Arid zone forestry

Restauration of degraded zone


Land degradation, defined as the temporary or permanent decline in the productive capacity of the land, threatens the lives of millions of people in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), especially those residing in rural areas. The area covers 13.9 million km2 or about 46 percent of the african continent for instance.
Land degradation affects all three zones to differing degrees. Key factors are agricultural expansion, logging, firewood and charcoal production, mining, human settlements, infra-structural and related industrial developments. Overgrazing and uncontrolled fires add to problems, especially in sub-humid and dry lands zones. Poor government policies, inequitable distribution of benefits, market and policy failures, population growth, rural poverty and poor economies exacerbate conditions, particularly when they are combined with natural causes such as drought, fire by lightning, floods, and insects and diseases.

Extent of Land Degradation in Sub-Saharan Africa:

Within the dry-lands zone, land degradation that leads to desertification occurs at various levels, depending on land use. For example, it is moderate in irrigated croplands (18 percent) but high in rain-fed croplands (61 percent) and in rangelands (74 percent). The annual rate of desertification is about 10 percent in arid lands, 1 percent in semi-arid lands and 0.1 percent in dry sub-humid lands, giving an average rate of 3.5 percent per year. Overgrazing is the main factor, accounting for more than 62 percent of degradation, followed by agricultural activities (15 percent).
However, the extent of land degradation in SSA remains unknown due to lack of reliable data. Highly variable climatic conditions, notably the amount and distribution of rainfall, combined with drought and anthropogenic factors, result in dry land boundaries shifting over time. Such conditions raise the need to address issues, including capacity, related to suitable and harmonized methods for generating data; and frequency of monitoring changes.


SUMMARY OF THE IPF/IFF PROPOSALS FOR ACTION


Combating deforestation and forest degradation:

Conduct diagnostic studies to analyse historical and underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation, including the impacts of transboundary pollution, poverty, fuelwood use, and processes outside the forest sector.
Assist countries to study the underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation management and integrate forest issues into poverty alleviation, food security and related development programmes (International Organizations).
Develop and implement integrated national policies, strategies, economic instruments and mechanisms for supporting sustainable forest.
Create awareness of the importance of issues related to deforestation and forest degradation and the multiple values of forests.


Rehabilitation and conservation strategies for low forest cover countries:

Analyse and take into account the related social, economic and environmental implications, costs and benefits of non-wood substitutes and imports of forest products.
Establish and manage plantations to enhance production of forest goods and services, taking into account relevant social, cultural, economic and environmental considerations in the selection of species, areas and silviculture systems.
Promote research into the rehabilitation and extension of dryland forests as well as into traditional forest-related knowledge with the full involvement of indigenous peoples and local communities.
Consider the needs of developing and low forest cover countries, support forest programs and integrate forest-related aspects into poverty, population, food and environmental programs (International Organizations).
Undertake integrated and coordinated actions to address dryland forest issues at the international, national and local levels.
Develop and support partnerships that include indigenous and local communities and management approaches, including those that embody traditional lifestyles, to reduce pressures on dryland forests and promote their sustainable management and regeneration.


Rehabilitation and restoration of degraded lands:

Enhance the role of plantations as a mechanism for reducing deforestation and forest degradation of natural forests.
Take positive action towards reforestation, afforestation and conservation, using native species where appropriate, including regeneration of degraded forests, management of plantations and trees outside forests and the expansion of protected areas.
Raise awareness and disseminate data on the ecological, social, cultural and economic contributions of planted and natural forests in the rehabilitation and sustainable management of forests in environmentally critical areas.
Analyse past experiences and monitor trends in dryland forests, including biophysical, social, economic and institutional factors.


Other related sites on this issue:

REHABILITATION OF DEGRADED LANDS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: LESSONS FROM CASE STUDIES
http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/MEETING/007/AD483e/AD483e00.HTM http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/MEETING/007/AD483e/AD483e00.HTM