Description
The thin layer of soil that covers most of the earth’s land surface is the key to human well-being and survival.Without it, there would be no plants, no crops, no animals, no forests and no people
Environment and
Natural Resource
Management
IFAD’s
Growing
Commitment
This publication has been designed to share IFAD’s
experience with a broader public. It uses examples of
instruments, processes and practices selected fromIFAD’s
project portfolio.The theme of IFAD’s 2001 portfolio review
was the environment and natural resource management.
Environment and Natural Resource Management: IFAD’s
Growing Commitment draws extensively on that progress
report,which was presented at the Seventy-Second Session
of the IFADExecutive Board in April 2001. The portfolio
reviewprovided a wide range of examples relating to soil
conservation, watershed management, deforestation,
rangeland management, desertification, biodiversity
conservation and environmental health. Cross-cutting
themes include beneficiary and community participation,
the transfer of environmentally friendly technologies,the
promotion of environmental policies and the provision of
rural finance to take the pressure off natural resources.
1
Formore than two decades,the International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD) has played a significant
role in the struggle against rural poverty.Its experience
illustrates that one of the keys to successful poverty
alleviation is enabling rural poor people to have access to
natural resources and to the technologies to use these
resources productively and sustainably.Indeed,in IFAD’s
Strategic Framework for 2002-2006,“improving equitable
access to productive natural resources and technology”is
one of the three objectives.
Seventy-five percent of the world’s poor people live in rural
areas and make their living largely through the land on
which they live.Their enterprises and households collectively
account for much of the land,water and labour engaged in
agricultural production.They have a wealth of traditional
technical and organizational knowledge.The rural poor
contribute greatly to the economic growth of their countries.
They play a critical role in managing and conserving the
world’s natural resources.At the same time,they are often
constrained to farmdegraded land that is increasingly
unable to meet their needs,or to mismanage productive
land because of lack of appropriate tools or knowledge.Thus
the cycle of poverty/environmental degradation/poverty
remains unbroken.One thing of which IFADhas no doubt –
rural poor people are ready to seize opportunities to
improve their lives and secure a better future for their
children.The challenge is to enable themto overcome the
obstacles to their doing so.
This challenge is great,but IFADcan make a difference in the
lives of poor farmers,rural women,the landless and other
vulnerable groups through its accumulated experience,
knowledge and tools.As IFADtakes stock of its
achievements – and the lessons it has learned – in
preparation for the Rio+10 Summit to be held in 2002,this
publication is a timely one.The commitment made by world
leaders to halve poverty by 2015 will not be met if we do
not address the ‘natural capital’that shapes the lives and
livelihoods of the rural poor.
Lennart Båge
President of IFAD
FOREWORD
2
The thinlayer of soil that coversmost of theearth’slandsurfaceisthekeytohuman
well-beingandsurvival.Without it,therewouldbenoplants,nocrops,noanimals,no
forestsandnopeople.However,about 40%of theearth’slandsurfaceandmorethanone
billionpeopleareaffectedbylanddegradation.Degradedlandsarehometothepoorest
segmentsof therural population.
Approximately70%of IFAD’srural poverty-alleviationprojectsarelocatedinecologically
fragile,marginal environments.Intheseareas,thepoor areoftenlockedintopatternsof
natural resourcedegradationbytheir lackof accesstoproductiveresources,institutional
services,credit andtechnology.Without theseresources,theyarecompelledtooverstrain
alreadyerodinglandsinorder tosurvive.Theincreasedpressureontheland– through
deforestation,overgrazingandovercultivation– causesadeclineinsoil fertilityand
production,andthusaggravatespoverty.Thiscircular,cause-and-effect relationship
betweenrural povertyandenvironmental degradationisclear:unlessdegradationis
addresseddirectly,thesustainabilityof rural development projectswill beundermined–
andattemptstoalleviaterural povertywill bejeopardized
Rural Poverty and Environmental Degradation:
a Cause-and-Effect Relationship
Lesotho Senegal Somalia
3
Theprimarygoal of most IFAD-supportedprojectsistofurther rural development,
primarilythroughagricultural production,andtoincreasepoor farmers’incomes.The
needtoaddresstheenvironmental implicationsof povertyalleviationhasbeenan
inescapableoutcomeof theFund’sworkinmarginal areas.IFAD’sapproachto
internalizingenvironmental considerationsinitslendingoperationswasfirst articulated
intwopolicydiscussionpapersin1990and1991.Shortlyafter,theFundappointeda
special advisor toensurethat natural resourcemanagement (NRM) andenvironmental
issueswerespotlightedinthediscussionanddesignof all newprojects.In1994,formal
administrativeproceduresfor environmental assessment wereintroduced,comparableto
thoseof IFAD’smajor partners.Sincethen,all projectsenteringIFAD’spipelinehavebeen
categorizedaccordingtotheir urgencyandscreenedfor potential adverseeffectsonthe
environment andonlocal populations.
IFAD’slendingprogrammehasnot beentheonlydimensionof itseffortstoaddress
environmental andNRMissues.IFAD’stechnical assistancegrants(TAGs) support
agricultural researchandtrainingfor national andregional programmesinMember
States.Anumber of TAGsareencouragingfarmerstoincreasetheir returnsthroughbetter
NRMtechniques,whileothersfocusonparticipatoryNRM,particularlyoncommunity
andgroupapproaches.
IFADalsoprovidespolicyandtechnical assistancetonational andregional programmes
initsMember States.Inaddition,insupport of theUnitedNationsConventiontoCombat
Desertification(CCD),theFundisprovidingassistanceinthepreparationof national
actionprogrammesandsubregional programmes,andhasrecentlystartedworkingwith
governments,throughtheGlobal Environment Facility(GEF),todevelopprojects
addressingglobal environmental problems.In1997,theGlobal Mechanism(GM) was
establishedunder theauthorityof theConferenceof thePartiesof theCCD.GM,whichis
housedat IFAD,actsasthehubfor adynamicnetworkof partnersthat havecommitted
their resourcesandknowledgetocombattingdesertification.Theseandother initiatives
will beexploredinthefollowingpages.
IFAD’s Mandate and Environmental Issues
India
Panama
4
At its Fifty- Seven th Session in Apr il 1996 th e Execu tive Boa r d a ppr oved a TAG for th e
Pr ogr a m m e for th e Developm en t of Str a tegies for I n Situ Con ser va tion a n d Utiliza tion of Pla n t
Gen etic Resou r ces in Deser t- Pr on e Ar ea s of Afr ica . Th e pr ogr a m m e, wh ich will be im plem en ted
th r ou gh Ju n e 2002, seeks to a ddr ess gen etic loss ca u sed by dr ou gh t a n d deser tifica tion in th e dr y-
la n d ecologies of Afr ica .
I t h a s a lr ea dy iden tified som e key elem en ts of str a tegies for th e fa r m in g com m u n ities of th ese
vu ln er a ble a r ea s – str a tegies for ga in in g su sta in a ble a ccess to tr a dition a l va r ieties of th eir pr e-
fer r ed cr ops. Th ese key elem en ts va r y widely, a ccor din g to th e socio- econ om ic a n d eth n ic com -
position of fa r m er s’ gr ou ps, a n d in clu de fa r m er s’ pr a ctices a n d pr efer en ces in : seed selection ;
con ser va tion a n d stor a ge tech n iqu es; loca l kn owledge gen er a tion a n d dissem in a tion m ech a -
n ism s; a n d tr a dition a l exper im en ta tion pa tter n s. Ba sed on th ese elem en ts, sever a l m eth odolo-
gies a r e cu r r en tly bein g tested in Ma li a n d Zim ba bwe, with th e a ctive pa r ticipa tion of th e fa r m -
er s. Th e pr ogr a m m e h a s a lso m obilized a coa lition of a ctor s, in clu din g n a tion a l a gr icu ltu r a l
r esea r ch system s ( pa r ticu la r ly n a tion a l pla n t gen etic- r esou r ces pr ogr a m m es) , in ter n a tion a l
or ga n iza tion s ( th e Food a n d Agr icu ltu r e Or ga n iza tion of th e Un ited Na tion s ( FAO) a n d th e
I n ter n a tion a l Pla n t Gen etic Resou r ces I n stitu te ( I PGRI ) ) a n d loca l a n d n a tion a l NGOs.
Addre s s i ng ge ne ti c e ro s i o n
i n de s e rt- pro ne are as o f Afri ca
At its Sixty- Sixth Session in Apr il 1999 th e Execu tive Boa r d a ppr oved a TAG for th e
Pr ogr a m m e for Pa r ticipa tor y Eva lu a tion , Ada pta tion a n d Adoption of En vir on m en ta lly Fr ien dly
Nu tr ien t Ma n a gem en t Tech n ologies for Resou r ce- Poor Fa r m er s. Th e pr ogr a m m e’s objective is
to fin d low- cost tech n ologies th a t ca n be a da pted to m eet th e n eeds of wetla n d r ice pr odu cer s in
Sou th a n d Sou th - Ea st Asia . Activities a r e ta kin g pla ce in Ba n gla desh , Nepa l a n d Viet Na m , with
fa r m er s wh o cu ltiva te r em ote, m a r gin a l soils on sm a ll pa r cels of la n d.
On e su ccessfu l tech n ology iden tified by th e pr ogr a m m e is th e u se of u r ea br iqu ettes, wh ich a r e
en vir on m en ta lly fr ien dly a n d pr odu ce h igh yields ( u p to a 20% in cr ea se) with less fer tilizer.
Th ey a r e a lso m or e fea sible for u se by sm a ll- sca le r esou r ce- poor fa r m er s. I n Nepa l, fa r m er s h a ve
fa vou r ed th e tech n ology, citin g u n ifor m gr owth , h igh er yields a n d fewer weeds. I n Ba n gla desh ,
m a n y fa r m er s n ow u se u r ea br iqu ettes in th eir fish pon ds, wh er e th ey h a ve r epor ted in cr ea sed
gr owth r a tes.
Th e tech n ology is la bou r- in ten sive; th e br iqu ettes m u st be h a n d- pla ced in th e soil. However, th is
h a s been pa r tia lly over com e by in tr odu cin g la r ger br iqu ettes, th u s r edu cin g h a n d- pla cem en t by
a bou t 30%. Low- cost br iqu ette a pplica tor s a r e a lso bein g tested.
As s i s ti ng we tl and ri ce pro duce rs
i n So uth and So uth- Eas t As i a
5
Manyaspectsof natural resourceandenvironmental management cut acrossregions:
increasingbeneficiaryandcommunityparticipation,developingandsharing
environmentallyfriendlytechnologies,fosteringenvironmental policies,andpromoting
rural financetoencourageoff-farmincome-generatingactivitiesandmicroenterpriseto
helptakethepressureoff natural resources.Other crosscuttingissuesincludegender and
indigenousknowledge.Nevertheless,thecausesandeffectsof environmental degradation
varyconsiderablyacrossregions,countriesandagro-ecological zones,creatingagreat
diversityof NRMissues.Thusoneof thekeychallengesistotailor solutionstotheneedsof
eachparticular area.
Mali Madagascar China Mexico Jordan
A Closer Look, Region by Region
6
Western and Central Africa
Amajor concernislandandwater degradation,causedlargelybythespreadof
desertificationandthegrowingscarcityof arablelandsurface,groundwater and
rangeland.Asthegrowingpopulationturnstowoodedlandsfor itscookingfuel,timber
andexpandingagriculture,theresultingdepletionof forestsiscompoundingtheproblem.
Inresponse,IFADisemphasizingsustainableapproachestoagricultural intensification,as
well aspromotingappropriatetechnologies,communityempowerment,informed
decision-makingandpoliciesthat support NRM.
Of the46ongoingprojectsinwesternandcentral Africa,18haveNRMcomponents.Thesehave
benefitedfromtheexperienceof theSpecial Programmefor Sub-SaharanAfricanCountries
AffectedbyDrought andDesertification(SPA).TheSPA(1986-1995) wasIFAD’sfirst major
NRMprogrammeaddressingland-degradationissuesinrelationtopovertyanddrought.
Oneof theimportant lessonslearnedisthat technologiesbuilt onlocal practicesresult in
lessnegativeimpact ontheenvironment thanthoseof standardized,high-input
technologies.Inaddition,theyhaveagreater chanceof successbecausetheyrespondto
theprioritiesof thelocal population.Local farmersinBurkinaFaso,for example,have
‘sculpted’scallopedpatternsof half-moonsintotheslopesof their landtocatchandretain
rainwater.InCapeVerde,rural workershaveintroducedterracing,whichhasincreased
forageandmaizeoutput,withlandremainingfor anadditional cropof pigeonpea.In
another innovativeproject inNiger,theworkof irrigationhasbeenturnedover totermites.
