Trying to stabalize the volcanic ash

After departing the active volcano site we headed to a village of about 2700 people. On the way we passed trees that had been planted to try and help stabilize the land (pic. 1). They struggle to live but then get covered in ash and die back.

The village was made up of widely placed homes that were up on stilts, probably to avoid the ash slides when the heavy rains came and washed down the ash covered hills. Pic. 2 shows a village home.