Chapter９ Participatory Management Plan for Bounouna Forest Reserve
9. Participatory Management Plan for Bounouna Forest Reserve
9.1. Policy of the Management Plan
Objectives ：Rehabilitation of forest resources and promotion of management by establishing GGFs in related villages Expected ：Forest Service, GGFs in related villages, NGOs, sawmills, Stakeholders citizens of Banfora (Structures) Main Activities ：Planting trees, agro-forestry, countermeasures against bush fire, supervision of illegal activities, creation of recreational forests Incentives for ：A share of the revenues from fuel woods which will be produced communities in plantations, and from agricultural products produced in agro-forestry fields
Since forest resources have already been degraded by bush fires and fuel wood collection in Bounouna Forest Reserve, the main objectives of this management plan is thus the “Rehabilitation of forest resources”. Considering the incentives for communities, creating plantations with fuel wood species and introducing agro-forestry could be main activities in the initial phase of the management plan, although several other countermeasures are possible. An institutional management will be established whereby some of the planted trees (fuel woods trees) are systematically cut after their maturity, and the benefits of those products (fuel woods) are shared for communities. The benefits of the produce from agro-forestry fields will be shared with community as well. Given those shares of benefits to communities as incentives, their concern on forest reserve will be heightened and their involvement in “forest activities” encouraged. Then, it is expected that local villagers will spontaneously join management/conservation activities, i.e. controlling bush fires in plantations, monitoring illegal cutting, and so on. Major importance will be also attached to introducing indigenous species to plantations to rehabilitate original vegetation in the reserve from the middle phase of the plan. Finally, it is anticipated that the objectives of the management plan will be achieved by extending plantations to the whole reserve, and by establishing collaborative management/monitoring systems with the local villagers. For realizing the objectives mentioned above, management of forest resources by GGFs in related villages will be promoted. Cooperation with NGOs and monetary support from sawmills are also considered as important factors. There are four villages closely related to the reserve, they are Bounouna, Labola Nambalfo, Labola Sankrala, and Gnoungouana. Another two villages adjoining the reserve, i.e. Tatana and Toumgouana, have been merged
9-1 into Banfora City, and people in the villages hardly have any relation with the reserve except the older generations. Therefore, Bounouna and Labola GGFs were officially established at first. Then, the formation of the union of these GGFs was built. If there are some people in the other two villages who are interested in these activities, they can join the activities upon organizing their own groups. At the same time, cooperation between GGFs and NGOs will be encouraged for promoting planting and agro-forestry. In future, it is aimed for present planting activities (agro-forestry), which are practised as an obligation of sawmills (planting 10ha every year), to be undertaken by GGFs under cooperation with NGOs. Moreover, according to the demographic expansion of Banfora City and the future role of the reserve as an important resource of amenity for Banfora citizens, the creation of recreational forests (amenity forests), the promotion of planting activities for Banfora citizens, and IEC (Information, Education and Communication) activities will be planned in the middle-long term.
9.2. Implementation Systems of Local communities, the Administration and Others 9.2.1. Roles of Local communities, the Administration and Others and Their Implementation Systems Actors As already described earlier, the implementing body of the Bounouna Forest Reserve Management Plan is the GGF1. The Bounouna GGF and the Labola GGF which comprises three villages (blocks) have been set up and have been conducting planting activities inside the forest reserves. Grazing and/or cultivation inside the Bounouna Forest Reserve require some management measures for which breeder and farmers’ groups can become major actors. Moreover, the CACOSE (which is a collective of association) is conducting agro-forestry in the Bounouna Forest Reserve2 assisted by these two GGF which receive the financial assistance of a sawmill. In this sense, both the CACOSE and the sawmill in question are important actors in plan implementation. To further exploit the characteristics of the Bounouna Forest Reserve which is adjacent to Banfora, a local city, it is anticipated
1 The management of a forest reserve requires the involvement of all related villages. However, given the experiences of (i) confusion between residents’ organizations in villages related to the Toumousséni Forest reserve and (ii) the Gonsé Forest reserve in northern Ouagadougou where the GTZ has provided assistance, it appears suitable to make the GGF formed to manage such a block the leading implementing body. 2 In 2004, agro-forestry is being implemented over an area of 10 ha. A problematic issue is the striking of a balance between the need for increased farmland to benefit from the suburban location and the need for planting.
9-2 that this forest reserve will play the role of a recreational place for the citizens of Banfora. The creation of a mechanism where the citizens and primary school pupils, etc. of Banfora can participate in planting activities inside the Bounouna Forest Reserve sooner rather than later is necessary together with other steady efforts to realise this future role. The Forestry Service has jurisdiction for forest reserves and, therefore, is the main actor on the administration side for the management of forest reserves. Meanwhile, villages related to forest reserves are administered by the head of the department3 to which villages belong. It may be necessary to obtain the technical assistance of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Animal Resources, etc. for the purpose of managing the forest reserve. Based on the above, the main actors in the management of the Bounouna Forest Reserve are listed below. • Administration/Forestry Service • Administration/department chiefs, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Animal Resources • Local communities’ organization/GGF, GGF Union • Breeder groups, farmers’ groups and women’s groups, etc. • CACOSE and the sawmill • Banfora Municipal Authority and citizens of Banfora
Administration Villagers support & Forestry Service collaboration Bounouna Forest Department Chief Reserve Ministry of GGF Union Future technical Agriculture GGF training /Ministry of Animal Resouces Bounou Labola regulation of na GGF GGF illegal act
activities collaborative Bounouna Forest &conservation activities Reserve NGO, Association
Figure 9.1 Bounouna Forest Reserve Management Implementation System
3 Bounouna is controlled by the Department of Banfora while Labola is controlled by the Department of Tiéfora.
9-3 Implementation system The implementation system for the management of Bounouna Forest Reserve will be divided into two components. One relates to the formulation of an overall management plan and adjustment between the main actors, while the other relates to the actual activities. The Forest Service will be principally responsible for the former and the GGF Union will conduct the publicity and review of the plan under the guidance of the Forest Service. At the implementation stage, member GGFs of the Union will formulate and implement concrete activity plans and the rules of activities within the framework of the management plan under the supervision of the Forest Service.4 If necessary, GGFs will receive technical assistance from the Forest Service, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Animal Resources, etc. Implementation of the management of the Bounouna Forest Reserve will basically be conducted under the system described so far. Implementation system in Bounouna Forest Reserve: • Based on agreement with the Forest Service, the GGFs and CACOSE (agro-forestry) will assume main responsibility for implementing management in the forest reserve. • The Forest Service implements review and formulation of plans, but the GGF Union will disseminate and supervise them. • Where necessary, the Forest Service, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Animal Resources, etc. will provide technical support to the GGFs and collaborate with NGOs and associations.
In the case of the participatory forest reserve management plan, it will be crucial to achieve sustainable management by reflecting problems arising from plan implementation and measures to solve them in the management plan in question. It will be essential to create a mechanism where the GGF Union plays a central part in reflecting the opinions and problem solving measures gathered by the Forest Service from GGFs conducting agro-forestry and forestation, etc. through monitoring and other means in the management plan. In other words, the GGF Union should summarise the opinions of individual GGFs and then discuss the issues with the Forest Service and other relevant organizations to ensure that the management plan reflects the local opinions and measures recommended by the GGFs.
4 One important lesson learned from the Forestation Pilot Study conducted by the JICA Study Team in FY 2003 and other donor projects in the past is to exchange written documents clearly stating the planting area, planting species, relevant rights and monitoring system, etc. Because of this lesson, the Forestation Pilot Study by the JICA Study Team in FY 2004 firstly formulated the implementation plan and the rules of implementation were exchanged between the Forest Service and each GGF in writing.
9-4 Issues relating to the entire Bounouna Forest Reserve are normally discussed at meetings of the GGF Union, which comprises several member GGFs. The GGF Union was established (currently seeking official approval) by the Bounouna GGF and the Labola GGF in accordance with Law 014/99/AN of 15th April 1999. This GGF Union basically holds two general meetings (attended by all member GGFs) a year and three monthly meetings of its executive committee and mainly plays the following functions. • Publicity and review of the Bounouna Forest Reserve Management Plan • Reporting of the activity plan (including the rules of activities) of each GGF • Response to problems regarding implementation, etc. • Reporting to and requests for assistance to suitable organizations if necessary (via the Forest Service) • Requests for round table meetings
The roles of the population /administration The executive committee of the GGF Union for the Bounouna Forest Reserve has a total of 16 members. The job titles are chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, treasurer, information manager, women’s activity promoter, organizer, adviser and auditor. In addition, a control committee with two members has been established to monitor the activities of the executive committee. The Forest Service participates in executive committee meetings as well as general meetings of the GGF Union whenever it believes that such participation is necessary. In addition, in response to requests made by the GGF Union and others, the Forest Service organizes round table meetings on the management of the Bounouna Forest Reserve to which the GGF Union, CACOSE, department chiefs and other related organizations such as the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Animal Resources and, in the future, citizens of Banfora, are invited to participate. At such meetings, the Forest Service acts as the chairman and secretary (to record the minutes). At present, GGFs are active in Bounouna and Labola villages. The latter consists of five districts. From an administrative point of view, these districts are regarded as villages. Taking the intentions of villagers into consideration, three villages adjacent to the forest reserve (Foukara, Sankrala and Nambalfo) set up the Labola GGF in 2004 with the assistance of the Forest Service and the JICA Study Team. An executive committee consisting of the chief executive, secretary, organizer, information manager and treasurer and general meetings of all members manage the GGF and determine matters relating to the activities of the GGF. As in the case of the GGF Union, general meetings are held twice a year while meetings of the executive committee are held
9-5 every three months. The GGF is the implementing body conducting real activities based on the forest reserve management plan, preparing the activity plan with the guidance of the Forest Service and agreeing the rules of activities with the Forest Service and other relevant organizations. Using forestation activities inside the forest reserve as examples, the GGF directly consults with the Forest Service and concludes the rules of activities regarding the planting area, rights and monitoring system, etc. with the Forest Service. The GGF then reports the agreed matters to the Union. Based on the experiences of the Pilot Study, etc., the main functions of a GGF are described below. • Formulation of an activity plan featuring such concrete activities as forestation, tree cutting and collection of fuel wood, etc. based on the Bounouna Forest Reserve Management Plan and exchange of the rules of activities with the Forest Service and other relevant organizations • Implementation of such activities as forestation, tree cutting, collection of fuel wood and marking and establishment of the monitoring system • Reporting to and collaboration with the Forest Service, other relevant government organizations, GGF Union and CVGT, etc.
In addition to the functions of the Forest Service, which has already been mentioned in previous sections dealing with village organizations such as the GGF Union and GGFs, the Forest Service also plays the following functions relating to the management of Bounouna Forest Reserve: • Enforcement of laws inside the forest reserve as has been the case so far; • Promotion of environmental education; • Publicity and review of the Bounouna Forest Reserve Management Plan; and • Guidance and education for the GGF Union and GGFs on technical and organizational (operational) issues
As the Forest Service has acquired much experience of technical guidance in the Toumousséni Forest Reserve Block and others, it can provide sufficient technical guidance based on its past experience. Unlike the conventional function of the Forest Service of enforcing the law, guidance on organizational issues requires a more careful, process-oriented approach that suits the actual situation of the targets. It is, therefore, essential for this guidance to include the following based on the lessons learned from the Pilot Study.
9-6 • Establishment of a relationship of trust with the population (organizations) (support for literacy education for which the local need is very high and others) • Support for enhancement of the organizational capacity of village organizations (assistance for training on organization management and accounting, etc.) • Concrete support for smooth operation, including the distribution of fuel wood • Support for the smooth operation of the GGF Union • Coordination through round table meetings if necessary (support to solve the problems faced by village organizations, etc.) • Implementation of monitoring/evaluation and formulation of improvement measures together with village organizations
Literacy education and training to enhance the organizational capacity of citizen groups will lead to the eventual establishment of a relationship of trust between the Forest Service and citizen groups such as the GGFs and contribute to the sustained activities of citizen groups, which are key to sustainable forest management. Carefully thought out support for the smooth distribution/sale of fuel wood and others will also be important as the failure to provide such support can significantly affect the subsequent activities of GGFs in an adverse manner. Enhancement of the capacity of the Forest Service to provide a wide range of support will be task the Forest Service needs to achieve in its efforts regarding forest reserve management.