Calledthe technique,it involvesdiggingholessome15-20cmdeepandusingthe
unearthedsoil tobuildprotectiveridgesaroundthehole.Theholebottomsarethen
coveredwithmanure,whichbecomesabreedinggroundfor termites.Thetermitesbore
throughthehard-bakedsoil,producingadelicatenetworkof tunnels.Whentherains
come,theholesandtunnelsfill withwater,andfarmersplant millet or sorghuminthem
without havingtotoil.
Western and Central Africa
Mauritania
Unde rs tandi ng the e nvi ro nme nt
be fo re taki ng acti o n
Rice is th e sta ple food in Th e Ga m bia a n d a ccou n ts for a size-
a ble por tion of th e cou n tr y’s a gr icu ltu r a l pr odu ction . I t is cu ltiva ted in
m a n gr ove en vir on m en ts, com posed of va r yin g levels of a cid su lph a te soils
con ta in in g pyr ite. Wh ile th ese soils a r e gen er a lly loca ted in fla t a r ea s r ich
in or ga n ic m a tter a n d oth er n u tr ien ts, th e floodin g of th ese soils ca u ses th e
pyr ite to oxidize. Th is lea ds to sever e a cidifica tion a n d r en der s th e ea r th
n u tr ien t- deficien t, toxic a n d u n su ita ble for a gr icu ltu r e. I n a ddition , th e
floodin g ca n spr ea d a cidity to oth er a r ea s, killin g fish , sh ellfish a n d fa u n a ,
a n d th u s depr ivin g th e popu la tion of on e of its m ost im por ta n t sou r ces of
pr otein .
Th e Lowla n ds Agr icu ltu r a l Developm en t Pr ogr a m m e ( LADEP) h a s sou gh t
to eva lu a te th ese en vir on m en ta l con str a in ts in or der to bu ild r em edia l
a ction in to pr oject design a n d im plem en ta tion . A m a jor com pon en t of th e
developm en t str a tegy wa s a ser ies of en vir on m en ta l stu dies. Th e Soils Stu dy
pr ovided a n over view of th e ch a r a cter istics of soils or gr ou ps of soils a n d
th eir in flu en ce on a gr icu ltu r a l pr odu ctivity. A n u m ber of pr a ctica l r ecom -
m en da tion s con cer n ed deep plou gh in g, u pla n d con ser va tion , dr a in a ge a n d
cu ltiva tion m eth ods. Th e stu dy led to th e in tr odu ction of a n ew a n d m or e
u ser- fr ien dly system of soil cla ssifica tion th a t m a kes it ea sier for pr oject sta ff
a n d fa r m er s to iden tify pr oblem soils. I n a r ea s wh er e a cidic soils h a d been
iden tified, sta ff wer e tr a in ed to a ssist com m u n ities in extr a ctin g lim e a lon g
th e r iver to n eu tr a lize excess a cidity. Low- tech n ology wa ter- a n d- soil con ser -
va tion tech n iqu es wer e in tr odu ced, in clu din g sim ple wa ter- r eten tion dykes,
spillwa ys to flu sh ou t sa lin e wa ter fr om tida l swa m ps, a n d wooden ca u se-
wa ys to a ccess th e swa m ps. Better a n d m or e sta ble r ice yields m otiva ted
com m u n ities to con tr ibu te to con ser va tion wor ks. Th e pr oject a lso str en gth -
en ed tr a dition a l villa ge gr ou ps to ta ke r espon sibility for th e im plem en ta tion
a n d m a n a gem en t of th eir pr ojects.
Th is deta iled stu dy pr oved to be a n im por ta n t tool in u n cover in g th e m a in
en vir on m en ta l issu es in a pr oject a r ea a n d th e wa y in wh ich th ey will im pa ct
th e goa ls of in cr ea sed a gr icu ltu r a l pr odu ction a n d lon g- ter m en vir on m en -
ta l su sta in a bility. Mor eover, a s a cid su lph a te soils a r e fou n d in oth er coa sta l
a r ea s of West Afr ica , th e a ctivities of LADEP ca n be stu died for r eplica bility.
8
Eastern and Southern Africa
Degradationof natural resourcesisaseriousproblemineasternandsouthernAfrica:
theregionsuffersfromdeforestation,lossof soil fertility,soil compaction,water scarcity
andovergrazing.IFADhas50ongoingprojectsintheregion.Becauseof thediversityof the
natural resourcebase,eachproject addressessite-specificproblems.Themajor areasof
concernarearrestingandreversingdeforestation,controllingerosionandmanagingsoil,
managingsoil moistureandwater,haltingthedegradationof pastures,recoveringand
conservingmarineresourcesandconservingbiodiversity.
TheZambiaForest ResourceManagement Project,for example,hasembarkedonaseries
of community-basedactivitiestoraiseincomesandenhancethesustainableuseof forest
resources.Onemajor initiativeiswoodlot planting,carriedout bycommunitiesfor their
ownuseandfor sale,whichshouldreducecuttinginthenatural forest.InLesotho,the
Machobanefarmingsystem,namedafter itslocal inventor,wasusedintheSoil andWater
ConservationandAgroforestryProgramme.Thissystemreplacestraditional monocropping
withintensiverelaycroppingoncontoursinorder tocontrol erosionandconserve
moisture.It enhancessoil fertilitybyusingwoodashandfarmlandmanure.Thesystem
alsoemphasizesintensivefarmer training(mostlyfarmer-to-farmer),ahighlevel of
participationandtheempowerment of smallholders.AndinBurundi,theBututsi Agro-
Pastoral Development Project isestablishingprivatenurseriesmanagedbyfarmers’groups
andprovidingtrainingintheproductionanddistributionof seedlings.
Experiencehasshownthat privateirrigationschemesaregenerallymoreviableandself-
sustainingthanpublicones.Thustheregional strategyfocusesonwater management that
canbeledandoperatedbyfarmers.InMadagascar,theUpper MandrareBasin
Development Project isrehabilitatingpublicandcommunityirrigationsystemsand
turningthepubliconesover tomanagement bytheir users.Non-governmental
organization(NGO)-trainedlocal facilitatorsareworkingwithfarmerstoformwater users’
associationsthat aretheninvolvedinplanninganddevelopingtherehabilitationwork.In
Ethiopia,capacity-buildingintheregional Water,MinesandEnergyResources
Development Officeisenablingit toconduct inventories,investigatepotential sourcesof
water for communitiesandorganizecommunitywater andsanitationcommitteesto
developplansinaccordancewithcommunityneeds.
Eastern and Southern Africa
Madagascar
Impro vi ng the l i ve s
o f arti s anal fi s he rme n
I n Moza m biqu e, fish in g is a m a jor sou r ce of h ou seh old n u tr ition
a n d expor t r even u e. Un for tu n a tely, over fish in g by both a r tisa n a l a n d in du s-
tr ia l fleets a n d destr u ctive fish in g pr a ctices h a ve ser iou sly depleted fish stocks
a n d da m a ged th e m a r in e en vir on m en t. Th e Na m pu la Ar tisa n a l Fish er ies
Pr oject ( NAFP) wa s in itia ted in 1994, with fu n din g by I FAD, th e Gover n m en t
of Moza m biqu e a n d th e Or ga n iza tion of th e Petr oleu m Expor tin g Cou n tr ies
Fu n d for I n ter n a tion a l Developm en t. Th e goa ls of th e pr oject wer e to im pr ove
th e in com e, em ploym en t- level a n d food secu r ity of a r tisa n a l fish er m en a n d
th eir fa m ilies. To a ch ieve th ese goa ls, a fou r- pr on ged a ppr oa ch wa s design ed.
Th e a va ila bility of fish in g equ ipm en t h a d to be im pr oved, a s did fish er m en ’s
a ccess to fin a n cia l ser vices. New fish in g tech n iqu es n eeded to be tested a n d
t h en pr om ot ed, t oget h er wi t h m or e su i t a bl e fi sh - pr ocessi n g m et h ods.
Tr a n spor t a n d m a r ketin g skills n eeded to be str en gth en ed. An d sa n ita tion
fa cilities a n d a ccess to dr in kin g wa ter h a d to be im pr oved.
Sign ifica n t pr ogr ess h a s been m a de. Ta xes a n d ta r iffs h a ve been lower ed on
fish in g equ ipm en t, wh ich is n ow a va ila ble a n d a t r ea son a ble pr ices, owin g
pa r ticu la r ly to pr oject su ppor t for th e developm en t of pr iva te r eta iler s a n d
th eir ou tlets. I n pa r tn er sh ip with th e fish er m en , th e pr oject h a s tested differ -
en t types of fish in g gea r, su ch a s la r ger- sized gilln ets, lon g lin es a n d tr a m m el
n ets for sh r im p, in or der to deter m in e efficien t, low- cost tech n iqu es for th e
va r iou s com m er cia l species fou n d in th e pr oject a r ea . I t h a s a lso tested
a ppr oa ch es to pr ocessin g a n d pr eser va tion , su ch a s sm okin g kiln s a n d sa lt
a n d dr yin g r a cks. Th ese m ea su r es will en cou r a ge fish er m en to a dopt su s-
ta in a ble fish in g pr a ctices a n d pr om ote m or e efficien t pr odu ction . Policy
r efor m s – togeth er with th e pr oject’s su ppor t for co- m a n a gem en t com m ittees
– h a ve en cou r a ged fish er m en to elim in a te th eir tr a dition a l m osqu ito n ets
with ou t su ffer in g yield losses a n d h a ve led to a n expa n sion in th e fish in g a r ea
r eser ved exclu sively for th e a r tisa n a l fleet. Th ese r efor m s a r e expected to h a ve
a positive im pa ct on r esou r ce stocks a n d th e n a tu r a l en vir on m en t.
Th e pr oject’s fin a n cia l ser vices h a ve been br oa der th a n cr edit a lon e. Fou r
m eth odologies wer e tested: cr edit a ssocia tion s, solida r ity or con fiden ce
gr ou ps, sa vin gs clu bs, a n d r ota tin g sa vin gs a n d cr edit gr ou ps. Th e la st
m eth odology h a s r espon ded pa r ticu la r ly well to th e n eeds of th e poor est sec-
tion s of th e com m u n ity, especia lly wom en , a n d m or e th a n 130 gr ou ps h a ve
been esta blish ed. Th e pr oject h a s a lso con str u cted 122 wells, r eh a bilita ted
138 km of feeder r oa ds a n d been in str u m en ta l in pr om otin g th e for m a tion of
157 com m u n ity or ga n iza tion s – co- m a n a gem en t com m ittees, wa ter- poin t
com m ittees, com m u n ity developm en t gr ou ps a n d th e like – th a t a ctively pa r -
ticipa te in pr oject a ctivities.
Th e NAFP h a s r epea tedly dem on str a ted th e effectiven ess of a n in tegr a ted cr oss-
sector a l a ppr oa ch , sim u lta n eou sly ta r getin g tech n ica l, com m er cia l, socia l
a n d in stitu tion a l a r ea s. Th r ou gh th e ju diciou s a pplica tion of ta r getin g, th e
pr oject h a s been a ble n ot on ly to m otiva te fish er m en with r ega r d to th e devel-
opm en t a n d expa n sion of th eir fish in g a ctivities, bu t a lso to pr om ote a wider
a n d m or e in tegr a ted developm en t with in th e fish er y sector.
10
Asia and the Pacific
Themajor environmental problemsfacingpoor farmersinAsiaandthePacificare:land-
andwater-resourcedegradation,sedimentationof watercourses,lossof forest resources
andbiodiversity,anddegradationof fisheries.Special attentionisbeinggivento
programmesinmarginal areas;the1997Asianfinancial crisishit thesethehardest.Of the
56ongoingprojectsintheregion,34(61%) arelocatedinmarginal areas,particularlyin
theuplandregions,and24(43%) includesignificant investment inNRM.
