We are very happy, Joyce says. We have water, and since we stopped gardening along the stream, the place has been revived. We have more indigenous trees growing. It is difficult to believe that these stream banks were nearly bare a few short years ago, the area is so green now. Indigenous trees yield wild fruits and medicines, and already plans to diversify into bee keeping are taking shape, as one can see Kenya Top Bar hives perched here and there among the trees.
Some trees produce oils that can be turned into basic ingredients for big cosmetics companies.
Beliefs such as not allowing pregnant women to sit under a certain tree, or not allowing certain others to be used as firewood, helped conserve trees in traditional Zimbabwe. These traditions are now being revived in Dambakupetwa. This community has shown that traditional practices can be revived to save vital resources. To ensure these links are made, the Dambakupetwa community has formulated by-laws for the conservation of the Magute spring, rivulet and surrounding areas using traditional management practices and systems. They have adopted rules and regulations that incorporated all the olden day beliefs and practices except for one - shoe wearing at the spring.