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| Country level Sustainable Land Management Investments | |
Mali advances on its Strategic Investment Framework for Sustainable Land Management
The problem of land degradation in Mali is huge, hence the robust programmatic approach taken by the government. In Mali, each year about 500,000 hectares are cleared for meeting energy needs. The cultivated area increases at a rate of 4.7% per year. Between 7-15% of the land became degraded and has been abandoned. Out of the 35 million hectares of livestock rangelands, 14 million are burnt by fire every year. The surface water resources and groundwater are highly threatened by waste, sedimentation, siltation and pollution of various kinds. About 13 million tons of silt is deposited into the rivers each year. Losses are estimated at 30 000 billion cubic meters of water in the Inner Niger Delta, annually.
This pressure on land has resulted in a reduction of natural resources and loss of soil fertility. Economically, scientists have estimated the annual losses due to soil erosion at 0.4 to 6% of GDP, and due to deforestation at 5.35%.
Previous efforts by successive governments to address the problem have resulted in some bright spots. However these efforts were based on a sectoral rather than programmatic approach and hence failed to adequately address the situation. The government of Mali has now taken a programmatic approach to address this problem. In this regard, the government, with the support of development partners (GEF / World Bank, UNDP, GTZ, GM / UNCCD and FAO) has undertaken to formulate a Country Strategic Investment Framework (CSIF) for Sustainable Land Management (SLM), to guide formulation of SLM investment programs. The CSIF development process started with a wide stakeholder consultation. Several analytical studies including costs of land degradation were then undertaken to support the program model supported by the TerrAfrica partnership. The results of these studies provided the foundation for the development of CSIF by identifying the main bottlenecks and SLM priority actions.
Six priority investment areas have been identified in the Mali CSIF. The country will now move towards formulation and costing of the investments once funding has been identified. The draft CSIF will be validated in mid-July 2010. A Technical Team established under the Permanent Technical Secretariat for the Management of Environmental Issues guides the expansion of SLM on a programmatic basis.
 Ghana kick starts project on Sustainable Land Management By Jonathan Allotey, Environmental Protection Agency jallotey@epaghana.org
The government of Ghana recognizes the importance of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) in economic growth and development, hence the holistic approach taken towards SLM. Following the finalization of its Country Strategic Investment Framework (CSIF) for sustainable land management, the government of Ghana, together with the World Bank and other Development partners are preparing the Ghana Sustainable Land and Water Management project (SLWMP).
The project development objective is to improve land management of selected micro-watersheds in Northern Ghana to reverse land degradation and enhance agricultural productivity; and improve spatial planning through integration of watershed management in development plans.
In line with the World Bank social safeguard policy OP 4.12, Ghana has prepared two safeguard documents that are the Environmental Analysis and Management Plan (EAMP) and Resettlement and Policy Framework (RPF). The purpose of the Environmental Analysis and Management Plan is to provide clear and systematic guidelines to ensure that environmental and social sustainability of the GEF-SLWM funded sub-projects are achieved through application of safeguard documents measures on environmental and social issues during the project implementation. The objective of the safeguard documents is to identify and minimize potential social and environmental impacts. Two day consultative workshops were organized with public and local stakeholders to discuss the design and safeguards provisions of the Sustainable Land and Water Management Project.
The project will operationalize some aspects of the Agriculture Sustainable Land Management Strategy and Action Plan (2009-2015), the National Land Policy that deals with agriculture land use and sustainable management of land and environment, and the Ghana Strategic Investment Framework (GSIF) for SLWM. It is envisaged that the project will be effective by October 2010.
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| Civil Society Organisations and Sustainable Land Management | |
Community Knowledge-Sharing in East Africa
By Louise Buck, Director of Landscape Program, EcoAgriculture Partners leb3@cornell.edu
In May, the Kijabe Environmental Volunteers (KENVO) collaborated with EcoAgriculture Partners (EP), UNDP's Equator Initiative and TerrAfrica to organize a meeting of the Community Knowledge Service (CKS) in Kijabe, Kenya. The objectives were to strengthen community knowledge-sharing and learning platforms in East Africa, begin designing a CKS governance structure for the region, and to provide feedback to TerrAfrica on engagement with communities on Sustainable Land Management. KENVO and the steering committee for the East Africa CKS Regional Coordination Meeting and Learning Exchange brought together some 30 farmer and community based organizations in six countries in East Africa and in India, and some participants from TerrAfrica. The group carefully considered how a more formal CKS organizational structure in the region could strengthen the roles of civil society in sustainable land management (SLM).