Soil conservationisanimportant NRMactivityintheregion.Experiencehasshownthat
poor farmersoftendonot havethetimeandlabour totakepart inslowandcostly
remedial operationstorestoresoil fertility.For thisreason,manyprojectsaimtoimprove
productionandsoil conservationsimultaneously.For exampletheEast JavaRainfed
AgricultureProject inIndonesiainvolvedbeneficiariesinaparticipatoryplanningprocess
andprovidedincentives,includingfoodrationssuppliedbytheWorldFoodProgramme
(WFP).On-farmsoil- andwater-conservationworksincludedimprovedbenchterracesto
optimizesoil andwater retention,drainagechannels,gullyplugsandminor drop
structurestocontrol theflowof excesswater.Theproject alsointroducedgrassesand
foragematerialsfor erosionprotectionandlivestockfeed.Oneresult wasa60%increase
innet returnsper unit of foodcrop.
Withrespect tobiodiversity,it isestimatedthat over thenext 25years,Asiawill losea
higher proportionof speciesandnatural ecosystemsthananyother regionof theworld.
Experiencehasshownthat themost effectivewaytoconservebiodiversityistodesignate
protectionareas.However,caremust betakentopromotebeneficiaryparticipationto
ensurethat thisdoesnot marginalizeresourceusers.Suchaneffort hasbeenmadeinthe
NorthEasternRegionCommunityResourceManagement Project for UplandAreasin
India.Abuffer zonearoundaprotectedareaisbeingestablished,alongwithvillagesupply
foreststomeet theneedsof thecommunitiesandprevent encroachment intothe
protectedarea.Inviewof theimportant roleof tribal women,whoprovide70-80%of the
labour andareinvolvedinforest-producegatheringandhouseholdmanagement,special
extensionprogrammesfor womenarebeingdesigned.
Asia and the Pacific
VietNam
Bo o s ti ng l i ve s to ck pro ducti o n
by upgradi ng pas ture l and
Th e pr odu ctivity of livestock in cr ea ses wh en a dequ a te feed
a n d sh elter a r e pr ovided. However, th e pr oblem of m a tch in g livestock
n u m ber s with th e pa stu r e a va ila ble ca n be a com plex on e. Th e
Nor th er n Pa stu r e a n d Livestock Developm en t Pr oject in Ch in a bor e th is
in m in d wh en it bega n in 1981. Th e pr oject bu ilt u pon th e skills of th e
fa r m in g com m u n ities in Sich u a n , pr ovidin g essen tia l in pu ts a n d ser v-
ices to lift tr a dition a l m eth ods of pr odu ction to h igh er levels of effi-
cien cy. Livestock en ter pr ises wer e developed by in cr ea sin g th e a m ou n t
of h igh er- qu a lity gr een for a ge, pa r ticu la r ly in th e win ter m on th s, a n d
focu sin g on u n der u tilized, m a r gin a l a gr icu ltu r a l a n d n on a r a ble la n d.
I n or der to develop th e tech n ology for im pr ovin g th e for a ge, a da ptive
r esea r ch selected for a ge species th a t cou ld pr odu ce h igh yields ( a n n u -
a lly a n d per en n ia lly) , com pete with weeds a n d th r ive with oth er for a ge
species; iden tified fer tilizer r equ ir em en ts a n d pla n tin g tim es; a n d
deter m in ed com pa n ion cr ops.
An en vir on m en ta l con cer n in m a n y livestock developm en t pr ojects is
th e r isk of soil degr a da tion du e to over gr a zin g. However, in th is pa r tic-
u la r pr oject, it wa s deter m in ed th a t th e r isk wa s n ot cr itica l. Th ose a n i-
m a ls th a t cou ld cr ea te a r isk – goa ts – wer e in lower n u m ber s per h er d
or per villa ge, a n d m a n y wer e in con fin ed h ou sin g a n d br ou gh t to
gr a ze on ly a t specific tim es of th e da y. Never th eless, it wa s su ggested
th a t th eir n u m ber s be m on itor ed r egu la r ly to pr even t poten tia l over -
gr a zin g a n d soil er osion – a n en vir on m en ta l- m on itor in g policy th a t
sh ou ld h a ve gr ea ter weigh t th a n a t pr esen t.
Over a l l , t h e pr oj ect h a s h a d a posi t i ve i m pa ct on en vi r on m en t a l st a -
bi l i t y: t h e pl a n t i n g of per m a n en t gr a ss/ l egu m e m i xt u r es on i n t er m i t -
t en t l y u sed, er odi n g m a r gi n a l l a n d h el ped a r r est er osi on a n d bu i l d u p
or ga n i c m a t t er i n depl et ed soi l s a n d n on a r a bl e l a n d. I n a ddi t i on , t h e
devel opm en t of l i vest ock i n a r ea s wh er e t h e soi l h a d r el a t i vel y l ow fer -
t i l i t y h el ped pr ovi de fa r m ya r d m a n u r e t o su st a i n a r a bl e fa r m i n g.
12
Latin America and the Caribbean
In LatinAmericaandtheCaribbean,concernfor theenvironment isnot anendinitself,
but isviewedbyIFADasgoinghand-in-handwiththesustainablereductionof poverty.
Thisconcernisexpressed– andaddressed– inabout 30of IFAD’songoingprojectsinthe
region(60%) that emphasizeprotectionof biodiversityandthemanagement of
renewablenatural resourcesfor agricultural andanimal production,particularlysoil and
water.TheManagement of Natural ResourcesintheSouthernHighlandsProject inPeru,for
example,aimstorehabilitatethenatural resourcebasesothat poor farmerscanproduce
traditional Andeancropsandanimals.Thisisachievedthroughcollectiveactioncombining
traditional knowledgewithmoderntechniquesfor improvedsoil andwater management.
TheProject for theCapitalizationof Small FarmersintheTropisecAreaof theSegovias–
RegionI (TROPISEC) inNicaraguaalsotakesanintegral approach.It improvesplant and
animal productionthroughcollectiveactiontoestablishmultipurposetrees,improved
watershedmanagement andreforestationof degradedlands.
Theregion’svulnerabilitytofrequent natural disastersisincreasedbyenvironmental
degradation,deforestationandmismanagement of watersheds.Projectstocopewiththe
aftermathof HurricaneMitchinCentral Americaincludetechnical interventionsinrural
areastoimprovelandscapeandwatershedmanagement andtherebyreduceecological
vulnerability.At thesametime,theypromotetheactiveparticipationof civil societyin
poverty-reductionprogrammestodecreasesocial vulnerability.
Landrightsareanimportant issueaswell.Securelandrightsincreasetheincentivesand
thepossibilitiestoengageinsustainablepracticesof landandwater management.They
canalsobeusedascollateral incredit transactionsandthusleadtomoreefficient
production.Several projectsintheregionincludesupport tofarmersor their organizations
tosecurelegal rightstothelandtheyfarm,aswell astothelandtheysharewithother
membersof thecommunity.
Latin Americaand theCaribbean
Peru
The i mpo rtance o f
e nvi ro nme ntal
manage me nt pl ans
NRM a n d en vir on m en ta l pr otection a r e pr im e objectives of
I FAD’s str a tegy in Ch a la ten a n go ( “ th e Va lley of Wa ter a n d Sa n d” ) , a m ou n -
ta in ou s r egion in th e n or th of El Sa lva dor a n d its poor est r egion , wh er e th e
effects of con flict a n d n a tu r a l r esou r ce degr a da tion a r e h a r d felt. Th e
Reh a bi l i t a t i on a n d Devel opm en t Pr oj ect for Wa r- Tor n Ar ea s i n t h e
Depa r tm en t of Ch a la ten a n go wa s for m u la ted by I FAD in colla bor a tion with
th e Gover n m en t to r estor e th e socia l a n d econ om ic str u ctu r e of th e a r ea .
On e of th e pr oject’s objectives wa s to ela bor a te a n en vir on m en ta l m a n a ge-
m en t pla n ( EMP) in colla bor a tion with th e Comité Ambiental de
Chalatenango, th e in stitu tion r espon sible for coor din a tin g en vir on m en ta l
a ctivities in th e a r ea . Th e EMP, design ed th r ou gh a pa r ticipa tor y a ppr oa ch ,
a im s to pr om ote en vir on m en ta l m a n a gem en t a n d for m or str en gth en r ele-
va n t in stitu tion s. Sin ce its esta blish m en t, th er e h a s been a n in cr ea se in th e
visibility of socio- en vir on m en ta l issu es, pr om ptin g in cr ea sed en vir on m en -
ta l edu ca tion ( sta r tin g in pr im a r y sch ools) , for m a tion of en vir on m en ta l
gr ou ps, in cr ea sed cooper a tion a m on g differ en t in stitu tion a l levels, a n d
gr ea ter pa r ticipa tion of loca l gover n m en ts in en vir on m en ta l pr ojects.
Th e exper ien ce in Ch a la ten a n go h a s dem on str a ted th a t EMPs pr ovide:
• a lega l ba sis for en vir on m en ta l pr otection ;
• a con solida ted fr a m ewor k for ta r geted issu es su ch a s for estr y a n d
wa ter sh ed m a n a gem en t a n d en vir on m en ta l edu ca tion ;
• in ven tor ies of n a tu r a l r esou r ces, wh ich pr ovide a sta r tin g poin t for pr o-
en vir on m en t a ctivities;
• deta ils of a con cr ete pla n of a ction ; a n d
• pu blic pa r ticipa tion a t a ll sta ges.
On a br oa der sca le, th e EMP a llows for lon g- ter m pr oject su sta in a bility.
14
Near East and North Africa
The major environmental threatsintheNear East andNorthAfricaaredrought,
desertificationandsoil/landdegradation.Thesethreatsare,toagreat extent,alsothecause
andtoacertaindegreetheeffect of rural poverty.Severelanddegradationresultsfrom
climaticconditions,rangelandmismanagement andovergrazing.Projectsareincreasingly
designedwithNRMaspart of theoverall rationaleandasamajor objective.Project
componentsemphasizethesustainablemanagement of natural resourcesinincreased
agricultural production,includingsoil andwater conservation,landreclamation,and
irrigation.
InJordan,thefirst generationof projects(before1995) focusedonincreasingthecapital
of therural poor;thesecondgeneration(approvedsince1995) addressespovertythrough
NRM,particularlysoil andwater conservationandrangelandmanagement.For example
theYarmoukAgricultural ResourcesDevelopment Programmetakesaparticipatory
approach,withinnovativemeasurestoensureempowerment of thepoor throughaccess
toproductiveresourcesanddecision-making.Conservationmeasuresarebasedona
sustainableland-useplanthat waspreparedwiththeparticipationandapproval of the
communities.Water conservation,springprotectionandrehabilitationworksare
approachedthroughwater users’associations,wheremembersparticipateingroup
planning,designandimplementation.Theyalsocontributetotheinitial costsof thework
andmakeacommitment tooperateandmaintainthenewlycreatedassets.
InYemen,resourceconservationisthekeytosustainabilityof agricultural production.
Locatedinthemost important agricultural areainYemen,theTihamaEnvironment
ProtectionProject hasfocusedonconservationmeasuresfromitsinception.Thecentral
environmental issueinTihamaisthestabilizationof sanddunestoprevent the
encroachment of desertification.Indigenousandexotictreespeciesarebeingusedtofix
thedunes.Theproject benefitsfromaerial surveysthat monitor desertification.Water
monitoringhasalsomadeit possibletoinfluencegovernment policiesregulatingthe
diggingof newwells.
Near East and North Africa
Jordan
Co mbi ni ng tradi ti o n
and i nno vati o n
I n 1986, sh eep h er der s in Mor occo’s ea ster n r egion r equ ested
h elp fr om th e Gover n m en t: th eir h er din g a ctivity wa s with er in g fr om con -
secu tive yea r s of dr ou gh t, r a n gela n ds wer e sever ely degr a ded a n d a r ea s
a r ou n d wa ter poin ts wer e over gr a zed. Flocks h a d been decim a ted, in com es
h a d plu m m eted a n d debt wa s m ou n tin g. Va r iou s tech n ica l solu tion s wer e
pr oposed bu t h er der s seldom a dopted th em , beca u se th ey la cked a dequ a te
con sider a tion of th e com plex socia l or ga n iza tion of tr ibes, lin ea ge a n d kin -
sh ip gr ou ps.
I FAD design ed th e Livestock a n d Pa stu r e Developm en t Pr oject in th e
Ea ster n Region to a ddr ess th ese con cer n s. Th e r ea l ch a llen ge wa s h ow to
br in g a ll th e h er der s togeth er to a dopt solu tion s. Th is r equ ir ed a for m of
socia l or ga n iza tion th a t a ckn owledged tr a dition a l tr iba l str u ctu r e wh ile
in tr odu cin g m oder n con cepts. Esta blish ed on th e ba sis of tr iba l str u ctu r es
a n d a n cestr a l r igh ts to r a n gela n d u se, “ eth n olin ea l” cooper a tives wer e set
u p to give a m oder n dem ocr a tic a n d lega lly sa n ction ed existen ce to tr a di-
tion a l r igh ts a n d to h elp h er der s becom e self- r elia n t.