9.2.2. Implementation Processes for village organization /Administration The Forest Service is expected to continue its wide-ranging functions, including law enforcement, education, support for the establishment of village organizations, publicity of the forest reserve management plan, creation of concrete rules of activities with village organizations, and coordination with related organizations. As was already described in Chapter 8, the roles/functions of the Forest Service in the management of forest reserves participated in by citizens will evolve based on changes of the awareness and implementation capacity of the GGFs and other village organizations. In other words, this means a shift of the principal management body of the Bounouna Forest Reserve from the administration to citizens within the juridical framework of the Forest Service. At the same time, the roles of village organizations, such as the GGF Union and GGFs, in their relationship with the administration/Forest Service are expected to change as shown in Table 9-1. What is crucial will be the sustained operation of GGFs, which are the implementing bodies
9-7 for the forest reserve. The lessons learned from GGF activities in Toumousséni Forest reserve indicate the importance of managing cash income from the sale of fuel wood and others and smoothly distributing such income between the GGFs and the Forest Service. The Forest Service must continue its support for GGFs, taking the importance of the previous points made into consideration. To be more precise, at the start-up stage of a GGF, it will be essential that the Forest Service continually provide appropriate guidance to the point where the said GGF grows to be able to conduct the appropriate management and distribution of cash income without external assistance, so that the GGF can continue to function properly. Once a GGF becomes capable of independently performing impartial operation, the involvement of the Forest Service in this aspect is expected to diminish. At the inauguration stage of the GGF Union, the Forest Service will provide assistance for the setting up of venues and dates of meetings and also for communication with individual GGFs. Guidance and training should be provided by the Forest Service for the GGF Union so that the latter can make its own arrangements for meetings and other matters as soon as possible. The Forest Service should provide guidance on the management of the forest reserve at the initial stage through meetings with the GGF Union. However, the Forest Service should emphasise the independent nature of the GGF Union and provide guidance for the latter to build up the capacity to conduct its own activities. A round table meeting5 was held in November 2004. The attendees were the GGF Union, GGFs, breeder groups, Cacose, the Forest Service, and the JICA Study Team. The following items were on the agenda: • Necessity and importance of round table meeting; • Explanation of the participatory forest reserve management plan, in particular about agro-forestry and zoning plans; • Duty and rights of related actors; and • Monitoring setup, livestock transfer zone
Enhancement of the management capacity of village organizations such as the GGFs and the GGF Union will be part of the implementation processes. Another process will be increasing the number of GGFs participating in the management of Bounouna Forest Reserve. As mentioned earlier, GGFs have so far been established in Bounouna and Labola villages and these are now conducting various activities. In the case of Tatana and Touguana villages, which are part of Banfora City as in the case of Bounouna Village, it is difficult for them to conduct their own activities as villages because of their present status
9-8 of bed towns (as a result of urbanization) and the current situation does not appear to support the establishment of GGFs based on the village unit. Nevertheless, the establishment of GGFs in these (suburban) villages should be aimed at in the future. The Forest Service can assist the establishment of GGFs in these villages by communicating the situation of existing GGFs and GGF Union activities to these villages. What is important is continual efforts to establish GGFs in all villages related to the forest reserve and to consolidate the activities of the GGF Union for the Bounouna Forest Reserve as the geographical spread of implementation activities through the establishment of GGFs in all related villages is essential for the sustainable management of this forest reserve. The GGFs and GGF Union operating in Bounouna Forest Reserve will be able to conduct independent activities in due course, accumulating the relevant experience with the support of the Forest Service. When each organization becomes capable of conducting independent activities, it can develop collaboration with the CVGT (UAD in Bounouna Village). In this manner, the villagers will be able to further contribute to forest conservation, which in turn will result in the preservation of the natural environment, including forest conservation, not only in the forest reserve but also in village terroir. Both the GGFs and CVGT are recently established organizations with a short history of activities in the target area. The lessons learned from the Pilot Study suggest that a GGF can become a member of the natural environment sub-committee of the CVGT if the CVGT has such a sub-committee. However, the reality is that the CVGT in some villages does not have a natural environment sub-committee. In general, the main roles of the CVGT will be plan formulation and adjustment within a village rather than acting as a main actor. The main implementing bodies will be the GGFs, farmer groups, women’s group and breeder groups. As such, even though the CVGT will play a central role in the planning of natural environment conservation measures, including those for forest resources in the village, the importance of the GGF as an implementing body will remain intact in the future.
5 It is necessary to arrange transportation such as motorcycles to inform the schedule of the round table, instead of directly information delivered by villagers.
9-9 Table 9.1 Process of Roles/Functions of the Administration and Citizen Groups in Bounouna Forest Reserve
Administration/ Forestry Future Image of village Village organization service organization/ remarks GGF Union Prepared by the administration Prepared by village and the rules of activities are Remark: Conclusion of the rules Forest Reserve Management organizations and implemented after agreement of activities in writing is Plan/Rules of Activities implemented after approval by is reached with village important. the administration organizations Process: The problems encountered during the implementation of the management plan are reflected on the next planning process (Accumulation of the relevant experience by the GGF Union).
Coordination with related organizations (coordination Takes the initiative in Remark: First to negotiate with with the administration and the Coordinating efforts under the coordinating efforts in Forestry service, and then with Plays a more active role main actors based on an guidance of the administration collaboration with the other administrations due to individual basis or through administration limied capacity of GGF Union round table meetings
Process: Coordination with the relevvant organization using round table meetings and other means while consolidating human resources and the finanacial system as the GGF Union
Strengthening of collaboration with the village territory GGF (forest reserve committee (environmental management ) conservation activities in both the forest reserve and village territory)
Plot 3 or Plot 4: From there Implementation in Plot 1 after Forestry Service to onwards, residents’ Remark: It is necessary to make agreement of the rules of judge the suitability of organizations prepare their the activities compatible with the Agro-forestry activities with the Forestry implementation in Plot 2 own plans and implement agroforestry practiced by the Bureau in accordance with the based on the situation of them after their approval by CACOSE. Management Plan vegetation restoration the Forestry Bureau.
Process: Development of the human resources and finanacial capability as well as the technical and organizational capacity of the GGF
Afforestation (Peripheral Planting to be conducted Formulation of an Remark: afforestation in forest zone, river side after agreement of the afforestation plan and its conservation zones; GGFs are the protection zone, etc.) rules of activities with implementation after its main actors but other the Forestry Service in approval by the Forestry organizations should be urged to accordance with the Service participate plan Pasturage starts after Subsequent plans are decided Remark: A grazing site(s) and the Pasturage groups being agreement of the rules depending on the actual timing, etc. are to be decided on Pasturage idetified of activities with the implementation situation of the precondition that the Forestry Service pasturage vegetation is restored. Source: the JICA Study Team
9-10 9.3. Zoning of Bounouna Forest Reserve 9.3.1. Basic Concept of Zoning The most important aspect of zoning in relation to the basic policies of the Bounouna Forest Reserve Management Plan is how to ensure the sustained operation of the GGFs and GGF Union, which are the citizen groups for implementing various activities in the forest reserve. To sustain their operation, it will be essential to secure operation funds by means of setting up forest restoration zones, where agro-forestry is possible, in order to carry out agro-forestry and forestation to obtain fuel wood while conserving the vegetation wherever such conservation is necessary. Fig. 9-2 shows the tentative zoning of Bounouna Forest Reserve. Given the fact that forest resources in this forest reserve have been extremely degraded due to forest fires and collection of fuel wood, etc., zoning here primarily focuses on the regeneration of forest resources in line with the basic policies. Meanwhile, protection zones will be set up along the perimeter of the block and river courses to clearly demarcate the boundaries or to conserve water sources. Greenbelts (tree lines) will be set up along several roads running through the forest. In addition, because of pasturage inside the forest, corridors will be introduced to allow the movement of domestic animals and their use of watering places. Figure 9.3 as pattern diagrams shows recovering processes of forest in Forest restoration zone and Peripheral forest zone. One characteristic of the zoning of Bounouna Forest Reserve is the way agro-forestry is conducted in the forest restoration zone as described below. In the forest restoration zone, the zone itself will be divided into several plots. The Forest Service will decide whether or not activities in one plot should move to the next plot based on the situation of vegetation recovery as a result of the activities of the GGF. In this zone, pasturage may be permitted depending on the situation of the vegetation. However, the highest priority in the Bounouna Forest Reserve in general will be given to “the recovery of vegetation”.
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Figure 9.2 The zoning of Bounouna Forest Reserve
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Figure 9.3 Imaginable Illustrations of forest conditions in each stage of Management plan in Bounouna Forest Reserve
9-13 9.3.2. Activities in Each Zone (1) Forest restoration zone Goal: To form and maintain forests for sustainable fuel wood production. Since forest resources in most parts of this zone have been degraded, activities in the zone will be started from the regeneration of forest resources with tree planting by the participation of citizens.
Activities: Activities: Rehabilitation of vegetation in the zoning can be implemented by agro-forestry to promote incentive to the population. But it is important to set regulations or qualitative goal (tree density or crown coverage) in order to avoid uncontrolled expansion of agro-forestry. As long as the goal is held, the population will receive the rights to obtain further operation plots each by each, and rehabilitation of the vegetation will be finally achieved in the whole zoning. The planting activities might take several forms such as dense planting of fuel wood trees, agro-forestry, and enrichment planting. Local citizens who voluntarily join the program will mainly carry out these activities. Considering the easiness of operation, the planting activity may start from the areas with easy access, such as forest lots closer to their residential areas. Then, the area under operation will be extended in line with improvement in the implementing capability of citizens. Moreover, in order to provide incentives for local citizens, cultivation under planted trees will be permitted and revenues from the crops and thinning of trees will be shared to the people. When the planted trees grow up with large crowns after a certain period, cultivation and thinning will be stopped. After the establishment of forests, an appropriate amount of fuel wood will be produced under the supervision of Forest Service, and the revenues of the harvest will also be shared to the local population. However, for avoiding the undesirable expansion of “cultivated grounds,” it may be necessary to set some regulations or qualitative goal (tree density, or crown coverage). That is, participants who grow trees as required will obtain another operation lot and the same right as before. On the other hand, operation lots will be taken away from participants who cannot grow forest as required, and the next plot will not be given to them. In this way, operation areas will be extended. Eventually, it is aimed for resources in the whole zone to be rehabilitated. After the establishment of forests through the first stage of rehabilitation, local species will be introduced for enrichment planting to create forests that can produce fuel woods with indigenous trees in the long term. Concerning fire prevention, the abovementioned revenue sharing and qualitative target setting will enhance the willingness of citizens to participate in forest development, and fire
9-14 prevention and monitoring activities will be incorporated into participants’ forest development activities one working area at a time. By the way, pasturage will be permitted in some areas where the rehabilitation is not yet carried out. In areas where activities are finished, domestic animals will be allowed to enter successively according to the degree of growth of planted trees.
Major actors: Forest Service, GGF Union, GGFs, CACOSE (sawmill)
(2) Riverside protection zone Goal: To form and maintain forest belt with certain width for treating water resources along valleys lying at the middle part of the reserve from west to east (for example 50m wide on both sides of stream line).
Activities: In this zone, it will be possible to collect non-wood forest products such as medical plants, fruits, and leaves, however, fuel wood gathering will be prohibited. Comparatively dense forest remains in western part of this zone. Those trees will be protected and enrichment planting will be carried out with some tree species that prefer riverside environment. On the other hand, the rehabilitation of vegetation will be required for degraded forest areas in the eastern part of the zone with planting and/or direct seeding with some species that are suitable for such environment. As far as they match the environment, species producing useful non-wood forest products should be chosen for the planting. As watering places for domestic animals are sporadic, usage for pasturage will be permitted in this zone. However, some countermeasures will be required for protecting planted trees against feeding, such as the prohibition of entering animals in newly planted areas for several years.
Major actors: Forest Service, GGF Union, GGFs, Banfora citizens (in future)
(3) Peripheral forest zone Goal: Although boundary stones are set along the borderline of the reserve, a forest belt 50m wide shall be created for indicating the boundary more clearly.
Activities: As sparse tree savannah is the dominant vegetation in most of this zone, forests will be created by planting and direct seeding. Indigenous species are preferred for introduction in the zone. However, fast growing pioneer species can also be introduced for
9-15 quick establishment of forests. Those pioneer species are expected to be gradually changed to other climax species in plant succession. Firebreaks will be set along both sides of planted belt and in the plantation with some intervals. Periodical patrolling will be executed to watch some violation against planted trees such as slashing and feeding by animals.
Major actors: Forest Service, GGF Union, GGFs, CACOSE (sawmill)
(4) Existing plantation zone Goal: Artificial forests have been established with eucalyptus and teak at present. These forests shall be maintained under the management of the Forest Service and are expected to supply fuel woods.
Activities: These forests will be maintained for sustainable fuel wood supply by the appropriate management of the Forest Service. Bush fire should be controlled and appropriate cutting and planting are planned.
Major actors: Forest Service
(5) Green corridor Goal: There are many paths used by local people, even vehicles are passable on some of them. Among them, some paths lying from east to west connecting Banfora City located to the west of the reserve and Labola village located to east are commonly used by local people. Rows of trees shall be created along these paths to provide tree shade for passers-by.
Activities: Planted activities will start from the west side close to Banfora City and will be extended according to implementing capability. Indigenous evergreen trees with large crown will be selected for planting species. Firebreaks will be set outside of planted tree lines, and periodical patrolling will be executed to watch for violations against planted trees such as slashing and feeding by animals. Schoolchildren might be mobilized for planting activities and to increase affinity for trees and forests (for example, setting name plates of each child at the base of trees he/she planted). Moreover, planting trees in conspicuous places can be expected to deepen understanding of planting activities and advertise the effects of trees and forests.
9-16 Major actors: Forest Service, GGF Union, GGFs, Banfora City and citizens (in future)
(6) Livestock transfer zone Goal: There are some routes for domestic animals to move and approach watering places. The areas along the routes are reserved for the passage of the animals. Any activity to rehabilitate the vegetation shall not be carried out and present savannah vegetation with abundant grass fodder shall be maintained.
Activities: Belts with certain width will be reserved for animals to move, and the present vegetation will be maintained. Trees will be intermittently planted on a fringe of the zone to clarify the limit. This planting activity can be actualised in accordance with that of green corridors, since many parts of this zone lie along green corridors. At the same time, the IEC activities for bush fires and fire prevention will be continuously practiced.
Major actors: Forest Service, GGF Union, GGFs (breeder group)
9.3.3. Working Areas The related villages of Bounouna Forest Reserve are considered to be Bounouna village of Banfora department and Labola village6 of Tiefora department. The two villages retain their own terroir in the forest reserve. Meanwhile, as has been described already, CACOSE (association) conducts its activities in the forest reserve. Therefore, based on the terroir of the above two villages and the activities area of CACOSE, together with consideration of the paths and water streams in the forest reserve, the working areas of the above three stakeholders are allocated as shown in Figure 9.4.
