Rehabilitation and sustainable management by REACH Italia of degraded pastures in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso
Project Idea Note (PIN) Plan Vivo Application
Version: 2.0 Date: 12/6/2015
1 | Page
Contents
Abbreviations and acronyms ...... 3 Figures ...... 3 Tables ...... 3 Key Information ...... 4 1. Project Aims & Objectives ...... 4 2. Proposed Project Area ...... 5 2.1. Description of Project Location ...... 5 2.2. Description of Socio-Economic Context ...... 11 3. Identification of Target Groups & Communities ...... 12 4. Land Tenure & Carbon Rights ...... 12 5. Project Interventions & Activities ...... 13 6. Identification of Any Non-Eligible Activities ...... 16 7. Long-Term Sustainability Drivers ...... 16 8. Applicant Organization & Proposed Governance Structure ...... 17 9. Community-Led Design Plan ...... 20 10. Additionality Analysis ...... 20 11. Notification of Relevant Bodies & Regulations ...... 21 12. Identification of Start-Up Funding ...... 22 References ...... 23 Annex 1: Signed statement of REACH Italia ...... 24 Annex 2: Letter to DNA ...... 25 Annex 3: Presence list of community meetings ...... 26
2 | Page
Abbreviations and acronyms
CVD Comité Villageois de Développement MRAH Ministère des Ressources Animales et Halieutiques PES Payment for Ecoystem Services
Figures
Figure 1: Map of Burkina Faso with the seven municipalities included in the program BKF/017 . 5 Figure 2: Detailed map of the Sahel Region in the North of Burkina Faso with the three municipalities involved in the Plan Vivo project of REACH Italia ...... 6 Figure 3: Location of the three villages included in the pilot phase ...... 7 Figure 4: Sites of the village of Bossey Etage in the municipality of Gorom-Goromi in the province of Oudalan ...... 7 Figure 5: Sites of the village Peteldaye in the municipality of Gorom-Gorom in the province of Oudalan ...... 8 Figure 6: Sites of the village of Tadabat in the municipality of Markoye in the province of Oudalan ...... 8 Figure 7: Migration of isohyets since 1931 ...... 10 Figure 8: Degraded land before rehabilitation ...... 14 Figure 9: Use of the Delfino plow to break up the compacted soil ...... 14 Figure 10: Community involvement in seed collection and direct seeding ...... 15 Figure 11: Recovery of grass on a rehabilitated site after one rainy season ...... 16 Figure 12: Example of community meeting ...... 20
Tables
Table 1: Overview of the rehabilitated sites in the different villages of the pilot phase ...... 9 Table 2: Characteristics of agro-ecological zones in the Sahel [5] ...... 10 Table 3: Overview of native trees used in the project ...... 15 Table 4: Additionality analysis ...... 21
3 | Page
Key Information
Project title Rehabilitation and sustainable management by REACH Italia of degraded pastures in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso Project Location – Village Bossey etage / municipality of Gorom-Gorom / province of Oudalan / Sahel region of Burkina Faso Country/Region/District Village Peteldaye / municipality of Gorom-Gorom / province of Oudalan / Sahel region of Burkina Faso Village Tadabat / municipality of Markoye/ province of Oudalan / Sahel region of Burkina Faso Project Coordinator & REACH Italia Contact Details ONG Alain Regional Director Summary of Proposed Improving pasture resources and livelihoods of communities Activities within the Sahel region of Burkina Faso through: (Max 30 words) • Rehabilitation of degraded pastures; and • Development of local land charter for sustainable management of the recovered pastures.
Summary of Proposed More than 25 villages in the municipalities of Djibo, Arbinda Target Groups Gorom-Gorom, Markoye and Bani, In the first place the project will focus on the villages of Bossey Etage, Peteldaye and Tadabat, and (Max 30 words) after the pilot phase extend to the other villages.
1. Project Aims & Objectives Most of traditional livestock production systems in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso are based on an extensive use of natural pastures. However, access and sustainable management of these natural pastures are becoming more severely limited by various constraints and anthropogenic pressure. Among others figure overexploitation of grazing resources, land insecurity limiting access for herds to pasture resources and nutritional deficits for livestock mainly during the dry season. These factors are periodically exacerbated by adverse effects associated with climate variability and climate change. The objective of the project “Rehabilitation and sustainable management by REACH Italia of degraded pastures in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso” is to reverse degradation of pastures and foster sustainable land management of the pastures in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso. The project is part of a larger program BKF/017 “Livestock Improvement Project of the Zebu Azawak and sustainable management of pastoral resources” implemented by the Ministry in charge of Animal Resources in Burkina Faso with finance from Lux Dev aiming to rehabilitate a total pasture surface of 7250 hectares. The NGO REACH Italia together with another NGO, AGED, are involved in the implementation of the BKF/017 program. In order to enhance the sustainability of the project’s impact in the longer term at the end of the BKF/017 program, a Plan Vivo project has been formulated for each of the NGO’s REACH Italia and AGED. Both Plan Vivo projects will
4 | Page include the communities with which each NGO collaborated within the framework of the BKF/017 program. Natural rehabilitation of degraded pastures will include working with communities to identify and demarcate community pasture areas and the direct seeding of naturalized tree, shrub and herbaceous species. Based on the new Rural Land Tenure Law (N°034-2009/AN) enabling legal recognition of rights legitimated by customary rules and practices, local land charters will be defined. These local land charters will allow capacity building of communities to develop and implement appropriate controls of pasture use.