Sever a l yea r s of n egotia tion s wer e n ecessa r y, bu t vir tu a lly a ll seden ta r y,
sem i- n om a dic a n d n om a dic h er der s in a va st r egion of over 3 m illion h a
h a ve join ed th e cooper a tives ( 34 in a ll) . A tota l of 450 000 h a of on ce-
degr a ded r a n gela n d h a s been r eh a bilita ted. Som e pa r ts wer e tr a n sfor m ed
in to r eser ves for for a ge pr odu ction ( wh ich h a s in cr ea sed five- fold) a n d con -
tr olled gr a zin g. I n a ddition , veter in a r y ser vices pr ovided by th e cooper a tives
h a ve h elped r edu ce a n im a l m or ta lity to n egligible levels, a n d in com e- gen -
er a tin g a ctivities for pa stor a lists a n d r u r a l wom en h a ve been in itia ted.
Th e pr oject pr ovided a n oppor tu n ity for open dia logu e between h er der s a n d
th e Gover n m en t. I t a lso for m u la ted a n a ppr oa ch th a t will a llow r a n ge
u ser s’ cooper a tives to becom e in cr ea sin gly self- r elia n t, a con cept th a t cou ld
be r eplica ted elsewh er e in th e cou n tr y.
16
The Global Mechanism
Recognizing thelinkagesbetweenpovertyandenvironmental degradation,CCDwas
establishedinthewakeof the1992EarthSummit inRiodeJaneiro.Todate,170
countrieshaveratifiedtheConventionasalegallybindingframeworkfor seekinga
comprehensiveanswer toproblemsrelatedtotheenvironment andsustainable
livelihoods.Aspart of thesolutiontotheproblemof desertification,GMwasestablished
andhousedat IFAD.Itsmandateis“topromoteactionsleadingtothemobilizationof
substantial financial resources,includingfor thetransfer of technology,onagrant basis,
and/or onconcessional or other terms,toaffecteddevelopingcountryParties.”GMacts
asabroker andcatalyst,not onlydrawingonbut addingvaluetotheinterventionsof
other development partners.
Sinceitsestablishment,GMhassupportedgovernments,intergovernmental
organizationsandNGOsincreatingaconduciveenvironment for mobilizingsignificant
contributionsfromdonors,technical cooperationagencies,regional andinternational
financial institutionsandUnitedNationsorganizationsandagencies.
IFAD’s Collaboration in Global Initiatives
Mauritania Marocco Guatemala
Gras s - ro o ts capaci ty- bui l di ng
and te chno l o gy trans fe r
I n 1999, GM a n d th e I n ter n a tion a l Networ k of NGOs a ga in st Deser tifica tion ( RI OD)
r equ ested gr a n t fin a n cin g fr om th e I FAD/ NGO Exten ded Cooper a tion Pr ogr a m m e ( ECP) for a
gr a ss- r oots ca pa city- bu ildin g a n d tech n ology- tr a n sfer pr ogr a m m e. Th e Com m u n ity Exch a n ge
a n d Tr a in in g Pr ogr a m m e ( CETP) a im s to cr ea te a br oa dba sed fr a m ewor k for th e system a tic
cr oss- fer tiliza tion of exper ien ce, in clu din g th e in cor por a tion a n d dissem in a tion of in digen ou s
kn owledge.
Dir ect exch a n ges a m on g n a tu r a l r esou r ce u ser s th em selves ( fa r m er s, pa stor a lists, etc.) a r e on e
of th e m ost cost- effective system s for tr a n sfer r in g tech n ology. Don or s a n d NGOs a r e in cr ea sin g-
ly en cou r a gin g th ese exch a n ges. However, th er e is n o system a tic in stitu tion a l a r r a n gem en t for
com m u n ity exch a n ge a n d tr a in in g a ctivities th a t spa n a br oa d r a n ge of pr ojects. Neith er is th er e
a n efficien t m ech a n ism for in clu din g th e geogr a ph ica lly isola ted a n d/ or econ om ica lly m a r gin -
a l com m u n ities in th is ‘exch a n ge loop’. As a r esu lt, th eir tr a dition a l kn owledge is u n ta pped.
Th e pr ogr a m m e in ten ds to fill th is ga p by esta blish in g a flexible fr a m ewor k for pa r tn er sh ip th a t
pools don or- fu n ded developm en t pr ojects, NGO in ter ven tion s a n d th e com m u n ities th a t wou ld
oth er wise be left ou t of pr ojects. Th is type of pr ogr a m m e is ver y m u ch in lin e with I FAD’s str a te-
gic objective of pr ovidin g dir ect a ccess for r esou r ce u ser s to in for m a tion a bou t a ctivities th a t a r e
fea sible in th e con text of th eir en vir on m en t a n d r esou r ces.
As a sol u t i on t o pr obl em s of pover t y a n d en vi r on m en t a l da m a ge, for exa m pl e, t h e
En vir on m en ta l Mon itor in g Gr ou p ( EMG) fa cilita ted a com m u n ity- to- com m u n ity exch a n ge for
sixteen Rooibos tea - gr owin g fa r m er s in Su id Bokker veld. Th e fa r m er s visited n eigh bor in g com -
m u n ities for discu ssion s on cr op qu a lity, pr ocessin g a n d m a r ketin g. On th eir r etu r n , th e fa r m -
er s sh a r ed wh a t th ey h a d lea r n ed a n d esta blish ed a fa r m er s’ cooper a tive. I n a ddition , th ey
im pr oved th eir post- h a r vest pr ocessin g, r egister ed a s or ga n ic pr odu cer s a n d esta blish ed th e
Heiveld Sm a ll Gr ower s Cooper a tive to pr ocess a n d m a r ket th e tea . Th ey h a ve been gr a n ted con -
tr a cts for tea expor t to Eu r ope a n d a r e n ow r ea pin g th e ben efits of im pr oved in com es. Th e pr o-
gr a m m e h a s been a ble to pr ovide seed m on ey a n d h a s even led to th e esta blish m en t of a com -
m u n ity- ba sed tou r ism bu sin ess.
Cu r r en tly, RI OD is design in g a u n iqu e str a tegic fr a m ewor k for pa r tn er sh ips to develop a pipelin e
of com m u n ity exch a n ge pr ojects. I t is even lookin g in to or ga n izin g th em in or der to m eet th e
gr owin g im por ta n ce of th e pr ogr a m m e. For exa m ple th e NGOs fr om th e sou th er n Afr ica n devel-
opm en t com m u n ity r egion r ecen tly esta blish ed a su br egion a l Pr oject Appr a isa l Com m ittee to
h a n dle in com in g pr oposa ls m or e qu ickly a n d efficien tly. Th e com m ittee’s a ctivities a r e fu n ded
with pr oceeds fr om GM/ RI OD’s ECP gr a n t. Th e fr a m ewor k a lso pr ovides for th e or ga n iza tion of
a legisla tor s’ con fer en ce with civil- society pa r ticipa tion , a s well a s for th e ela bor a tion of a n NGO
position in pr epa r a tion for th e wor ld su m m it on su sta in a ble developm en t ( th e Rio + 10
Su m m it) .
I n cen tr a l Asia a n d La tin Am er ica , th e Ger m a n Agen cy for Tech n ica l Cooper a tion ( GTZ) h a s
esta blish ed close colla bor a tion with th e GM to sca le u p th e CETP a s a n im por ta n t tool in su p-
por t of CCD n a tion a l a ction pla n s a t th e loca l level.
18
The Global Environment Facility
GEF wasestablishedtoforgeinternational cooperationandfinanceactionstoaddress
fivecritical threatstotheglobal environment:biodiversityloss,climatechange,
degradationof international waters,ozonedepletionand,most recently,landdegradation.
Launchedin1991asanexperimental facility,GEFwasrestructuredafter theEarthSummit
inRiodeJaneirotoservetheenvironmental interestsof peopleinall partsof theworld.In
1994,34nationspledgedUSD2billioninsupport of theGEFmission;in1998,36nations
pledgedUSD2.75billiontoprotect theglobal environment andpromotesustainable
development.
On11May2001,theGEFCouncil approvedarecommendationtomakeIFADanexecuting
agencyof GEF,recognizingthat IFADhasdistinct capacitiesthat canassist inapressing
operational concern– namely,howtomeet global environmental objectivesthrough
activitiesthat addresslanddegradation.GEFbelievesthat IFADiswell-placedtoprepare
andimplement suchGEFprojectsbecauseof itsmandateinagricultureanddevelopment,
itsexperienceinaddressinglanddegradationandenvironmentallyunsustainableland-
andwater-management practices,itsabilitytomanagethesmall projectsandgrants
typicallyrequired,anditsdedicationtoaddressingsuchissuesinAfrica.Withthesigning
of amemorandumof understandingon9October 2001,GEFandIFADwill beworking
together toidentifyanddevelopprojectsthat,amongother concerns,addressland
degradation.
GEFcansucceedinitsglobal environmental missiononlyaspart of aworldwide
movement towardssustainabledevelopment.GEFbringstogether morethan150
member governments,leadingdevelopment institutions,thescientificcommunityanda
widespectrumof theprivatesector andNGOsonbehalf of acommonglobal
environmental agenda.
Tanzania Guatemala Philippines
Sus tai ni ng bi o di ve rs i ty
i n Mal i
Th e in ter ior delta of th e Niger, in th e Sa h el r egion of Ma li, is biologica lly r ich . I t pr o-
vides th e h a bita t for a va r iety of n a tu r a l a n d h u m a n ecosystem s, in clu din g a la r ge diver sity of
wild a n d dom estica ted a n im a l a n d pla n t gen etic r esou r ces. However, th e n a tu r a l ecosystem s a r e
bein g degr a ded, or a r e u n der sever e pr essu r e, beca u se of th e pover ty in th e r egion . Th e Sa h elia n
Ar ea s Developm en t Fu n d Pr ogr a m m e ( SADeF) wa s cr ea ted in 1999 to offer a n u m ber of ser vic-
es a n d fin a n cia l su ppor t m ea su r es to r u r a l com m u n ities: expa n sion of r u r a l fin a n cia l ser vices;
pr odu ction , m a r ketin g a n d socia l in fr a str u ctu r e developm en t; a n d gr a ss- r oots in stitu tion a l
developm en t. Th ese in itia tives will r edu ce th e pr essu r e on th e r em a in in g n a tu r a l h a bita ts.
However, pr eser vin g a n d r estor in g th e r egion ’s r ich a n d globa lly sign ifica n t biodiver sity will
r equ ir e a ddition a l effor ts a n d r esou r ces. Th is is wh er e GEF will pla y a m a jor r ole.
I t will con ver t th is ‘ba selin e’ scen a r io – th e SADeF pr ogr a m m e of su sta in a ble r u r a l developm en t
– in to a n in tegr a ted, coh er en t biodiver sity- con ser va tion a n d su sta in a ble developm en t pr o-
gr a m m e. Un der th is GEF a lter n a tive, th e followin g su b- com pon en ts will be a dded to SADeF to
r ea lize th e globa l biodiver sity- con ser va tion objectives:
• Re al i z ati o n o f bas e l i ne s urve ys , i nve nto ri e s and targe te d re s e arch o n bi o -
di ve rs i ty re s o urce s . Th is su b- com pon en t will en a ble th e ga ps in existin g en vir on m en -
ta l in for m a tion on th e biologica l diver sity of th e a r ea to be filled a n d syn th esized.
• In s i tu co ns e rvati o n o f do me s ti cate d and wi l d ani mal and pl ant re s o urce s .
Th is su b- com pon en t will pr om ote su sta in a ble pr odu ction system s by diver sifyin g gen etic-
r esou r ce- ba sed pr odu ction system s a n d th r ou gh socio- econ om ic con flict r esolu tion . I t will
a lso su ppor t th e pr odu ction , distr ibu tion a n d exch a n ge of tr a dition a l seeds by loca l cu lti-
va tor s a n d a ssist pa stor a l com m u n ities in con ser vin g tr a dition a l br eeds.
