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

This work is carried out in close collaboration with all the stakeholders in the region. The expertise of these partners
is invaluable in the implementation of the technologies. The major partners include:
• DFPP (Direction Faune Pêche et Pisciculture of the Ministry of Environment), responsible for this activity;
• DE (Direction de l’environnement et services déconcentrés), responsible for environment protection (wild
trees, forestry and other natural areas) in the country;
• DMP-GEF Niger;
• ECOPAS, (Ecosystéme Protégés en Afriqne Sahélienne) a regional project dealing with natural resources
protection;
• AJPN, Association des Jeunes Pour la Protection de la Nature a youth association for the protection of the
giraffes;
• Local tourist guides;
• Ministry of Agriculture (DCV, African Network for Horticulture Development (RADHORT)/FAO
project);
• ATPN (Association of Traditional Practitioners of Niger);
• ABC-écologie, an NGO interested in many NRM issues (rangeland management, cropping systems, land
degradation, etc.) intervening in Mayahi (second DMP site);
• Local authorities (administrative and traditional);
• The rural communities living in the site.
The partnership has worked well and has attracted the interest of other partners such as the ” Oasis Sahelien” of
Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) proposing to work on the use of water
reserves for crop production.
2.1.3. Up-scaling the technology
Up-scaling is done on only some components of the technology since giraffes are only found in this region of Niger.
For example, planting trees, building of water conservation structures, water and nutrients management activities,
best practices of wildlife management (eg, honey extraction and processing) etc. are already being up-scaled within
and beyond the project site: eg, by the Conseil Ouest et Centre Africain pour la Recherche et le Developpement
Agricole (CORAF) or West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (WECARD)
project. The areas for up-scaling are identified by communities, specific interest groups (women groups for
vegetable production), or development projects. The technology can be applied to other countries if adapted to local
specific constraints and stakeholders’ needs. Partners such as JIRCAS and the President’s Special Program will
assist in the up-scaling phase. The major constraint to a successful up-scaling of the project is fluctuation in annual
rainfall which can affect establishment of the trees and germination of the pasture species and eventually biomass
yield. Besides, the implementation of the technology is limited by the high level of stakeholders’ vulnerability which
reduces their participation. Hence, activities whose results have no direct or immediate impact did not interest them.
2.1.4 Contribution to the overall DMP project goal and objectives
This technology contributes to the overall goal of biodiversity conservation and restoration. It also contributes to the
following specific objectives and project outputs:
• Document and evaluate, with the participation of farmers, NGOs and NARS, current indigenous soil, water,
nutrient, vegetation and livestock management practices for arresting land degradation and to identify
socioeconomic constraints to the adoption of improved management practices (Output 1.3 – documentation of
indigenous knowledge; Output 1.6 – regeneration of vegetal species; Output 7.1 – participation of vulnerable
groups; Output 7.2 – permanent dialogue framework).
• Develop and foster improved and integrated soil, water, nutrient, vegetation and livestock management
technologies and policies to achieve greater productivity of crops, trees and animals to enhance food security,
income generation and ecosystem resilience in the desert margins (Output 4.2 – empowering the local
communities; Output 4.3 – implementation of best-bet options; Output 6.1 – promotion of soil fertility; Output 6.3
– promotion of multiple land use systems).
• Promote more efficient drought-management policies and strategies (Output 5.3 – implement policies; Output 6.2
– promotion of integrated land and pastoral spaces).
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