2. Proposed Project Area
2.1. Description of Project Location Map(s) showing overall project area(s) and boundaries
The municipalities involved in the rehabilitation of degraded pastures by REACH Italia are Djibo, and Arbinda in the province of Soum, Gorom-Gorom and Markoye in the province of Oudalan, and Bani in the province of Séno (Figure 1 and Figure 2).
Figure 1: Map of Burkina Faso with the seven municipalities included in the program BKF/017
5 | Page
Figure 2: Detailed map of the Sahel Region in the North of Burkina Faso with the three municipalities involved in the Plan Vivo project of REACH Italia
In the first phase the following villages with its different sites will be included in the project (Figure 3):
i. Village Bossey Etage in the municipality of Gorom-Gorom in the province of Oudalan (Figure 4); ii. Village Peteldaye in the municipality of Gorom-Gorom in the province of Oudalan (Figure 5); iii. Village Tadabat in the municipality of Markoyein the province of Oudalan (Figure 6);
6 | Page
Bossey Etage Peteldaye Tadabat
Figure 3: Location of the three villages included in the pilot phase
Bossey étage 3
Bossey étage 1
Bossey étage 2
Figure 4: Sites of the village of Bossey Etage in the municipality of Gorom-Goromi in the province of Oudalan1
1 GPS coordinates of the fourth site of Bossey Etage were not known at submission of the PIN
7 | Page
Petelday 1
Petelday 2
Figure 5: Sites of the village Peteldaye in the municipality of Gorom-Gorom in the province of Oudalan
Tadabat 1
Tadabat 3
Tadabat 2
Figure 6: Sites of the village of Tadabat in the municipality of Markoye in the province of Oudalan
8 | Page
In each village different sites will be rehabilitated, which are presented in the table below:
Province Municipality Village Site Hectares Oudalan Gorom-Gorom Bossey Etage Site 1 10 Site 2 101 Site 3 8 Site 4 43 Subtotal: 161 Oudalan Gorom-Gorom Peteldaye Site 1 49 Site 2 30 Subtotal: 79 Oudalan Markoye Tadabat Site 1 5 Site 2 13 Site 3 24 Subtotal: 42
Table 1: Overview of the rehabilitated sites in the different villages of the pilot phase
Identification of any legally designated/protected conservation areas within, overlapping or adjacent to the project area
The proposed project areas are located in the nature reserve of the Sahel in the North of Burkina Faso, denominated “Reserve sylvo-pastorale et partielle de faune du Sahel”. It covers a surface of 1.600.000 hectares and was created by Ordonnance n°70/302/PRES/AGRI-EL of 9 December 1970. In the reserve, pastoral activities are conducted on natural pastures and hunting activities are allowed.
Physical description of the land, habitat types and land use
The provinces of Oudalan, Séno and Soumare characterized by North-Sahelian climate (annual rainfall < 400 mm, number of dry months > 9). The climatic limiting factor for plant growth is rainfall, which is generally tending to diminish, with increasing variations between years and the migration of isohyets to the South [1].
9 | Page
Source: NAPA Burkina Faso 2007
Figure 7: Migration of isohyets since 1931
Table 2 gives some characteristics of the Sahelian agro-ecological zones, where mainly steppes are found. They are usually shrubby, dominated by thorn-bushes of the genera Acacia and Balanites. They are under heavy pressure from livestock while fodder trees and shrubs are overexploited by browsing, by lopping for fodder and hacking off branches. The Sahelian zone is characterized by overstocking as the actual livestock exceeds with more than 250% the carrying capacity of the available natural pastures for fodder [2].
Agro-ecological zone Annual rainfall (mm) Description Sahel < 400 Steppe with thorny bushes and annual grasses. Pastoral zone evolving to agro-pastoralism, mainly pastoral at present. Subsistence farming based on millet, sorghum and cowpea. Transhumant herding. Sub-Sahel 400 – 700 Steppe with combretum and annual grasses. Agropastoral, mainly agricultural zone. High population density and land fully occupied. Subsistence farming based on millet, sorghum and cowpea. Transhumant herding and sedentary agro- pastoral agriculture.
