Timor-Leste, May 2025: In the heart of Timor-Leste’s rural highlands, communities in Aileu and Liquica are embracing nature-based solutions to combat the growing challenges of climate change. Through the UNDP-GCF project “Safeguarding Rural Communities and Their Physical Assets from Climate-Induced Disasters,” local farmers, women, and youth are leading a movement to restore degraded land, protect water sources, and build more resilient livelihoods.
Over 57 hectares of land – equivalent to nearly 80 football fields – have been reforested since the start of the year. In Aileu, 36 hectares of land were replanted with native and fruit trees, while Liquica saw more than 21 hectares revitalized. This green transformation is not just about trees – it’s about empowering people to protect the land they depend on.
Turning Challenges into Opportunities
During recent field visits to the planting sites, project staff and local partners observed encouraging results. Most seedlings have taken root successfully, with survival rates reaching over 85% in Aileu and around 75% in Liquica – despite tough conditions like poor road access, dry weather, and limited water.
To support these young trees, local farmers are using eco-friendly techniques such as mulching with leaves to trap moisture, and creating “biopores” – small holes around plants that help store water and reduce erosion. In Aileu, a new drip irrigation system will be introduced in the coming months, giving farmers a practical and low-cost way to care for seedlings during the dry season.
In the village of Durubasa in Liquica, change is growing not only in the soil – but in the lives of women like Agusta dos Santos, a mother of five who never imagined she would become a leader in sustainable farming.
After participating in project-led training, Agusta began managing her own 0.266-hectare farm. Using the new techniques she learned, she planted a variety of climate-resilient crops. With better road access – also improved by the project – she now reaches the local market in under an hour, compared to the previous two-hour walk. Her family earns an additional $15–20 per week from selling vegetables, fruit, and other produce.
Her story is part of a bigger shift. Women across Liquica and Aileu are stepping up, gaining confidence, and proving that sustainable farming is not just men’s work – it’s a shared responsibility and opportunity for everyone.
Fonte notisias:https://www.undp.org/timor-leste/news/planting-future-reforestation-brings-new-life-aileu-and-liquica
