RE-GREENING IN THE SAHEL: BUILDING RESILIENCE AND IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY RE-GREENING IN THE SAHEL: BUILDING RESILIENCE AND IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY
Vegetation in Galma in 1975 and
Farmer-managed re-greening in Niger 5,000,000 ha re-greened in 20 years (no recurrent costs to governments) 5,000,000 ha re-greened in 20 years (no recurrent costs to governments) 200 million new trees (not planted) 200 million new trees (not planted) additional cereal production/year: 500,000 ton additional cereal production/year: 500,000 ton 2.5 million people fed 2.5 million people fed 1.25 million farm households involved 1.25 million farm households involved
One million ha dominated by Faidherbia albida: improved soil fertility and more fodder
Grain surplus Kantché Department (Zinder/Niger). 350,000 inhabitants; high on-farm tree density ,230 ton ,230 ton ,838 ton ,838 ton ,122 ton ,122 ton ,208 ton ,208 ton ,818 ton ,818 ton Source: National Committee for the Prevention and Management of Food Crises and FEWS Quoted 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 MALIS SENO PLAINS (450,000 ha) GRAIN SURPLUS IN 2011: about 50,000 tons
THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE ON THE GROUND
FARMERS PRUNE IN JUNE AND 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 Farmers invest in on-farm trees when they have exclusive rights to their trees Farmers invest in on-farm trees when they have exclusive rights to their trees Vital contribution from governments: lowering barriers to millions of farmers to invest in trees (national legislation, policies, incentives) Vital contribution from governments: lowering barriers to millions of farmers to invest in trees (national legislation, policies, incentives) More people, more trees More 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 Comparing Tree Density Across the Niger-Nigeria Border Niger Zinder Maradi Tahoua 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