The initiative entitled 'Linking Adaptation to Climate Change, Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development in Drylands: How to Move From Research to Action in the Post-Bali Era?' was presented to interested NGOs and donors on February 13th in Oslo, Norway.

This initiative, initiated by Chris Reij from VU University Amsterdam, builds on grassroot-based success stories with the development of tree-based production systems in the Sahel. It is inspired by the recently uncovered large-scale re-greening of densely populated parts of Niger, which began in the middle of the 1980s, but also by similar smaller-scale successes in other Sahel countries. This re-greening, which is mainly based on farmers protecting and managing spontaneous natural regeneration on their fields, has generated multiple impacts, which include a reduction of rural poverty, adaptation to climate change, increased resilience to drought and improved household food security, but also increased biodiversity and a substantial reduction in time required by women and children to collect firewood.

The initiative is planning to take place in Niger, Senegal,Burkina Faso and Mali where national alliances have been formed with NGOs. An international alliance to support the initiative has also already been formed and consists of several NGOs and research institutes including DCG Norway.

For more information on the initiative, please refer to this short note.

 printer friendly