Vetiver Activities in North Africa and the Mediterranean

The Vetiver Network International has four directors responsible for activities in different regions of the world. Here follows a short report from Criss Juliard that gives an idea of some of the activities going on in North Africa. Criss can be contacted at: cjuliard@mtds.com


His expanded report with some photos can be found on TVN's website at: http://www.vetiver.org/northafrica01.pdf


This all goes to show that there are lots of opportunities for using the Vetiver System in north Africa.


RGG






Vetiver Activities in North Africa and the Mediterranean
March, April, May 2007
Criss Juliard, Rabat
1. Action


1.1 Morocco:
- Established for an olive grove, half-ring vetiver hedges around trees to demonstrate water retention and erosion control capacity of VS. Plants will be irrigated during dry season;
- Installed a VS urban solid waste trial site in Oujda, one of Morocco’s 9 district capital city. Initial trial led for request to protect the entire 8 ha site with VS. Prepared and submitted cost proposal for the proposed extension.
- In conjunction with a UNDP project in the South of Morocco (Errichidia), established a three pronged pilot project using vetiver for: oasis agriculture (delimiting plots, increase production, control water usage, pest control); dunes stabilization (in conjunction with other forms of protection); brackish soil and saline water tolerance to prepare soils for agriculture and grazing. Also assist in establishing small nurseries:


Planting vetiver in various plants salt pond and salt spring (April). Plants survived and produced tiller. Up-dated photos will follow. This is zone where Research and Ministries have tried various species, unsuccessfully to absorb and rehabilitate a zone where highly brackish water surfaces up hill from a productive oasis.


1.2 Algeria
- shipped plants, instructions and Skype follow-through for waste water treatment site in oasis in Central Algeria. Project implemented by International Water Gardens. Substantial problems if getting plants approved for importation into Algeria. Plant Protection agency required to test vetiver for 20 days to insure it was not a vector of highly contagious date palm disease. (photos follow)


2. Follow up from previous period


2.1 Morocco
- Visited VS application to a watershed basin in Central Morocco (Oued Melhia), established in Nov 2006. It was funded by Forestry’s Center for Research. Growth and ability to retain soil and water were, development was evident. (photos follow)


3. Contacts to follow-up
3.1 Morocco
- Prepared and submitted funding request for two community level vetiver installations
- Prepared and submitted a proposal for application of The Vetiver System to proposed “banquette” protection of a large (160,000 ha) olive tree planting program, funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Also held talks, made presentation and made proposal to include Vetiver application in the agriculture research component of the MCC program
- Visited and recorded leachate discharge from Rabat’s municipal waste site for phytoremediation of entire site