• Co mmuni ty- bas e d natural re s o urce manage me nt and bi o di ve rs i ty co ns e r-
vati o n. Th is su b- com pon en t will in tegr a te com m u n ity- ba sed NRM in to th e SADeF a ctivi-
ties to a ddr ess biodiver sity con ser va tion in a n d a r ou n d pr otected a r ea s. For exa m ple a wa r e-
n ess r a isin g wou ld be u n der ta ken in loca l com m u n ities on a va ila ble option s a n d th eir ben -
efits. Tr a in in g for loca l com m u n ities wou ld en su r e a dequ a te loca l ca pa city to pa r ticipa te in
developin g NRM pla n s a n d en a ble com m u n ities to en ter in to ‘con tr a ctu a l’ a gr eem en ts for
th e a dequ a te con ser va tion of a r ea s with pa r ticu la r biodiver sity va lu e.
Th e GEF Cou n cil h a s a ppr oved a PDF- B gr a n t for for m u la tion of th e GEF com pon en t, wh ich will
be execu ted by I FAD on beh a lf of th e Gover n m en t of Ma li. Th e for m u la tion pr ocess will be cou n -
tr y- dr iven , wh ich is key in pr om otin g own er sh ip of th e five- to six- yea r pr oject by th e
Gover n m en t of Ma li a n d en su r in g its su sta in a bility over th e lon ger ter m .
Ma n y lesson s h a ve been lea r n ed fr om I FAD’s evolvin g exper ien ce in a ddr essin g th e
en vir on m en t a n d NRM. At th e sa m e tim e, a n u m ber of ch a llen ges h a ve been iden tified. Som e of
th e m ost im por ta n t on es a r e descr ibed below.
• Parti ci pati o n and co mmuni ty o rgani z ati o n. NRM is m or e su sta in a ble wh en ben -
eficia r ies en ga ge in m a n a gin g r esou r ces a n d m a in ta in in g str u ctu r es. Str on g loca l in stitu -
tion s a r e a pr er equ isite for equ ita ble NRM, a n d in m a n y ca ses th e m ost su ccessfu l in ter -
ven tion s in volve com m u n ity or ga n iza tion s su ch a s wa ter u ser s’ a ssocia tion s. I n bu ildin g
on existin g for m a l or in for m a l com m u n ity gr ou ps, it is cr u cia l to en su r e th a t th e poor est
a n d m ost vu ln er a ble, pa r ticu la r ly wom en , a r e in clu ded a n d h a ve a n oppor tu n ity to pa r tic-
ipa te in com m u n ity decision - m a kin g pr ocesses.
• Fo cused and flexible techno lo gies. Con serva tion tech n ologies do n ot a lwa ys lea d to
qu ick in crea ses in yield a n d ca sh retu rn s. Th is is a disin cen tive for th e poor to a dopt a n d m a in -
ta in th em . Wh ere tech n ologies do exist, a doption is con stra in ed by low sh ort-term retu rn s, la ck
of la bou r, food-secu rity n eeds, poor m a rketin g opportu n ities a n d poor com m u n ica tion a n d
exten sion services. Th e su ccess of tech n ology pa cka ges depen ds on deta iled kn owledge of loca l,
in tegra ted fa rm in g system s a n d th e livelih ood stra tegies of loca l popu la tion s.
Insights for the Future
• Tradi ti o nal kno wl e dge . I n digen ou s kn owledge is dir ectly tied to th e su sta in a ble u se a n d
m a in ten a n ce of a h ea lth y a n d vibr a n t ecosystem . Ma n y su ccessfu l exa m ples of r egen er a tin g
ecosystem s a n d su ppor tin g loca l livelih oods a r e fou n d in a r ea s wh er e u ser s th em selves h a ve
esta blish ed a m a n a gem en t str u ctu r e, or m a n a gem en t is ba sed u pon a n in digen ou s system .
Fu r th er effor ts a r e n eeded to docu m en t tr a dition a l, su sta in a ble fa r m in g system s a n d best pr a c-
tices a n d to design pr ojects th a t blen d tr a dition a l a n d n ew tech n ologies.
• Ge nde r i s s ue s . Ru r a l wom en h a ve specific kn owledge of loca l r esou r ces a n d pr ocesses.
Th ey a lso h a ve gen der- specific NRM r espon sibilities a n d a r e exper ien ced n a tu r a l r esou r ce
m a n a ger s. NRM a ctivities n eed to con sider th is kn owledge a n d exper ien ce a n d bu ild u pon it.
Th e developm en t of su sta in a ble livelih ood system s depen ds on im pr ovin g wom en ’s a ccess to
pr odu ctive n a tu r a l r esou r ces, in clu din g la n d, for est a n d wa ter r esou r ces, a n d th eir pa r ticipa -
tion in decision - m a kin g pr ocesses. En h a n cem en t of wom en ’s r oles, in clu din g pa r ticipa tion in
pu blic a n d com m u n ity a ffa ir s, is cr itica l to NRM.
• Land i s s ue s and co mmo n- pro pe rty re s o urce s . La n d r igh ts a r e of u tm ost im por ta n ce
in r ela tion to NRM. Secu r e la n d r igh ts a r e a n in cen tive for fa r m er s to in vest a n d en ga ge in su s-
ta in a ble la n d- a n d wa ter- m a n a gem en t pr a ctices. Com m on - pr oper ty r esou r ces a r e a lso cr u cia l
to th e livelih oods of m a n y poor people, su pplyin g th em with fu elwood a n d fodder. I n m a n y
cou n tr ies, h owever, th e poor con tin u e to be system a tica lly exclu ded fr om th ese r esou r ces. I FAD
h a s fou n d th a t in stitu tion a l str en gth en in g of com m on - pr oper ty r esou r ces ca n gr ea tly r edu ce
pover ty. Con tin u ed ca r e m u st be ta ken to en su r e th a t poor people, pa r ticu la r ly wom en , a r e n ot
exclu ded fr om com m u n ity NRM, a n d th a t con tin u ed con sider a tion is given to con flictin g
r igh ts to com m on - pr oper ty r esou r ces by differ en t gr ou ps.
• Ho l i s ti c appro ach to NRM. I FAD ca r r ies ou t th e va st m a jor ity of its in ter ven tion s a t th e
m icr o level. NRM issu es a r e, h owever, a ffected by econ om ic, socia l a n d politica l situ a tion s a t
m a cr o levels a s well. Th e m a in ben eficia r ies of pr ojects a r e u su a lly sm a llh older fa r m er s, bu t
in som e r egion s with in a given ecosystem , m or e la n d is u n der th e m a n a gem en t of la r ge- sca le
own er s a n d com m er cia l fa r m s. Th e ecologica l fa te of th e en tir e ecosystem th u s depen ds m ost-
ly on th e decision s of th e la r ge la n down er s a n d com m er cia l en ter pr ises, r ega r dless of th e su p-
por t pr ovided to sm a ll fa r m er s for su sta in a ble NRM. A com pr eh en sive a ppr oa ch to im pr ovin g
la n d m a n a gem en t r equ ir es con sider a tion of en vir on m en ta l decision - m a kin g a t th e r egion a l,
n a tion a l a n d in ter n a tion a l level a s well a s a t th e loca l level. I t is expected th a t th is will lea d to
a m or e in tegr a l vision du r in g pr oject design a s well a s to m or e a tten tion to con flict r esolu tion
with la r ge- sca le fa r m er s.
• Envi ro nme ntal as s e s s me nt. Gr ea ter u se of str a tegic en vir on m en ta l a ssessm en t is n eed-
ed a t th e cou n tr y a n d r egion a l level, a n d m or e a tten tion m u st be given to bu ildin g in - cou n tr y
a n d r egion a l ca pa city to ca r r y it ou t. Assessm en ts th em selves n eed to be u sed m or e effectively
to gr a pple with com plex NRM issu es, a s well a s to in cr ea se sta keh older in volvem en t in th eir
pr epa r a tion a n d in a ctin g u pon r ecom m en da tion s.
• Me as uri ng pro gre s s and i mpact. Relia ble in dica tor s a r e n eeded in or der to m ea su r e th e
sta te of n a tu r a l r esou r ces in a given a r ea a n d eva lu a te th e en vir on m en ta l effect a n d im pa ct of
pr ojects. Em ph a sis n eeds to be pu t on developin g in dica tor s th a t a r e pr oject- specific a n d th a t
cr ea te a pa r ticipa tor y m on itor in g pr ocess.
• Inte grati o n. NRM a ppr oa ch es m u st sh ift fr om in pu ts a n d pr ocesses a lon e to a ch ievin g ta n -
gible ben efits th a t con tr ibu te to I FAD’s m ission to figh t pover ty. A five- pr on g str a tegy h a s been
a dopted com pr isin g policy- level a ctivities, oper a tion a l a ctivities, ca pa city- bu ildin g, pa r tn er -
sh ips a n d kn owledge m a n a gem en t. I n a ddition , a m or e pr oa ctive r ole is bein g pu r su ed
towa r ds bu ildin g syn er gies with su ch cr osscu ttin g issu es a s gen der, pa r ticipa tion , civil- society
or ga n iza tion s a n d in stitu tion a l str en gth en in g.
Viadel Serafico,107– 00142Rome,Italy
Tel.:+39-06-54591– Fax:+39-06-5043463
e-mail:[email protected]
Web page:www.ifad.org
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The thin layer of soil that covers most of the earth’s land surface is the key to human well-being and survival.Without it, there would be no plants, no crops, no animals, no forests and no people
Environment and
Natural Resource
Management
IFAD’s
Growing
Commitment
This publication has been designed to share IFAD’s
experience with a broader public. It uses examples of
instruments, processes and practices selected fromIFAD’s
project portfolio.The theme of IFAD’s 2001 portfolio review
was the environment and natural resource management.
Environment and Natural Resource Management: IFAD’s
Growing Commitment draws extensively on that progress
report,which was presented at the Seventy-Second Session
of the IFADExecutive Board in April 2001. The portfolio
reviewprovided a wide range of examples relating to soil
conservation, watershed management, deforestation,
rangeland management, desertification, biodiversity
conservation and environmental health. Cross-cutting
themes include beneficiary and community participation,
the transfer of environmentally friendly technologies,the
promotion of environmental policies and the provision of
rural finance to take the pressure off natural resources.
1
Formore than two decades,the International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD) has played a significant
role in the struggle against rural poverty.Its experience
illustrates that one of the keys to successful poverty
alleviation is enabling rural poor people to have access to
natural resources and to the technologies to use these
resources productively and sustainably.Indeed,in IFAD’s
Strategic Framework for 2002-2006,“improving equitable
access to productive natural resources and technology”is
one of the three objectives.
Seventy-five percent of the world’s poor people live in rural
areas and make their living largely through the land on
which they live.Their enterprises and households collectively
account for much of the land,water and labour engaged in
agricultural production.They have a wealth of traditional
technical and organizational knowledge.The rural poor
contribute greatly to the economic growth of their countries.
They play a critical role in managing and conserving the
world’s natural resources.At the same time,they are often
constrained to farmdegraded land that is increasingly
unable to meet their needs,or to mismanage productive
land because of lack of appropriate tools or knowledge.Thus
the cycle of poverty/environmental degradation/poverty
remains unbroken.One thing of which IFADhas no doubt –
rural poor people are ready to seize opportunities to
improve their lives and secure a better future for their
children.The challenge is to enable themto overcome the
obstacles to their doing so.
This challenge is great,but IFADcan make a difference in the
lives of poor farmers,rural women,the landless and other
vulnerable groups through its accumulated experience,
knowledge and tools.As IFADtakes stock of its
achievements – and the lessons it has learned – in
preparation for the Rio+10 Summit to be held in 2002,this
publication is a timely one.The commitment made by world
leaders to halve poverty by 2015 will not be met if we do
not address the ‘natural capital’that shapes the lives and
livelihoods of the rural poor.
Lennart Båge
President of IFAD
FOREWORD
2
The thinlayer of soil that coversmost of theearth’slandsurfaceisthekeytohuman
well-beingandsurvival.Without it,therewouldbenoplants,nocrops,noanimals,no
forestsandnopeople.However,about 40%of theearth’slandsurfaceandmorethanone
billionpeopleareaffectedbylanddegradation.Degradedlandsarehometothepoorest
segmentsof therural population.