The collegial deliberations were informed by a thoughtful exchange among the organizations present, concerning local best practice in sustainable development and poverty reduction. The sharing of experience demonstrated the value and the demand for peer-to-peer knowledge exchange and the need for advanced capacity to convene, facilitate and fund such exchanges. The CKS governance design activities were informed also by a discussion paper circulated at the meeting, prepared by EcoAgriculture Partners for TerrAfrica, on ways that TerrAfrica might engage with civil society to advance SLM practice and policy. Participants agreed on the formation and membership of a Task Force, recommended next steps, including elements of a work plan for the coming year. For a copy of the report being prepared by KENVO, contact Leah Mwangi (njimakenvo@yahoo.co.uk).
 Civil Society Organisations in Burkina Faso - partners for Sustainable Land ManagementBy Paule Herodote, Civil Society Investments Advisor, Global Mechanism p.herodote@global-mechanism.org
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are an important development partner for both the UNCCD and TerrAfrica, with a key role in maintaining and revitalizing Africa's life-sustaining lands. CSOs provide important technical support to land users, they advocate for more and better investments, and they actively mobilise and channel resources for rural development and land management.
Real value can be gained by the effective engagement of CSOs in national efforts to develop investment frameworks for SLM, as promoted by TerrAfrica. CSOs can participate in the development of the national frameworks and share their experiences to enhance the process. They can also engage in the implementation of priority projects and programmes and contribute resources from CSO specific funding sources such as campaign funds and development cooperation budget lines.
In Burkina Faso, a group of CSOs are making strides, having recently established the Network for Desertification and SLM Organisations during a meeting in May, as an outcome of a consultative process that started in 2008. CSOs organised the meeting in collaboration with the country's Ministries of Environment and Agriculture, Water Resources & Fisheries with the support of the GM as part of its support for Burkina Faso and a TerrAfrica partner.
The network's objectives will contribute towards creating a conducive environment for coordinated investments. The CSOs will be coordinating and organising CSO actions in policy processes on closely related issues to the UNCCD and SLM such as food security and climate change adaptation. The network also aims to facilitate dialogue among CSOs, establish partnerships and exchanges, and build members' capacity on SLM and UNCCD implementation.
The network will contribute towards the implementation of Burkina Faso's recently launched Country Pilot Partnership for SLM through which the Government with the support of its partners will develop an investment framework for SLM in coherence with the agriculture investment programme of Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). The work of the CSOs will also generate lessons for the GEF/UNDP CSO capacity building programme currently under development and which provides an exciting opportunity for increasing the effective engagement of CSOs in TerrAfrica at regional and national level.
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Climate Change and Sustainable Land and Water Management |
Sustainable Land and Water Management (SLWM) Practices for Climate adaptation and Mitigation in Sub-Saharan African Countries
By Taoufiq Benouna; tbennouna@worldbank.org
Following the publication of the partnership publication: "The Role of Sustainable Land Management for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa", the World Bank continued to explore the land and climate nexus with an analytical study entitled "Managing Land in a Changing Climate: An Operational Perspective for Sub-Saharan Africa".
The study report is divided into two parts; the first one explains the impacts of land degradation and climate variability and change in Sub-Saharan Africa and also explores the co-benefits of SLWM to help African countries become more resilient to the changes they have to face. The second one documents the most used land management practices, the drivers that create a favorable environment for adopting SLMW practices, the multiple benefits of SLWM for agriculture productivity, carbon sequestration, climate mitigation and adaptation. This was based on case studies done in Kenya, Niger, Nigeria and Uganda. Policy and technical recommendations with regards to the land and climate nexus are provided at the end of the report. TerrAfrica partners are using the results of the case studies to inform policy makers and provide operational guidance to catalyze national and regional SLWM strategies.
The main report, co-signed by the NEPAD Agency, the UNCCD secretariat and the World Bank, will shortly be available on the SLM Knowledge Base, as well as additional reports elaborated in the context of this study.