6 Administratively, each of the five districts of Labola village is treated as a village respectively, and therefore CVGT is set up in each district of the village. However, Labola villagers regard the village that assembles the five districts as their own village.
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Reserve of Bounouna Forest Areas g
Workin and Plan 9.4 Zoning Figure
9-18 9.4. Implementation Plan 9.4.1. Objectives and Schedule of Implementation Plan Village organizations are expected to mainly conduct the following activities for the participatory management of Bounouna Forest Reserve.
[General Activities] • Review of the Bounouna Forest Reserve Management Plan with the consent of the Forest Service (GGF Union) • Monitoring of illegal activities (GGFs and GGF Union) • Discussions and agreement at round table meetings under the guidance of the Forest Service (Forest Service, GGF Union, GGFs, department chiefs, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Animal Resources and CACOSE, etc.) • Creation of recreational forests as amenities in the forest reserve and forestation as part of the medium to long-term plan (citizens of Banfora and Banfora Municipal Authority)
[Activities in Different Zones] (1) Forest restoration zone (mainly GGFs) • Confirmation of the agro-forestry rules (Forest Service, GGF Union, GGFs and CACOSE) • Agreement on working areas (plots) and marking (Forest Service and GGFs) • Implementation of agro-forestry (GGFs) • Examination of pasturage plots and preparation of pasturage rules (Forest Service, GGF Union, GGFs and breeders) • Implementation and monitoring of pasturage (Forest Service, breeders and GGFs)
(2) Riverside protection zone • Authorisation as conservation areas and publicity (Forestry Service and GGF Union) • Enrichment planting (GGF or citizens of Banfora)
(3) Peripheral forest zone • Authorization of peripheral green zones at the time of agro-forestry implementation (Forest Service and GGFs) • Implementing of planting (GGFs)
9-19 (4) Existing plantation zone • Under the jurisdiction of the Forest Service
(5) Green corridor zone (part of the medium to long-term plan) • Formulation of the implementation plan (Forest Service, Banfora Municipal Authority, GGF Union and citizens and primary school pupils of Banfora) • Implementing of planting (citizens and primary school pupils using the occasion of the Tree Planting Festival)
(6) Livestock transfer zone • Formulation of the implementation plan (Forest Service, GGF Union, GGFs and breeders) • Implementation of planting (breeders and GGFs using the occasion of the Tree Planting Festival)
Based on the activities described above, the goals of the implementation plan and the schedule using the benchmark method are determined as shown in Table 9.2. The key points of this schedule are described below. • The smooth progress of agro-forestry and other activities, which provide the funds to support the activities of the GGF Union and GGFs acting as the implementing bodies of forest reserve management, leads to subsequent activities. • The sustained activities of citizen groups are essential for the implementation of the management plan. The lessons learned from the Pilot Study in 2003 suggest that the training of citizens in organizational capacity (management of an organization and accounting) is an important role to be played by the Forest Service together with technical training (relating to forestation and tree cutting, etc.) • It is important that the subsequent plans reflect the outcomes and problems of the monitoring conducted by the GGF and others in collaboration with the Forest Service.
The main benchmark in Phase I is the implementation of agro-forestry by the Bounouna and Labola GGFs in Plot 1 of the forest restoration zone in the Bounouna Forest Reserve. Following the implementation of this agro-forestry, it is planned for the planting of the peripheral area of Plot 1 to be conducted by these GGFs. As part of the Forestation Pilot Study conducted by the JICA Study Team in FY 2004, the Bounouna and Labola GGFs formulated an activity plan featuring forestation (agro-forestry) in the Bounouna Forest Reserve and exchanged the rules of activities with
9-20 the Forest Service. As both GGFs conducted planting, joint monitoring by the Forest Service, GGF Union and GGFs will be conducted to check the state of agro-forestry practice and the implementation situation of the monitoring system by citizens. If necessary, the nature of ongoing activities will be modified. At present, pasturage is observed inside the Bounouna Forest Reserve and it will be necessary to clarify the conservation zone (riparian conservation zone) and also to identify breeder groups (settlers)7 involved in this forest pasture practice with a view to discussing the possibility of more controlled pasturage. Thereafter, efforts will be made to organize them into a GGF breeder group as part of the GGF. The introduction of pasturage management in the forest reserve should be carefully taken into account because preferential objective of the management plan is to attain “regeneration of forest resources”. The main benchmark in Phase II is the continual development of agro-forestry (forestation) and peripheral green zones in Plots 2, 3 and 4, etc. by the Bounouna and Labola GGFs provided that the activities in Plot 1 are in line with the rules of activities and that the Forest Service permits the planned activities in these new plots. At the same time, efforts will be made to commence agro-forestry (forestation) in the forest restoration zone in the Bounouna Forest Reserve. Organizational capacities of GGF and GGF Union in the Phase will become relatively stable due to much experience as organization, and it is then expected than the targeted area of the agro-forestry would expand. The tree crown density, namely 20~30%, will be set up in Forest restoration zone in Phase II can be suggested with view to regeneration of forest. The current plan is to prepare an activity plan for controlled pasturage to be conducted by a GGF breeder group(s) in Bounouna Forest Reserve (Plot 1), following the activities in Plot 1 and referring to the example of controlled pasturage in the Toumousséni Forest Reserve where activities are at a more advanced stage. Upon completion of this activity plan, the rules of activities will be exchanged. Plot 1 will primarily feature the restoration of forest resources and will be set up inside the forest restoration zone. Should controlled pasturage be conducted inside Bounouna Forest Reserve, one condition is that the GGF breeder group will be responsible for the development of the livestock transfer zone. The Forest Service, GGF Union, GGFs and GGF breeder group will then jointly conduct monitoring and evaluation. If necessary, the original activity plan will be modified and the Bounouna
7 It is reported that nomads from the north are pasturage inside the Bounouna Reserve Forest. As it is difficult to practice controlled pasturage targeting migrating nomads, only nomads who have settled in the area are targeted. Nomads from villages that are not related to the Bounouna Forest Reserve are also conducting pasturage and, therefore, it will be necessary to establish a GGF nomad group(s) in order to organize these people while trying to ensure the compatibility of nomad groups with the GGF system.
9-21 Forest Reserve Management Plan will also be reviewed. It can be said that pasturage management in the forest reserve could be arranged in the last half of Phase II.
The main benchmark in Phase III is the successful implementation of the cutting, collection and sale of fuel wood from Plots 1, 2 and 3, etc. in the forest restoration zone in the Bounouna Forest Reserve provided that the restoration of vegetation by agro-forestry in these plots has smoothly progressed. Thereafter, it will be possible to copy the practice of fuel wood cutting and collection, etc. by the GGFs, following the case of the Toumousséni Forest Reserve. Moreover, efforts will be made by the citizens of Banfora to plant in the green corridors and to make this an established practice, capitalising on the steady implementation of environmental education in Phase I and Phase II. As in the case of the preceding phases, monitoring and evaluation will be conducted by the Forest Service, GGF Union, GGFs and GGF breeder group with a view to modifying the activity plan if necessary and also reviewing the Bounouna Forest Reserve Management Plan.. In addition, if appropriate controlled pasturage by the GGF breeder group in Pasturage Plot 1 is substantiated, such controlled pasturage will continue in Pasturage Plots 2, 3 and 4, etc. provided that this practice is permitted by the Forest Service.
There are benchmarks in Phase I, II, and III of Bounouna Forest Reserve as follows: Phase I • Vegetative regeneration implemented by tree plantation (agro-forestry) at the Plot I in Forest restoration zone. • Discussion with breeder groups to carry out pasturage in the forest reserve.
Phase II • To continue tree plantation (agro-forestry) at Plot II, III, IV … following to Plot I for the purpose of vegetative regeneration. • If possible, activities in Riverside protection zone (complementary planting) and Existing plantation zone are implemented • If possible, implementation of (pilot) pasturage management in the forest reserve and Livestock transfer zone • Environmental education to Banfora citizens.
Phase III • After whole vegetative regeneration, collection and selling of wood fuel the same as
9-22 Toumousseni forest reserve • If possible, the implementation of pasturage management in the forest reserve (ongoing). • Implementation of green corridor by Banfora citizens.
9-23 Table 9.2 Implementation Schedule for Bounouna Forest Reserve (Benchmark Method)
Objectives of Basic Policies: Promotion of the management and regeneration of forest resources by related village GGFs Phase I Phase II Phase III Implementing Body/Benchmark • Established practice of agro-forestry • Smooth implementation of agro-forestry • Formulation and implementation of a and peripheral green zone activities and peripheral green zone activities by fuel wood cutting and planting plan for by GGFs in Plot 1 of the forest GGFs (Bounouna and Labola Villages) the vegetation restoration plots through reserve in Plots 2, 3 and 4, etc. agro-forestry (shift to the Toumousséni • Development of a monitoring system • Establishment and operation of a GGF Reserve Forest Management Plan) run by local citizens and in other villages related to the • Establishment of the practice of implementation of monitoring Management Plan planting by the citizens of Banfora in • Implementation of monitoring by the • Examination of the possibility of green corridor zones Forest Service, GGF Union and reaching agreement on the rules of • Implementation of monitoring by GGFs GGFs and use of the monitoring pasturage inside the forest reserve and and the GGF Union in collaboration results the implementation of pasturage (in with the Forest Service • Discussions with local citizens on Pasturage Plot 2); simultaneous the question of authorising pasturage development of a livestock transfer zone by breeders and the grouping of • Implementation of monitoring by the breeders if necessary Forest Service, GGF Union and GGFs 9-24 and use of the monitoring results GGFs Organizational Development Bounouna Labola - Establishment and official approval In other villages Mainly Labola - Training to improve the technical and organizational capacity
Activities Common Activities • Preparation of individual rules for activities with the Forest Service • Marking of plots, etc. • Creation of a monitoring system and monitoring • Monitoring in collaboration with the Forest Service Individual Activities • Implementation of agro-forestry and planting in the peripheral green zone, etc. Agro-forestry Plot 1 Plots 2, 3 and 4
9-25 GGF Union
Organizational Development In 2 villages • Establishment and official approval • Training to improve the organizational capacity
Activities • Publicity of the Management Plan • Coordination with related organizations, including GGFs • Review of the Management Plan based on the monitoring results
GGF Pasturage Group
Organizational Development • Establishment • Training to improve the technical and organizational 9-25 capacity
Activities
• Preparation of the rules of activities for pasturage
• Implementation of pasturage in the forest reserve
• Implementation of monitoring and response to the Pasturage Plot 1 Pasturage Plots 2, 3 and 4 monitoring results
Banfora Municipal Authority/Citizens
Organizational Development • Environmental education (preparation) • Establishment • Training to improve the technical capacity • Planting in the green corridor zone • Implementation of monitoring and response to the monitoring results Source: Prepared by the Study Team
9-26 9.4.2. Monitoring and Evaluation The participatory forest reserve management plan is based on the benchmark approach rather than the setting of targets for three or five-year periods. Targets (checkpoints) for progressing to next phases are determined, and plans are implemented towards these goals step by step. As was mentioned in Chapter 8, the sustainable activities in village organizations supported by the Forest Service are essential to the participatory forest reserve plans, and the next roles and activities of the GGFs are then decided by the process and result of the activities. For example, activities based on agreed rules are monitored and evaluated jointly by the Forest Service and the citizen groups, before subsequent activity plans are compiled. Accordingly, next steps are moved to based on the level of progress of activities. The activities are monitored and evaluated in accordance with the objectives of the plans. For example, the objective of the forest reserve management plan is forest rehabilitation, and the monitoring and evaluation are substantially carried out in accordance with the objective. If objectives cannot be reached, further activities or the rules are sometimes discussed. The discussion may sometimes lead to suspension of further activities. At the same time, the roles of the Forest Service are quite important. In addition to controlling illegal activities in the forest reserves, the Forest Service supports the technical training and organizational development of GGFs and GGF unions, monitors and evaluates GGF activities like cutting and collection of fuel wood, reviews participatory forest management plans and activity rules, and coordinates with other ministries and agencies. Pertinent support and activities by the Forest Service are extremely important in the initial establishment of GGFs, etc. The Forest Service roles of supporting official procedures, reviewing the rules of activities, controlling money allocation from fuel wood sales, conducting proper pasturage management and so on are essential to the implementation of participatory forest reserve management.
Phase I The monitoring and evaluation in Phase I will mainly be viewed from the following three viewpoints: • Condition of vegetation regeneration in forest restoration zones; • Condition of support by the Forest Service; and • Condition of activities by GGFs and GGF Unions.
Vegetation Restoration Vegetation restoration implemented through agro-forestry in forest restoration zones will be the major activity in Phase I. As mentioned earlier, working areas will be divided into three
9-26 areas under Bounouna GGF, Labola GGF and CACOSE. In June 2004, eucalyptus and cashew nut trees 8 were planted over 1~2 ha (small plot) under the GGFs in Plot I. Agricultural products are sesame and groundnut, which have been planted and are now harvested in some small plots. The percentage of successful planting under Labola GGF is very low due to bush fires. Thus the GGF will replant Plot I in 2005. On the other hand, the percentage under Bounouna GGF is very high (more than 90%), and the Bounouna GGF will plant in Plot II around June. Since it takes five years to see grown trees like cashew nut and eucalyptus, five years will be an appropriate term for judging the vegetation rehabilitation in Plot I. Kaya Senegals under CACOSE have been planted for timber, thanks to financial support from a sawmill. It takes several decades for Kaya Senegal to reach adult level. Further tree seeds will be decided in discussions between the Forest Service and the GGFs. Then a period to be grown trees differs. From the above discussion, a benchmark based on vegetation rehabilitation in Phase I is whether trees planted in the forest rehabilitation zone successively reach maturity. In the case of cashew nut trees, trees in Plot I will reach maturity in around five years if things go smoothly, and planting in Plot V will only just be beginning at this time. If the percentage of successful planting is low, tree planting will be rescheduled again on the same plot rather than moving to other plots.
