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Port of Call |
LAST UPDATE April 25, 2007
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| site design imagesparkle.com |
| March 28, 2007 |
Masawa, Eritrea – The Manzanar Project: Low Tech Solutions to Hunger and Poverty |
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| Participants gather inside Hirgigo Elementary School to hear about community programmes undertaken in the area |
Ravished by 30 years of war, Eritrea is one of the worlds poorest nations with a per capital income of less than US$200. Although much development has been made since independence, social indicators continue to reflect the long years of deprivation and destruction. An average Eritreans life expectancy is 46, infant mortality is high and much of the population is still chronically hungry. Eritrea is particularly prone to drought, even in good years conventional agricultural activities are limited and over half of the food consumed comes from food aid. On March 28, a group of Peace Boat participants visited Hirgigo, a town near the port of Masawa, where the community is trying to actively reverse this cycle of poverty. |
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| The Manzanar Project director, Amanuel Yamane explains and demonstrates how to plant mangroves |
According to Dr. Gordon H. Sato, the founder of The Manzanar Project, planting mangrove forests along the coasts of arid countries would contribute significantly to food security, help eradicate poverty and combat environmental degradation. After conducting hands on research in the aquaculture of Eritrea’s coastal line for over a decade, Dr. Sato was convinced mangrove plantations hold the key to putting Eritrea to the road to sustainable development. The Eritrean coast line along the Red Sea is 85 percent infertile, however, it holds sufficient nutrients to support plants if additional nitrogen, phosphorous and iron are released slowly. |
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| Mangrove plantation in Hirgigo village |
Experiments with various fertilization methods were undertaken and the simplest most effective way to nourish the mangrove seedling was to fill a plastic bag with the necessary nutrients, punch three tiny holes in the bag and to bury it near the seedling so the mixture released just the right amount of nourishment without wasting any fertilizer. Mangroves planted this way grew rapidly and the success rate of a mangrove developing out of every seed is almost 100 per cent. One 56 year old participant said “this simple yet affective system using minimal resources is truly innovative and is a model example of a sustainable society.” |
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| Participants help villagers make fertilizer bags for mangrove plantations |
The aim of the project is to plant mangroves in underutilized intertidal zones close to coastal deserts to provide food for livestock and branches that can be used for buildings. Mangrove forests are one of the most productive and bio-diverse wetlands on earth with benefits including regulating the sea level and reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. They play host to species of fish, invertebrates, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds. |
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| Cultural exchange with the children in Hirgigo village |
The direct effect for the local community is they will have sufficient food for their animals, even during dry seasons or times of drought, meaning they can increase their herd size and sell excess stock for income and improve their overall standard of living. Mangrove planting methods can be taught to other communities not only in Eritrea but other nations with similar climates. Representatives of The Manzanar Project have gone to countries such as Morocco and Egypt to educate other communities on how to effectively cultivate mangroves. |
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| Eritrean women perform a tradition dance for participants |
This project is now run entirely by the people of Hirgigo, which focuses primarily on giving women a way to earn an income as many women who lost their husbands during the war are the sole provider for their family. Before The Manzanar Project, working meant they were forced to travel far or to live away from their families, but now these women can stay in their community to develop a sustainable future. |
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| Coffee ceremony inside a hut made out of mangrove branches |
During the programme, participants had the opportunity to visit the homes of the residents of Hirgigo where they enjoyed playing with the children and other cultural exchange activities. The women in the village performed a coffee ceremony for all Peace Boat participants as well as hosting a special dinner complete with a traditional dance performance. When asked what he learned through this study tour, one college student said “Through the dedication of Dr Sato, this community and many others in Eritrea can now support themselves independently by working together for a common goal and not giving up.” |
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