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

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■■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