Tools created as part of this study include:
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Short films: Video footage illustrating sustainable land management's influence on climate resilience and livelihoods based on the country case studies.
On May 24, the World Bank institute (WBI) delivered a one day Sustainable Land and Water Management under Climate Change Training Course in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to help scale up capacity development impact in climate adaptation in agriculture and water. The learning and knowledge exchange topics included subjects in climate change and variability, focusing on sector specific adaptation measures relating to land and water management, watershed management, as well as adaptation tools. Partners include IRA (Institute of Resource Assessment, Dar es Salaam University), and Tanzanian Meteorology Agency. About 20 participants from Ministries of Agriculture and Water attended the course. These were mostly managers, staff and practitioners, who work on development projects that are related to sustainable land and water management, agriculture, management of watersheds and natural resources. These projects are funded by the World Bank, client governments, as well as other development agencies. |
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| Emerging issues on Sustainable Land Management in Africa |  Land mortgaging and Sustainable Land and Water Management in Africa
By Mahalmoudou Hamadoun: Mahalmoudou.hamadoun@cilss.bf
The recent increasing food prices and energy crises have seen an increase in the number of poor African countries mortgaging vast tracts of land to rich foreign companies to grow food for export to their native countries. This issue has raised a lot of concern amongst various African stakeholders and has recently topped agricultural debates in Africa. One of the issues of concern is the implications this phenomenon has on the sustainable management of land and water resources. Researchers argue that this is not a new phenomenon, but it is only the magnitude that has changed. "What has changed today is the magnitude of the phenomenon and the emergence of new players" says Jean-Philippe Tonneau, a researcher at CIRAD / UMR.
The increasing phenomenon of "land grabbing" poses a serious threat to the local ecosystem equilibrium. According to FAO (UN Food and Agriculture Organisation) and IIED, London (International Institute for Environment and Development), it has been estimated that 10 million hectares of land were mortgaged in 2008 and according to the International Land Coalition, 30 million hectares were the subject of negotiations in the first half of 2009. Applicants or purchasers are essentially non-western countries, oil producing and emerging economies.
The phenomenon is worrisome and may hinder poor African countries' efforts towards Sustainable Land and Water Management (SLWM). Indeed, in many African countries, SLWM is practised by farmers, local authorities or the state itself with the support of technical partners.
Once the land transfer agreements have been made, states have less control over activities carried out on the vast tracts of lands mortgaged. In many cases, local authorities, unfortunately do not participate in conclusion of agreements and ignore their contents.
The risks towards SLWM efforts include among others: -
pollution of rivers due to the massive use of pesticides and
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massive deforestation in the country to meet the land needs of foreign companies and their shareholders;
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lack of studies on the social and environmental impact prior to mortgaging the land as was the case in Mali
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negative impacts of adjustment related to the development of land such as displacement of villages, destruction of cultural and social values
These are just some of the risks associated with "land grabbing" that African governments need to be wary of and to which we must find appropriate solutions if we are to ensure African countries continue to make progress towards SLWM and increase the productivity of agriculture for the benefit of all. |  |
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TerrAfrica Online
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Several TerrAfrica sites share knowledge about Sustainable Land Management (SLM) across the Internet. The TerrAfrica Secretariat invites you to explore these sites and welcomes your documents, photos and videos to improve these collections. Please contact the Secretariat to contribute.
SLM Knowledge Base
Resources including publications, presentations, maps and statistics on SLM
TerrAfrica on Flickr
Images of elements of SLM and landscapes in Sub-Saharan Africa
TerrAfrica's YouTube Channel
Short films about land and climate in Sub-Saharan Africa
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| Editors | |
Editor in Chief: Mr. Martin Bwalya
Contributing Editors: Dr. Andrew Kanyegirire, Rudo E. Makunike | |
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 TerrAfrica is nationally driven and depends on the leadership and commitments of Sub-Saharan African countries. The Executive Committee consists of Sub-Saharan African governments, NEPAD, the UNCCD Secretariat, the UNCCD's GM, the FAO, IFAD, UNDP, UNEP, the AfDB, the European Commission, bilateral donors, civil society representatives, and the World Bank.
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Copyright © 2009 TerrAfrica | All rights reserved. |
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Sustainable Land Management and climate change training