THINKING beyond the canopy

Climate Change Adaptation in Mitigation-driven arena: experience from Congo Basin

Denis J. Sonwa1, Youssoufa M. Bele1, Olufunso A. Somorin1,2, and Johnson Nkem3

1. Center for International Forestry Research, Yaoundé Cameroon.

P. O. Box 2008, Yaoundé Cameroon

2.Wageningen University, the Netherlands

3. United Nations Development Programme, Nairobi Kenya

Africa Adapt, Adis Abeba, Ethiopia, 9-11 March 2011

THINKING beyond the canopy

Outline Background: Context & importance of forest

Mitigation efforts (focus on Land use land covers change & REDD)

CoFCCA (Congo Basin Forest & Climate Change Adaptation)

Challenges & conclusions

Background: Context

* EDF 2008

For the strategies to fight climate change in the Congo Basin,

emphasis is mainly put on REDD+ with the perspective of promoting sustainable forest management

THINKING beyond the canopy

Background: logging & protected Area

Logging Sector41% of export revenues in CARSecond employer in CAR & Gabon13 000 formal &150 000 Informal jobs in

Cameroon

Protected Area, IUCN Cat 1-6, (Ha)

Percentage of Protected area

Vs NationalTerritory (%)

Cameroon 10 437 336 22 CAR 17 330 015 28

Congo 3 513 438 10 Gabon 2 431 367 9

DRC 26 314 330 11 Equatorial

Guinea 590 955 21

THINKING beyond the canopy

Background: Forest & livelihood

Primary forest

Forest field (IC/maleHH)

Bush fallow (IC/maleHH)

Annual mixed Food crop field

Cocoa Agroforest

Short fallow

Long fallow

Secondary forest

* ASB, Cameroon report, 2002

Animal protein, NTFP, Fuelwood,Agriculture lands, etc

& related chain values

Production cyle at the forest fringe in Southern Cameroon*

Pays Annual Deforestation(%)

Annual net degradation(%

)

Cameroun 0,14 0,02

Gabon 0,09 0,07

Congo 0,02 0,01

RCA 0,06 0,02

DRC 0,20 0,12

Central Africa 0,16 0,09

Changes between 1990 and 2000 in Central Africa*

Land use land cover change & REDD

*EDF 2008

Dynamics of above ground biomass*

Land use land cover change & REDD

* EDF 2008

Submission of Readiness Plan Idea Note (R-PIN) to funding bodies[ World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) & UN-REDD]

Constant debate on different social, technical, economical and methodological issues related to design and implementation of REDD+

vulnerability of local poor communities is an important issue!!!!!

Land use land cover change & REDDCurrents Efforts in the Region

Perceived as less impacted by climate change, compared to another geographical area (Saharan, Wes Africa, etc…)

Close observation show gradual change of temperature & rainfall, with potential effect on livelihood activities

Thus it will be difficult to keep the

region out of the efforts related to adaptation.

Carbon stock may be vulnerable because of vulnerable farmers

Congo Basin Forest & Climate Change Adaptation

Global perception & realities

THINKING beyond the canopy

Main objective: Contribute to national processes of adaptation to climate change through the development of policy-oriented adaptation strategies that also ensure sustainable use of forest resources in the Congo Basin Forests.

Objectifs spécifiques: Identify and prioritize regional development issues as climate

impacts forests and society;

Establish regional science-policy dialogue that engages the community and its participation in the planning and policy process for adaptation;

Assess the vulnerability of gender, minority and indigenous communities in identifying their special needs for adaptation;

Build the capacities of communities and stakeholders and facilitating knowledge sharing

Countries covered: Cameroon, Central African Republic (RCA), & Democratic republic of Congo (DRC)

Congo Basin Forest & Climate Change Adaptation

THINKING beyond the canopy

Forest policies

Adaptation policies

Mainstream Forest into adaptation & development policies

Mainstream climate change adaptation into forest policies

The challenge

Congo Basin Forest & Climate Change Adaptation

THINKING beyond the canopy

Main Activities

Policy dialogue within countries & regions Development of methodologies Research study (policy, prioritised sectors, etc..) Modelisation Workshops Working with Consultants, national partners etc graduate students fellowship program Training of stakeholders (journalists, teachers,

etc.) Demonstration of pilot activities on Adaptation

Congo Basin Forest & Climate Change Adaptation

THINKING beyond the canopy

Conclusion & Challenges for Adaptation in Central African Forest Take in consideration the dynamic not only at the regional

level, but also in the field Take in consideration some of the key sectors sensible to CC

(ex Water, food security, energy, health)

Look for synergy with the current hot issues in the region (Biodiversity conservation, REDD, etc…), but always present the specificity of adaptation

Take into consideration the will of the vulnerable communities

Demonstrate & document pilot examples of adaptation

Mainstream adaptation in the formal & non-graduate training

THINKING beyond the canopy

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