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11. REGIONAL UPDATE FOR THE SAHELIAN AND NORTH SUDAN REGION by A. Nikiema[12]


Introduction

The situation of forest genetic resources in arid and semi-arid regions (Sahelian and North Sudanian zone) has attracted increasing attention from a number of institutions at national as well as regional and international level. This interest results from the constant increase in the rate of forest resource degradation in Sub-Saharan Africa. The situation poses a serious threat to agricultural production, at the same time endangering the survival of rural populations for whom a significant part of primary product requirements come from the vegetation formations (e.g. fuelwood, structural timber, medicinal plants, fruits, vegetables, fodder etc.).

Since 1997 FAO has initiated a process at the level of Sahelian and North Sudan countries which has led to the preparation of national reports on forest genetic resources. In order to make use of these national reports and the conclusions from workshops organised in Ouagadougou from 22 to 24 September, 1998, FAO made them available in an important reference document: "Situation of forest genetic resources in the Sahelian and North Sudan zones, and sub-regional Action Plan for their conservation and sustainable use". This document is thus of current interest, and contains key practical information resulting from the current working session of the FAO panel of experts on the FGR. This paper will therefore concern itself with some additional information on latest developments in the region.

1. Policy and Institutions

Forest policies have been undergoing revision during the 1990's in the majority of the countries in the Sahelian and North Sudan region. The new texts aim to integrate better current major concerns with regard to development. Concepts of sustainability, participation of rural populations, and local development, from now on, are essential aspects to be considered in any project or program development. Thus the basic legal texts governing utilisation and management of forest genetic resources have been, or are being, reviewed, in many countries.

Table: Legislative situation in countries with regard to FGR.

Country

Forestry code

Agrarian and land reform/land code

Environmental code

Others

Benin

Updated in 1993




Burkina Faso

Updated 1997

Updated in 1996

Proposed in 1997

National monograph on biodiversity. National Action Plan to Combat Desertification

Gambia

1978




Guinea

1989




Cape Verde





Mali

Updated in 1995



National monograph on biodiversity. National Action Plan to Combat Desertification

Mauritania

Updated in 1997




Niger




National Action Plan to Combat Desertification

Senegal

Updated in 1997



National monograph on biodiversity. National Action Plan to Combat Desertification

Chad





Togo





In the same way, the majority of the countries have ratified the texts resulting from the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, in particular the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the International Convention to Combat Desertification.

During the three last years, countries were engaged to draft national monographs on biological diversity and national action plans to combat desertification. These documents and strategies constitute, from now on, references and special frameworks privileged for the initiation and control of projects, and the development of collaboration between national and trans-national partners.

The decentralisation of administration is common to all the countries in the region. It implies, at forest policy level, a greater autonomy of local communities and local authorities in forest resource management. Since 1997, an increasing number of forests subject to private management have thus been noted. In this case, the State signs contracts of limited duration with local communities, persons or entities who have to keep to certain specifications.

Some difficulties still remain in the application of the legislative texts:

2. Technical and Scientific activities in progress

Projects and programs relating to the management of the FGR are increasing in number and diversity of content. The following fields are particularly involved: forest seeds, genetic improvement, botanical inventories, reproduction biology, ecological physiology, vegetative propagation, domestication.

Table: Some projects in progress

Project title

Countries involved

Partners

Plant Resources of Tropical Africa

Tropical Africa

University of Wageningen, R.B.G. Kew, CIRAD

Millennium Seed bank

Arid and semi-arid zones

R.B.G. Kew

Improved management of agroforestry parkland systems in Sub-Saharan Africa

Burkina, Mali, Uganda, Nigeria

EU, University of Wales, CIRAD, Wageningen University, ICRAF, University of Freiburg, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Desert Margin Initiatives

Burkina, Mali, Niger

ICRISAT

Date palm culture project

Burkina, Niger, Mali, Senegal, Mauritania

FAO, ICRISAT, IPALAC

Flora of Benin

Benin,

Wageningen University

Participatory management of faunal resources project

Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso

GEF

Developing strategies and policies to match agroforestry tree seed supply with demand in Burkina Faso, Malawi, and Uganda

Burkina Faso, Malawi, Uganda

ICRAF, DFSC

Park Project

Niger, Burkina, Benin

EU

3. Organisational and Operational aspects

Several national institutions contribute to the definition of policies and the implementation of actions for management and conservation of the forest genetic resources in Sahelian and North Sudan Africa. Among these institutions one can distinguish state developmental structures, research institutions, national projects and programs, and NGOs.

Situation of Research, the Training and regional and international Co-operation.

(cf tables 7, 9 and 10 in the working document FGR/2F)

Main difficulties.

Particular proposals

Among the actions recommended in the Sub-regional Action Plan, it would be advisable to give highest priority to the following activities:

- Establishment of a monitoring procedure for the implementation of an Action Plan by the FAO.

- Documentation of legal texts by country, making a comparative analysis with recommendations in order to fill in gaps

- Encouragement of floral inventories and the establishment of herbaria and botanical gardens with the aim of conservation and training.

- The establishment of national floras to form a foundation for knowledge and management of forest genetic resources.


[12] Original language: French
Translation by: M. Robbins

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