Promoting locally adapted agroecological practices in Sub-Saharan Africa

Lead Organization:

Centre Universitaire de Gaoua/Universite Nazi BONI

Partner Organizations:

Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Agrinovia, Development Support Institute (IAD), Local authorities, women's associations, land chiefs, and local communities, Various academic and government organizations

Community of Practice:

West Africa

Countries:

Burkina Faso (specific region: gallery forests)

Duration:

11/2024—11/2027

Overview:

The ecological challenges faced by the gallery forests in Burkina Faso have direct implications for food security and public Health. Because of their soils’ fertility and demographic growth, the banks of gallery forests are under significant pressure. Vegetation in gallery forests is cleared to increase agricultural land (Sop et al., 2010), disrupting the ecological balance and leading to increased risks of runoff, leaching, and erosion (MDDEP, 2011). Consequently, the exceptional biodiversity of this habitat is threatened. Additionally, agricultural lands are exploited both intensively and irrationally, depleting the soil (INSD, 2002) which results in low yields and decreased production, thereby making the food systems vulnerable.

Furthermore, there are invasive species that naturally grow on these depleted soils, which negatively impact crop yields. This situation leads small farmers representatives to use pesticides, which in turn weaken soil bacteria, fungi, earthworms, and insects that are essential for soil fertility. Moreover, with rainwater, the runoff and leaching of these pesticides contaminate the waters of the gallery forests and harm aquatic organisms, further exacerbating the loss of animal and plant biodiversity. This increases the health risk for animals that drink from these waters and use the fodder.

However, soils are a non-renewable resource, and their preservation is crucial to ensuring food security and a sustainable future (FAO, 2015). They also ensure the availability of water in both quality and quantity. Moreover, invasive plants generally do not pose direct environmental problems. Many are useful and their extracts could be used to produce biopesticides/biofertilizers for crops health and human health. They can also be a source of animal feed and can be used in forced aeration systems for small composting units to improve productivity. For instance, Ocimum basilicum keep fruit flies away; Hyptis suaveolens are mosquito repellents. Tithonia diversifolia enhance the germination of cereal seedlings (Lavaud, 2021). Local trees that are cleared are useful to rural communities (APFNL, 2012; Ouédraogo et al., 2013) and some are known to help retain groundwater in gallery forests.

Thus, a major challenge is to create conditions for the economic viability and ecological sustainability security of ecosystems. Agroecology is a necessary solution. It will lead to the management of sustainable agroecosystems (Gliessman et al., 1998) and to agricultural development inspired by traditional peasant techniques to derive modern scientific knowledge (Burger et al., 2011). Added to this, agroecological practices improve the nutritional quality of plants, guaranteeing animals and humans’ health. 

Currently, various techniques are being developed worldwide to restore and stabilize degraded riparian soils. These include revegetation of banks through seeding, cutting, or planting, vegetative engineering with bundles, fascines, branch mattresses, or rows of stakes, and rock placement (MDDEP, 2011). Initiatives such as the QualiTree project (2011-2016) revealed the existence of useful species (C. procera and P. butyracea) naturally growing on the banks of gallery forests with high reconstitution potential but threatened by human pressure (Tiétiambou, 2017). Projects such as PICOFA or PRGDT-Burkina Faso/Ghana have shown the importance of local participation for the successful implementation of development projects.

Grant Aims:

  • Improve forest conservation knowledge and adoption of sustainable production practices in local communities.
  • Restore gallery forest landscapes with locally adapted utility species that help retain groundwater.
  • Promote the use of agroecological practices for improving soil fertility, plant health, and biodiversity.
  • Enhance local capacities for the production of compost and domestication of native trees.

Outputs and Outcomes:

Output 1.1 Four operational sustainable management initiatives established for gallery forest landscapes and soil fertility by month 12 of the project

Examples of activities include:

  • List of villages and gallery forests categorized by degradation level.
  • Topographical study of the entire gallery forest riverbanks to identify critical slope break points.
  • Establishment of 4 local management committees for riverbank, soil fertility, and agroforestry adoption.
  • One study trip for the committee to two sites (completely degraded and ideal) to raise ecological awareness.
  • Four training and awareness sessions on participatory impact and results monitoring for the management committee.

Output 1.2 Communities and producers’ networks access to local and traditional knowledge on riverbank restoration, invasive, and utility plants

Examples of activities include:

  • 1.2.1 Research to identify and assess riverbank restoration practices used locally (Master thesis)
  • 1.2.2 Research to assess invasive and useful plants (medicinal, aromatic/insect-repelling, soil biofertilizers, forage) with local uses (Master thesis).
  • 1.2.3 Research to identify species with high potential for groundwater retention (Master thesis).
  • 1.2.4 Research to assess the demographic status of useful woody species (Master thesis).
  • 1.2.5 Research to establish a List of species with unstable population structures.

1.2.6 training and awareness raising sessions to disseminate knowledge and share experiences with producers’ networks. 

Three expected outputs are envisioned to achieve outcome 2:

Output 2.1: Producers’ networks enhanced capacities in research and innovation to develop peasant technologies for restoring landscapes and soil fertility

  • 2.1.1 Development of a composting technique using invasive plants to enrich soil.
  • 2.1.2 Development of a preventive biological pest and disease control practice.
  • 2.1.3 Development of a riverbank restoration practice.
  • 2.1.4 An awareness-raising and experience sharing workshop.

Output 2.2: Communities strengthen their capacities for the production and availability of compost and plants for the domestication of selected native trees.

  • 2.2.1 Establishment of four partnerships between committees and primary schools.
  • 2.2.2 Four periods defined for summer school.
  • 2.2.3 Three-day training workshops.
  • 2.2.4 Creation of an innovation platform involving primary schools, management committees, and local governments.
  • 2.2.5 Technical brochures and posters on processing and planting techniques available in local languages.

Output 2.3: communities and producers’ networks apply their knowledge to restore gallery forest landscapes with native utility species that are locally adapted and help retain groundwater.

  • 2.3.1 Tree planting along 8 degraded gallery forest riverbanks with locally adapted utility species with unstable populations.
  • 2.3.2 Plantation of groundwater-retaining trees in agroforestry systems and along gallery forest riverbanks.
  • 2.3.3 Anti-erosion stone placements at identified critical slope points.