Ouagadougou: The Solidar Suisse - Beo-Neere Agroecology Association consortium officially initiated a reforestation project on July 10, 2025, in Pissiga, within the commune of Ziga, Sandbontenga province. This effort is part of the Rilgr© project, which aims to promote agroecological practices and enhance agricultural production.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the launch involved the planting of 750 seedlings of various species across a 2-hectare protected site. The event featured a planting demonstration by an officer from the Departmental Water and Forestry Service, with symbolic plantings by the first vice-president of the Ziga special municipal delegation and the Rilgr© project manager, under the guidance of the Provincial Director of Water and Forestry of Sandbontenga.
Philippe Yanogo, Rilgr© project manager, stated that this activity is the first of several reforestation initiatives planned for three additional groves in the Oubri and Nakamb© regions. In total, 3,000 seedlings of local species will be planted to aid in restoring degraded land.
Lieutenant Colonel Toussaint Bationo, representing the Regional Director of Water and Forests of the Kuils© region, highlighted that the operation aligns with the Presidential Initiative encouraging every Burkinab¨, institution, and community to plant and maintain trees to promote greening in Burkina Faso. He noted that these plants could help combat malnutrition by providing accessible food resources and serve in traditional medicine.
Adama Sawadogo, first vice-president of the special delegation of Ziga, praised the grove's creation alongside Abdoulaye Ou©draogo, a village spokesperson. The First Vice President urged both individual and collective efforts to maintain the site and called on development partners to support the initiative, particularly by installing a water point for maintenance during dry seasons.
The Rilgr© project, implemented by the Solidar Suisse / Beo-Neer© Agroecology Association consortium, spans 13 municipalities in the Oubri, Kuils©, and Nakamb© regions. It is financed by the Kingdom of Belgium as part of the Sahel Climate Thematic Portfolio (PTCS) under the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel).