Shewula residents take action to combat land degradation

Shewula – The Mbuluzi Ecosystems Restoration Project brought residents of Shewula together for a practical community mobilisation and training programme focused on tree planting, invasive alien plant species management and coffee production.

The activity took place at the Shewula nursery, where community members received hands on training through practical demonstrations on how to plant and care for indigenous trees, fruit trees and coffee plants. Participants were also taught how sustainable land management practices contribute to the recovery of degraded landscapes and reduce the risk of invasive species returning.

The programme involved key stakeholders, including the Eswatini Forestry Department, the Ministry of Agriculture and Eswatini Coffee, working alongside the local community as part of broader restoration efforts within the Mbuluzi River Basin.

The initiative seeks to address land degradation while supporting local livelihoods. By restoring degraded land, the project aims to protect biodiversity, improve soil health and increase water retention in the Mbuluzi River Basin. It also focuses on controlling invasive alien plant species and creating income opportunities through coffee and tree production, while strengthening community ownership of long term ecosystem restoration.