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Uganda’s e-cargo bikes are revolutionizing healthcare and small businesses while cutting emissions. Plus: bird protection in Burundi and zero-waste innovation in Mauritania.
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00:00Across Africa, environmental challenges are no longer a distant concern about the future.
00:23They are urgent issues that shape our daily lives and demand immediate action.
00:29But urgency drives creativity, right?
00:33Welcome to Echo Africa. I'm Malama Mukonde in Lusaka, Zambia and here's my co-host Chris Elems.
00:44Hi everyone and a warm welcome from Mitu in Lagos, Nigeria.
00:49Thank you for joining us today. Here's what we have coming up.
00:56Protecting birds in Burundi.
01:00Saving the Mediterranean's giant muscles.
01:05And a women's cooperative in Mauritania that lets nothing go to waste.
01:11In Uganda, getting from A to B isn't always simple.
01:16And in rural areas, bus journeys can take a long time.
01:20And time is money.
01:21An electric buy gives you not only freedom and flexibility.
01:26It can also help boost incomes.
01:28It can even help improve essential services like healthcare too.
01:32This nurse in Kasolwe, a village in eastern Uganda, is getting ready for today's mission, saving lives with jobs.
01:43Musamba Aisha has been working as a village nurse since 2002.
01:47Today, she's heading out with her new electric bike to vaccinate children.
01:53Her new ride gets her where she's needed quickly.
01:58The bike saves children's lives because parents often don't immunize their children because of the distance involved.
02:05With this bike, we can come straight to their homes.
02:11Before Aisha and her medical team got their electric bike, they used to travel from village to village on a regular bike to provide basic health services.
02:21The medical team's e-bike was a donation as a part of a government program designed to boost immunization rates.
02:30And now, Aisha can reach even more people every day.
02:38It takes me about a day to work with 30 to 40 children.
02:43The bike has helped me physically because I don't use as much energy riding up hills.
02:48It's the same whether the surface is sloping or flat.
02:53And I also use it privately for short journeys, which helps me save money on transport.
03:03Aisha's bike is designed for African roads.
03:07That means big tires, a sturdy frame and rack, and of course, a long-lasting battery.
03:13A reliable electricity supply is still problematic in rural areas.
03:18So the ability to charge with solar power is a huge advantage.
03:23The bikes have come to Uganda via the African bicycle NGO Fabio, which has partnered with Afri-Cruise from Germany, and they are manufactured in India.
03:37While Aisha was given the bike for the health campaign, they are usually leased, rented, or bought.
03:46Juice vendor Adam Chigeni in Jinja took the planche and has customized his for mobile sales.
03:54The increased range lets him reach more customers.
03:58And it's paying off.
04:00I had a bike before with three tires, and my service used to delay a little bit because it was a manual bike.
04:07But now, since I've got this beast, it takes me just only within 20 minutes to 30, my juice is almost done.
04:16And the clients are really happy about this innovation that I've done a little bit, and it has really changed out of my life.
04:23The project partners have built a solar service hub in Jinja for repairs and battery swaps.
04:31Most service stations like this are planned in rural areas too, because such high-tech bikes are only useful if they can be properly maintained.
04:41Voluntary nurse Gerald Nyende works with Aisha some 85 kilometers north of Jinja.
04:51As he prepares to deliver fresh water for homes, he highlights the challenges of using e-bikes in such rural areas.
04:58The bike makes our work easier, but the spare parts are expensive.
05:04We have to travel a long way to get hold of them.
05:0724 kilometers to Kamundi town, sometimes up to Jinja city.
05:12A single tire costs about 12 euros.
05:15And depending on the distance we are traveling, we need two batteries and a high-voltage solar panel for charging.
05:22The e-bike rollout has the support of the Ugandan government, but it hopes to produce more domestically.
05:30When it comes to local manufacturing, we have a target of 65% localization of all the products that we shall be doing.
05:37And right now, our current state, we are about 35%.
05:42Challenges remain, but the impact of the e-bikes is already visible.
05:45For business owners like Adam, and health workers like Aisha, they are more than just a vehicle.
05:53They are tools for change.
05:55As the wheels keep turning, the bikes bring services where they are needed,
06:00help reduce emissions, and open new paths to clean mobility.
06:06Filming this e-mobility story has brought me up close with a number of green promoters in this community.