Table 2: Characteristics of agro-ecological zones in the Sahel [5]
10 | Page
Process of Land Degradation
Long-term analyzes of vegetation and the testimony of the local communities demonstrate beyond doubt the existence of local pockets of accelerated land degradation, sometimes leading to desertification. The ecosystems are considered “degraded” when they partially or totally lose their resilience, i.e. their ability to return to a normal state and structure. Typical symptoms of land degradation are dwindling or disappearance of herbaceous and tree flora, the reduction in size of resistant trees, the reduction in biological activity of the soil and the increase in surface runoff and erosion [3]. The spontaneous restoration of ecosystems is compromised by the phenomenon of compaction of the top-soil, in particular on "glacis", i.e. soft sloping sandy-loam and clay-loam soils. Processes contributing to land degradation are among others land tenure insecurity and unsustainable range management, overgrazing and overstocking of pastures.
2.2. Description of Socio-Economic Context The Sahel region takes the last place in terms of GDP / inhabitants in Burkina Faso, which is 582 US$ PP / inhabitant [4]. The main towns in the Sahel region are medium-sized cities where activities other than agriculture are poorly developed. More 85% of the populations in the Sahel are agro-pastoralists [5]. In addition, the agriculture does not benefit from an advantageous rainfall, which causes migration to the South of especially young workforce [4]. Less than 2% of the households in the Sahel region have access to electricity. More than 50% uses oil lamps as most important light source. In rural areas lamp torches and biomass are also often used. [5]
The pastoral production systems in the Sahel are dominated by agro-pastoralism. However, different types of production systems can be identified in the project area: (i) open pastoral zone; and (ii) the saturated agro-pastoral zone. [6]
The open pastoral zone in the north of the Burkinabe Sahel extends from east to west in the provinces of Soum and Oudalan. The soils are sandy and susceptible to wind erosion. Low rainfall makes it very marginal area for rain fed crops. The basic economic activity is livestock production characterized by a high mobility or transhumance. The transhumance is explained by the constant search for pasture and water. Individual landownership is unknown in this area and the herds move freely according to the availability of forage and water. Access to pasture is de facto subject to the availability of nearby water sources. In principle, the transhumance system is well suited for efficient exploitation of scarce natural resources. Yet the system is very sensitive to drought and increasing population density in the South doesn’t allow going much deeper to the southwards in search of water and pasture. This system is increasingly threatened due to repeated droughts.
The saturated agro-pastoral zone partly situated in the three provinces of Oudalan, Seno and Soum is limited to the north by the 400 mm isohyet and to the south by the 550 mm isohyets. Soils are diverse but dominated by “glacis” (soft sloping sandy-loam and clay-loam soils). The population density is around 25 inhabitants / km² and the pressure on land is high with an occupancy rate of arable land around 50% and a high animal density. The sedentarism is becoming more and more common whereas animals remain mobile.
11 | Page
3. Identification of Target Groups & Communities
The project will in the first stage target the villages of Bossey Etage and Peteldaye in the municipality of Gorom-Gorom in the province of Oudalan and Tadabat in the municipality of Markoye in the province of Oudalan. In a later stage, other villages will be involved in the project, which are located in the municipalities of Djibo and Arbinda (province of Soum), Gorom-Gorom and Markoye (province of Oudalan) and Bani (province of Séno). All these municipalities are located in and around the nature reserve of the Sahel in the North of Burkina Faso, denominated “Reserve sylvo-pastorale et partielle de faune du Sahel”.
The population growth in the Sahel zone in 2006 (3.18%) was higher than national average in Burkina Faso (3.12%) [5]. In 2009 the population in the Sahel was estimated at more than 1 million inhabitants. Most spoken language in the Sahel region is Fulfudé with 57%, the language of the Fulanis, an important pastoral nomadic group in West Africa. It is followed by Tamashek, a variety of Tuareg, with 14 % and Mossi language, one of two official regional languages of Burkina Faso, with 13%.
The analysis of the situation of poverty in the Sahel zone in Burkina Faso shows that more than 33% of the households live below the poverty line [7]. The poorest households consists of agro- pastoralists who do not have cattle, agro-pastoralists looking after entrusted animals, agro- pastoralists practicing small scale transhumance, children, women and other actors of small livestock trades (like salaried shepherds and others). During the implementation of the project, attention will be paid to gender issues. The various socio-cultural groups in the Sahel have very different men – women relationships and human – animal relationships. For the Fulani, the main ethnic nomad group in the Sahel, it is common for women to own the animals that they received as dowry and that remain under their control. Men will take responsibility of the herd, but the women will do the milking and are in charge of the commercialization of the milk. For other cattle-rearing ethnic groups, the respective roles of women and men are less clear.
In Burkina Faso, the decentralization of state services leads to awareness and especially an increasing capacity for action at the local and regional level. The Village Development Committees (Conseils villageois de Développement CVD), formally established in 2007 (Decree N° 2007-032/PRES/PM/MATD) is an official authority to give villages a unique and official structure to organize and develop local initiatives. Organized under the auspices of the Municipal Council, which oversees its implementation, the Village Development Committee is the consolidation of all the "lifeblood of the village". It therefore represents grassroots communities that include rural populations and other development actors at the level of the village. The role of the Village Development Committee consists of among others (i) initiating micro-projects for local development, land management or decentralized rural development; (ii) acting as contracting authority for the implementation of local projects; and (iii) collaborative management of local resources (like grasslands) on the territory of the village.