Forest Service Support The major roles of the Forest Service in Bounouna Forest Reserve will be: supporting the organizational management of GGFs, reviewing activity rules every year, supporting the GGF Union, providing technical support for tree cutting and planting, etc., allocating seedlings and seeds, controlling illegal activities, and so on. All GGF activities inside the forest reserve must be discussed with the Forest Service. Therefore, the Forest Service will continue to play a crucial role in the participatory forest reserve management plan. If the GGFs, etc. carry out the support required by the Forest Service, forest regeneration will be accelerated in the forest restoration zones in Phase I. For example, if the rules of activities between Forest Service and GGFs in the forest reserve are not reviewed every year, planting will be stopped. Accordingly, the realization of vegetation rehabilitation will be the result of the Forest Service’s proper support, and then the progress of vegetation rehabilitation will be an important monitoring and evaluation point9.
8 From the point of view of vegetation diversity, it is desirable that more indigenous seeds are planted. However, the introduction of cashew nuts is necessary to provide incentive to the GGFs, particularly at the start. 9 In the participatory monitoring and evaluation, it will be realistic to select simply indicators that are easy to understand for the related parties.
9-27 Reasons will be investigated in cases where forest restoration does not proceed as planned. Therefore, the following are considered as important points for monitoring and evaluation related to the Forest Service: • Implementation of monitoring/evaluation; • Renewal of the rules of activities in the forest reserve; • Technical support and arrangement for planting; and • Support to GGFs overall.
GGF and GGF Union Activities The said restoration of vegetation will actually be implemented by the GGFs. This involves not only planting, but also making arrangements with the Forest Service concerning agreement about the rules and arrangement of nursery trees, monitoring of the working areas, management of planting equipment, and GGF operation. In addition, the GGFs must conduct activities within the GGF Union. Since Bounouna and Labola GGFs were only established in 2004, their running is also an important issue. If operation of the GGFs is proper, the said restoration of vegetation will make progress. Thus, the main monitoring and evaluation point in the Phase I will be whether or not the restoration of vegetation advances smoothly, as will also be the case in the role of the Forest Service. Indicators for monitoring and evaluating conditions from GGF and GGF Union activities are considered for reference. Moreover, since smooth activities of the GGF Union are dependant on the respective activities of each GGF, it may be difficult for the Union to attain stable activity during Phase I. The following points can be considered for monitoring and evaluating the GGFs: • A general assembly and election of officers in accordance with rules; • Activities of GGF members (mainly planting and monitoring); and • Proper accounting.
From the viewpoint of organizational development, there are three steps as follows for GGF members: Passive members → Sense of reward (including benefits) from doing activities → More active members
In other words, social capital (trust, norms and social customs, etc.) will be nurtured and take root among members. However, this social capital is always evolving among GGF members; for example, improper practices within a GGF will detract from its social capital. Above all things, sustainable organizational management requires trust placed in leaders and relationships of trust between members. Thus, organizational development entails the enhancement of social capital, however, since this can only be evaluated qualitatively, the
9-28 most realistic approach is to utilize the above-mentioned monitoring and evaluation indicators to judge GGF activities.
Phase II The GGFs will continue to implement planting in Plots II, III, IV… for the vegetation restoration in the forest restoration zone after finishing Plot I. It is expected that the agro-forestry lands in Plots II, III and so on will be expanded due to experience gained in Plot I. As a result, planting in the forest restoration zone will be almost finished in Phase II. This will be the indicator for monitoring and evaluation in Phase II. Phase I is the time to consider the possibilities for activities in the riverside protection zone, the peripheral forest zone, the existing plantation zone, the green corridor zone, and the livestock transfer zone. At the start of Phase II, the Forest Service will hold round table discussions with the related to finalize the Phase II action plans in the other zones apart from the forest restoration zone. As things currently stand, the GGFs will carry out planting in the peripheral forest zone while maintaining forest resources in the riverside protection zone and the existing forest zone in Phase II. The most important thing in the riverside protection and existing forest zones is the control of illegal cutting, and for this purpose, activities and monitoring by the GGFs and Forest Service in the forest reserve will be important. If possible, the GGFs and CACOSE will implement enrichment planting of traditional species in each working area. The important roles of the Forest Service are to support the activities of GGFs and GGF Union, and to arrange environmental education for Banfora citizens. Since GGF operations will settle down in Phase I, the Forest Service will then focus on the activities of the GGF Union in Phase II. Moreover, in Phase II, negotiations will be conducted and rules agreed with breeder groups concerning paths and watering places for domestic animals in the dry season. In the latter part of Phase II, establishment of livestock transfer zones within the forest reserve will be aimed for. It would be very good idea to encourage Banfora citizens and school students organized by Banfora Municipality to plant trees in the green corridor zone.
Phase III The above plantation in the green corridor zone will be continued. If the state of forest restoration in Bounouna Forest Reserve is more or less the same in Toumousseni Forest Reserve, it may be possible for the GGFs to collect and market fuel wood from the reserve. Moreover, it is quite important to consider plantation diversity, in particular in the forest rehabilitation zone due to agro-forestry.
9-29 9.4.3. Input Plan for Major Activities in Bounouna Forest Reserve With respect to Bounouna GGF, Pilot Study was implemented concerning the organizational development (in particular accounting) of the GGF, planting and cutting techniques, early burning, Dioula alphabet language, improved cooking stoves, modern beekeeping, and study tours. On the other hand, to assist the establishment of Labola GGF, only training on organizational management and on-site planting techniques was implemented. Thus some of the above workshops will also be important for Labola GGF, depending on plantation conditions in that GGF. Accordingly, based on consideration of activities by the Forest Service and GGFs, necessary input plans aimed at achieving forest regeneration in the forest restoration zone of Bounouna Forest Reserve in Phase I will be as follows.
Phase I Bounouna GGF • Technical training (cutting, grafting) (8 person-days per course, Forest Service) • GGF meetings (1-2 times /month, 18 person-days/year, Forest Service) • Monitoring and evaluation, review and agreement of rules (GGF 30 person-days, Forest Service 10 person-days)
Labola GGF • Organizational management, particularly accounting (5 +7 = 12 person-days) • Study tours to Bounouna GGF (5 person-days, Forest Service) • Technical workshops (early burning, cutting, modern beekeeping, grafting, etc. 8 person-days x number of workshops, Forest Service) • GGF meetings (2-3 times /month, 30 person-days/year, Forest Service) • Monitoring and evaluation, review and agreement of rules (GGF 30 person-days, Forest Service 10 person-days)
GGF Union • Organizational management, particularly accounting (5 +7 = 12 person-days) • GGF Union meetings and support (once/2 months, 3 person-days/time, 18 person-days/ year, Forest Service) • Monitoring and evaluation (GGF 30 person-days, Forest Service 10 person-days)
Nursing and planting • Arrangement of seeds, and technical service and support (15 person-days, Forest Service) • Planting (transportation, construction of fire breaks, cutting grass, 200 person-days/ha, each GGF)
9-30 • Supervision (502 person-days/year in Bounouna GGF, 192 person-days/ year in Labola GGF)
Additional input plan activities will be the ongoing control of illegal activities and work concerning official procedures and reporting, etc.
Phase II If basic capacity building of village organization partly implemented by the above workshops is materialized in Phase I, then it won’t be necessary to carry out more workshops related to organizational management in Phase II.
Training and workshops, etc. • Environmental education for Banfora citizens (Banfora Municipality, Forest Service) • Education and coordination of breeder groups, especially concerning livestock transfer zones (breeder groups, Forest Service) • GGF Union support (Forest Service) • Nursing and planting (GGFs, Forest Service) • Monitoring (GGF, Forest Service)
Moreover, since Phase III is well into the future, it is feasible to compile the input plans for this phase upon considering the outcome of measures in the first two phases.
9-31
Chapter１０ Participatory Management Plan for Toumousséni Forest Reserve
10. Participatory Management Plan for Toumousseni Forest Reserve
10.1. Policy of the Management Plan
Objectives :Sustainable use of forest resources and promotion of collaborative management by activating GGFs of related villages Expected :Forest Service, GGFs in related villages, GGF Union, breeder Stakeholders groups (Structures) Main Activities :Managing of fuel wood production, controlling of violations, planting trees, early burning, management of pasturage, modern apiculture Incentives for :A share of benefits from fuel wood production and other villagers non-wood forest products, permission for pasturage in the reserve
This reserve was established for the purpose of supplying fuel wood to Banfora City. The present conditions of forest resources are comparatively “good” However, as extraction of fuel wood is actively performed in the reserve, degraded forest patches are frequently seen. Therefore, the main objective of the management plan of this forest reserve is “the establishment of the systems conducted by villagers for sustainable use and management of forest resources, especially of fuel wood” Main activities considered are the establishment of a system for controlling fuel wood extraction, the establishment of guarding system against fire and illegal tree cutting, enrichment planting for nursing the next generation of fuel wood trees, and so on. For executing these activities, the share of benefits from fuel wood products will be used as incentives for villagers, and they will be expected to participate voluntarily in the system of management and guarding of the forest reserve. On the other hand, pasturage in the forest reserve and accompanying bush fires are also big causes of forest degradation. Therefore, it is also aimed to establish a management system of burning and pasturing in which the groups of breeders are incorporated by using permission for pasturing in the forest reserve as an incentive. Moreover, it is aimed to improve livelihoods by promoting the utilization of non-timber forest products, such as modern apiculture, and to increase awareness of the importance of forest conservation by deepening links between villagers and forest resources. GGFs for men and women have been established respectively in four related villages of the Forest Reserve. The union of these GGFs has also been established and the secretariat is located in Soubaka. However, the union is not functional and village GGFs are inactive except in Toumousseni Village. Upon analysing the causes of this inactivity, it is desirable to revitalize the GGF union and thereby promote the said participatory management of
10-1 resources. On the course of the development of management systems, the possibility of utilizing other forest products could be guaranteed under the control of the Forest Service, if those GGFs positively participate in the management. Then, the objectives of the management plan will finally be achieved by establishing the management system for resources in the whole reserve.
10.2. Implementation Systems of villagers, Administration and Others 10.2.1. Roles and Implementation Systems of Villagers, Administration and Others Actor The management of Toumousséni Forest Reserve will be conducted under an implementation system in which the GGF Union and GGFs play a central role as in the case of Bounouna Forest Reserve. The roles of the GGF Union and GGFs and their relationship with the Forest Service will be basically the same as those in Bounouna Forest Reserve. The main differences lie in the goals and implementation processes. The main goal of Toumousséni Forest Reserve Management Plan is the preservation of the current state of forest resources, etc. while the goal of the corresponding plan for Bounouna Forest Reserve is the restoration of forest resources, etc. In Toumousséni Forest Reserve, GGFs and the GGF Union are established and active, whereas in Bounouna Forest Reserve, GGFs and GGF Union have only recently been formed with GGFs likely to be formed in other villages in the future.
Administration support & Villagers collaboration Forestry Service Toumousséni Forest Reserve Department Chief GGF Union
Ministry of technical Toumoussé Soubaka Agriculture training GGF GGF /M inistry of Animal Resouces Djongolo Tagnana GGF GGF regulation of mediation illegal activities activities & collaborative committe conservaton activities Toumousséni breeder groups Toumousséni NGO、Association Forest Reserve Foelwood commercial association, etc.
Figure 10.1 Implementation System in Toumousséni Forest Reserve
10-2 As mentioned earlier, the GGF Union in Toumousséni Forest Reserve was established with assistance under a FAO project and others.1 In reality, however, it has so far failed to conduct the expected activities of a GGF union. In regard to the GGFs, all of the existing GGFs in Toumousséni, Soubaka, Djongolo and Tagnana have been generally inactive. One reason is said to be insufficient collaboration with the fuel wood cooperative (GCB), which transports and sells fuel wood collected by the GGF and also charcoal. Although some local villagers have experienced the practice of controlled pasturage in Toumousséni Forest Reserve under FAO and other projects, there is conflict between farmers and breeders. It is essential to urgently examine the possibility of conducting controlled pasturage in this forest reserve in the coming years. Because of this, the breeder groups2 and farmer groups are also important actors.
The villages related to Toumousséni Forest Reserve are Toumousséni, Soubaka, Djongolo and Tagnana; moreover, in principle, no other villages will be involved in the implementation of the management plan in the future. While Toumousséni village falls within the jurisdiction of Banfora Department, the other three villages, i.e. Soubaka, Djongolo and Tagnana, fall within the jurisdiction of Soubaka Department. In line with this administrative division, the department offices of the Forest Service in these departments have jurisdiction for these villages. In addition to the department chiefs, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Animal Resources, etc. provide technical guidance and other supporting activities. Given the present situation of the possible actors relating to Toumousséni Forest Reserve described above, the main actors in the management plan will be those listed below. • Administration/Forest Service • Administration/department chiefs, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Animal Resources • Village organizations/GGFs, GGF Union and GCB • Village organizations/breeder groups and GGF members
1 For the establishment of this GGF Union, a study tour was conducted to observe an advanced example at Bougnounou in Ziro Province (assisted by the PCP). 2 Since 1985, some 800 people of the breederic Peuhl ethnic group have lived in Toumousséni Village with 3,000 head of oxen and 680 small animals, including goats. As this group has previously experienced controlled pasturage in Toumousséni Forest Reserve , examination of the possibility of targeting this group is appropriate. One realistic measure is examination of the possibility of introducing controlled pasturage in the Forest Reserve block, targeting former breeders who have subsequently settled near Djongolo and Tagnana Villages.