Approximately70%of IFAD’srural poverty-alleviationprojectsarelocatedinecologically
fragile,marginal environments.Intheseareas,thepoor areoftenlockedintopatternsof
natural resourcedegradationbytheir lackof accesstoproductiveresources,institutional
services,credit andtechnology.Without theseresources,theyarecompelledtooverstrain
alreadyerodinglandsinorder tosurvive.Theincreasedpressureontheland– through
deforestation,overgrazingandovercultivation– causesadeclineinsoil fertilityand
production,andthusaggravatespoverty.Thiscircular,cause-and-effect relationship
betweenrural povertyandenvironmental degradationisclear:unlessdegradationis
addresseddirectly,thesustainabilityof rural development projectswill beundermined–
andattemptstoalleviaterural povertywill bejeopardized
Rural Poverty and Environmental Degradation:
a Cause-and-Effect Relationship
Lesotho Senegal Somalia
3
Theprimarygoal of most IFAD-supportedprojectsistofurther rural development,
primarilythroughagricultural production,andtoincreasepoor farmers’incomes.The
needtoaddresstheenvironmental implicationsof povertyalleviationhasbeenan
inescapableoutcomeof theFund’sworkinmarginal areas.IFAD’sapproachto
internalizingenvironmental considerationsinitslendingoperationswasfirst articulated
intwopolicydiscussionpapersin1990and1991.Shortlyafter,theFundappointeda
special advisor toensurethat natural resourcemanagement (NRM) andenvironmental
issueswerespotlightedinthediscussionanddesignof all newprojects.In1994,formal
administrativeproceduresfor environmental assessment wereintroduced,comparableto
thoseof IFAD’smajor partners.Sincethen,all projectsenteringIFAD’spipelinehavebeen
categorizedaccordingtotheir urgencyandscreenedfor potential adverseeffectsonthe
environment andonlocal populations.
IFAD’slendingprogrammehasnot beentheonlydimensionof itseffortstoaddress
environmental andNRMissues.IFAD’stechnical assistancegrants(TAGs) support
agricultural researchandtrainingfor national andregional programmesinMember
States.Anumber of TAGsareencouragingfarmerstoincreasetheir returnsthroughbetter
NRMtechniques,whileothersfocusonparticipatoryNRM,particularlyoncommunity
andgroupapproaches.
IFADalsoprovidespolicyandtechnical assistancetonational andregional programmes
initsMember States.Inaddition,insupport of theUnitedNationsConventiontoCombat
Desertification(CCD),theFundisprovidingassistanceinthepreparationof national
actionprogrammesandsubregional programmes,andhasrecentlystartedworkingwith
governments,throughtheGlobal Environment Facility(GEF),todevelopprojects
addressingglobal environmental problems.In1997,theGlobal Mechanism(GM) was
establishedunder theauthorityof theConferenceof thePartiesof theCCD.GM,whichis
housedat IFAD,actsasthehubfor adynamicnetworkof partnersthat havecommitted
their resourcesandknowledgetocombattingdesertification.Theseandother initiatives
will beexploredinthefollowingpages.
IFAD’s Mandate and Environmental Issues
India
Panama
4
At its Fifty- Seven th Session in Apr il 1996 th e Execu tive Boa r d a ppr oved a TAG for th e
Pr ogr a m m e for th e Developm en t of Str a tegies for I n Situ Con ser va tion a n d Utiliza tion of Pla n t
Gen etic Resou r ces in Deser t- Pr on e Ar ea s of Afr ica . Th e pr ogr a m m e, wh ich will be im plem en ted
th r ou gh Ju n e 2002, seeks to a ddr ess gen etic loss ca u sed by dr ou gh t a n d deser tifica tion in th e dr y-
la n d ecologies of Afr ica .
I t h a s a lr ea dy iden tified som e key elem en ts of str a tegies for th e fa r m in g com m u n ities of th ese
vu ln er a ble a r ea s – str a tegies for ga in in g su sta in a ble a ccess to tr a dition a l va r ieties of th eir pr e-
fer r ed cr ops. Th ese key elem en ts va r y widely, a ccor din g to th e socio- econ om ic a n d eth n ic com -
position of fa r m er s’ gr ou ps, a n d in clu de fa r m er s’ pr a ctices a n d pr efer en ces in : seed selection ;
con ser va tion a n d stor a ge tech n iqu es; loca l kn owledge gen er a tion a n d dissem in a tion m ech a -
n ism s; a n d tr a dition a l exper im en ta tion pa tter n s. Ba sed on th ese elem en ts, sever a l m eth odolo-
gies a r e cu r r en tly bein g tested in Ma li a n d Zim ba bwe, with th e a ctive pa r ticipa tion of th e fa r m -
er s. Th e pr ogr a m m e h a s a lso m obilized a coa lition of a ctor s, in clu din g n a tion a l a gr icu ltu r a l
r esea r ch system s ( pa r ticu la r ly n a tion a l pla n t gen etic- r esou r ces pr ogr a m m es) , in ter n a tion a l
or ga n iza tion s ( th e Food a n d Agr icu ltu r e Or ga n iza tion of th e Un ited Na tion s ( FAO) a n d th e
I n ter n a tion a l Pla n t Gen etic Resou r ces I n stitu te ( I PGRI ) ) a n d loca l a n d n a tion a l NGOs.
Addre s s i ng ge ne ti c e ro s i o n
i n de s e rt- pro ne are as o f Afri ca
At its Sixty- Sixth Session in Apr il 1999 th e Execu tive Boa r d a ppr oved a TAG for th e
Pr ogr a m m e for Pa r ticipa tor y Eva lu a tion , Ada pta tion a n d Adoption of En vir on m en ta lly Fr ien dly
Nu tr ien t Ma n a gem en t Tech n ologies for Resou r ce- Poor Fa r m er s. Th e pr ogr a m m e’s objective is
to fin d low- cost tech n ologies th a t ca n be a da pted to m eet th e n eeds of wetla n d r ice pr odu cer s in
Sou th a n d Sou th - Ea st Asia . Activities a r e ta kin g pla ce in Ba n gla desh , Nepa l a n d Viet Na m , with
fa r m er s wh o cu ltiva te r em ote, m a r gin a l soils on sm a ll pa r cels of la n d.
On e su ccessfu l tech n ology iden tified by th e pr ogr a m m e is th e u se of u r ea br iqu ettes, wh ich a r e
en vir on m en ta lly fr ien dly a n d pr odu ce h igh yields ( u p to a 20% in cr ea se) with less fer tilizer.
Th ey a r e a lso m or e fea sible for u se by sm a ll- sca le r esou r ce- poor fa r m er s. I n Nepa l, fa r m er s h a ve
fa vou r ed th e tech n ology, citin g u n ifor m gr owth , h igh er yields a n d fewer weeds. I n Ba n gla desh ,
m a n y fa r m er s n ow u se u r ea br iqu ettes in th eir fish pon ds, wh er e th ey h a ve r epor ted in cr ea sed
gr owth r a tes.
Th e tech n ology is la bou r- in ten sive; th e br iqu ettes m u st be h a n d- pla ced in th e soil. However, th is
h a s been pa r tia lly over com e by in tr odu cin g la r ger br iqu ettes, th u s r edu cin g h a n d- pla cem en t by
a bou t 30%. Low- cost br iqu ette a pplica tor s a r e a lso bein g tested.
As s i s ti ng we tl and ri ce pro duce rs
i n So uth and So uth- Eas t As i a
5
Manyaspectsof natural resourceandenvironmental management cut acrossregions:
increasingbeneficiaryandcommunityparticipation,developingandsharing
environmentallyfriendlytechnologies,fosteringenvironmental policies,andpromoting
rural financetoencourageoff-farmincome-generatingactivitiesandmicroenterpriseto
helptakethepressureoff natural resources.Other crosscuttingissuesincludegender and
indigenousknowledge.Nevertheless,thecausesandeffectsof environmental degradation
varyconsiderablyacrossregions,countriesandagro-ecological zones,creatingagreat
diversityof NRMissues.Thusoneof thekeychallengesistotailor solutionstotheneedsof
eachparticular area.
Mali Madagascar China Mexico Jordan
A Closer Look, Region by Region
6
Western and Central Africa
Amajor concernislandandwater degradation,causedlargelybythespreadof
desertificationandthegrowingscarcityof arablelandsurface,groundwater and
rangeland.Asthegrowingpopulationturnstowoodedlandsfor itscookingfuel,timber
andexpandingagriculture,theresultingdepletionof forestsiscompoundingtheproblem.
Inresponse,IFADisemphasizingsustainableapproachestoagricultural intensification,as
well aspromotingappropriatetechnologies,communityempowerment,informed
decision-makingandpoliciesthat support NRM.
Of the46ongoingprojectsinwesternandcentral Africa,18haveNRMcomponents.Thesehave
benefitedfromtheexperienceof theSpecial Programmefor Sub-SaharanAfricanCountries
AffectedbyDrought andDesertification(SPA).TheSPA(1986-1995) wasIFAD’sfirst major
NRMprogrammeaddressingland-degradationissuesinrelationtopovertyanddrought.
Oneof theimportant lessonslearnedisthat technologiesbuilt onlocal practicesresult in
lessnegativeimpact ontheenvironment thanthoseof standardized,high-input
technologies.Inaddition,theyhaveagreater chanceof successbecausetheyrespondto
theprioritiesof thelocal population.Local farmersinBurkinaFaso,for example,have
‘sculpted’scallopedpatternsof half-moonsintotheslopesof their landtocatchandretain
rainwater.InCapeVerde,rural workershaveintroducedterracing,whichhasincreased
forageandmaizeoutput,withlandremainingfor anadditional cropof pigeonpea.In
another innovativeproject inNiger,theworkof irrigationhasbeenturnedover totermites.
Calledthe technique,it involvesdiggingholessome15-20cmdeepandusingthe
unearthedsoil tobuildprotectiveridgesaroundthehole.Theholebottomsarethen
coveredwithmanure,whichbecomesabreedinggroundfor termites.Thetermitesbore
throughthehard-bakedsoil,producingadelicatenetworkof tunnels.Whentherains
come,theholesandtunnelsfill withwater,andfarmersplant millet or sorghuminthem
without havingtotoil.
Western and Central Africa
Mauritania
Unde rs tandi ng the e nvi ro nme nt
be fo re taki ng acti o n
Rice is th e sta ple food in Th e Ga m bia a n d a ccou n ts for a size-
a ble por tion of th e cou n tr y’s a gr icu ltu r a l pr odu ction . I t is cu ltiva ted in
m a n gr ove en vir on m en ts, com posed of va r yin g levels of a cid su lph a te soils
con ta in in g pyr ite. Wh ile th ese soils a r e gen er a lly loca ted in fla t a r ea s r ich
in or ga n ic m a tter a n d oth er n u tr ien ts, th e floodin g of th ese soils ca u ses th e
pyr ite to oxidize. Th is lea ds to sever e a cidifica tion a n d r en der s th e ea r th
n u tr ien t- deficien t, toxic a n d u n su ita ble for a gr icu ltu r e. I n a ddition , th e
floodin g ca n spr ea d a cidity to oth er a r ea s, killin g fish , sh ellfish a n d fa u n a ,
a n d th u s depr ivin g th e popu la tion of on e of its m ost im por ta n t sou r ces of
pr otein .
Th e Lowla n ds Agr icu ltu r a l Developm en t Pr ogr a m m e ( LADEP) h a s sou gh t
to eva lu a te th ese en vir on m en ta l con str a in ts in or der to bu ild r em edia l
a ction in to pr oject design a n d im plem en ta tion . A m a jor com pon en t of th e
developm en t str a tegy wa s a ser ies of en vir on m en ta l stu dies. Th e Soils Stu dy
pr ovided a n over view of th e ch a r a cter istics of soils or gr ou ps of soils a n d
th eir in flu en ce on a gr icu ltu r a l pr odu ctivity. A n u m ber of pr a ctica l r ecom -
m en da tion s con cer n ed deep plou gh in g, u pla n d con ser va tion , dr a in a ge a n d
cu ltiva tion m eth ods. Th e stu dy led to th e in tr odu ction of a n ew a n d m or e
u ser- fr ien dly system of soil cla ssifica tion th a t m a kes it ea sier for pr oject sta ff
a n d fa r m er s to iden tify pr oblem soils. I n a r ea s wh er e a cidic soils h a d been
iden tified, sta ff wer e tr a in ed to a ssist com m u n ities in extr a ctin g lim e a lon g
th e r iver to n eu tr a lize excess a cidity. Low- tech n ology wa ter- a n d- soil con ser -
va tion tech n iqu es wer e in tr odu ced, in clu din g sim ple wa ter- r eten tion dykes,
spillwa ys to flu sh ou t sa lin e wa ter fr om tida l swa m ps, a n d wooden ca u se-
wa ys to a ccess th e swa m ps. Better a n d m or e sta ble r ice yields m otiva ted
com m u n ities to con tr ibu te to con ser va tion wor ks. Th e pr oject a lso str en gth -
en ed tr a dition a l villa ge gr ou ps to ta ke r espon sibility for th e im plem en ta tion
a n d m a n a gem en t of th eir pr ojects.