06:12And one of them is a lady called Aisha.
06:16She is able to accelerate and reach out to many people, serve many people without impacting negatively on the environment.
06:24A gentleman called, locally is known here as the Juice Man.
06:28Adam Chigenyi with his interesting customized e-bike.
06:32It looks a bit bulky, but he shares the lanes with other road users without any interruption.
06:38I believe this is the way to go. This is the way to go in the green future, the green climate.
06:45This is the way to go in Jinja.
06:47Have you heard of the desert date?
06:50It's not the kind you might be used to eating.
06:54Our next report takes us to Mauritania, where women are leading the way in a very different kind of recycling.
07:01With indigenous knowledge and dedication, they are transforming the miracle fruit into all kinds of surprising products.
07:10It's hard work. For us, Ladiba Amedu sits hunched under the scorching sun beneath a caima, a shelter based on a traditional Mauritanian nomadic tent.
07:23She cracks open the tough shells, one desert date at a time.
07:33Every muscle aches when you do this. It's mainly your back that hurts, but also your shoulders. This is by far the hardest part of the whole process. You need real strength.
07:44Cracking open the shelves is just the first step. The seeds still have to be carefully scraped out with knives.
07:57To process even this small amount of dates, the women's cooperative in Alec needs two to three days. They produce about 25 to 30 kilos a month.
08:05The precious cargo is carefully packed. This 12-kilo sack of date seeds is worth 105 euros. It's then sent off to the capital, Nouakchot, to the cooperative's workshop.
08:19There, Mamadou Ibrahim Sal cold presses the seeds. The first thing to come out of the machine are the seashells, compacted into a solid mass.
08:38This is great as soil fertilizer, or it can be used as animal feed. We use absolutely everything. So there's no waste? No, no waste.
08:54Then finally, the first drops of pure oil emerge. See, it's coming out.
09:01Mamadou Ibrahim Sal cold presses about 5 kilos of date seeds per hour. The resulting oil forms the base for all the start-up's cosmetic products, like natural soap, 60 drops of vitamin E, a little lavender oil for aroma, clay, lye, and…
09:21Now for the final step, mixing it all together with 200 grams of precious desert date oil.
09:35Next, he pours just the right amount into the moulds and gives it a few taps on the table to release any air bubbles.
09:49After 24 hours of drying, 39 bars of soap are ready.
09:54Every Saturday, the workshop manager's son sells the soap at a small market in Nouakchot, mostly to regulars who love their cooperative's product.
10:03First of all, it's completely natural. It doesn't contain any products you've never heard of. It smells great, ladders well. For me, it's perfect.
10:20The price is fair, and it's locally made, so it supports the people here.
10:25A bar of soap costs around €2.50. A lot by local standards. But business is good today. Mohamed Sal has already sold 25 bars. Part of the income goes back to the Women's Cooperative in Alec. It was founded 15 years ago. But its 30 members still can't make a living from it. That's why they reached out to Maimouna Mahmoudin.
10:54The electrical engineer runs an agricultural cooperative in the area herself and is well-connected within the government administration.
11:02She wants to understand the full process, how oil-rich seeds are extracted from the fruits of the desert-day trees, which grow throughout the Sahel and are all organic.
11:13Zero waste is a cooperative's motto. Reuse everything. Throw nothing away. Even the water used to wash the fruits isn't wasted. On the hot ground, it quickly dries into thin cakes. A treat for the donkey.
11:29These women are now the environmental conscience of the region.
11:39Around here, we are known as the guardians of the trees. We don't let anyone cut down trees. We explain why trees matter for the climate. We even have a letter from the regional authorities giving us the right to stop people from chopping them down. It's recognition for what we do.
12:01The advisor picks up on women's zero waste philosophy. Why not use the date shells for decorative crafts? Handmade items from Alec. It would suit the cooperative perfectly.
12:13But the women have other ideas. They want to plant a vegetable garden on the land for their own use and, more importantly, to make money. But there is an issue.
12:26Our biggest problem is water, or the lack of it. We basically never have any. You can't drill a well here. So we have to bring water from neighbouring villages.
12:41We have to bring water from there. We have to bring water from there.
12:45We have to bring water from there.
12:47Advisor Meemuna Mahmuddin promises the cooperative that she will advocate for a reduced rate with the State Water Authority.