10-3 Implementation system Implementation system in Toumousseni forest reserve is as follows: • GGF as implementation agency for the forest reserve management plan, according to the agreement between the Forest Service and GGFs • One of major roles of the Forest Service is to modify and formulate the plan, but the role of GGF Union is to familiarise and to play a coordinating role. If necessary, technical supports arranged by the Forest Service, Ministry of agriculture, Ministry of Livestock and so on to GGFs etc..
The current state of GGF activities relating to Toumousséni Forest Reserve are described below. (1) Toumousséni GGF - Men’s and women’s GGF have already received official approval. - Collection and sale under the name of the GGF in 2001 (fuel wood: 314 bundles), 2002 (fuel wood: 420 bundles) and 2003 (fuel wood: 412 bundles) - Technical training on tree cutting and modern beekeeping by the Forest Service - Forestation by means of direct sowing3 (assisted by the Forest Service) in 2002 - Forestation using seedlings in 20044 - One pressing issue is to break from the dependence on assistance by the Forest Service regarding the work to confirm the fuel wood delivery volume to the GCB.
(2) Soubaka GGF - Men’s and women’s GGFs were separately established in 1996. Only the women’s GGF has been officially approved.5 - Collection and sale under the name of the GGF in 2001 (fuel wood: 48 bundles), 2002 (fuel wood: 158 bundles) and 2003 (fuel wood: 100 bundles) • Forestation using seedlings in 20046 • Pressing issues are the increased collection of fuel wood and technical training.
3 The survival rate of direct sowing is extremely low because of damage by rats, etc, delayed timing of sowing due to the difficulty of securing a means of transportation and. 4 This was implemented as a pilot study. Because of the excessive growth of the seedlings, the survival rate was as low as 51% (total of 750 seedlings). JICA Study Team loaned forest management equipment to assist this planting and other activities (to be managed by the Forest Service. 5 As part of the Pilot Study in FY 2004, assistance is provided for the official approval of this GGF together with other GGF.
10-4 (3) Djongolo GGF - Men’s and women’s GGF were separately established in 2001 and have been officially approved. - Collection and sale under the name of the GGF in 2001 (fuel wood: 108 bundles), 2002 (charcoal: 200 bundles) and 2003 (charcoal: 100 bundles) - Forestation using seedlings in 20047 - Pressing issues are the increased collection of fuel wood and technical training.
(4) Tagnana GGF - Men’s and women’s GGF were separately established in 1994. Both were approved in 2004. - Collection and sale under the name of the GGF in 2001 (fuel wood: 48), 2002 (charcoal: 44 bundles) and 2003 (charcoal: 15)8 - Forestation using seedlings in 20049 - Development of the organizational strength of the GGF to obtain official approval - Pressing issues are the increased collection of fuel wood and technical training.
There are several reasons why these village GGFs, except those in Toumousséni, have been inactive are as listed below. • Even though GGFs have been established, the incomplete process of official approval (selection of executive members and funding to open a bank account) means that their proper setting up as organizations is lacking. • There is some confusion in terms of the collection and marketing of fuel wood and charcoal, including insufficient collaboration with the GCB. • Except for the Toumousséni GGF, to which external assistance has continued, the Forest Service has been unable to provide sufficient follow-up because of a staff shortage, limited means of transportation and other reasons.
6 This was implemented as a pilot study. The survival rate was 95% (total of 800 seedlings). The JICA Study Team loaned forest management equipment to assist planting and other activities (equipment to be managed by the Forest Service). 7 This was implemented as a pilot study. The survival rate was 65% (600 seedlings in total). The JICA Study Team loaned forest management equipment to assist planting and other activities (equipment to be managed by the Forest Service). 8 There is confusion regarding the volume of collection etc. It has been reported that even though collection has been conducted, fuel wood has not been handed over to the GCB because of its loss due to fire. In any case, it is a fact that the GGF members have lost their willingness to produce charcoal. 9 This was implemented as a pilot study. The survival rate was 95% (total of 700 seedlings). The JICA Study Team loaned forest management equipment to assist planting and other activities (equipment to be managed by the Forest Service).
10-5 • A post-project monitoring system for the FAO and other projects is lacking.
In regard to the GGF Union, efforts have been made to develop a proper organization (a new regime was established in June, 2004 with the selection of a new president, vice-president and treasurer) as in the case of the GGF but the overall level of activities is low because of the following reasons. Even though a concrete organizational regime has been established, the absence of real activities means that a strong commitment to activities among the members has failed to develop together with insufficient understanding of the roles that they should play. Because of the inaction on the part of the GGFs, which are members of the GGF Union, except for the Toumousséni GGF, it has been difficult for the GGF Union to perform its perceived goals. The communication method and other issues to conduct GGF Union activities were not fully examined. Villages from which the executives of the GGF Union were selected were not balanced.10 In the selection of the GGF Union executives, the educational background of the candidates was not taken into proper consideration.11
New GGF Union organizational management was formulated by supporting the activities as a pilot study. A round table meeting with each GGF and GCB was actually held by the Union and the Forest Service in order to arrange proper collection of fuel wood with the GCB. The arrangements of fuel wood regarding collection and marketing, reconfirmation of zoning, and pasturage12 in the Forest Reserve were discussed at the meeting. The allocation of one fuel wood stere is listed below.
10 As part of the Pilot Study in FY 2004, assistance was provided for the GGF Union. As a result, the main executives were selected from the four GGF in a balanced manner in June 2004: president (Soubaka), vice-president (Djongolo), secretary (Toumousséni), vice-secretary (Soubaka), treasurer (Tagnana) and vice-treasurer (Toumousséni). 11 Although literacy was taken into consideration in the selection of the new executives of the GGF Union, only three out of the six new executives are literate. The lessons learned from the Pilot Study in FY 2003 clearly suggest the importance of literacy education as literacy is essential for improved living in villages and the proper management of any village organization. 12 The need to examine the conditions pf pasture and possible number of livestock was mentioned from the Forest Service. GGFs mentioned possibility of conducting controlled pasturage management on a trial basis. The breeder groups informed that they are ready to consider conservation activities and utilization fee per head of livestock at the meeting.
10-6 Cutter: 1,000 CFA (1,000 CFA: previous allocation) Forest tax: 300 CFA (300 CFA) Rural development fund: 150 CFA (200 CFA) Forest management fund: 150 CFA (150 CFA9 GGF Union fund: 100 CFA (new ) . Total: 1,700 CFA (1,650 CFA)
In Toumousséni Forest Reserve, the conflict between farmers and breeders, particularly in Toumousséni Village, casts a shadow over the development of the area.13 Possible ways to solve this problem include the recommencement of controlled pasturage in the forest reserve and the establishment of a committee that is assigned to mediate between farmers and breeders. In fact, the committee was established in November 200414. The controlled pasturage that was previously conducted was suspended due to the following reasons. • As a result of failure to document the agreement on pasturage inside the forest reserve, the rules of pasturage were not properly enforced. • In connection with the above, changes of the persons in charge at the Forest Service led to confusion at the time of taking over. • One main example of violation of the rules is the use of leaves as fodder, a prohibited practice in the Forest Reserve. • There has been confusion in regard to land classification in the field because of the deskwork of uniform classification disregarding the actual site conditions. Further confusion has arisen because of the insufficient marking of pasturage land. • Review of the insufficient monitoring system has been incomplete.
In view of the requests made by breeders living in Toumousséni Village during interviews and the possibility of alleviating their conflicts with farmers, the feasibility of pasturage in the forest reserve must be examined provided that the present vegetation can be preserved.15
13 For example, there is no complementary relationship between the supply of feed for animals using leftover food (agricultural products) and the supply of fertilizer using cow manure (from agricultural products), which is normally practiced, in other areas. Particularly since 2002 when farmers murdered a breeder, the conflict is believed to have intensified. 14 According to Joint DECREE n 2000-31/MEE/AGRI/MEF/MATS/MEM/MIHU on conflict management between farmers and stockbreeders, the committee was established. This is composed of one chairman (Toumousseni DAV), and two representatives each from the farmer and breeder groups. As a result, the committees solved two cases. 15 As part of the Pilot Study, negotiations are taking place regarding the recommencement of pasturage in the forest reserve. However, the mutual distrust between farmers and breeders is deeply rooted and it is probably necessary to consolidate the mediation committee designed to develop a relationship of mutual trust. In meetings to establish this committee, the issues discussed included pasturage land as well as passageways outside Toumousséni Forest Reserve and how to secure the supply of water for both farmers and breeders. It
10-7 The roles of the population/administaration Coordination and discussions among the actors related to Toumousséni Forest Reserve normally involve the Forest Service and GGF Union, which consists of representatives of the GGFs, as in the case of Bounouna Forest Reserve. In response to a request made by a GGF or another organization, the Forest Service discusses the management of Toumousséni Forest Reserve using the facility of a round table meeting involving the department chief and representatives of such related organizations as the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Animal Resources, GGF union and GGFs. In the light of the reasons for the inaction of the GGFs, efforts to vitalise the GGF activities in Soubaka, Djongolo and Tagnana Villages, excepting Toumousséni Village, and to develop the proper organization of the GGF Union through practice are essential. In order for any village organizations to smoothly function, trust among the members built up through activities is essential. The earning of cash income through the smooth collection and sale of fuel wood, etc. by a GGF will ensure the active involvement of members in subsequent activities. For this reason, close collaboration with the GCB must be developed.16 The sale of fuel wood as a source of cash income has proven its worth in Toumousséni and Soubaka Villages, which are situated along a trunk road. In the case of other villages that are not located near a trunk road, the sale of charcoal and bee keeping, which have added value, are judged to be more suitable from a commercial point of view. An honest commitment to these activities will eventually develop a relationship of trust among members and between leaders and members, enabling the more sustainable and systematic operation of the organization (establishment and spread of the norms developed among the members throughout the organization). As different ideas and confusion tend to occur during the initial period of operation of village organizations, external assistance, such as that provided by the Forest Service for example, is often required. Like Bounouna Forest Reserve, the lessons learned from the Pilot Study conducted by the JICA Study Team
is believed that discussions on controlled pasturage in the forest reserve will naturally develop as a solution to the problems faced by farmers and breeders. 16 A pilot study to develop close collaboration with the GCB was conducted in FY 2004 and the following matters were agreed in June, 2004. (1) Given the poor road conditions to collection points in the rainy season, cutting and collection should start in February while marketing should start in June. (2) Each GGF should provide a horse-driven cart for the transportation of cut trees to collection points. (3) Suitable planting species to produce fuel wood and charcoal should be selected and the JICA Study Team should make planting equipment). (4) Discussions should commence to establish the marketing price of fuel wood to ensure a profit. (5) A relationship of trust should be established between all of the actors involved and measures to prevent theft of the collected fuel wood should be strengthened. (6) The GCB should cooperate with the collection work (each GGF should provide two people for collection work from Monday through Friday from 07:00 to 17:00) and should convey the relevant information to the GGF.
10-8 in FY 2003 indicate the importance of technical training17 (cutting, planting and modern bee-keeping) for village organizations such as the GGFs and the GGF Union and training to enhance the (operational and accounting) capacity of organizations18 together with literacy education19 designed to improve the basic capacity of villagers.
10.2.2. Implementation Processes for Villagers /Administration As in the case of Bounouna Forest Reserve, the Forest Service is expected to continually play a crucial role in law enforcement, educational activities, support for the creation of village organizations, publicity of the forest reserve management plan, development of concrete rules for activities in collaboration with village organizations, and coordination with related organizations. Meanwhile, it is anticipated that the roles/functions to be played by GGFs and other village organizations in the participatory management of the forest reserve will change, reflecting changes in the level of awareness and implementation capacity, etc. as was described in Chapter 8. These changes will actually mean a shift of the leading body responsible for the management of Toumousséni Forest Reserve from administration to villagers within the framework of the forest reserve falling within the jurisdiction of the Forest Service. At the same time, the roles of such village organizations as the GFF Union and GGFs in connection with their relationship with the administration/Forest Service is expected to change as shown in Table 10-1. Such changes in the roles of village organizations in Toumousséni Forest Reserve indicate the more advanced participation of villagers as the GGF Union has already been established based on the active Toumousséni GGF. Nevertheless, the basic flow of the expected changes remains the same as that for Bounouna Forest Reserve.
17 As described in the cited example of the Forestation Pilot Study in Chapter 9, not only technical assistance but also institutional assistance is required to sustain forestation activities. 18 One lesson learned from the Pilot Study conducted in FY 2003 on improvement of the organizational capacity is that efforts to improve such capacity are highly valued because of the development of a deeper understanding of (1) the principles of organizational operation and management and (2) accounting. Local villagers actually expressed a desire to receive further training. The main purpose of this type of training is to teach knowledge and skills relating to improvement of the organizational capacity as well as the accounting capacity but the availability of a place for discussions between actors on the village organizations is equally important. 19 Given the well-established curriculum prepared by the Ministry of Education and others, it is quite possible to consolidate literacy education on the local language (Dioula in the present case) through training. The critical issue is to spread the use of this local language by using it for the minutes of discussions, accounting and rules of activities, etc. Although efforts are being made to achieve the widespread use of Dioula by means of utilizing a small number of books written in Dioula and its use for the operation of village organizations, it appears that some time is still required for Dioula to be widely used for writing.
