiveness of the Inga system, helping Pablo convince other local families to give up slash and burn as well.

Spot the Difference

Issy — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:19:08 +0000

Believe it or not, this is the same Inga tree, just 10 months on. It was one of the first seedlings planted at our new Project Center last July and now, 10 months later, its already over 2 meters high.

Brand New Tree Nursery at Lefoutou, Congo

Issy — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:01:27 +0000

The new nursery is huge, capable of holding several hundred thousand seedlings. Right now its housing the first 4,000 seedlings, from 8 carefully selected tree species. These seedlings will soon be planted out into trial alley plots so we can judge which one would make the best African Inga substitute.

Time is Short for the Congo’s Mighty Rainforests

Issy — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 09:44:25 +0000

Mike Hands is currently out in the Congo. He is working to identify native Congo trees which could be used in the Inga alley system, with help from Kew Gardens expert Dr. Martin Cheek and local Congolese agronomists. As you can see, the rainforest is starting to fragment all across the Congo, making identifying a Inga replacement to tackle slash and burn in Congo all the more urgent.

The Spectacular Tabebuia Trees Burst into Bloom

Issy — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 09:34:18 +0000

For a few days each year, emerging from the dense green of the intact rainforest, dozens of astonishingly yellow Tabebuia trees burst into bloom. Or at least, this is what happens in the few areas where large expanses of rainforest still remain. Support us and help protect the wonders of these shrinking forests.

The Treasures of Pico Bonito Rainforest

Issy — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:27:40 +0000

One of the lesser known felines of the Honduran rainforest, the beautiful Margay depends on large areas of intact rainforest for its survival. This one was photographed in the Pico Bonito area, right by where we are working, presenting yet another reason why its so urgent to stop slash and burn eating away at these forests. (Photo Credit: James Adams)

Las Flores – The Inga Nerve Centre

Issy — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:21:28 +0000

A view of the young Inga alleys at Las Flores, our new project centre which we are currently busy getting up and running. Once its ready Las Flores will serve as the nerve centre for dissemination of the Inga Model around the humid tropics.