Zai in Sahel region. Successful story of re-greening the Sahara

According to an FAO classification based on average annual precipitation and agricultural features there are four different eco-climatic zones in the Sahel region:

Sahel Region

Sahelian zone: Where average annual precipitation ranges between 250 and 500 mm. This zone is at the limit of perennial vegetation. In parts where precipitation is less than 350 mm, only pastures and occasional short-cycle drought-resistant cereal crops are grown; all cropping in this zone is subject to high risk.

Sudano-Sahelian zone: Where average annual precipitation ranges from 500 to 900 mm. In those parts of this zone where precipitation is less than 700 mm, mostly crops with a short growing cycle of 90 days are generally cultivated predominantly sorghum and millet.

Sudanian zone: Where average annual precipitation ranges from 900 to 1 100 mm. In this zone, most cereal crops have a growing cycle of 120 days or more. Most cereals, notably maize, root and cash crops are grown in this zone.

Guinean zone: Where average annual precipitation exceeds 1 100 mm. Guinea-Bissau and a small area of southern Burkina Faso belong to this zone, more suited to root crop cultivation.

The zai method helps farmers cultivating crops in a region characterized by arid soils and limited rainfalls.
However, only the introduction of adequate policies and important investments in infrastructures could leverage the success of local initiatives in the implementation of effective food security strategies  at national scale. A number of important issues to be considered for future action were pointed out in the paper entitled Regreening the Sahel published by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD):

Lessons learned*

Policy changes are essential for the success of on-farm regreening in the Sahel, and the

process should continue. National policies and legislation must support farmer investment

in trees, and farmers should be granted exclusive rights to the trees in their fields.

A wide range of other factors can contribute to this process:

• substantial public support for private investment in soil and water conservation;

• improvement of trunk roads, which reduces transport costs and allows traders to send

their trucks to remote areas to buy new products;

• generally sound macroeconomic management, without discrimination against

agriculture and natural resources;

• substantial local capacity-building by NGOs and other stakeholders (technical,

organizational and management skills);

• government action to increase awareness of environmental problems and their

solutions

Further info also in the following blog:
Global Warming & Terra Forming Terra: Agroforestry Revolution in Sahel

Illegal logging in the Philippines also a problem of law enforcement

Mindanao, second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines, is one of the most affected by the phenomenon.


In particular, Misamil Oriental and Caraga (at its right in the map) regions suffer  for the illegal slash and burn of trees, the kaigin as this practice is called in Tagalog, the Filipino language.
This method contributes not only to deforestation but also favours the risk of floods and landslides.
Illegal logging is not only a big environmental problem but also represent a violation for the rights of the indigenous population.

This illegal activity prospers also for the alleged support of corrupt port authority agents, local government and police officials.
Though several laws and regulations for the sustainable forest management exist at the central and regional government levels, NGOs and civil society associations blame the lack of law enforcement. Truckloads of illegally cut logs pass on national highways not only at night but even daylight. These logs then leave the country with cargo ships

It's emblematic the story reported by Indigenous Peoples Links (PIPLinks), the UK based organization which advocates and promotes the collective and individual human rights of Indigenous Peoples and other land-based communities.


You could find interesting articles and video also in the
Philippine Native Forest Trees blog

2011 declared Year of Forests by the United Nations

2011 has been declared  the Year of Forests by the UN General Assembly. The logo celebrating the event was designed to empathize the crucial role of forests for being at the same time shelter for people, habitat to bioversity, source of food, medicine and clear water.

A number of events have been arranged to celebrate this important occasion. On the FAO website there is an interesting section called Toolkit for communicators where it is possible to find videos, pictures, posters and banners together with several publications. In November, UNODC will arrange a workshop for Police, Prosecutors, Judges and Forest Rangers on the topic of criminal justice response to illegal logging in Indonesia.


The video "of Forests and Men" produced by the Good Planet Foundation is the official film of the International Year of Forests

For further information on the events arranged by the UN click here