Socio-economic impacts derived from large scale restoration in three Great Green Wall countries

Sacandé, M.; Parfondry, Marc; Cicatiello, Clara; Scarascia‐Mugnozza, Giuseppe; Garba, Assoumane; Olorunfemi, Peter S.; Diagne, M.; Martucci, Antonio

doi:10.1016/j.jrurstud.2021.09.021

Cited by 14 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…The results indicate, for all countries, that in the pre-GGW period precipitation trends were almost stable or exhibiting a small decrease though precipitations seem to increase in the post-GGW period. This pattern agrees with other analyses of climate data on the study area 27,33 .…”

Section: Trends In Precipitationsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Such positive pattern can be an inspiring example of ecosystem restoration in action, especially with the recent launch of the United Nations decade on Ecosystem Restoration (https://www.decadeonrestoration.org). Our results suggest that along most of the GGW, vegetation is growing that can possibly then help ecosystems to become more healthier, improving livelihood and wellbeing 33 , food security 37 , ending poverty 32 , combating climate change and biodiversity loss, and planting the seeds of peace.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

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Is the African Great Green Wall greening? Some positive signs from a 20-years’ time-series of satellite observations

Giuliani

Lucas

2022

Preprint

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Land degradation has been recognized as a critical issue requiring urgent actions to cope with climate change and biodiversity loss impacts. The Sahel is probably among the most severely affected region in the World by land degradation, impacting many ecosystem services that are critical for wellbeing and livelihoods. In response to this issue, 11 countries have decided, in 2007, to create the Great Green Wall (GGW) initiative, an ambitious land-restoration program to mitigate the effects of land degradation as well as reducing poverty and improving population livelihoods. Despite initial positive results, the project has difficulties to reach its key objectives. Among the primary obstacles, effective and efficient monitoring, reporting, and verification mechanism has been identified. Here, we used a 20-year satellite derived annual time-series of vegetation biomass estimates to investigate the evolution of the entire GGW. Findings suggest that vegetation biomass has increased of about 22% in the region between 2007 and 2020; almost all countries have significative positive trends in above-ground biomass with noticeable differences between countries; however, precipitation patterns have not yet significantly changed. Results indicate that using satellite EO data can be a valid complement to provide consistent, reliable, timely and continuous information on the GGW.

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Section: Trends In Precipitationsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Is the African Great Green Wall greening? Some positive signs from a 20-years’ time-series of satellite observations

Giuliani

Lucas

2022

Preprint

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“…Restoration interventions have heavily focused on increasing biomass without accounting for the dramatic local challenges many communities face, contributing to poor restoration outcomes. 30 At the same time, it has been argued that nutrition interventions in the drylands are still skewed toward treatment rather than prevention (nutrition-specific versus nutrition-sensitive). 13 The linkages between agriculture and nutrition moreover are complex and multifaceted, and agricultural interventions are equally largely geared toward increasing productivity instead of food quality and nutrition density, 21 although this is improving.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Restoring Food Systems with Nutritious Native Plants: Experiences from the African Drylands

Sacande,

Muir

2023

Food Nutr Bull

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Background: Twenty-seven African countries have committed to restore more than 100 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 as part of the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100). In addition, for the same period of time, the African-led Great Green Wall initiative seeks to restore 100 million hectares of degraded agro-sylvo-pastoral lands in the Sahel. The current UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) moreover marks an unprecedented opportunity to shape future landscapes, and forge more biodiverse and nutritious food systems. Yet most large-scale restoration actions continue to be largely isolated from socioeconomic challenges facing dryland communities, not least food security and acute malnutrition. Such isolations contribute to low restoration successes and outcomes in Africa’s drylands. At the same time, international interventions aimed at improving acute malnutrition in the drylands have not adequately considered the agriculture-nutrition linkages, particularly “pre-farm gate”—including consumption pathways which optimize the use of native plant diversity. Objectives: This article identifies priority action areas emerging from experiences over 5 years of restoration activities carried out in the Sahel through Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Action Against Desertification Programme supporting the implementation of Africa’s Great Green Wall. These actions aim to inform development and humanitarian interventions on the ground to render restoration interventions nutrition-sensitive and hence more effective in practice. Results: Recognizing the symbiotic relationship between landscapes and livelihoods, FAO developed a blueprint for large-scale restoration that combines biophysical and socioeconomic aspects for the benefit of rural communities. The approach builds climate and nutritional resilience into its restoration interventions as a preventative approach to reverse land degradation and ultimately improve livelihoods, food security, and nutrition. Conclusions: FAO’s experience demonstrated that what is planted and when has the potential to not only significantly improve biodiversity and reverse land degradation, but also positively influence nutrition outcomes. Future interventions in the drylands must involve joint efforts between nutritionists and natural resource managem prove both human and planetary health.

