Restoring African Drylands-Cross-cutting issues
At the beginning of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, this 60th issue of ETFRN News is very timely, with the preface signed by UNCCD Executive Secretary Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, reflecting a focus on drylands that cover some 40% of the world’s land area and contain some of the most severely degraded landscapes on Earth. ” . They are also home to a third of the world’s population and a disproportionate number of the poorest people, along with unique ecosystems and biodiversity. And these issues are more acute in Africa than in any other continent.
There is an urgent need to take this knowledge on board in adapting and implementing restoration programmes. But challenges remain, such as tailoring investments to community needs so local people earn more from their efforts, and to improve monitoring to assess progress not just in productivity and hectares under restoration, but also in the resulting social, economic and environmental benefits. Cross-cutting issues |
3.1 Local land-use plans, bylaws and conventions reduce resource-based conflicts Brook Johnson & Douglas Steinberg 3.2 Scalable and equitable governance in farmer managed natural regeneration Matt Kandel, Chanimbe Benamba, Rahinatu S. Alare, Genevieve Agaba & Kate Schreckenberg In brief (vi): Understanding the dimensions and context of participation in restoration Aster Gebrekirstos, Niguse Hagazi, Emiru Birhane & Meine van Noordwijk 3.3 Enhancing women’s rights and lives through gender-equitable restoration Safiétou Tiendrébéogo, Adidjata Ouedraogo, Ramané Kabore, Sita Zougouri, Marlène Elias, Alain Touta Traore, Barbara Vinceti, Daouda Traore & Emma Lucie Yago-Ouattara In brief (vii): Connecting youth and trees through experience, education and ownership Peter Borchardt, Mitiku Ketema, Kifle Worku, Shibru Siku, Deresse Kochena & Maximilian Schmid 3.4 Advances in managing and utilizing exotic tree invasions in the Greater Horn of Africa Nick Pasiecznik, Amsale Shibeshi, John Livingstone & Simon Choge In brief (viii): Managing native ‘bush encroachment’ in East African rangelands Staline Kibet, Simon Choge, Ross Shackleton & Urs Schaffner 3.5 Agroforestry: sustainably increasing soil productivity in the West African Sahel Mike McGahuey 3.6 More trees for more water in drylands: myths and opportunities Douglas Sheil & Aida Bargués Tobella Now is the time to build on the impressive set of restoration successes documented in this issue, and to make full use of the lessons learned from these very encouraging experiences. Locally managed restoration must be promoted as a matter of urgency, supported by local institutions, organizations and governments, with public funding.
And in all cases, to effectively support restoration programmes and projects, all it is vital that those involved must do their utmost to guarantee that these basic tenets are adhered to.
More details , the top 10 key findings, recommendations for a change, commitments made you may wish to find in here, 24 pages synthesis . The publication Restoring African Drylands is included in our library collection for your ease of future reference. ABOUT: Established in 1991, the European Tropical Forest Research Network (ETFRN) aims to ensure that European research contributes to conservation and sustainable use of forest and tree resources in tropical and subtropical countries. ETFRN promotes a dialogue between researchers, policy-makers and forest users, the increased coherence of European tropical forest research, and increased collaboration with researchers in developing countries. The full text publication you can find here, all 36 individual articles are available here |