small resolutions--hope for the future: community forest update

Two months after the trees of the community forest were cut down in my village, after multiple meetings between the two groups, two parties from the two villages, an agreement was made and an accord was finally signed by everyone involved. I can say that everyone who signed the paper was very happy. And that is something. After the event, the pepinieriste of my village had issued a complaint against the two owners of the field who he believed cut down the trees. Everyone in the two parties was visited and interviewed by police and agents from the ministry of water and forests. And through it, I encouraged both sides to have a meeting together, instead of jumping immediately to the higher authorities, to try to find a mutual solution together. Slowly and surely it happened. After a few meetings, the old proprietor of the field agreed to give back the land for the community forest, in the agreement that the pepinieriste drop his legal claim about the cutting down of the trees. All of this was done with the local leaders. And both sides were happy to say that with this accord, the issue of the field, years old, be finished once and for all.

It could be that things will dissolve again; it could be that when I leave things will change; it could be that leaders or members of groups will do backhanded things again. Though these things would sadden me, I think I am weathered enough to not be surprised. However, for the moment, I am holding hope, that this resolution will not only be a local solution for a land problem, allowing the village of Mafa Kilda to have their community forest and the old field owner to keep farming the field next to it, but also to serve as an example of the possibilities of conflict resolution on a local level. That they might look to this as an example that they can come to a mutual solution together without always having to go to higher authorities, without always avoiding each other. That they need to communicate more between each other, swallow pride, along with a tradition of dislike and disrespect. Perhaps it can play that role. Perhaps. As for now, the community forest group will replant some trees when it rains again, they will go withdraw their legal claim, and the farmer will have the adjacent field that the Sousprefet gave him. If it lasts like this, I am very grateful for such a solution.