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

iological condition as a prerequisite for evaluating sustainability of land-use in the desert margins. CEH is
following up on this identified research need by developing a relevant research program with ARIs and NARS.
Development of C sequestration model for evaluation of species’ potential for carbon trading
CEH work also begins in Senegal with an analysis of carbon sequestration in tree biomass and soils. This work
builds on former collaboration with ISRA (Dakar) on the biomass production and nutrient use of nitrogen fixing
trees (Deans et al 2003). The DMP collaboration will involve development of protocols for assessment of carbon
stocks in forest systems. CEH intends to use baseline information on common tree species in the West African
parklands to develop a C sequestration model that can be used to evaluate species’ potential for adoption in carbon
trading projects.
There has been increasing interest in the potential revenues that smallholder farmers and village-based communities
may derive from the trading of carbon credits accrued through tree carbon sequestration, either through the Clean
Development Mechanism, or through voluntary trading mechanisms. This work will commence with an evaluation
of carbon sequestration in woody biomass and soils at a forest field station in Senegal. It is proposed that the model
be field tested in village based systems in Phase II with an evaluation of existing carbon resources. While this may
present an alternative livelihood option in dryland agroecosystems, a study of livelihood risks and benefits of tree
planting for carbon sequestration would be integrated in this study.
Some agroforestry technologies have been promoted at most DMP benchmark sites for the involvement of rural
communities such as shown in Table 1. Up to 12623 Ziziphus tree seedlings have been produced and planted in
more than 25 ha.
In Niger, more than 1000 ha of rehabilitated lands have been planted with grasses and 50,000 seedlings of Ziziphus
and Acacia senegal planted at the project sites with the participation of rural communities.
A manual or guide on birds found in the benchmark sites has been produced and will be published. The fertilizer
microdosing technology is being promoted in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. New activities have been established
aimed at providing alternative livelihoods to rural communities bordering the habitat of the last remaining giraffes of
West and Central Africa as well as to provide more browse to the giraffes.
In Senegal, agroforestry technologies are being upscaled, with over 350,000 tree seedlings of Ziziphus mauritania
produced, new home gardens and the African Market Garden established in rural communities, and a number of
sites put under ‘mises en defens’ and/or natural communal reserves by over 20 rural communities using the local
development plans approach. This follows a technology transfer model developed by the program and its partners as
described in Fig 1. In this model, local experts play a key role and are used as change agents.
The Program in Zimbabwe has identified, through extensive participatory approaches, a number of alternative
livelihoods and is currently building on these at the sites. These include production and marketing of Mopane
worms, livestock, crops and cropping systems. Interventions include policy reviews regarding their adequacy,
knowledge of such policies and contribution by community groups. Consultations with partners confirmed
opportunities and challenges previously identified through PRAs and biophysical assessment. Participatory
processes were used to identify community interest groups and assess intervention needs. Additional studies were
conducted to gather information on indigenous knowledge and practices: Mopane worms, woodlands and grasses,
animal disease control, and use of wetlands. Areas of critical degradation were identified at village level in the three
sites and degradation processes discussed. This improved the understanding of degradation levels and processes at
both community and institutional levels.
Systems Priority 4a: Integrated land, water and forest management at landscape level
Systems Priority 4d: Sustainable agro-ecological intensification in low- and high-potential areas
MTP Output Target 2006: Meta-database for historical research in WCA established
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