12:54She also thinks they should try another approach. Why not network with other cooperatives? Together, they could start cultivating the trees more systematically.
13:04We could create nurseries, real desert-date farms. We could form a large cooperative and grow desert-date trees on a big scale, over several hectares.
13:26If we install an efficient drip irrigation system, and take good care of the trees, we'll get high-quality fruit.
13:36But there is already good fruit growing in Alec. The problem is, not enough people know about the qualities of the heat-resistant and low-maintenance desert-date.
13:50The women hope their TikTok video will soon change that.
13:56Now to Europe. One of the largest mussel species in the Mediterranean Sea is under threat.
14:02They might be over a metre long, but they are still fragile.
14:06In recent years, noble pen-shell populations across southern Europe have collapsed.
14:12Scientists are working hard to protect these ancient creatures, but it's still a race against time.
14:19The Adriatic Sea is known for its crystal-clear waters and rich biodiversity.
14:25Yet, as part of the greater Mediterranean, it's not been spared from the catastrophic mass die-off of the noble pen-shell, Pina Nobilis, now on the brink of extinction.
14:36Diver Anteidsono knows the bays and underwater landscapes near Neum in Bosnia and Herzegovina well.
14:45The seabed used to be dotted with countless pen-shells. Today, almost none remain.
14:51There's been no recovery since the mass die-off of the noble pen. I've seen two live creatures in the last couple of years, but they went on to die too.
15:06Over a short period, there's been a mass die-off.
15:12Mass mortality among noble pen-shells is caused by the parasite Haplosporidium pinnae.
15:19First detected in 2016 off the coast of Spain, it quickly spread throughout the Mediterranean.
15:25Empty shells scattered across the seabed now mark a species on the brink of extinction.
15:33Yet there is hope.
15:35At the Pula Aquarium in neighbouring Croatia, a team of scientists is working tirelessly to protect this endangered clam,
15:42which has been placed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list of threatened species.
15:50It's a fact that 99% of the noble pen in the open seas of the Mediterranean have died.
15:56It's an endemic species, which means that if we lose it in the Mediterranean, we've lost it on a global scale.
16:02These seawater tanks contain some of the last surviving specimens found in the Adriatic.
16:12And you can see the pseudophases if you want to.
16:15So they mean that they are healthy.
16:18So I'm just going to give you a little food.
16:23Six noble pen-shells from the Venetian lagoon have been brought to these tanks.
16:28The ultimate goal of our maintenance of individuals here is actually their breeding, reproduction,
16:36in order to return the small larvae back to nature.
16:40We expect that large numbers of these larvae will be resistant to pathogens.
16:46Inside these tanks, scientists cultivate plankton, microscopic organisms that drift in water,
16:51under strictly controlled conditions, to provide food for the pen-shells.
16:56The seawater, filtered multiple times, is continuously monitored to ensure that the surviving individuals remain safe and healthy.
17:04You'll always have some microorganisms that live in the adults.
17:09In a certain concentration, when they multiply, they can affect the survival of the young.
17:12But the situation's improving.
17:15Because the noble pen-shell has never been commercially exploited,
17:21no previous attempts have been made to breed it in captivity.
17:25Much about its biology remains a mystery.
17:28What these scientists are attempting has never been done before,
17:32to breed the species through every stage of its life cycle,
17:35from larva through juvenile to adult.
17:37No one's managed to close that cycle completely,
17:43so the longest survival of juveniles is still counted in days.
17:47Noble pen-shells are filter feeders that play a vital role in maintaining the cleanliness and balance of marine habitats.
17:55Each individual can filter up to 60 litres of water per hour, around 1,500 litres a day.
18:02This remarkable capacity makes them essential for the health of the ecosystem.
18:07Another very important role it plays is being a host to many organisms that live in symbiosis with it.
18:15These range from the smallest microorganisms, a large number of bacteria, to larger organisms like crabs.
18:22In the Croatian waters of the Adriatic, only about 20 noble pen-shells remain alive.
18:32Separated by long distances, natural reproduction has become almost impossible.
18:37That's why the breeding efforts in these tanks may represent the species' last real chance for survival.
18:43I hope that one day we can release some resistant new baby peanuts to the sea.
18:53We'll be grateful that the generations that will be behind us will be able to see these important species.
19:02These scientists know that this may be the last opportunity to save the noble pen-shell.