10-9 What is primarily important for the achievement of sustained management in the participatory forest reserve management plan is to reflect problems that emerge in the implementation process and measures to solve them in the plan contents. A system should be established whereby the Forest Service recognises the opinions and improvement measures put forward by the GGFs that are actually implementing agro-forestry and forestation, etc. through monitoring with a view to incorporating them in the management plan. In this context, the GGF Union should gather and summarise the opinions, etc. of the GGFs and discuss them with the Forest Service. If necessary, round table meetings should be held. In other words, as in the case of other forest reserves, it is essential that the GGFs as well as the GGF Union act on the Forest Service or develop their capacity to act on the Forest Service (the capacity to act on one’s own initiative) to solve or improve (modify) any problems discovered in the implementation process of forest reserve management and also to request external assistance.
For the sustained operation of GGFs, which are the main implementing bodies of activities in the forest reserve, economic sustainability is essential. The key points here are (i) the proper management of cash income from the sale of fuel wood, etc. obtained in Toumousséni Forest Reserve, and (ii) the smooth distribution of cash income with the Forest Service. GGFs and similar village organizations become capable of conducting activities based on their own initiative by means of independently solving problems using various opportunities for discussion without the assistance of the Forest Service. Following the improved organizational capacity of the GGF Union and GGFs, it will be necessary for them to develop much closer collaboration with the CVGT (village territory management committee), which controls the natural environment in the village territory, particularly with the natural environment sub-committee. Efforts have been made since 2002 to set up CVGT under the PNGT2. Even though CVGT now exist as organizations in some villages, they have not yet commenced full-scale activities. Among the villages related to Toumousséni Forest Reserve , Toumousséni and Soubaka villages now have their own CVGT. In contrast, Djongolo and Tagnana Villages have not yet established a CVGT, making collaboration between the GGF/GGF Union and the CVGT a task for the future.
10-10 Table 10.1 Roles/Functions of Administration and Village organizations in Toumousséni Forest Reserve
Led by the Administration/ Led by Village Future Image of Village Forest Service organizations organizations/Important Points GGF Union Forest Prepared by the administration Prepared by village Important point: It is Reserve and the rules of activities are organizations and important to conclude Management implemented after agreement is implemented after the rules of activities in Plan/Rules of reached with village approval by the writing after the Activities organizations administration formulation of the Ç activity plan.
Process: The problems encountered during the implementation of the management plan are reflected in the next planning process (Accumulation of the relevant experience by the GGF Union).
Coordination Coordinating Plays a more Takes the initiative in Important point:First to with related efforts under the active role coordinating efforts in negotiate with Forestry organizations guidance of the collaboration with the service, and then with administration administration Ç other administations due to limited capacity of GGF Union Process: Coordination with the relevant organization using round table meetings and other means while consolidating human resources and the financial system as a union
GGF Strengthening of (management collaboration with the in the forest Æ village territory reserve) committee (environmental conservation activities in both the forest reserve and village territory)
Collection Implementation in Plot 1 Forest Service to Plot 3 or Plot 4: Important point: and sale of after agreement of the judge the From there The key points fuel wood and rules of activities with the suitability of onwards, village are proper charcoal/fores Forest Service in implementation in organizations judgement on tation accordance with the Plot 2 based on the prepare their own the Management Plan situation of plans and marketability of vegetation implement them fuel wood, etc., restoration after their approval smooth by the Forest distribution of Service. cash income and simultaneous Ç implementation of forestation. Process: Development of the human resources and financial capability as well as the technical and organizational capacity of the GGFs
Forestation Planting to be conducted Formulation of a Important point: (peripheral after agreement of the forestation plan by Monitoring of green zone, rules of activities with the GGFs and its the enforcement etc.) Forest Service in approval and situation of the accordance with the implementation by agreed rules of management plan the Forest Service activities is crucial. Pasturage Pasturage and Pasturage starts Subsequent plans authorisation of a breeder after agreement of are decided group as part of a GGF the rules of depending on the activities with the actual situation of Forest Service pasturage Source: Prepared by the Study Team
10-11 10.3. Zoning of Toumousséni Forest Reserve 10.3.1. Basic Concept of Zoning The most important aspect of zoning in relation to the basic policies of Toumousséni Forest Reserve Management Plan will be how to ensure the sustained operation of the GGF Union and GGFs, which are village organizations to implement various activities, as in the case of Bounouna Forest Reserve. To sustain their operation, it will be essential to secure operation funds by means of setting up a planned production (including resources regeneration) zone where the collection of fuel wood is possible for marketing together with the production and marketing of charcoal, while conducting planting after the cutting of trees for fuel wood to ensure preservation of the vegetation. One precondition for this operation will be that the vegetation must be conserved wherever such conservation is required. Fig. 10-2 shows the tentative zoning of Toumousséni Forest Reserve. The main feature of this forest reserve is the planned production zone for production of fuel wood which takes the sustainable cutting volume into careful consideration based on the basic policy of “the sustainable utilization and management of forest resources led by local villagers”. Meanwhile, protection zones will be set up along the perimeter of the reserve to clearly demarcate its boundaries. These protection zones will include stands along rivers for the protection of water sources and the slopes of small hills distributed in the northern part of the reserve in view of the difficulty of restoring vegetation on these slopes. In addition, zones for travelling by animals and their access to watering places will be introduced in view of pasturage in this reserve forest. Figure 10.3 as pattern diagrams shows various stages of forest resources in Sustainable production forest zone. One characteristic of the zoning of Toumousséni Forest Reserve is the establishment of a planned production (including resources regeneration) zone among the various zones listed below. This zone is designed for tree cutting, collection and sale of fuel wood, etc. The zone is divided into several plots and the Forest Service decides whether or not production activities should move to the next plot in consideration of the state of vegetation restoration conducted by the GGF. At the same time, these GGFs develop perimeter greenbelt zones to clearly indicate the boundaries of the Forest Reserve. Pasturage in these perimeter greenbelt zones may be permitted depending on the state of the vegetation.
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Figure 10.2 The zoning of Toumousséni Forest Reserve
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Figure 10.3 Imaginable Illustrations of Forest Conditions in each stage of the Management plan in Toumousséni Forest Reserve
10-14 10.3.2. Activities in Each Zone (1) Sustainable production forest zone Goal: To maintain and form forests from which fuel woods are produced in sustainable manner with the participation of local villagers, and to establish the rotation of operation.
Activities: The whole zone will be divided into small forest lots for long-term fuel wood production with cutting rotation. Each lot should be large enough to produce certain amount of fuel woods in a sustainable way. Inventory survey will be carried out according to each lot to understand the amount of resources. All the lots will be classified into three categories, i.e. cutting lot, planting lot, and nursing lot. A lot under cutting operation will be shifted to “planting lot” in the next year to rehabilitate the resources. Then, it will be shifted again to “nursing lot” after small trees of next generation have grown abundantly. Those operations will be autonomously executed by villagers under guidance from the Forest Service. Considering the incentives for villagers, benefits from the production of fuel woods will be shared for them. - Cutting lots: Well-managed cutting operation under the cooperation between the Forest Service and GGFs will be continued. It will always be considered that the amounts of resources do not decrease below certain levels. - Planting lots: After the cutting operation, rehabilitation of the resources will be encouraged by nursing natural seedlings and/or by planting/direct seeding. Firebreaks will be set around the areas for preventing bush fires to damage young seedlings and small trees. A monitoring system will also be established to guard seedlings against animals. - Nursing lots: cutting operation will be continuously prohibited. Young trees for next generation will be nursed carefully. Periodical monitoring will be carried out to know the condition of the recovery of resources. Pasturage in the lots will be permitted under the discussion and agreement in management groups after planted trees grow large enough.
Main actors: Forest Service, GGF Union, GGF and GCB
(2) Protection Zone 1 (Water Source and Slope Conservation Forest) Goal: To exclude areas along streamlines and slopes of hills from production zone because of their importance on conservation. Forests in good condition shall be maintained.
Activities: For the protection of water resources, existing riverside forest and certain width
10-15 along valleys (for example 50m wide in both sides of stream line) will be assigned as protection zones. In this zone, collecting of non-wood forest products, such as fruits, leaves and medical plants, will be permitted, but fuel wood collection will be prohibited. Enrichment planting will be carried out in some degraded forest lots, although most of the zone supports forest in comparatively good condition at present. Species suitable for riverside environment in which soil moisture is relatively high should be chosen for planting. On the other hand, slopes on some hills have a thin soil layer and soil is rather dry. It takes time to recover the vegetation if it is once destroyed. Therefore, these areas will also be designated as protection zones. Collecting of non-wood forest products will be permitted, however, fuel wood collection will be prohibited. Enrichment planting is carried out in some degraded forest lots. Planted species will be chosen among trees that can grow even on thin and dry soil.
Main actors: Forest Service, GGF Union and GGF
(3) Protection Zone 2 (Perimeter Greenbelt) Zone Goal: To set concrete boundary stones to indicate the limit of the reserve, and to secure forests in comparatively good condition in the zone. For maintaining and showing this boundary clearly, protection zone 50m wide shall be set on the fringe of the reserve to maintain present forest conditions.
Activities: Gathering of non-wood forest products will be permitted in the zone, but fuel wood collection will be prohibited. Enrichment planting will be carried out in some degraded forest lots. Useful species that can produce non-wood forest products will be chosen among several trees if they are suitable for the environment.
Main actors: Forest Service, GGF Union and GGFs
(4) Livestock transfer zone Goal: There are some routes for domestic animals to move and approach watering places. The areas along the routes are reserved for the passage of the animals to prevent conflicts between fuel wood producers and animal breeders. Any activity related to fuel woods production will not be carried out and present vegetation will be maintained.
10-16 Activities: Belts with certain width will be reserved for animals to move, and the present vegetation will be maintained. Marks will be put to indicate the limit of the zone. At the same time, the monitoring for bush fires and education for fire prevention will be continuously practiced.
Main actors: Forest Service, GGF Union and GGFs (breeder groups)
10.3.3. Working Areas The related villages of Toumousseni Forest Reserve are Toumousseni village and Djongolo village of Banfora department as well as Soubaka town and Tagnana village of Soubaka department. They have conducted the collection and sales of fuel woods in the Forest Reserve in collaboration with the Forest Service. However, only the three villages, namely Toumousseni village, Djongolo village and Subaka town, retain terroir in the Forest Reserve. Tagnana village is located inside the terroir of Subaka town and is recognized as a sub-village of Soubaka town due to the fact that Soubaka town ceded the land to this village. In fact, Tagnana village was treated administratively as a district of Soubaka town, and the CVGT (Village Commission of Terroir Management) was established to cover the town and village. In this connection, based on the terroir of three stakeholders of Toumousseni village, Djongolo village and Subaka town as well as on the areas of the collection of fuel wood of the four villages, together with consideration of the paths and water streams in the Forest Reserve, the working areas of the above four GGFs (Forest Management Group) are allocated as shown in Figure 10.3. The working area of Soubaka GGF includes that of Tagnana GGF.
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Figure 10.4 Zoning Plan and Working Areas of Toumousséni Forest Reserve
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10.4. Implementation Plan 10.4.1. Goals and Schedule of Implementation Plan Village organizations are expected to mainly conduct the following activities for the participatory management of Toumousséni Forest Reserve.
[General Activities] • Review of Toumousséni Forest Reserve Management Plan with the consent of the Forest Service (GGF Union) • Monitoring of illegal activities (GGF Union and GGFs)
[Activities in Different Zones] (1) Sustainable production forest zone (mainly GGFs) • Establishment of rotated operations, including cutting plots, planting plots and tending plots, and preparation of the rules of operation (GGF Union and GGFs) • Strengthening of collaboration with the GCB (GGF Union, GGFs and GCB) • Implementation of tree cutting and planting and monitoring of these activities (GGF) • Approval of pasturage plot(s) and preparation of the rules of pasturage (GGFs and breeder groups)
(2) Protection zone 1 (water source and slope conservation forest) • Approval of the protection zone and preparation of the rules of protection (GGF Union) • Implementation of enrichment planting (GGFs and breeder groups)
(3) Protection zone 2 (Perimeter Greenbelt Zone) • Approval of the protection zone and preparation of the rules of protection (GGF Union) • Implementation of enrichment planting (GGFs and breeder groups)
(4) Livestock zone • Approval of the livestock transfer routes and preparation of the rules of transfer (GGFs and breeder groups • Preservation of the vegetation (GGFs and breeder groups)
Based on the activities described above, the goals of the implementation plan and the schedule using the benchmark method are determined as shown in Table 10-2. The key
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points of this schedule are described below. • The smooth collection and sale of fuel wood, etc., which will provide funds to support the activities of the GGF Union and GGFs as the implementing bodies of forest reserve management, will lead to subsequent activities. • The sustained activities of village organizations are essential for the implementation of the management plan. The lessons learned from the Pilot Study in 2003 suggest that the training of residents on the organizational capacity is an important role to be played by the Forest Service together with technical training as in the case of Bounouna Forest Reserve. • It is important that subsequent plans reflect the outcomes and problems of the monitoring conducted by the GGFs and others in collaboration with the Forest Service.
