Brussels Briefing n. 30 Agricultural Resilience in the Face of Crises and Shocks 4 th March 2013 http://brusselsbriefings.net Resilience-building in the Sahel: Regreening the Sahel Chris Reij, SLM specialist, Senior Fellow, World Resources Institute
Jun 07, 2015
Brussels Briefing n. 30Agricultural Resilience in the Face of Crises and
Shocks4th March 2013
http://brusselsbriefings.net
Resilience-building in the Sahel: Regreening the Sahel Chris Reij, SLM specialist, Senior
Fellow, World Resources Institute
RE-GREENING IN THE SAHEL: RE-GREENING IN THE SAHEL: BUILDING RESILIENCE AND BUILDING RESILIENCE AND IMPROVING FOOD SECURITYIMPROVING FOOD SECURITY
Vegetation in Galma in 1975 and 2003Vegetation in Galma in 1975 and 2003
1975 2003
Farmer-managed re-greening in Farmer-managed re-greening in NigerNiger
5,000,000 ha re-greened in 20 years 5,000,000 ha re-greened in 20 years (no recurrent costs to governments)(no recurrent costs to governments)
200 million new trees (not planted)200 million new trees (not planted) additional cereal production/year: additional cereal production/year:
500,000 ton500,000 ton 2.5 million people fed2.5 million people fed 1.25 million farm households involved1.25 million farm households involved
One million ha dominated by Faidherbia albida: improved soil fertility and more fodder
Grain surplus Kantché Department Grain surplus Kantché Department (Zinder/Niger). 350,000 inhabitants; high (Zinder/Niger). 350,000 inhabitants; high on-farm tree densityon-farm tree density
20072007+ 21,230 ton+ 21,230 ton 20082008+ 36,838 ton+ 36,838 ton 20092009+ 28,122 ton+ 28,122 ton 20102010+ 64,208 ton+ 64,208 ton 20112011+ 13,818 ton+ 13,818 ton
Source: National Committee for the Prevention and Management of Food Crises and FEWSQuoted by: Yamba and sambo (2012)
1990
WATER HARVESTING AND AGROFORESTRY
2004
Demi lunes
Combretum glutinosum
Zaï
Simple techniques
Piliostigma reticulatum
Important impacts
NEW AGROFORESTS ON MALI’SSENO PLAINS (450,000 ha)
GRAIN SURPLUS IN 2011: about 50,000 tons
THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE ON THE GROUND
FARMERS PRUNE IN JUNEAND LITTER IMPROVES SOIL FERTILITY
MULTIPLE IMPACTS OF RE-GREENING INCLUDE:
☛ IMPROVED FOOD SECURITY☛ ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE☛ MITIGATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE☛ POVERTY REDUCTION☛ MORE FIREWOOD☛ MORE FODDER☛ REDUCTION OF CONFLICTS
VEGETATION TURNS DOWN THE HEAT
Some lessons Some lessons
Farmers invest in on-farm trees when Farmers invest in on-farm trees when they have exclusive rights to their trees they have exclusive rights to their trees
Vital contribution from governments: Vital contribution from governments: lowering barriers to millions of farmers to lowering barriers to millions of farmers to invest in trees (national legislation, invest in trees (national legislation, policies, incentives) policies, incentives)
More people, more treesMore people, more trees
KEY CHALLENGE FOR ACTION: SCALE UP EXISTING SUCCESSES IN ON-FARM RE-GREENING
IS IT INCREASED RAINFALL?
Location of 12 Terroirs Used for ComparingTree Density Across the Niger-Nigeria Border
Niger
• Zinder• Maradi
• Tahoua
0 200 km
■■
■■
■
■
■
■ ■
■
■■Nigeria
Terroirs
Terroir in Niger 19 km North of the Niger-Nigeria Border
Source: Google Earth, 2005
Terroir in Niger 8.5 km North of the Niger-Nigeria Border
Source: Google Earth, 2005
Terroir in Nigeria 1.5 km south of the Niger-Nigeria Border
Source: Google Earth, 2005
Terroir in Nigeria 38 km south of the Niger-Nigeria Border
Source: Google Earth, 2005
Comparative Overview of Terroirs on Opposite Sides of the Niger-Nigeria Border
Source: Google Earth, 2005
Niger
Nigeria