4. Land Tenure & Carbon Rights Burkina Faso adopted a new Rural Land Tenure Law (Act. No. 034 on The Rural Land Tenure System) in June 2009. The law recognizes customary rules and practices, and reinforces the decentralization and devolution of authority over land matter. The goals of the new law include:
12 | Page
(i) ensuring equitable access to rural land; (ii) promoting investments in agriculture, forestry and pastoralism in Burkina Faso; (iii) reducing poverty in rural areas; and (iv) promoting sustainable management of natural resources. In addition to these goals, the new Rural Tenure Law is meant to protect property and land user rights, to prevent and manage land conflicts, and to build a framework for ensuring rural land tenure security. The law furthers decentralization in Burkina Faso and codifies principles of customary rights by enabling communities to draft local land charters, which are local conventions based on the customs and land uses. These land charters contain rules relating to conservation of shared natural resources, the process of giving and receiving land loan, and managing land disputes. They are created at the village level in a participatory manner that includes a representative group of stakeholders (including women, forest users, pastoralists, and youth), and is aided by the state. They are adopted at the village level, validated at the municipal court, and recorded in the register of local land charters. Communities are engaged to participate in safeguarding the application of these local land charters. Pastoralists and sedentary farmers are also sometimes in conflict. Transhumance has been practiced in the Burkinabe Sahel for centuries, and there are clear local understanding regarding northern herding routes. Expanded cultivation is blocking traditional access routes to pasture and watering holes. Also, more pastoralists are seeking to become sedentary agro-pastoralist, and more farmers are raising livestock, exacerbating competition between the populations and minimizing complementarity. Farmers have less incentive to invite pastoralist onto their land when their own livestock have already provided manure and milk. The 2009 land Law reinforces the jurisdiction of local authorities in resolving land disputes, per procedures set forth in local land charter [2].
The rehabilitated pasture sites are managed by the Village Development Committee (or CVD) through the local land charter. The local land charter process has been finalized in the municipality of Gorom-Gorom (with the pilot villages Bossey Etage and Peteldaye) and in the municipality of Markoye (with pilot village Tadabat). Land user rights of the sites as well as the carbon rights will be formalized by the municipal council, which will ensure that the carbon rights are owed by the local communities.
5. Project Interventions & Activities The project intervention consists of restoring degraded pastures in the Burkinabe Sahel by re- establishing its structure, productivity and the diversity of species originally present in order to enhance the productivity of the vegetation as pasture for the benefit of the pastoralists and agro- pastoralists. The sites are old degraded grazing lands of which the topsoil is characterized by a clogged, hardened and impenetrable surface.
13 | Page
Figure 8: Degraded land before rehabilitation
After consultation with representatives of the local population through the Village Development Committees (Comités Villageois de Développement or CVD) and in close collaboration with local authorities, degraded pastures will be identified for restoration. The soil surface will be worked by a tractor using the Vallerani system with the Delfino plow. Due to the speed of the tractor and the construction particularities of the plow, the compacted soil will be broken up, thereby facilitating the absorption of water. The plow creates a system of micro-basins with a volume of about 1000 liters in a “half-moon” shape, disposed along the contour-line. The micro-basins collect rainwater, over flow and other resources available like fine soil, organic matter, seeds, etc.
Figure 9: Use of the Delfino plow to break up the compacted soil
The natural regeneration of vegetation on ripped land is assisted by direct seeding of native plants whose germination and growth is possible thanks to the water collected into the micro- basins. The seed collection, conservation and direct seeding are organized with and by the local communities. The seeds must be collected from the plants at the time of their maturity and properly maintained. Missing seeds are purchased from the National Centre for Tree Seeds (CNSF) if needed in order to better propagate pre-existing species that, because of environmental degradation, are no longer sufficient to ensure adequate dissemination.
14 | Page
Figure 10: Community involvement in seed collection and direct seeding
The following native tree species are selected and propagated by the communities because of their important value for human and livestock:
Scientific name Products & uses Balanites Aegyptiaca (i) Fruits and oil; (ii) construction wood ;(iii) Medicinal uses; (iv) nitrogen fixation in the soil; Ziziphus Mauritiana (i) Fruits; (ii) Leave as forage; Acacia Nilotica (i) Pods and leaves as forage and fodder; (ii) Construction of hedges; Acacia Albida (i) Leaves and seedpods as forage; (ii) Important for raising bees; (iii) Nitrogen fixation in the soil; Acacia Raddiana (i) Foliage and seedpods as forage; (ii) (ii) Construction of hedges; (iii) Firewood; Acacia Sénégal (i) Foliage as forage; (ii) Arabic gum; Acacia Seyal (i) Foliage as forage; (ii) Arabic gum; (iii) Medicinal uses; Piliostigma Reticulatum (i) Leaves used for drinks; (ii) Bark for cordage; (iii) Twigs and leaves as forage; (iv) Medicinal uses;
Table 3: Overview of native trees used in the project
The implementation of local land charters, based on the new Rural Land Tenure Law (Act. No. 034/2009), will enable communities to sustainably manage the restored pastures. Local land charters will be created at the village level in a participatory manner that includes a representative group of stakeholders (including women, forest users, pastoralists, and youth). These land charters, which are local conventions based on the custom and land uses, will contain rules relating to conservation of shared natural resources.