19:09Yet they remain hopeful that this remarkable clam will once again thrive on the seabeds of the Mediterranean.
19:15From threatened marine life to threatened bird species, our next report, we head back to Africa.
19:25Considering Burundi is a small country, it has an amazing variety of birds with lakes and wetlands that provide vital habitats.
19:34But human pressures like hunting and habitat loss are putting them at risk of extinction.
19:43Local communities and conservation groups are stepping in to protect them.
19:48The bird lake in northern Burundi, officially known as Lake Rwinda, is a paradise for more than 180 bird species, including the great egret, the reed comorant and the African fish eagle.
20:03But their home is under threat, from climate change, habitat loss and poachers like this illegal fisherman.
20:14These men also used to hunt here.
20:17They show how they made snares from branches and cords.
20:20They haven't forgotten their craft, but today, they are dedicated to protecting wildlife.
20:25Thanks to the training from the conservationists, I have changed the way I see birds.
20:33Today, I see them as part of myself.
20:36If I come across someone who hunts birds, I try to stop them or I report them to the authorities.
20:48Joseph Bizibungul has one of Burundi's most important conservation groups.
20:53He may well be the country's chief bird protector.
20:55In training sessions, he reminds communities around Lake Rwinda why it's vital not to disturb the birds or their habitats.
21:03Anyone who plants crops in the protected area harms not only nature, but themselves.
21:09The message seems to be getting through.
21:10In recent years, we've faced disasters linked to climate change.
21:20It stopped raining here while other communities still had rainfall.
21:24That led to severe famine.
21:25Our job is to educate people about protecting the environment.
21:37We show them concrete examples.
21:40Places where nature has been destroyed.
21:42That helps them understand that if the environment isn't protected, they too will suffer the consequences.
21:49People around the lake mainly grow maize and rice.
22:00To protect the birds, they've had to make tough sacrifices.
22:03A legally defined 50-meter-wide buffer zone was created around the lake.
22:09In this zone, there can be no farming or tree cutting.
22:14Families had to be relocated.
22:16A drastic measure as land is scarce.
22:19The cleared areas are being reforested to create new nesting sites and restore ecological balance.
22:25When we learned they wanted our land to plant trees, it was hard to accept.
22:35We grew sweet potatoes and bananas there, especially in the dry season because the land is close to water.
22:42Imagine someone who owns less than a hectare of land.
22:50If you take away 50 meters, that can be very frustrating.
22:59That's why many people, sometimes out of desperation, return to the buffer zone to cut trees or farm despite the ban.
23:14Farmers need alternatives.
23:17One option is ecotourism.
23:18Visitors are taking out on boats like this for bird watching.
23:23But so far, only about 500 come each year.
23:26More alternatives are needed for people to make a living.
23:32We need to increase the number of agroforestry trees, provide people with livelihoods like fruit trees or small livestock.
23:43And also look for other financial partners to help strengthen and empower the communities.
24:00Some former poachers are now paid by diversity wardens.
24:03In the past, they hunted crowned cranes, one of the most endangered species at Lake Rewinda.
24:10The beds were sold at high prices to hotels and wealthy clients.
24:15Today, these same men earn extra income from protecting them.
24:19They report disturbances and guide tourists to the best viewing spots.
24:23We now also give training sessions in our communities.
24:28We try to raise awareness so people understand it's forbidden to hunt crowned cranes or do anything that might scare them or drive them away.
24:37I've come to understand that it is possible to live in harmony with birds.
24:44If you want to. They flee because people disturb them.
24:48But if you offer them peace, they become friendly towards us too.
24:51The island in the middle of Lake Rewinda is the heart of the protected area.
24:57Birds live here, but many bird species also nest or rest here, as long as they are given the peace they need.
25:05If we lose birds, marine creatures and other wildlife, we don't just lose species, we lose the delicate balance of nature that sustains life on earth.
25:18Protecting them means protecting our own future.
25:21We hope our reports have given you lots to think about.
25:24Thanks for watching. I am Chris Alems in Lagos, Nigeria. Bye bye for now.
25:30And don't forget to check out our social media channels.
25:33And you can write to us at echo at dw.com.
25:36I'm Malama Mukonde in Lusaka, Zambia.
25:39It's goodbye from me too. And we'll see you next time.
25:54We'll see you next time.
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