Sub-Saharan Africa
A Landscape Management Model for Conserving Biodiversity in the Comoros IslandsBackgroundThe Comoros Islands have experienced one of the worst rates of deforestation in the world, which has threatened the livelihoods of both communities and the existence of critical flora and fauna. This is particularly common on Anjuan Island due to the regions the high population density. This GEF-Satoyama Project seeks to address these trends. Open access copy available |
Carbon Neutral: Uchindile Mapanda, TanzaniaBackgroundAs part of BP's Target Neutral program, this project is addressing grasslands that have been classified as degraded by establishing commercial forests at Uchindile and Mapanda districts in the Tanzanian Southern Highlands. Open access copy available |
Community Action for Biodiversity and Forest Conservation and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Wild Coffee Forests (CAFA)BackgroundLocated in southwest Ethiopia, the Kafa Biosphere Reserve is an important area for water quality, carbon storage, and a range of endangered and endemic species. Moreover, around 65,000 people live in the reserve, most of whom depend on subsistence agriculture for their livelihoods. Coffee also grows wild in the region, which locals often harvest for sale. Still, poverty and population growth is common within these communities, causing increasing strain on natural resources. To address these needs, Nabu began a community action project. Open access copy available |
WeForest: Luanshya, ZambiaBackgroundWeForest works with local farmers in the Luanshya distric of the Zambian Copperbelt to provide training and tools that will help with the diversification of income while they plant and protect local forests. Goals & ApproachThe goals of the project is to restore native Miombo woodlots on smallhold farms, promote sustainable use of Miombo woodland and sustainable forest management, promote economic development, and build livelihood resilience. This is achieve through working closely with hundreds of farmers and promoting assisted natural regeneration (ANR) as a restoration approach. Open access copy available |
Lessons Learned and Good Practices in Natural Resource ManagementBackgroundThe United Nations Environmental Programme and the Government of Sudan started the Adapt for Environment and Climate Resilience in Sudan project, otherwise known as ADAPT!, which seeks to engage a wide audience in order enhance environmental management, governance and climate resilience to help the people of Sudan cope with environmental stress and climate change. Open access copy available |
Carbon Footprint: Great Rift Valley, KenyaBACKGROUNDThis project takes place in the Kikuyu Escarpment, Western Kenya. The Kikuyu escarpment forest has a high biodiversity and the services the ecosystem provides, particular water, is a key source for neighboring communities' livelihoods. Environmental degradation through charcoal burning, logging for timber and fuel wood, ring-debarking for medicinal trees and overgrazing are negatively affecting these services and depleting the area of important vegetation cover. Open access copy available |
BGCI: Brackenhurst Botanic Garden, Kenya and Tooro Botanical Gardens, UgandaBACKGROUNDThis paper presents a summary of a project implemented in East Africa by BCGI. Africa experiences a net loss of 3.4 million hectares of forest annually from data available for the period 2000-2010. Despite a steep rise in the number of forest management plans in place across Africa, and a small increase in the area of protected forest (FAO, 2010), high reliance on wood as a fuel source, continued forest conversion to agriculture and development and selective extraction of valuable medicinal and timber species, continue to put pressure on Africa’s forests and forest resources. Open access copy available |
Regeneration Status of Mangrove Forests in Mida Creek, Kenya: A Compromised or Secured Future?BackgroundThis study investigates natural regeneration and timber potential of the mangrove forests of Mida Creek for better management through the principle of sustained yields. Research Goals & MethodsA stratified sampling technique was used in two main study areas. Transects and quadrants were used to measure vegetation measurements, species density, and frequency. Open access copy available |
Dominant Species’ Resprout Biomass Dynamics After Cutting in the Sudanian Savanna-Woodlands of West Africa: Long Term Effects of Annual Early Fire and GrazingBACKGROUNDThis study examines the potential for forest regeneration after harvest in Burkina Faso, West Africa. The study area is a tropical dry forest of tree-shrub dominated by trees of Combretaceae and Mimosaceae (Fabeaceae). The area is part of the Sudanian savanna ecoregion, stretching across Africa , and receives approximately 700-1200 mm of rain, interspersed by a 6-7 month dry season. Firewood is the major source of home energy. It is estimated that 25-50% of the forest area naturally burns each year, and all areas burn every 2-3 years. Cattle browsing is also common in the region, especially on the grass that sprouts after burns. Open access copy available |
Land Ownership and Forest RestorationBackgroundReports have indiciated that the majority of forests worldwide are owned by governments yet are typically managed similar to an open-access regime. Moreover, the use of forests by various stakeholders have led to issues, typically regarding access and ownership. This paper examines the connection between ownership regimes and restoration. Open access copy available |