15 | Page
Figure 11: Recovery of grass on a rehabilitated site after one rainy season
Carbon sequestration is estimated between 1 and 2 tCO2/ha/year. There is a large uncertainty on the underground biomass. Revenue from the sale of Plan Vivo Certificate will be used for staged PES schemes based on performance indicators as seed survival and tree growth.
6. Identification of Any Non-Eligible Activities The Plan Vivo project “Rehabilitation and sustainable management by REACH Italia of degraded pastures in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso“ is part of a larger program BKF/017 “Livestock Improvement Project of the Zebu Azawak and sustainable management of pastoral resources” implemented by the Ministry in charge of Animal Resources in Burkina Faso with finance from Lux Dev. In addition to the rehabilitation and the rational management of pastures, the program BKF/017 aims at promoting the breeding of one local cattle species, the zebu Azawak, which is more productive and adaptable to intensive farming.
Four main groups of actors are involved in the implementation of the program BKF/017 Azawak - Pastoral Resources and they will benefit from capacity building activities: (i) farmers and their organizations, (ii) local and grassroots communities; (iii) the Ministry in charge of Animal Resources and its decentralized structures; (iv) scientific and technical institutes. Other activities foreseen in the project are related to the improvement of farming conditions of zebu Azawak and the genetic improvement of livestock. The BKF/017 program aims to have a holistic approach to the livestock sector in Burkina Faso by reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development in rural areas.
7. Long-Term Sustainability Drivers Rehabilitation of the degraded pastures through tree planting will be reinforced through the implementation of local land charters provided by the 2009 Rural Land Tenure Law. The communities will have drafted their local land charters based on the principles of customary rights, which are local conventions based on customs and land uses. These land charters contain rules relating to conservation of shared natural resources and managing land disputes. Examples among others of practices which will be forbidden on the pastures by the local land charters: (i)
16 | Page wood cutting; (ii) access of animals with no updated vaccinations against dominant animal diseases; (iii) practice of bush fires; (iv) practice of illegal grazing; (v) the practice of harvesting grass in pasture areas for commercial purposes. These local land charters are created at the village level in a participatory manner that includes a representative group of stakeholders (including women, forest users, pastoralists, and youth), and is aided by the BKF/017 program. These charters are adopted at the village level, validated at the municipal court, and recorded in the register of local land charters.
The reforested pastures will increase the forage production for the livestock, the major economic activity in the area. Sustainable management of trees on grasslands has a major positive impact on the forage production of leaves of the trees and grasses around the trees. Indeed, trees and grasses play an important role in the Sahel for the survival of the livestock. In particular the leaves of trees provide fodder essentially during the lean season (last two to three months of the dry season). Different studies reveal an increase in herbaceous productivity with increased forage availability [8, 9]. The increase in productivity is usually confined to the under- canopy or near-canopy environments, and it results from the higher concentrations of soil nutrients, improved soil physical properties, lower temperatures and lower evapotranspiration rates occurring below tree canopies. In addition, trees provide shade for the large mammals and improve the nutritional quality of grassland in terms of increased concentrations of minerals [10].
8. Applicant Organization & Proposed Governance Structure The NGO – REACH Italia will act as Project Coordinator. In the project establishment phase the Ministry in charge of Animal Resources (MRAH) and Lux Dev, with technical assistance of CO2logic, will assist to manage the project while building the capacity of REACH Italia. REACH Italia is a long-standing local NGO based in the North of Burkina Faso, experienced in community facilitation and forest protection. In order to adapt to the local context of existing partner relationships and distribution of skills and expertise, REACH Italia will receive assistance for certain project coordinator responsibilities from MRAH/Lux Dev and CO2logic through discrete external technical services to the project, supporting in-depth socialization of the Plan Vivo System and PDD development.
The section below highlights the key responsibilities of REACH Italia in the Plan Vivo project:
Administrative
• Registration and recording of “plan vivos” and sale agreements; • Managing the use of project finance in the Plan Vivo and making payments to producers • Coordinating and recording monitoring • Negotiating sales of Plan Vivo Certificates • Reporting to the Plan Vivo Foundation • Contracting project validation and verification • Managing project data.