One of the main benchmarks in Phase I of Toumousséni Forest Reserve Management Plan is the steady restoration of the vegetation in Plot 1 of the planned production (including resources regeneration) zone where planting to restore and/or preserve the vegetation is conducted in addition to the ongoing cutting and collection of fuel wood by the Toumousséni GGF. Only when the vegetation in Plot 1 has steadily improved will the activities move to Plot 2. The cutting and collection of fuel wood and the development of perimeter greenbelts20 by means of the above-mentioned method will take place after the systematic rebuilding of the GGF in other villages and the GGF Union. At the same time, a monitoring system inside the forest reserve should be developed and monitoring should be conducted to prevent: (i) the planted trees being eaten by animals, and (ii) illegal cutting. Unlike the situation of controlled pasturage in Bounouna Forest Reserve, the possibility of reintroducing controlled pasturage in Toumousséni Forest Reserve must be urgently examined in view of: (i) the past practice of controlled pasturage by breeders living in Toumousséni Village, and (ii) the ongoing conflict between breeders and farmers. Conscious efforts should be made to develop a GGF breeder (pasturage) group under each GGF for the purpose of implementing integrated forest reserve management. The formulation of a controlled pasturage plan for the forest reserve, exchange of the rules of activity (pasturage) with the Forest Service and the implementation of controlled management in Plot 1 constitute another important benchmark in Phase I. The main benchmarks in Phase II include extension of the activities conducted in Plot 1 to
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Plots 2, 3 and 4, etc. with the permission of the Forest Service. At the same time, controlled pasturage should spread to Plots 2, 3 and 4, etc. Other benchmarks are: (i) solving of problems regarding the management of Toumousséni Forest Reserve and reflection of the lessons learned on the management plan using round table meetings involving the GGF Union and other actors, and (ii) closer collaboration between the GGFs and CVGT, etc. to positively contribute to the improvement of the natural environment of the villages. The main benchmark in Phase III is for the GGF Union and GGFs to develop the financial, technical and organizational capacity to conduct their own activities and to actually conduct such activities based on the precondition that the Forest Service maintains its jurisdiction over (i.e. the overall control of) Toumousséni Forest Reserve.
There are benchmarks in Phase I, II, and III of Toumousseni Forest Reserve as follows: Phase I • Vegetative regeneration implemented by felling and tree plantation (agro-forestry) at the Plot I, II. III, IV, …. in Sustainable production forest zone. • To consider pilot pasturage management (implementation)
Phase II • To continue felling and tree plantation at Plot II, III, IV … in Sustainable production forest zone following to Phase I for the purpose of vegetative regeneration. • To continue implementation of pasturage management felling at Plot II, III, IV … in Sustainable production forest zone following to Phase I. • To consider the activities of the GGFs for environmental management in a whole village in collaboration with CVGT etc..
Phase III • More autonomous activities of GGFs and GGF Union.
20 Unlike Bounouna Forest Reserve, the vegetation in Toumousséni Forest Reserve is relatively rich. Accordingly, blanket forestation will be unnecessary. Planting will, therefore, focus on enrichment planting along the perimeter (for example, with a width of 50 m).
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Table 10.2 Implementation Schedule for Toumousséni Forest Reserve (Benchmark Method)
Objectives of Basic Policies: Promotion of the management and regeneration of forest resources by related village GGFs Phase I Phase II Phase III Implementing Body/Benchmark • Consolidation of the four village GGFs and • GGF activities to produce fuel wood in • More self-reliant activities by the GGF Union Plots 2, 3 and 4 and to plant trees in the GGFs and GGF Union • Collection, sale and planting of fuel wood in perimeter greenbelt zones • Implementation of more self-reliant Plot 1 and forestation in perimeter • Continued activities of the GGFs and monitoring by GGF and the GGF greenbelts by the GGFs GGF Union Union in collaboration with the Forest • Development of a monitoring system run by • Pasturage in Pasturage Plots 2, 3 and 4 Service Local villagers and implementation of • Implementation of monitoring by the monitoring Forest Service, GGF Union and GGFs • Implementation of monitoring by the Forest and use of the monitoring results Service, GGF Union and GGFs and use of • Contribution by the GGFs and GGF the monitoring results Union to the natural environment of • Examination of the possibility of agreeing the villages by establishing closer and implementing the rules of activity in collaboration with the CVGT and
10-22 regard to pasturage inside the forest reserve others (in the pasturage plots); development of a livestock transfer zone at the same time GGF Organizational Development • Official approval 3 other villages (3 other villages means Soubaka women’s, Tagnana men’s and women’s and Djongolowomen’s GGF) • Training to improve mainly the technical and 3 other organizational capacity villages Activities Common Activities • Preparation of individual rules for activities with the Forest Service • Marking of plots, etc. • Creation of a monitoring system
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and monitoring • Monitoring in collaboration with the Forest Service Individual Activities • Cutting, collection, sale and Fuel wood Plot 1 Plots 2, 3 and 4 planting of fuel wood and forestation in perimeter greenbelt zones
GGF Union Organizational Development • Establishment and official approval In 4 villages • Training to improve the organizational capacity Activities • Publicity of the Management Plan
10-23 • Coordination with related organizations, including GGF • Review of the Management Plan based on the monitoring results
GGF Pasturage Group
Organizational Development
• Establishment
• Training to improve the technical
and organizational capacity
Activities Pasturage Plot 1 Pasturage Plots 2, 3 and 4 • Preparation of the rules of activities for pasturage • Implementation of pasturage in the Forest Reserve block • Implementation of monitoring and response to the monitoring results Source: Prepared by the Study Team
10-24 10.4.2. Monitoring and Evaluation The Toumousseni Forest Reserve management plan will be implemented in accordance with the benchmark approach, the same as in the Bounouna plan. The major objective of the Toumousseni plan is to maintain sustainable utilization of forest resources. In fact, the GGFs will cut selective woods for fuel wood in cutting lots, and regenerate forest resources by nursing natural seedlings and/or planting/direct seeding in planting and nursing lots converted from cutting lots in the sustainable production forest zone. Moreover, revitalizing other GGFs apart from Toumousseni village GGF and the GGF Union is a crucial benchmark.
Phase I The monitoring and evaluation in Phase I will mainly be viewed from the following three viewpoints, like in the Bounouna Forest Reserve management plan: • Condition of vegetation regeneration in forest restoration zones; • Condition of support by the Forest Service; and • Condition of activities by GGFs and GGF Unions.
Vegetation regeneration (improvement) As mentioned earlier, in Phase I the objective will be to conduct replanting in plots in the sustainable production forest zone where fuel wood has been cut and sold by the GGFs, and thereby regenerate vegetation and achieve the sustainable utilization of forest resources. This will be the benchmark in Phase I. Cutting plots will be determined in discussion between the GGFs and Forest Service and confirmed on site, at which time the method of replanting and rules of activities will be settled. As one of the pilot studies, the planting that was implemented in 2004 was implemented with the aim of re-emphasizing to the GGFs that replanting should always be implemented after cutting. Since the inherent aim of reforestation (replanting) is to regenerate the forest in cut lots, it is scheduled to conduct replanting in cutting plot I in 2005. Following replanting, this plot will become planting plot I and, after trees grow a certain extent, it will become nursing plot I. If replanting of cut areas goes to plan in 2005, the rules of activities will be renewal with the Forest Service, and fuel wood from cutting plot II will be cut and sold in 2006. Then, by replanting trees, planting plot II will be changed to nursing plot II. Since the certification of nursing pots depends on the species of trees concerned, the Forest Service will decide this, however, the concrete benchmark for Phase I will be growth to a certain extent of trees planted later.
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Forest Service Support Toumousseni village GGF has experience in cutting and collecting fuel wood in Toumousseni Forest Reserve, and in direct seeding of Detarium microcarpum, unlike other GGFs. The four GGFs and the Forest Service agreed to the rules of activities related to cutting and collecting of fuel wood in 2004 as a pilot study, and they also coordinated the timing fuel wood collection and so on with the fuel wood distribution association. Since it is scheduled to renew the rules of activities every year based on the results of monitoring of cutting, etc., this will be another important role of the Forest Service in Phase I. The support of the GGFs and GGF Union will also be a crucial role. The dispute mediation committee between farmers and breeder groups was established in Toumousseni village as a pilot study. It is quite important to carry out pasturage survey to explore present pasture volume and the potential number of livestock in given plots before introducing pilot controlled pasturage management based on agreed rules of activities. These surveys and arrangements will also be an important role for the Forest Service. From the above discussion, the major points of monitoring and evaluation by the Forest Service in Phase I will be as follows: • Implementation of monitoring/evaluation; • Renewal of the rules of activities in the forest reserve; • Technical support and arrangement for planting; • Implementation of the survey for controlled pasturage in the forest reserve; and • Various support to GGFs and the GGF Union
GGF and GGF Union Activities The roles of the GGFs are to arrange not only activities of cutting and planting, but also operational management, namely agreement and renewal of rules of activities with the Forest Service, supervision, monitoring and evaluation. As a result of these activities, the GGFs can cut selective fuel woods and plant in given plots. The GGF Union for Toumousseni Forest Reserve was established before Bounouna GGF Union. Moreover, since the activities of Toumousseni village GGF are relatively well organized, much can be expected from the activities of Toumousseni GGF. In consideration of the above, the monitoring and evaluation points for village organizations in Phase I will be as follows: • A general assembly and election of officers in accordance with rules; • Activities of GGF members (mainly planting and monitoring); • Proper accounting; • Activities of the GGF Union (holding of round table meetings);
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• Operation of the dispute mediation committee; and • Agreement of rules and implementation of trial introduction of controlled pasturage management by breeders.
Phase II In Phase II, the GGFs will continue to carry out the forest regeneration in the sustainable production forest zone, and will implement enrichment planting in the protection zone. Moreover, if pilot controlled pasturage management works well, full-scale controlled pasturage management will be introduced, and the environment for livestock transfer by breeder groups will be prepared.
One of the important roles of the Forest Service will be to continue supporting the activities of the GGFs and GGF Union. It will be difficult to encourage the GGFs and GGF Union to conduct enrichment planting in the protection zone, because they will not receive direct benefit, unlike cutting and planting in the sustainable production forest zone. Environmental education arranged by the Forest Service will thus be important. Another important role of the Forest Service will be the formulation of rules of activities for and monitoring of controlled pasturage management, which will be introduced on a full-scale basis in Phase II.
Planting trees in the sustainable production zone for the regeneration will be a crucial role for the village organizations. The meaning of enrichment planting in the protection zone has to be fully understood by these groups.
Phase III Activities will be the same as in Phase II, but it is expected that the GGFs and GGF Union will display greater initiative. Rather than the contents of activities, this will be a time for improving the quality of citizen organizations via the autonomous implementation of the said activities.
10.4.3. Input Plan for Major Activities in Toumousseni Forest Reserve The main activity in Phase I will be to regenerate the forest through cutting selected fuel woods and implementing enrichment planting in the sustainable production forest zone. An important point to bear in mind here is that capability between Toumousseni village GGF (officially recognized in 2001), which has a good record of activity, and the other GGFs is different. In fact, Djongolo and Tagnana village GGF were only officially established in 2004.
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Other important activities will be the survey, formulation of activity rules, implementation and monitoring with respect to controlled pasturage to be introduced on a trial basis in Toumousseni Forest Reserve.
Phase I Toumousseni village GGF • Technical workshops (early burning, cutting, modern beekeeping, grafting, etc. 8 person-days x number of workshops, Forest Service) • GGF meetings (2-3 times/month, 30 person-days/year, Forest Service) • Monitoring and evaluation, review and agreement of rules (GGF 30 person-days, Forest Service 10 person-days) (Training in the Dioula language can be implemented by the CVGT with support also available under the PNGT2)
Djongolo village GGF • Organizational management, particularly accounting (5 +7 = 12 person-days) • Study Tour to Toumousseni village GGF (5 person-days, Forest Service) • Technical workshops (early burning, cutting, modern beekeeping, grafting, etc. 8 person-days x number of workshops, Forest Service) • GGF meetings (2-3 times/month, 30 person-days/year, Forest Service) • Monitoring and evaluation, review and agreement of rules (GGF 30 person-days, Forest Service 10 person-days) (Training in the Dioula language can be implemented by the CVGT with support also available under the PNGT2)
Soubaka and Tagnana village21 • Organizational management, particularly accounting (5 +7 = 12 person-days) • Study Tour to Toumousseni village GGF (5 person-days, Forest Service) • Technical workshops (early burning, cutting, modern beekeeping, grafting, etc. 8 person-days x number of workshops, Forest Service) • GGF meetings (2-3 times/month, 30 person-days/year, Forest Service) • Monitoring and evaluation, review and agreement of rules (GGF 30 person-days, Forest Service 10 person-days)
21 Soubaka village is the mother village of Tagnana village, and these villages can work together.
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(Training in the Dioula language can be implemented by the CVGT with support also available under the PNGT2)
GGF Union • Organizational management, particularly accounting (5 +7 = 12 person-days) • GGF Union meetings and support (once/2 months, 3 person-days/time, 18 person-days/ year, Forest Service) • Monitoring and evaluation (GGF 30 person-days, Forest Service 10 person-days)
Nursing and planting • Arrangement of seeds, and technical service and support (15 person-days) • Planting (transportation, construction of fire breaks, cutting grass, 200 person-days/ha, each GGF) • Supervision (192 person-days/ year in each GGF 192)
Pilot controlled pasturage management • Grass survey for the management • Formulation and agreement of rules • Monitoring and implementation of countermeasures
In addition, input plans of the Forest Service will include controlling illegal activities and conducting various procedures and report work. The input plan for Phase II is as follows.
Phase II (person-days will be set in future activity plans) • Environmental education for enrichment planting in the protection zone (GGFs Forest Service) • Education of and negotiation with breeder groups, particularly concerning the livestock transfer zone (breeder groups and Forest Service) • Nursing and planting (GGF, Forest Service) • Monitoring (GGFs, Forest Service)
Moreover, since Phase III is well into the future, it is feasible to compile the input plans for this phase upon considering the outcome of measures in the first two phases.
