BACKGROUND

Honde Valley is in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe and extends over ten wards under Mutasa Rural District Council. It has many streams and rich plains and forests with indigenous trees and fruit trees such as bananas, mangoes and guavas that grow naturally in the wild. The area has a variety of flora and fauna which are however under threat of extinction due to uncontrolled land use practices and human activity.The valley has high mtns on either side. Continued tree cutting and uncontrolled livestock grazing have resulted in loss of vegetation cover so causing erosion. Stream bank cultivation is threatening water sources due to increased rates of soil erosion.

In an effort tpo protect and preserve the biodiversity status of the area, the project has a two-pronged approach. Firstly, there will be need to engage in woodlands management through planting more indigenous trees and forage together with conserving the existing forests. On the other hand, in order for the community to make sustainable use of the existing forests , they will engage in beekeeping and honey production.

PROJECT GOAL
The goal of the project is biodiversity conservation through forests and woodlands management together with honey production which plays a pivotal role in improving livelihoods and poverty allevation by estabilishing viable beekeeping enterprises.

OBJECTIVES
1) To enhance the biodiversity status of Honde Valley through protection and sustainable exploitation of the woodlands
2) To engage in afforestation and enrichment planting actvities by planting mainly the indigenous tree species to improve vegetation cover in Honde Valley.
3) To raise awareness and educate communities on the importance of forest ecosystems so as to promote a sense of responsibility and reduce their destruction

ACTIVITIES
1) Conduct a baseline survey to establish the biodiversity status of Honde valley in terms of species under threat, the total area to be protected, the socio-economic status of the community and the cultural aspects of the area.
2) Conduct leadership training to capacitate and strengthen the leadership structures
3) Training and implemementation of afforestation activities together with conservation of natural forests
4) Conduct a series of surveys, observations and applied trials on use of different hives traditional and modern.

PROJECT RESULTS
OUTPUTS
- To enhance the biodiversity status of honde valley through protection and sustanable exploitation of the woodlands.
- a total of 1000 indegfenious trees planted to enhance the forage suitable for beekeeping.
-an increased level of awareness in the amnagement of antural resources
- three hundred people trained in beekeeping
-three demonstation sites equipped and set up at three selected homesteads in the area.
-honey available locally