Th is deta iled stu dy pr oved to be a n im por ta n t tool in u n cover in g th e m a in
en vir on m en ta l issu es in a pr oject a r ea a n d th e wa y in wh ich th ey will im pa ct
th e goa ls of in cr ea sed a gr icu ltu r a l pr odu ction a n d lon g- ter m en vir on m en -
ta l su sta in a bility. Mor eover, a s a cid su lph a te soils a r e fou n d in oth er coa sta l
a r ea s of West Afr ica , th e a ctivities of LADEP ca n be stu died for r eplica bility.
8
Eastern and Southern Africa
Degradationof natural resourcesisaseriousproblemineasternandsouthernAfrica:
theregionsuffersfromdeforestation,lossof soil fertility,soil compaction,water scarcity
andovergrazing.IFADhas50ongoingprojectsintheregion.Becauseof thediversityof the
natural resourcebase,eachproject addressessite-specificproblems.Themajor areasof
concernarearrestingandreversingdeforestation,controllingerosionandmanagingsoil,
managingsoil moistureandwater,haltingthedegradationof pastures,recoveringand
conservingmarineresourcesandconservingbiodiversity.
TheZambiaForest ResourceManagement Project,for example,hasembarkedonaseries
of community-basedactivitiestoraiseincomesandenhancethesustainableuseof forest
resources.Onemajor initiativeiswoodlot planting,carriedout bycommunitiesfor their
ownuseandfor sale,whichshouldreducecuttinginthenatural forest.InLesotho,the
Machobanefarmingsystem,namedafter itslocal inventor,wasusedintheSoil andWater
ConservationandAgroforestryProgramme.Thissystemreplacestraditional monocropping
withintensiverelaycroppingoncontoursinorder tocontrol erosionandconserve
moisture.It enhancessoil fertilitybyusingwoodashandfarmlandmanure.Thesystem
alsoemphasizesintensivefarmer training(mostlyfarmer-to-farmer),ahighlevel of
participationandtheempowerment of smallholders.AndinBurundi,theBututsi Agro-
Pastoral Development Project isestablishingprivatenurseriesmanagedbyfarmers’groups
andprovidingtrainingintheproductionanddistributionof seedlings.
Experiencehasshownthat privateirrigationschemesaregenerallymoreviableandself-
sustainingthanpublicones.Thustheregional strategyfocusesonwater management that
canbeledandoperatedbyfarmers.InMadagascar,theUpper MandrareBasin
Development Project isrehabilitatingpublicandcommunityirrigationsystemsand
turningthepubliconesover tomanagement bytheir users.Non-governmental
organization(NGO)-trainedlocal facilitatorsareworkingwithfarmerstoformwater users’
associationsthat aretheninvolvedinplanninganddevelopingtherehabilitationwork.In
Ethiopia,capacity-buildingintheregional Water,MinesandEnergyResources
Development Officeisenablingit toconduct inventories,investigatepotential sourcesof
water for communitiesandorganizecommunitywater andsanitationcommitteesto
developplansinaccordancewithcommunityneeds.
Eastern and Southern Africa
Madagascar
Impro vi ng the l i ve s
o f arti s anal fi s he rme n
I n Moza m biqu e, fish in g is a m a jor sou r ce of h ou seh old n u tr ition
a n d expor t r even u e. Un for tu n a tely, over fish in g by both a r tisa n a l a n d in du s-
tr ia l fleets a n d destr u ctive fish in g pr a ctices h a ve ser iou sly depleted fish stocks
a n d da m a ged th e m a r in e en vir on m en t. Th e Na m pu la Ar tisa n a l Fish er ies
Pr oject ( NAFP) wa s in itia ted in 1994, with fu n din g by I FAD, th e Gover n m en t
of Moza m biqu e a n d th e Or ga n iza tion of th e Petr oleu m Expor tin g Cou n tr ies
Fu n d for I n ter n a tion a l Developm en t. Th e goa ls of th e pr oject wer e to im pr ove
th e in com e, em ploym en t- level a n d food secu r ity of a r tisa n a l fish er m en a n d
th eir fa m ilies. To a ch ieve th ese goa ls, a fou r- pr on ged a ppr oa ch wa s design ed.
Th e a va ila bility of fish in g equ ipm en t h a d to be im pr oved, a s did fish er m en ’s
a ccess to fin a n cia l ser vices. New fish in g tech n iqu es n eeded to be tested a n d
t h en pr om ot ed, t oget h er wi t h m or e su i t a bl e fi sh - pr ocessi n g m et h ods.
Tr a n spor t a n d m a r ketin g skills n eeded to be str en gth en ed. An d sa n ita tion
fa cilities a n d a ccess to dr in kin g wa ter h a d to be im pr oved.
Sign ifica n t pr ogr ess h a s been m a de. Ta xes a n d ta r iffs h a ve been lower ed on
fish in g equ ipm en t, wh ich is n ow a va ila ble a n d a t r ea son a ble pr ices, owin g
pa r ticu la r ly to pr oject su ppor t for th e developm en t of pr iva te r eta iler s a n d
th eir ou tlets. I n pa r tn er sh ip with th e fish er m en , th e pr oject h a s tested differ -
en t types of fish in g gea r, su ch a s la r ger- sized gilln ets, lon g lin es a n d tr a m m el
n ets for sh r im p, in or der to deter m in e efficien t, low- cost tech n iqu es for th e
va r iou s com m er cia l species fou n d in th e pr oject a r ea . I t h a s a lso tested
a ppr oa ch es to pr ocessin g a n d pr eser va tion , su ch a s sm okin g kiln s a n d sa lt
a n d dr yin g r a cks. Th ese m ea su r es will en cou r a ge fish er m en to a dopt su s-
ta in a ble fish in g pr a ctices a n d pr om ote m or e efficien t pr odu ction . Policy
r efor m s – togeth er with th e pr oject’s su ppor t for co- m a n a gem en t com m ittees
– h a ve en cou r a ged fish er m en to elim in a te th eir tr a dition a l m osqu ito n ets
with ou t su ffer in g yield losses a n d h a ve led to a n expa n sion in th e fish in g a r ea
r eser ved exclu sively for th e a r tisa n a l fleet. Th ese r efor m s a r e expected to h a ve
a positive im pa ct on r esou r ce stocks a n d th e n a tu r a l en vir on m en t.
Th e pr oject’s fin a n cia l ser vices h a ve been br oa der th a n cr edit a lon e. Fou r
m eth odologies wer e tested: cr edit a ssocia tion s, solida r ity or con fiden ce
gr ou ps, sa vin gs clu bs, a n d r ota tin g sa vin gs a n d cr edit gr ou ps. Th e la st
m eth odology h a s r espon ded pa r ticu la r ly well to th e n eeds of th e poor est sec-
tion s of th e com m u n ity, especia lly wom en , a n d m or e th a n 130 gr ou ps h a ve
been esta blish ed. Th e pr oject h a s a lso con str u cted 122 wells, r eh a bilita ted
138 km of feeder r oa ds a n d been in str u m en ta l in pr om otin g th e for m a tion of
157 com m u n ity or ga n iza tion s – co- m a n a gem en t com m ittees, wa ter- poin t
com m ittees, com m u n ity developm en t gr ou ps a n d th e like – th a t a ctively pa r -
ticipa te in pr oject a ctivities.
Th e NAFP h a s r epea tedly dem on str a ted th e effectiven ess of a n in tegr a ted cr oss-
sector a l a ppr oa ch , sim u lta n eou sly ta r getin g tech n ica l, com m er cia l, socia l
a n d in stitu tion a l a r ea s. Th r ou gh th e ju diciou s a pplica tion of ta r getin g, th e
pr oject h a s been a ble n ot on ly to m otiva te fish er m en with r ega r d to th e devel-
opm en t a n d expa n sion of th eir fish in g a ctivities, bu t a lso to pr om ote a wider
a n d m or e in tegr a ted developm en t with in th e fish er y sector.
10
Asia and the Pacific
Themajor environmental problemsfacingpoor farmersinAsiaandthePacificare:land-
andwater-resourcedegradation,sedimentationof watercourses,lossof forest resources
andbiodiversity,anddegradationof fisheries.Special attentionisbeinggivento
programmesinmarginal areas;the1997Asianfinancial crisishit thesethehardest.Of the
56ongoingprojectsintheregion,34(61%) arelocatedinmarginal areas,particularlyin
theuplandregions,and24(43%) includesignificant investment inNRM.
Soil conservationisanimportant NRMactivityintheregion.Experiencehasshownthat
poor farmersoftendonot havethetimeandlabour totakepart inslowandcostly
remedial operationstorestoresoil fertility.For thisreason,manyprojectsaimtoimprove
productionandsoil conservationsimultaneously.For exampletheEast JavaRainfed
AgricultureProject inIndonesiainvolvedbeneficiariesinaparticipatoryplanningprocess
andprovidedincentives,includingfoodrationssuppliedbytheWorldFoodProgramme
(WFP).On-farmsoil- andwater-conservationworksincludedimprovedbenchterracesto
optimizesoil andwater retention,drainagechannels,gullyplugsandminor drop
structurestocontrol theflowof excesswater.Theproject alsointroducedgrassesand
foragematerialsfor erosionprotectionandlivestockfeed.Oneresult wasa60%increase
innet returnsper unit of foodcrop.
Withrespect tobiodiversity,it isestimatedthat over thenext 25years,Asiawill losea
higher proportionof speciesandnatural ecosystemsthananyother regionof theworld.
Experiencehasshownthat themost effectivewaytoconservebiodiversityistodesignate
protectionareas.However,caremust betakentopromotebeneficiaryparticipationto
ensurethat thisdoesnot marginalizeresourceusers.Suchaneffort hasbeenmadeinthe
NorthEasternRegionCommunityResourceManagement Project for UplandAreasin
India.Abuffer zonearoundaprotectedareaisbeingestablished,alongwithvillagesupply
foreststomeet theneedsof thecommunitiesandprevent encroachment intothe
protectedarea.Inviewof theimportant roleof tribal women,whoprovide70-80%of the
labour andareinvolvedinforest-producegatheringandhouseholdmanagement,special
extensionprogrammesfor womenarebeingdesigned.
Asia and the Pacific
VietNam
Bo o s ti ng l i ve s to ck pro ducti o n
by upgradi ng pas ture l and
Th e pr odu ctivity of livestock in cr ea ses wh en a dequ a te feed
a n d sh elter a r e pr ovided. However, th e pr oblem of m a tch in g livestock
n u m ber s with th e pa stu r e a va ila ble ca n be a com plex on e. Th e
Nor th er n Pa stu r e a n d Livestock Developm en t Pr oject in Ch in a bor e th is
in m in d wh en it bega n in 1981. Th e pr oject bu ilt u pon th e skills of th e
fa r m in g com m u n ities in Sich u a n , pr ovidin g essen tia l in pu ts a n d ser v-
ices to lift tr a dition a l m eth ods of pr odu ction to h igh er levels of effi-
cien cy. Livestock en ter pr ises wer e developed by in cr ea sin g th e a m ou n t
of h igh er- qu a lity gr een for a ge, pa r ticu la r ly in th e win ter m on th s, a n d
focu sin g on u n der u tilized, m a r gin a l a gr icu ltu r a l a n d n on a r a ble la n d.
I n or der to develop th e tech n ology for im pr ovin g th e for a ge, a da ptive
r esea r ch selected for a ge species th a t cou ld pr odu ce h igh yields ( a n n u -
a lly a n d per en n ia lly) , com pete with weeds a n d th r ive with oth er for a ge
species; iden tified fer tilizer r equ ir em en ts a n d pla n tin g tim es; a n d
deter m in ed com pa n ion cr ops.
An en vir on m en ta l con cer n in m a n y livestock developm en t pr ojects is
th e r isk of soil degr a da tion du e to over gr a zin g. However, in th is pa r tic-
u la r pr oject, it wa s deter m in ed th a t th e r isk wa s n ot cr itica l. Th ose a n i-
m a ls th a t cou ld cr ea te a r isk – goa ts – wer e in lower n u m ber s per h er d
or per villa ge, a n d m a n y wer e in con fin ed h ou sin g a n d br ou gh t to
gr a ze on ly a t specific tim es of th e da y. Never th eless, it wa s su ggested
th a t th eir n u m ber s be m on itor ed r egu la r ly to pr even t poten tia l over -
gr a zin g a n d soil er osion – a n en vir on m en ta l- m on itor in g policy th a t
sh ou ld h a ve gr ea ter weigh t th a n a t pr esen t.