Technical
17 | Page
• Providing technical support and training to producers in planning and implementing project activities • Developing, reviewing and updating forestry and agroforestry systems (technical specifications) • Evaluating “plan vivos” • Monitoring “plan vivos”
Social
• Conducting preliminary discussions and continued workshops with communities • Gathering socio-economic information for project registration and reporting purposes • Helping groups/individuals to demonstrate land-tenure • Advising on issues such as mobilization, setting up bank accounts, dispute resolution, etc.
External Technical Support/Project Development Services
REACH Italia will receive technical assistance to develop certain aspects of the project from MRAH / Lux Dev and CO2logic. The areas of assistance are:
• Negotiating sales of Plan Vivo Certificates • Reporting to the Plan Vivo Foundation • Assisting in technical aspects of project design and development • Providing training to project technicians • Developing carbon/ES modeling and technical specifications
Information about the Project Coordinator – REACH Italia
• Legal status: REACH ITALIA is a non-Governmental Organization of Italian origin with headquarters in Milan. It was officially recognized in Burkina Faso following the convention No. 2003-133 / MATD / SG / DGIFAP / DAOSOC signed with the government of Burkina Faso. The office of REACH Italia in Burkina Faso also represents its headquarters for the African region. REACH Italia is active in 07 countries: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde and Rwanda. The NGO registration number in Burkina Faso is 091-2014/MEF/REACH. • Long-term objectives: REACH Italia is committed to a process of sustainable and fair development with the effective and responsible participation of beneficiaries / target communities in a context of good governance. Its main role is to effectively support the beneficiaries / target communities in fulfilling their development process by using the best techniques and professional practices. REACH Italia works in close partnership with Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and local NGOs that have a good knowledge of the environment. • Brief summary of interventions: (i) the school project in the provinces of Bazéga, Kadiogo, Seno, Oudalan and Soum; (ii) the community support project for orphans and vulnerable children in the provinces of Soum, Seno and Oudalan; (iii) the environmental safeguard project in the Burkinabe Sahel in the provinces of Soum, Seno and Oudalan; (iv) the
18 | Page
project to support food production systems in the provinces of Soum, Seno and Oudalan; and (v) the vocational training project with his mechanics training centre based in Ouagadougou. • Summary of current activities including details of scale and range: The approach to REACH Italia is based on an appropriate mix of tools and methods: (i) local development; (ii) decentralized rural development; (iii) gender and development; and (iv) management of soils. This approach draws its originality in two vital aspects i.e. participation and research/action. Among others, REACH Italia has a wealth of experience in food and nutrition security through the following (realized or on-going) actions in the Sahel region: (i) the community support project for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in the provinces of Soum, Seno and Oudalan: creation and financing of micro projects directly managed by the beneficiary communities; organization and training of beneficiaries on setting up and managing projects; mobilization of technical and financial partners and governmental technical services around initiatives (micro projects) of beneficiaries; follow-up, support and advice of community-based care of OVC; (ii) the environmental safeguard project in the Burkinabe Sahel in the provinces of Soum, Seno and Oudalan: identification of degraded land areas suitable for rehabilitation; development of silvopastoral land use plans; rehabilitation of vast degraded land areas through the half-moon technique VALLERANI; sowing of plowed areas; training and organization of communities (pastoralists and agro-pastoralists) for the management of the recovered sites;
(iii) the project to support food production systems: provision of inputs and fertilizer to producers; logistic management of fertilizer distribution to every household; joint monitoring of yearly crop yield with the relevant technical services of the Ministry of Agriculture; training and monitoring of local producers on improved seeds; monitoring of seed production monitoring and support / advice to producer organizations. • Personnel to be involved in the project:
(i) LONG Alain: Regional Director (ii) YONLI Olivier: Administrator (iii) OUATTARA Allamadogo: Coordinator (iv) AMADOU Boureima: Forest animator (v) LY Amadou Abidine: Forest animator (vi) ABDOULHAZIZE Djibrilla: Animator (vii) HAMADOU Idrissa: Tractor operator (viii) KI Ouintan Barthéllémy: Tractor operator (ix) OUEDRAOGO Abdoulaye: Tractor operator (x) DERRA Abasse: Tractor operator
Technical assistance will be provided by MRAH / Lux DEV and CO2logic. MRAH and Lux Dev are responsible for the implementation of the larger program BKF/017 “Livestock Improvement
19 | Page
Project of the Zebu Azawak and sustainable management of pastoral resources”, of which the proposed Plan Vivo project “Rehabilitation and sustainable management by REACH Italia of degraded pastures in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso” is part of. CO2logic, a carbon consultancy company based in Brussels, has lots of experience with the development of carbon projects mainly in West Africa.
Annex 1 shows the signed statement on behalf of REACH Italia that the PIN was submitted with their full consent.
