Workshop Module 8: Forests, Tree Crops, and Bamboo 235Step 2 - Form workgroups and give detailed instructions
- Ask the participants to split up into workgroups with 8-10 people per group.
- Ask each group to build a 3-dimensional model of a diverse, sustainable hillside
community forest system. - Suggest that each model can be approximately 1m x 1m to 2m x 2m, depending
on time and clay soil available. - Each model should resemble a mountain side, with valleys, rivers/water courses,
etc up to 50cm high with steep and gentle slopes. - Each model should include working water flows which could be demonstrated by
simulating rain through watering cans. - Remind the participants that every community forest that is created will be
different because of different needs, land, and materials available. Each design
should be developed to be self-sustaining and continuously improving. - Small stones can be used to represent rock swales.
- Participants will need to collect materials for representative models of various
elements to be added to the hillside (tree cuttings can be used to represent
each tree type, for example legume leaves for legume trees, bamboo leaves for
bamboo clumps, and so on) including, but not limited to:- Fruit trees.
- Hardwood trees.
- Legumes.
- Bamboo.
- Native forest trees.
- Firewood trees.
- Medicinal trees/plants.
- Fences.
- Various animals.
- Add the elements to the hillside to create the community forest.
Step 3 - Design presentations and feedback
- Have the workgroups present the results of their 3-dimensional community
forest models and explain their designs for feedback and suggestions. - Have members of a different group test the water flows by simulating rain
through the watering cans.
Note: Document the results of the exercise either using images or by drawing the
conclusions onto large sheets of paper. This documentation will be useful for ongoing
brainstorms and use in future trainings.