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“…243 The project includes participation from international organizations, international finance institutions, regional bodies (the AU), national governments, and local businesses and communities. 244 Despite slower-than-hoped-for progress (due in part to violent conflict), the UN Convention to Combat Desertification reported a number of achievements as of 2021. Nearly 18 per cent of the GGW has been completed-the equivalent of over 20 million trees planted-providing $90 million in income generation for local communities.…”

Section: Greening the Sahel And Sahara Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Restoration of the Sahel could result in diversified incomes from non-timber resources (such as honey), improved water quality, upgraded infrastructure and greater food security. 246 Some peacebuilding actors, such as the Shalom Center for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation, argue that the GGW offers a means of rebuilding trust among communities and institutions. 247 Demonstrating that all projects face challenges, however, critiques of the GGW point to the negative impacts of greening efforts on pastoralists and the poor, who have not necessarily derived the hoped-for benefits.…”

Section: Greening the Sahel And Sahara Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enabling an Environment of Peace: Environment of Peace (Part 4)

Ndiloseh¹,

Maalim²,

Barnhoorn³

et al. 2022

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About the Environment of Peace research report ii ENABLING AN ENVIRONMENT OF PEACEemerging interconnected risks and existing policies; (b) rethink the current peace and security theory of change; (c) map out existing policy and implementation gaps; (d) consider the implications for policy approaches to enabling a peaceful environment; and (e) explore effective strategies for mobilizing collective will and action by building synergies across disciplines. The overall goal is to propose an enabling framework for action when it comes to creating, managing and sustaining an environment of peace. Key findings and emerging trends from the Environment of Peace reportUnderstanding the current and emerging issues affecting the environment and peace is a prerequisite for policy development. The first three parts of this report highlight 10 key gaps and challenges worthy of immediate policy consideration:1 Rapidly growing environmental emergencies Global data shows a sharp deterioration in the human environment over the past 50 years, constituting the biggest threat to human security. Despite the warnings given at the foundational UN Conference on the Human Environment in 1972, the human environment has, according to key metrics, continued to deteriorate-ecosystem extent and condition indicators show a 47 per cent decline, with 1 million species face extinction in the coming decades. 4 The unbridled extraction of non-renewable natural resources has further deepened environmental deterioration. 5 Humans have altered 75 per cent of the world's land surface and impacted 97.7 per cent of the oceans. 6 Estimates suggest that 33 per cent of the Earth's soil is already degraded, and more than 90 per cent of the planet's land area could be degraded by 2050. 7 Moreover, humans keep generating ever more greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Between 1980 and 2020 each decade saw higher concentrations of GHGs and an unprecedented rise in global mean surface temperatures, with current estimates suggesting a 1.1°C increase compared to pre-industrial levels 8 -the highest in 100 000 years, 9 prompting the UN Secretary-General to declare a 'code-red' for humanity. 10 An estimated 12 million hectares of land, representing a productivity potential of 20 million tonnes of grain, 11

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Socio-economic impacts derived from large scale restoration in three Great Green Wall countries

Cited by 14 publications

References 18 publications

Is the African Great Green Wall greening? Some positive signs from a 20-years’ time-series of satellite observations

Is the African Great Green Wall greening? Some positive signs from a 20-years’ time-series of satellite observations

Restoring Food Systems with Nutritious Native Plants: Experiences from the African Drylands

Enabling an Environment of Peace: Environment of Peace (Part 4)

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