9. Community-Led Design Plan Community participation represents a key factor for the achievement of the expected results and for guaranteeing the sustainability to the project. Participation will be fostered through the empowerment of already existing structures like the Village Development Committees. Communities are highly involved in the selection of tree and herbaceous species according to their needs; like native species, species with specific utility and use for local population such as Arabic gum and forage or erosion control species. The selection is realized through consultation and participatory design process. This design process will include capacity building on the collection and treatment of seeds and on the technique of direct seeding. Afterwards, the communities will be involved in the direct seeding of the rehabilitated lands.
The communities will be highly involved in the development of local land charters, which are local conventions based on the customs and land uses. These land charters will contain rules relating to conservation of the pastures.
The communities will also be in charge of forest inventory. The direct involvement of community members in monitoring is a fundamental measure for enhancing project ownership and improving the effectiveness. The forest inventory will be organized in close collaboration with the Village Development Committee.
Figure 12: Example of community meeting
10. Additionality Analysis The project “Rehabilitation and sustainable management of degraded pastures in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso” is not the product of a legislative degree. Project activities aim to reverse
20 | Page degradation of pastures and foster sustainable land management of the pastures, and could not be considered a commercial land-use initiative that would be economically viable in their own right. The revenues related to Plan Vivo certificates will allow REACH Italia to put in place an incentive mechanism to support sustainable pasture management.
The barriers to sustainable management of pastures and how the proposed project will overcome them are presented in the table 4.
Barrier Action to overcome the barrier Financial Target communities lack financial resources to Finance from program BKF-017, funded by support rehabilitation and sustainable land Lux Dev, is used to support the establishment management of pastures. Poverty is still of project activities. The sale of Plan Vivo forcing many resource users to embark on certificates provides a potential source of short-term coping strategies rather than long- support in order to foster sustainable term investment in land and resources. management of pastures in the longer term, which will deliver quantifiable climate benefits.
Technical Target communities lack knowledge of Rehabilitation and land management practices practices that could improve land will be introduced to communities during management and/or the technical expertise to participatory land use planning workshops implement them. exercises.
Institutional The implementation of the Land Tenure Law The set up of Local Land Charters based on has been difficult. It has been argued that the consultation with the full range of rural actors rules and regulations for securing property is foreseen in the project. Facilitation and rights and promoting sustainable management training to guide and strengthen community of natural resources are not really known by groups and structures like CVD will allow local communities. ensuring rural land tenure security.
Table 4: Additionality analysis
11. Notification of Relevant Bodies & Regulations The letter in Annex 2 shows a notification letter of the project proposal that has been sent to the national focal point on climate change (SP/CONEDD or Permanent Secretariat of the National Council for Environment and Sustainable Development).
Additionally, the project will comply with all relevant national and international regulations.
21 | Page
12. Identification of Start-Up Funding The project is part of a larger program BKF/017 “Livestock Improvement Project of the Zebu Azawak and sustainable management of pastoral resources” implemented by the Ministry in charge of Animal Resources in Burkina Faso with finance of Lux Dev. Funds are foreseen until the end of 2016 to set up the Plan Vivo project. Operational costs after 2016 are expected to be financed through the sales of the Plan Vivo certificates.
22 | Page
