The Geed Deeble Botanic Garden in Somaliland Bringing Change
The Geed Deeble Botanic Garden in Somaliland Bringing Change
GDBG (total area of 810 hectares) is the first and the only national Botanic Garden in Somaliland.
It serves as a prime center for botanical research, plant conservation, community education, and ecotourism.
The primary objective and goal is to conserve plants and ecosystems in Somaliland.
GDBG’s mission is to assemble for education, research, cultural exhibition and environment by engaging people to conserve and improve the human experience in conservation of semi arid region.
The Geed Deeble Botanic Garden in Somaliland Bringing Change
The mission is also to preserve and document local plants for the purpose of education and research.
Its major goals are conserving and preservation of biodiversity, research and education, ecotourism and recreation, environmental, climate change and education.
Projects component
It consists of five components that use need to be implemented
Component 1. Landscape/Ecosystems restoration and resilience and sustainable natural resources management.
Component 2. Food security and community resilience.
Component 3. Energy security and energy-efficient technology development and promotion.
Component 4. Demand-driven action research, evidence based policy dialogue and decision making and capacity strengthening.
Component 5. Public-Private Partnerships engagement for landscape
Major outcomes and achievement
1. Established model botanic garden providing platform for environmental education and demonstrating increased environmental stewardship (Specific to Botanic Garden Somaliland).
23 years MOU signed with MoECC regarding GDBG development Partnership with BVO.
❑National chapter formed (5 members included with BVO the leading focal point).
❑5 year Strategic Plan Developed
❑Master Plan and concept Design of the Garden.
❑Partnered with Herbarium center of Hargeisa University: Conducted 3 floral and Herbarium collection Studies in the Garden.
❑Garden demarcation completed
2. Restored landscape/ecosystems, showing improved productivity, protection,management and conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems and ecological functionality, achieved through continued application of sustainable land and water management practices, conservation of biodiversity resources and land use planning processes.
❑100 hectares cleared out of Prosopis and with continued weeding control of other invasive plants
❑Soil and Water Conservation (50 hectares of soil band and check dam structures)
Natural Regeneration and Restoration of Degraded ecosystem and Conservation
Rehabilitated and restored degraded areas through Stone terraces , flood protection techniques.
Yeheb Restoration trainings, Rangeland management training , and community awareness sessions with total 185 community member benefited over the course
3. Renewable energy technologies provided (solar home systems), energy efficient and affordable technologies disseminated, and deforestation pressures lessened through
increased awareness and uptake of energy-efficient technology across communities
A. Stove processing for woman Enterprise with 25 members
for stove production business
B. 45 trained and solar lighting distributed
Training of food security, agroforestry, climate Smart
agricultural production system.
C.100 local community trainees benefited from this
4.Research is geared towards solving societal problems on the ground, knowledge is generated, documented, and shared, and strengthened regional capacity showing the improved ability to undertake climate/environmental
diplomacy and regional research agenda and multi-stakeholder processes for sound environmental governance.
• Produce policy brief document.
• The document Outlines; the importance and role of the Geed-deeble Botanical to the social-economic, social-culture, and sustainable development as well as the environmental and climate change resilience.
. Hosted 10 students for internshin
The Geed Deeble Botanic Garden in Somaliland Bringing Change
Additional achievements
It initiated garden facilities, fencing the garden, traditional house and pedestrian road.
Reforestation and plant regeneration- At least 1113 fruit and shade plants have been distributed to the local communities.
Challenges faced by the project and lessons learnt
• Invasive Prosopis Juliflora remains a significant challenge. Efforts are being made to get rid of it, but it will take time
• Lack of a fence around the Botanical Garden area makes it difficult to prevent livestock and animal entry.
• Flooding
• Soil Erosion
• High community expectation regarding job creation, and capacity building
Opportunities
Government signed long term partnership with constant support.
• Government Small fund allocated for the Botanic Garden
• Local community awareness improved and well engaged.
• Tourists already started visiting
. Networking Opportunity
GDBG’s vision is to promote education, research, and ecotourism services for social and environmental well being.