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Chapter１１ Participatory Management Plan for Gouandougou and Kongouko Forests Reserves
11. Participatory Management Plan for Gouandougou and Kongouko Forest Reserves
11.1. Policy of the Management Plan
Objectives :To promote incentive for conservation by encouraging villagers in related villages to utilize forest resources, with consideration given to the establishment of GGFs, and to establish a management system with the participation of villagers. Institutional management for Gouandougou Forest Reserve and Kongouko Forest Reserve as one is certainly necessary.
Expected Stakeholders :Forest Service, related villages, existing CVGT, groups of forest (Structures) product collectors, breeder groups
Main Activities :Promotion of utilization of forest products, formation of villager groups, management of pasturage, environmental education, dissemination and education, and measures to counter cultivation in the forest reserve
Incentives for villagers :Increased livelihood levels by promoting utilization of forest resources, authorization of pasturage, and authorization of agro-forestry in the forest reserve
Institutional and organizational management for Gouandougou Forest Reserve and Kongouko Forest Reserve as one area is certainly appropriate, mainly in view of the traditional relationships of related villages and the implementation setup of the Forest Service covering both reserves, the importance of Gouandougou and Dandougou villages that possess traditional territory in both reserves, and more or less the same characteristics of forest resources in both reserves. The conditions of natural resources are still good in this reserve, and the pressures of villagers on the resources are comparatively low. The setup of the Forest Service is rather small compared to that in Toumousseni and Bounouna Forest Reserves. Therefore, villagers will be encouraged to join activities for conservation of the reserve from the long-range viewpoint by promoting the utilization of forest products as incentives for the conservation. Eventually, establishment of management systems for the whole forest reserve based on voluntary participation by villagers will be aimed for. In the beginning of the management plan, the utilization of non-timber forest products (collection of fruits and medical plants, apiculture, etc.) will be permitted or promoted for increasing the livelihood level on condition that forest resources are maintained in sound condition to create a system for sharing the benefits of forest resources management to villagers. In this way, incentives will be given to villagers by creating the situation in which
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the existence of forest resources can be profitable for them. During this process, organizing villagers (the creation of users’ groups of forest resources) will also be promoted. However, utilization that entails tree felling, which easily causes the degradation of resources, will not be permitted, because there is high possibility of insufficient management and supervision due to insufficient systems in the initial stage of the plan. In accordance with the awareness of villagers on forest resources, shifting from users’ groups to management groups of resources will be attempted, and the establishment of management systems of resources with positive participation of villagers will be aimed for. In this process, corresponding to the maturity of the groups, items that can be utilised by the community will be expanded in discussion with the Forest Service. At the same time, the role of management will be transferred little by little to the villager groups. Moreover, the Forest Service will offer cooperation and support for organization in those villages that express an interest, thus increasing the number of organized villages. Furthermore, these management groups will be integrated with a view to realizing management over the whole reserve and realizing the objectives of the management plan. Also, by using permission for pasturing in the reserve as an incentive, breeder groups will be incorporated into the management setup with a view to building a system whereby local villagers themselves will take responsibility for pasturage and bush fire countermeasures. In addition to that, environmental education especially for the younger generation will be performed based on the long-term viewpoint. Cultivators who are cultivating in the reserve will be instructed to perform agro-forestry based mainly on trees with the assistance of the Forest Service on condition that they do not expand cultivated area within the reserve any further. In addition to that, environmental education especially for the younger generation will be performed based on the long-term viewpoint.
11.2. Implementation Systems of Local Villagers, the Administration and Others
11.2.1. Roles and Implementation Systems of Villagers, Administration and Others Actors As was described earlier, the forest reserves of Gouandougou and Kongouko are managed in an integrated manner. At present, the level of dependence of local villagers on forest resources in these two forest reserves is low, i.e. they do not use such resources much. As these forest reserves are located far from consumption areas of fuel wood and other forest products, the marketability of locally produced fuel wood is low, making it necessary for
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these forest reserves to adopt a different management plan from that of the Bounouna and Toumousséni forest reserves where the marketability of such products is high. In other words, although the implementation of a management plan by the GGF Union and GGFs is a feasible future option for the management of the forests reserves of Gouandougou and Kongouko, what is required is the steady implementation of basic activities in addition to the urgently required work to establish an organization to deal with the ongoing cultivation and pasturage inside forests. These basic activities will include, for example, utilization of the traditional resources available in the forest reserves and environmental and educational activities1 in local villages by the Forest Service. If the Forest Service cannot provide environmental education because of a manpower shortage, it may be an option to entrust NGOs and associations, including GGFs in other forest reserves, to conduct such education.2 At the same time, it will be important to strengthen the collaboration with the head of the department that controls the villages concerned and also with the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Animal Resources, which conduct technical training whenever necessary. At present, cultivation and pasturage are taking place in the two forest reserves in question and urgent measures to control these activities are judged to be necessary. However, cultivation in some parts of these forest reserves has reportedly been conducted prior to the finalization of their boundaries (by means of erecting boundary posts). Considering the sentiments of local villagers, it is unrealistic to unilaterally demand that they stop their cultivation in the forest reserves and the creation of such organizations as villagers’ groups is essential to initiating talks with them.3 Given the low dependence of local villagers on forest resources in the forest reserves, the establishment of GGFs in the villages concerned is inferred to be difficult. The establishment and fostering of small management groups targeting those conducting cultivation in forests or groups of farmers engaged in cultivation in forests will, therefore, be more appropriate.
1 One important lesson learned from the Pilot Study is the importance of developing a relationship of trust with local villagers. Any educational activity must take this point into consideration. If funding is available, one promising move is the implementation of literacy education in the local language (Dioula in this case) for which the demand among local villagers is high. 2 On 3rd October, 2004, representatives of the Forest Service and the nine target villages of JICA’s Pilot Study gathered and established a committee composed of three GGF representatives. This committee aims at promoting the mutual assistance of GGFs (joint participation in technical training provided by the Forest Service on nursing), acting as a go-between between local villagers and the Forest Service and establishing the Comoé GGF Union in 2005. As an extension of mutual assistance, it may be possible to assist educational activities in the two forest reserves. 3 Finalization of the target groups relating to pasturage in forests should be carefully conducted over a long period of time. Meanwhile, cultivation in forests is taking place near such forest management plan-related villages as Bade, Dakie and Gouara.
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Based on the present situation described above, the main actors in the management plan relating to the forests reserves of Gouandougou and Kongouko are those listed below: • Forest Service • Head of Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Animal Resources • GGFs, breeder groups and/or farmer groups in those villages related to pasturage and/or cultivation in forests • Related villages
Administration Villagers support & Forestry Service collaboration Future Gouandougou and Kongouko Department Chief Forest Reserve Future Ministry of technical GGF Union Fougangou GGF Agriculture training e /M inistry of Animal enlightenment Bade Resouces activities Dandougou GGF regulation of illegal activities activities & collaborative conservaton activity Future Gouandougou and GGF Kongouko Forest farmer groups Reserve breeder groups
Figure. 11.1 Implementation System in Forests Reserves of Gouandougou and Kongouko
Implementation system Under the current circumstances, an important present task for the Forest Service will be the steady implementation of educational activities and the control of illegal activities. One realistic way forward will be to solve such specific problems as cultivation in forests and pasturage in forests by means of creating user groups and/or GGFs over time. The feasibility of establishing a GGF Union and GGFs, which will play a central role in management of the forest reserves of Gouandougou and Kongouko, should be examined when the opportunity to do so becomes ripe, i.e. when the economic sustainability of forest management becomes a reality due to the development of the marketability of fuel wood and other forest products. In short, the establishment of these organizations is a pending task for the future.
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Given the difficulty of managing these two forest reserves by village organizations in the immediate future4, the role to be played by the Forest Service of Sidéradougou,5 which controls these two forest reserves, will be particularly important. What is required is improvement of the manpower strength and means of transport of this office to enforce the law over a wide area. The implementation system for the forest reserves of Gouandougou and Kongouko will be as follows. • For the immediate future, the Forest Service will primarily manage the two forest reserves, while activities by villager groups will be limited to minor areas. • The Forest Service will encourage development of user groups while conducting education activities. • Measures will be implemented to deal with cultivation inside the forest reserves by Bade GGF. • Measures to deal with pasturage inside the forest reserves will be implemented by breeder groups (first requiring authorization and training). • Where necessary, the Forestry Service, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Animal Resources will offer technical support to the GGFs, etc. • Where necessary, links will be developed with NGOs and associations.
Roles of villagers and administration The Forest Service will take the lead in managing the forest reserves of Gouandougou and Kongouko for the immediate future. This is because villager groups such as the GGFs, which would normally be expected to take the initiative for forest management, find it difficult to obtain cash revenues, necessary for sustained operation, from the sale of fuel wood and charcoal. Bade GGF conducts cultivation and the GGFs of Dandougou and Fougangouè implement tree planting inside the forest reserves, however, it is unrealistic to expect these GGFs alone to manage the whole area of the two forest reserves. In the medium to long term, providing that marketability for fuel wood, etc. becomes established, management based on the GGFs and other villager groups will be aimed for as in the other forest reserves. For this purpose, as was implemented in the Pilot Study, it will be important for the Forest Service to conduct education on matters including traditional utilization inside the forest reserves to the related
4 What should be aimed at is the implementation of forest reserve management with the participation of Local villagers (GGF and others) within the framework of the Forest Service assuming overall control for the forest reserves as in the case of other forest reserves. 5 One Forest Office was posted to three officers.
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villages and to foster the development of karate user groups and the like.
11.2.2. Implementation Process for Local Villagers and the Administration Unlike Bounouna Forest Reserve and Toumousséni Forest Reserve, implementation of the full-scale participatory management of the forest reserves of Gouandougou and Kongouko is difficult. Therefore, it appears appropriate for the administration, i.e. the Forest Service, to conduct such management for the foreseeable future. See Table 11-1 for the anticipated changes in the roles played by different organizations. As was described earlier, the immediate aim is to set up and foster user groups or GGFs for the purpose of using forest reserves in a traditional manner. The establishment of a GGF, which is a smaller management group than a user group, in villages involved in cultivation or pasturage in forests will then be attempted. The village of Bade where cultivation in forests is taking place is one example of such a village. Meanwhile, the identification of groups engaged in pasturage in forests should be conducted slowly as the relevant information is rather confusing because of the possible incursion of breeder groups from the north. As in the case of the Toumousséni Forest Reserve, efforts should be made to organize breeder groups engaged in pasturage in forests to prevent further expansion of this practice while implementing measures designed to control this problem, targeting those breeder groups who have settled in the villages concerned. This should be followed by further efforts to establish such village organizations as a GGF Union and GGF in the future for the management of the Forests Reserves of Gouandougou and Kongouko depending on the marketability of fuel wood and the usage situation of forest resources in these forest reserves by residents of the villages concerned as in the case of the Bounouna Forest Reserve and the Toumousséni Forest Reserve. A CVGT has so far been set up in such target villages of the Pilot Study as Dandougou, Fougangouè and Bade6 and efforts will be made to set up a CVGT in other villages under the PNGT2. In the forest reserves of Gouandougou and Kongouko where GGF are virtually non-existent unlike other forest reserves, the natural environment sub-committee of the CVGT and other bodies can play an important role in environmental conservation, including forest conservation, in these forest reserves. In some villages where a GGF has not been set up, the CVGT can act as a window to channel educational activities on the traditional use and conservation of forest resources to villagers.
6 Unlike the village of Toumousséni, there appears to be no conflict between the traditional organization led by the village chief and land chief and the modern organization of the CVGT in these villages. As the number of people capable of assuming responsibility in these villages is small, the leading positions of these two organizations tend to be held by the same person.
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Table 11.1 Roles of the Administration and Village Organisations in Forests Reserves of Gouandougou and Kongouko and Relevant Processes
Management by the Led by the Led by Administration/ Æ Administration/ ---Æ Local villagers Forest Service Forest Service Forest Service GGF Union Forest reserve Prepared and Prepared by the Aims at creating Prepared by village block implemented by the administration and a GGF Union organizations and management administration implemented after if necessary implemented after plan/ agreement of the recognition by the rules of rules of activities administration activities Process: with village Process: lessons educational organizations from the monitoring activities by of implementation the Ç to be reflected on administration the next plan on forest use and the Takes the initiative environment in in coordinating Mainly led by the the villages Coordinating efforts Plays a more efforts in administration concerned by the GGF Union active role collaboration with Coordination under the guidance the administration with related of the Process: organizations administration coordination Ç with related organizations using round table talks, etc. while developing the human resources and financial system required of a GGF Union Forest Service (Activities) + User Groups Æ GGF (Management Groups) Education on Conducted by the Development Educational traditional Forest Service in and activities led by the use/ accordance with the implementation GGF in monitoring of management plan of the collaboration with illegal monitoring the administration activities and system led by law local GGF enforcement Identification Aims at creating Learning of lessons of users, GGF if necessary from monitoring Possible followed by Implementation activities (led decisions on of the rules of by user permissible use activities groups first and the after agreement and then by implementation on them with GGF) of such use the Forest Service in accordance with the management plan Cultivation in Coordination with Activities by Ç forests the villages GGF concerned and (agro-forestry) agreement on the rules of activities for agro-forestry, etc . Process: aims at creating GGF if possible Ç
Pasturage in Understanding of Implementation of Decision on the forests the current state of Organization of pasturage after contents of the pasturage; breeder groups agreement on the subsequent plan recognition of in the villages rules of activities depending on pasturage (breeder) concerned with the Forest the groups and Service implementation discussions situation of pasturage Source: Prepared by the Study Team
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