nations by announcing the “Okinawa Infectious Diseases Initiative” (IDI). Under this initiative, Japan intends to provide assistance of approximately $3 billion over five years. In addition to efforts to combat specific diseases, the initiative also provides for cooperation in such areas as the improvement of public health, the establishment of research networks, basic education, and water supply. For the support of developing countries, which is based on this initiative, Japan will utilize our own experience such as Japan’s sharp drop of the tuberculosis mortality rate

### TOPIC 6. A GREENERY PROMOTION PROJECT IN KAREGORO: NIGER

In addition to the threat of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases, Africa also faces the serious problem of desertification. “The Project to Cooperate with Stimulation of Greenery in Karegoro,” in Niger, aimed to prevent desertification and raise living standards of local people not by large-scale desert afforestation but through an “agro-forestry approach” based on a combination of forestry and agriculture. Using this approach, forestry activities allow farmers to continue growing crops on their land, which, in turn, will lead to the greening of the region. Over a period of eight-and-a-half years from the beginning of 1993, Japan sent JOCVs to 22 villages to conduct activities in the four fields of forestry, vegetable cultivation, fruit growing, and community development.

Under this project, approximately 340,000 saplings were distributed over an eight-year period, and about 70% have been planted. The project also resulted in the dissemination of technology, including the cultivation of choice onion varieties and the grafting of mango trees. Training was provided so that local people would be able to continue to plant trees and sell crops after the project's completion. This has been reflected in improved incomes and living standards of the producers.

The introduction of more efficient cooking stoves, meanwhile, reduced consumption of firewood for fuel, thereby helping to prevent excessive logging. The new stoves enabled cooking in any weather, and because the time required to collect firewood was reduced, women have been spending more time looking after their children. Approximately 1,000 new stoves have been built and are being used in various villages.

Particular importance was placed on community participation and the education of local people in this project. Villagers learned about environmental destruction in their region and about activities under the greenery project through videos shown at “night classes” held each year, which attracted a total of over 30,000 participants over a seven-year period up to 1999.

The greenery project has been extremely popular in Niger. The completion ceremony in June 2001 received wide coverage in local newspapers, offering an excellent opportunity to inform many people in Niger of the JOCV program.

Some problems still need to be worked out, but it is nonetheless very significant that villagers are now aware of the importance of preserving greenery and of improving their lives through their own efforts. It is hoped that local residents will make further strides towards self-reliant development.