The Paris Agreement in action: upscaling forest and landscape restoration to achieve nationally  determined contributions - Niger

• Upscale sustainable land management practices across all agro-ecological areas; 
• Support the implementation of Niger's National Action Plans for the Great Green Wall initiative, focusing on land restoration in high erosion areas, and 
• Contribute to its mitigation commitments by integrating FLR efforts aligned with its climate and land use policies. 

• African Union Commission, through its Africa Special Hub for the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel Initiative (GGWSSI)
• National Agency for the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative (ANGMV – Agence Nationale du Grand Muraille Verte) – Niger
• National Agency for the Financing of Territorial Communities (ANFICT – Agence Nationale de Financement des Collectivités Territoriales)
• Directorate of Water and Forests (DGEF) of the Ministry of Environment, Urban Sanitation and Sustainable Development (MESUDD – Ministère de l’Environnement, de l’Assainissement Urbain et du Développement Durable)

• Supported multi-stakeholder dialogues and inter-sectoral collaboration for FLR: for e.g. The Workshop on carbon benefits of forest and landscape restoration in the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative was held in November 2022 
• Developed enabling environments addressing key issues: the implementation of income generation activities (IGAs) which covered producing, processing and marketing agricultural products, livestock and timber or non-timber forest products.   
• Built capacities of local communities to sustainably manage land restoration efforts: for e.g. a study tour from Burkina Faso institutions and mayors to Niger was organized at the end of November 2022 to immerse oneself in the approaches to implementing FLR/SLM actions in each country and to visit IKI restored sites and discussed IGA achievements in 

• The project targets a reduction of 1 285 630 tCO₂e in GHG emissions by 2038. As of the most recent reporting period, the cumulative reduction achieved is 185 702 tCO₂e. 
• It seeks the direct restoration of 5 000 hectares of degraded forests and landscapes. As of the most recent reporting period, a total of 5 450 hectares has been restored. 
• It aims to establish or improve 17 institutionalized structures or processes to address climate change and conserve biodiversity. 

• Established over 200 hectares of half-moon structures on degraded lands to combat desertification. 
• Disseminated Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) practices across 450 hectares, supported by ten pilot farmer leaders. 
• Integrated investments in forest and landscape restoration (FLR) into communal development plans. 
• Scaled up the use of improved cook stoves (Banco stoves) with participation from trained women's groups and facilitators, resulting in: 
  • -Illela: 176 stoves 
  • -Kollo: 1 076 stoves 
  • -Soucoucoutane: 55 stoves 
• Implemented income-generating activities (IGAs) aimed at producing, processing, and marketing agricultural and forest products, prioritizing women's and youth involvement, with nine cooperatives receiving a total of USD 70 000. 
• 500 hectares are currently under restoration in Niger with 105 hectares already achieved during the reporting period and with nine small grants (for a total amount of 75000 USD) provided to groups/cooperatives within the targeted communes. 
• Four national policy frameworks and work plans ongoing 
• 2 000 hectares restored at communal level in Niger between 2020 and 2023 

FAO FLRM focal points:   

• Christophe Besacier 
• Nelly Bourlion    

This project was financed by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal government of Germany (BMU).