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Many individuals have contributed to the successful completion of this report and the associated AIMS assessment. I am grateful to each of them. The work in Zimbabwe was dependent upon the high level of cooperation given the research team by the officers and staff of Zambuko Trust. In particular, I would like to thank Tawanda Sibanda, acting executive managing director of Zambuko, who provided advice and assistance. I would also like to acknowledge the cooperation of David Kombanie, former executive managing director of Zambuko, and Zambuko's managers and staff in the Harare, Mutare, and Bulawayo regions. They willingly and cheerfully provided information about the program and its clients and permitted access to the files. Individuals at USAID/Zimbabwe also provided valuable support. In particular, the author appreciates the assistance given by Tichaona Mushayandevu, Patrick Osewe, and Carl Henn. Erica Keogh assembled and supervised the survey field team. In addition, she was responsible for data entry and cleaning, and conducted the data analysis. Nontokozo Nemarundwe organized and conducted the focus group sessions with clients. She was assisted by Loveness Nyikahadzoi. At the September 2001 discussion forum in Harare, the Zimbabwean team facilitated sessions and took notes. I am extremely grateful to them for their hard work and commitment to the study. A special thanks goes to Paurvi Bhatt, formerly with USAID's health office, who provided encouragement, advice, and comments on the draft report. Throughout the AIMS and Horizons studies, Monique Cohen of USAID's Microenterprise Development Office and Jennefer Sebstad gave thoughtful guidance. Joan Parker, Simel Esim, Martin Hanratty, and Naomi Rutenberg kindly provided review comments on an earlier version of this report.

This paper reports on action research that evaluated local perceptions and knowledge of indigenous tree planting and management in the Romwe catchment, Chivi District, southern Zimbabwe. The species tested were the overexploited Afzelia quanzensis, important for timber and carvings of sculptures and utensils; Sclerocarya birrea, the marula tree used for wood, bark, and fruit; and Brachystegia glaucescens, the dominant miombo tree species, used for firewood, fiber, and fodder. Participants volunteered to plant and manage the test seeds, while a research team monitored their activities and results for 26 months. For Afzelia quanzensis, the germination rate was 81%, and 69% of the seedlings were still alive after one year. In the case of Sclerocarya birrea, the germination rate was 69%, and the one-year survival rate was 50%. For Brachystegia glaucescens, the germination rate was only 30%, and the survival rate was 31%. The main reasons for planting were to provide shade, to serve as a windbreak, and to conserve and gain individual control over dwindling natural resources, particularly Afzelia quanzensis. Women were generally more active and innovative than men. For instance, they searched for their own seeds or seedlings in the bush when there weren't sufficient plants. Some participants tried out various indigenous methods of pest and disease control, water conservation, and moisture retention. Group feedback sessions and informal interactions provided the opportunity to share experiences. The participants learned that indigenous trees can be purposefully planted and were not simply a gift from God. Despite the droughts and political instability of recent years, a growing number of people became involved in tree planting during 2002-2003. As a result, there is now greater awareness among the local population of dwindling resources and their future potential.