ICRISAT Archival Report 2006 - The seedlings of success in the ...

indicators of biodiversity loss, and improved monitoring techniques. Most activities undertaken under this output
have been completed during Phase I. The major highlights of Phase I are summarized below:
Soil and vegetation inventories, including biodiversity have been widely investigated across the project sites (Kenya,
Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger). However, levels of detail, coverage and the amount of data gathered have
varied across countries. The project was successful in generating consistent baseline data across all DMP countries.
Some countries have even begun modeling climate change, hydrological cycles (Kenya, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso,
Senegal, Mali, Niger), and are studying the impact of land use on the resource base, including levels of degradation,
soil fertility, and changes in biodiversity and land cover. We are now planning to organize a technical conference to
synthesize lessons learnt during Phase I and generate regional perspectives (West, East and Southern Africa) on the
impacts of land use and climate change on the resource base. Socio-economic changes taking place in the project
sites have been documented and recommendations are being formulated on potential measures for adapting to
climate change, including lessons learned from indigenous knowledge and best practices in agriculture, pastoralism
and agro-forestry (Kenya, Burkina Faso). Furthermore, the project has made linked together all projects operating at
the same sites for information sharing to derive best practices across the eco-regions of West, East and Southern
Africa.
During Phase II, some activities started in Phase I are being pursued. For example new findings have been identified
to better characterize ecosystem stability. In Burkina Faso, some insect species (Charaxes epijasius) have been
identified as potential bio-indicators for land and biodiversity regeneration. Similar work has been done in South
Africa, Namibia and Botswana. In the land rehabilitation front, scientists aided by rural communities have shown
that land cover could be regenerated after a very short period using the half-moon technology. Land vegetative cover
was 24% on control plots versus over 82% on plots treated with half moons on lateritic or silty glacis. With the help
of rural communities medicinal biodiversity has also been restored using Ikat at some benchmark sites.
The biodiversity garden of the desert in Mali has been enhanced by the introduction of several new grass and shrub
species: Combretum glutinosum, Parkia biglobosa, Tamarindus indica, Acacia leata, Cassia sieberiana, Piliostigma
reticulatum, Combretum aculeatum, Leptadenia pyrotechnica, Pergularia tomentosum, Commiphora africana,
Combretum micrathum, Blepharis linearifolia, Euphorbia balsamifera, Sclerocarya birrea Cenchrus biflorus and
Panicum leatum.
A biodiversity assessment manual has been developed and published by ICRAF. A data analysis workshop was
organized with participants from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Senegal. A strategy for upscaling adoption of
Ziziphus mauritania in the Sahel has been developed for Burkina Faso, and can be applied in other DMP countries.
An excellent study covering general household information and population demography, security of land tenure,
rangeland and livestock resources, farming practices, marketing, knowledge base of population, institutional
support, access to credit, coping strategies, infrastructure, finances, education and health, labor, and monitoring
system has been conducted in Namibia. Livelihoods in the Eastern Communal Areas (Otjozondjupa and Omaheke
regions), Namibia: A baseline for future reference is a combination of a desk study and the results of extensive
qualitative interviews in all nine pilot areas. A series of posters on “Socio-economic survey of the eastern communal
lands of Namibia”, focusing on all nine pilot areas has been developed and distributed to communities and
development agents. The challenge now is how target populations and decision-makers can use this socio-economic
data for improved decision-making at different levels.
A field guide for local level monitoring in the western parts of the project area has been developed. About 100
farmers from four pilot areas have been trained in the use of the field guide. Most of these farmers are in the process
of implementing the local level monitoring system. The project has provided considerable backstop support to the
newly trained farmers in implementing the system. A first combined session with selected farmers was held where
results from the system were synthesized, analyzed, and constraints in implementation were discussed.
The success and applicability of the EcoRestore DSS done in Namibia depends largely on the ability to regularly
update the existing database. DMP Namibia supported the Namibia Agricultural Union in conducting 54 additional
case studies for inclusion in the DSS. The School of Environment Sciences and Development of Northwest
University (Potchefstroom campus) has been contracted to incorporate these case studies into the existing database.
FIRMs (Forum for Integrated Resource Management) have been established in all nine pilot areas and are at
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