References [1] MECV (2007) « Programme d’action national d’adaptation à la variabilité et aux changements climatiques (Pana du Burkina Faso) » http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/napa/bfa01f.pdf
[2] Kogone (2001) “FAO Country Pasture and Forage Resource profile of Burkina Faso” http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Counprof/BurkinaFaso/BurkinaFeng.htm
[3] TOUTAIN B., GUERVILLY T., LE MASSON A., ROBERGE G., Sécheresse 2006, 17 (1) : 72-75, « Leçons de quelques essais de régénération des parcours en région sahélienne »
[4] PNUD (2012) « Rapport National sur le Développement Humain Burkina Faso 2012 » http://www.bf.undp.org/content/burkina_faso/fr/home/library/human_development/ rapnatdh12/
[5] INSD (2006), « Monographie de la région du Sahel » (http://www.insd.bf/fr/IMG/pdf/monographie/monographie_sahel.pdf)
[6] MECV (2002) « Schéma régional d’aménagement du territoire du Sahel (1998 – 2025) »
[7] MRA (2005) « Initiative Elevage Pauvreté et Croissance (IEPC) » http://hubrural.org/IMG/pdf/burkina_iepc.pdf
[8] CONEDERA M., et. al., Bois et Forëts des Tropiques (2010) N° 304 (2), “Reconstitution des écosystèmes dégradés Sahéliens »
[9] GROUZIS M., NIZINSKI J., AKPO E., IVe Congrès International des Terres de Parcours Montpellier – France – 22-26 Avril 1991, « L’arbre et l’herbe au Sahel : Influence de l’arbre sur la structure spécifique et la production de la strate herbacée, et sur la régénération des espèces ligneuses »
[10] BELSKY A.J., Tropical Grasslands (1992) Volume 26, 12 – 20, “Effects of trees on nutritional quality of understorey gramineous forage in tropical savannas”
23 | Page
Annex 1: Signed statement of REACH Italia
24 | Page
Annex 2: Letter to DNA
25 | Page
Annex 3: Presence list of community meetings Village Bossey Etage 18/02/2015
SEX N° NOM PRENOMS STRUCTURES E CONTACTS Commission Foncière 1 SIDI Mohamad Assalek Villageoise (CFV) M 72778449 2 YOUSSOUFI Akmoudou M 3 ABDOULAYE Ahmoudou CVD M 71074835 4 MOHAMED Assalek Hama CFV M 71345889 5 BOUREIMA Youssoufa M 6 ABOUBACAR Mahamane M 7 AHMADOU Adama M 8 ISSA Gorko M 72047922 9 ABDOULBAKI Abdoulkadri M 10 MOHAMED Alamine Ousmane M 71266238 11 MOHAMED Tahirou CVD M 70366712 12 MOHAMED Youssouf M 70831877 13 ABASSA Brahima M 70839310 14 CHOUAIBOU Mohamed Assalek M 70884695 15 ABOUBAKAR Aliou M 71560427 16 MOHAMED Amadou M 72790345 17 MOHAMED Almoutadi M 18 ABDOULWAHID Sirakata M 61993855 19 HAMSATA Hamidou M 20 MOHAMED Otini M 71619226 21 AMADOU Issa M 61993855 HUNGADOUMBO 22 U abdaramane M 23 HAMADOU Hama M 24 MOHAMED Tangorel M 25 TALATOU Boureima M 26 AHMADOU Abassa M 27 IBRAHIM Noued M 28 ABDOULAYE Moussa M 29 ABOUJARI Youssoufi M 30 NOURADINE Hamidou M 31 SOULEYMANE Idoual M 70567280 32 SOULEYMANE Abdoulaye M 33 DJAMIOU Mane M 34 MAHAMADOU Djédé M 35 MAKATA Ibrahim F 36 HADI Aljoumare F 37 FANFO Assewad F
26 | Page
38 RABI Irza F 39 ROUKIATOU Aliou F 40 RAMATOU Issiaka F 41 ADJARATA Hassane F 42 SAYATA Ali F 43 AWA Abdoulkadri F 44 DJENEBA Alhadji F 45 MAIMOUNATOU Hamadou F 46 HALIMATA Issa F 47 Houneyzeta Alhadji F 48 AMINATA Hama F 71393810 49 HADIGATOU Hama F 50 HAJARATA Tamimoudari F 51 FATOUMATA Akilou F 52 ZAILEKA Mohamed F 53 FATIMATA Hamadalamine F 54 AISSATOU Houssouba F 55 ASSETA Issa F 56 ROUKIETOU Idi F
Village Tadabat 19/02/2015
N° NOM PRENOMS STRUCTURES SEXE CONTACTS 1 MOHAMED Ag Mohamed M 2 ALZOUMAGOTT Ag Afanchousse M 3 DAOUDA Ag Goumar M 71308793 4 INETEN Ag Alwasder membre CVD M 70360524 membre de la 5 ABDOU Ag Anahoute Commission Foncière M 72002633 6 ABOUBACAR Ag Youssouf M 71824191 7 MOHAMED Ag Arouna M 8 AKMOUDOU Ag Lomid M 71014952 9 SILAWAT Ag Agali M 10 AROUNA Ag Anaslogor M 11 AKMOUDOU Ag Manga Ex Conseiller villageois M 70430914 12 SOULEY Ag Mito M 13 SANAKA Ag Abdou M membre de la 14 ISSA Ag Anahorate Commission Foncière M 73658412 15 IDRISSA Ag Baki M 71423879 16 IDRISSA Ag Irzaguayete M 17 ILIASSA Ag Atalib M 18 ABDOU Ag Harouna M 70585803 19 SAGUID Ag Harouna M
27 | Page
20 DICKO Mackel M 21 YACO Ag Ismaguil M 22 AZAHABI Ag Iniksé M 60614721 23 BOKI Ag Dakao M 24 LAMIEN Wellet Acheur F 25 AISSA Wellet Ousmana F 26 MATA Wellet Goumar responsable des femmes F 27 SIDEY Wellet Idrahi F 28 LAYLA Wellet Madjo F responsable adjointe des 29 MADINA Wellet Adireme femmes F 72783758 30 FOADI Wellet Idrahi F 31 ASKAMATA Wellet Atalib F 32 FADIMATA Wellet Hama F 33 NAFI Wellet F 34 SADAO Wellet Daouda F 35 ASSITA Wellet Bello F 36 ADISSA Wellet Ousmana F 37 MARWA Wellet Alzamena F 38 RAKI Wellet Adaï F 39 COULBALY Kadidja F 40 MARIAMA Wellet Aïfa F 41 ASMAO Wellet Dakao F 42 DALOA Wellet F
28 | Page