Over a l l , t h e pr oj ect h a s h a d a posi t i ve i m pa ct on en vi r on m en t a l st a -
bi l i t y: t h e pl a n t i n g of per m a n en t gr a ss/ l egu m e m i xt u r es on i n t er m i t -
t en t l y u sed, er odi n g m a r gi n a l l a n d h el ped a r r est er osi on a n d bu i l d u p
or ga n i c m a t t er i n depl et ed soi l s a n d n on a r a bl e l a n d. I n a ddi t i on , t h e
devel opm en t of l i vest ock i n a r ea s wh er e t h e soi l h a d r el a t i vel y l ow fer -
t i l i t y h el ped pr ovi de fa r m ya r d m a n u r e t o su st a i n a r a bl e fa r m i n g.
12
Latin America and the Caribbean
In LatinAmericaandtheCaribbean,concernfor theenvironment isnot anendinitself,
but isviewedbyIFADasgoinghand-in-handwiththesustainablereductionof poverty.
Thisconcernisexpressed– andaddressed– inabout 30of IFAD’songoingprojectsinthe
region(60%) that emphasizeprotectionof biodiversityandthemanagement of
renewablenatural resourcesfor agricultural andanimal production,particularlysoil and
water.TheManagement of Natural ResourcesintheSouthernHighlandsProject inPeru,for
example,aimstorehabilitatethenatural resourcebasesothat poor farmerscanproduce
traditional Andeancropsandanimals.Thisisachievedthroughcollectiveactioncombining
traditional knowledgewithmoderntechniquesfor improvedsoil andwater management.
TheProject for theCapitalizationof Small FarmersintheTropisecAreaof theSegovias–
RegionI (TROPISEC) inNicaraguaalsotakesanintegral approach.It improvesplant and
animal productionthroughcollectiveactiontoestablishmultipurposetrees,improved
watershedmanagement andreforestationof degradedlands.
Theregion’svulnerabilitytofrequent natural disastersisincreasedbyenvironmental
degradation,deforestationandmismanagement of watersheds.Projectstocopewiththe
aftermathof HurricaneMitchinCentral Americaincludetechnical interventionsinrural
areastoimprovelandscapeandwatershedmanagement andtherebyreduceecological
vulnerability.At thesametime,theypromotetheactiveparticipationof civil societyin
poverty-reductionprogrammestodecreasesocial vulnerability.
Landrightsareanimportant issueaswell.Securelandrightsincreasetheincentivesand
thepossibilitiestoengageinsustainablepracticesof landandwater management.They
canalsobeusedascollateral incredit transactionsandthusleadtomoreefficient
production.Several projectsintheregionincludesupport tofarmersor their organizations
tosecurelegal rightstothelandtheyfarm,aswell astothelandtheysharewithother
membersof thecommunity.
Latin Americaand theCaribbean
Peru
The i mpo rtance o f
e nvi ro nme ntal
manage me nt pl ans
NRM a n d en vir on m en ta l pr otection a r e pr im e objectives of
I FAD’s str a tegy in Ch a la ten a n go ( “ th e Va lley of Wa ter a n d Sa n d” ) , a m ou n -
ta in ou s r egion in th e n or th of El Sa lva dor a n d its poor est r egion , wh er e th e
effects of con flict a n d n a tu r a l r esou r ce degr a da tion a r e h a r d felt. Th e
Reh a bi l i t a t i on a n d Devel opm en t Pr oj ect for Wa r- Tor n Ar ea s i n t h e
Depa r tm en t of Ch a la ten a n go wa s for m u la ted by I FAD in colla bor a tion with
th e Gover n m en t to r estor e th e socia l a n d econ om ic str u ctu r e of th e a r ea .
On e of th e pr oject’s objectives wa s to ela bor a te a n en vir on m en ta l m a n a ge-
m en t pla n ( EMP) in colla bor a tion with th e Comité Ambiental de
Chalatenango, th e in stitu tion r espon sible for coor din a tin g en vir on m en ta l
a ctivities in th e a r ea . Th e EMP, design ed th r ou gh a pa r ticipa tor y a ppr oa ch ,
a im s to pr om ote en vir on m en ta l m a n a gem en t a n d for m or str en gth en r ele-
va n t in stitu tion s. Sin ce its esta blish m en t, th er e h a s been a n in cr ea se in th e
visibility of socio- en vir on m en ta l issu es, pr om ptin g in cr ea sed en vir on m en -
ta l edu ca tion ( sta r tin g in pr im a r y sch ools) , for m a tion of en vir on m en ta l
gr ou ps, in cr ea sed cooper a tion a m on g differ en t in stitu tion a l levels, a n d
gr ea ter pa r ticipa tion of loca l gover n m en ts in en vir on m en ta l pr ojects.
Th e exper ien ce in Ch a la ten a n go h a s dem on str a ted th a t EMPs pr ovide:
• a lega l ba sis for en vir on m en ta l pr otection ;
• a con solida ted fr a m ewor k for ta r geted issu es su ch a s for estr y a n d
wa ter sh ed m a n a gem en t a n d en vir on m en ta l edu ca tion ;
• in ven tor ies of n a tu r a l r esou r ces, wh ich pr ovide a sta r tin g poin t for pr o-
en vir on m en t a ctivities;
• deta ils of a con cr ete pla n of a ction ; a n d
• pu blic pa r ticipa tion a t a ll sta ges.
On a br oa der sca le, th e EMP a llows for lon g- ter m pr oject su sta in a bility.
14
Near East and North Africa
The major environmental threatsintheNear East andNorthAfricaaredrought,
desertificationandsoil/landdegradation.Thesethreatsare,toagreat extent,alsothecause
andtoacertaindegreetheeffect of rural poverty.Severelanddegradationresultsfrom
climaticconditions,rangelandmismanagement andovergrazing.Projectsareincreasingly
designedwithNRMaspart of theoverall rationaleandasamajor objective.Project
componentsemphasizethesustainablemanagement of natural resourcesinincreased
agricultural production,includingsoil andwater conservation,landreclamation,and
irrigation.
InJordan,thefirst generationof projects(before1995) focusedonincreasingthecapital
of therural poor;thesecondgeneration(approvedsince1995) addressespovertythrough
NRM,particularlysoil andwater conservationandrangelandmanagement.For example
theYarmoukAgricultural ResourcesDevelopment Programmetakesaparticipatory
approach,withinnovativemeasurestoensureempowerment of thepoor throughaccess
toproductiveresourcesanddecision-making.Conservationmeasuresarebasedona
sustainableland-useplanthat waspreparedwiththeparticipationandapproval of the
communities.Water conservation,springprotectionandrehabilitationworksare
approachedthroughwater users’associations,wheremembersparticipateingroup
planning,designandimplementation.Theyalsocontributetotheinitial costsof thework
andmakeacommitment tooperateandmaintainthenewlycreatedassets.
InYemen,resourceconservationisthekeytosustainabilityof agricultural production.
Locatedinthemost important agricultural areainYemen,theTihamaEnvironment
ProtectionProject hasfocusedonconservationmeasuresfromitsinception.Thecentral
environmental issueinTihamaisthestabilizationof sanddunestoprevent the
encroachment of desertification.Indigenousandexotictreespeciesarebeingusedtofix
thedunes.Theproject benefitsfromaerial surveysthat monitor desertification.Water
monitoringhasalsomadeit possibletoinfluencegovernment policiesregulatingthe
diggingof newwells.
Near East and North Africa
Jordan
Co mbi ni ng tradi ti o n
and i nno vati o n
I n 1986, sh eep h er der s in Mor occo’s ea ster n r egion r equ ested
h elp fr om th e Gover n m en t: th eir h er din g a ctivity wa s with er in g fr om con -
secu tive yea r s of dr ou gh t, r a n gela n ds wer e sever ely degr a ded a n d a r ea s
a r ou n d wa ter poin ts wer e over gr a zed. Flocks h a d been decim a ted, in com es
h a d plu m m eted a n d debt wa s m ou n tin g. Va r iou s tech n ica l solu tion s wer e
pr oposed bu t h er der s seldom a dopted th em , beca u se th ey la cked a dequ a te
con sider a tion of th e com plex socia l or ga n iza tion of tr ibes, lin ea ge a n d kin -
sh ip gr ou ps.
I FAD design ed th e Livestock a n d Pa stu r e Developm en t Pr oject in th e
Ea ster n Region to a ddr ess th ese con cer n s. Th e r ea l ch a llen ge wa s h ow to
br in g a ll th e h er der s togeth er to a dopt solu tion s. Th is r equ ir ed a for m of
socia l or ga n iza tion th a t a ckn owledged tr a dition a l tr iba l str u ctu r e wh ile
in tr odu cin g m oder n con cepts. Esta blish ed on th e ba sis of tr iba l str u ctu r es
a n d a n cestr a l r igh ts to r a n gela n d u se, “ eth n olin ea l” cooper a tives wer e set
u p to give a m oder n dem ocr a tic a n d lega lly sa n ction ed existen ce to tr a di-
tion a l r igh ts a n d to h elp h er der s becom e self- r elia n t.
Sever a l yea r s of n egotia tion s wer e n ecessa r y, bu t vir tu a lly a ll seden ta r y,
sem i- n om a dic a n d n om a dic h er der s in a va st r egion of over 3 m illion h a
h a ve join ed th e cooper a tives ( 34 in a ll) . A tota l of 450 000 h a of on ce-
degr a ded r a n gela n d h a s been r eh a bilita ted. Som e pa r ts wer e tr a n sfor m ed
in to r eser ves for for a ge pr odu ction ( wh ich h a s in cr ea sed five- fold) a n d con -
tr olled gr a zin g. I n a ddition , veter in a r y ser vices pr ovided by th e cooper a tives
h a ve h elped r edu ce a n im a l m or ta lity to n egligible levels, a n d in com e- gen -
er a tin g a ctivities for pa stor a lists a n d r u r a l wom en h a ve been in itia ted.
Th e pr oject pr ovided a n oppor tu n ity for open dia logu e between h er der s a n d
th e Gover n m en t. I t a lso for m u la ted a n a ppr oa ch th a t will a llow r a n ge
u ser s’ cooper a tives to becom e in cr ea sin gly self- r elia n t, a con cept th a t cou ld
be r eplica ted elsewh er e in th e cou n tr y.
16
The Global Mechanism
Recognizing thelinkagesbetweenpovertyandenvironmental degradation,CCDwas
establishedinthewakeof the1992EarthSummit inRiodeJaneiro.Todate,170
countrieshaveratifiedtheConventionasalegallybindingframeworkfor seekinga
comprehensiveanswer toproblemsrelatedtotheenvironment andsustainable
livelihoods.Aspart of thesolutiontotheproblemof desertification,GMwasestablished
andhousedat IFAD.Itsmandateis“topromoteactionsleadingtothemobilizationof
substantial financial resources,includingfor thetransfer of technology,onagrant basis,
and/or onconcessional or other terms,toaffecteddevelopingcountryParties.”GMacts
asabroker andcatalyst,not onlydrawingonbut addingvaluetotheinterventionsof
other development partners.
Sinceitsestablishment,GMhassupportedgovernments,intergovernmental
organizationsandNGOsincreatingaconduciveenvironment for mobilizingsignificant
contributionsfromdonors,technical cooperationagencies,regional andinternational
financial institutionsandUnitedNationsorganizationsandagencies.
IFAD’s Collaboration in Global Initiatives
Mauritania Marocco Guatemala
Gras s - ro o ts capaci ty- bui l di ng
and te chno l o gy trans fe r
I n 1999, GM a n d th e I n ter n a tion a l Networ k of NGOs a ga in st Deser tifica tion ( RI OD)
r equ ested gr a n t fin a n cin g fr om th e I FAD/ NGO Exten ded Cooper a tion Pr ogr a m m e ( ECP) for a
gr a ss- r oots ca pa city- bu ildin g a n d tech n ology- tr a n sfer pr ogr a m m e. Th e Com m u n ity Exch a n ge
a n d Tr a in in g Pr ogr a m m e ( CETP) a im s to cr ea te a br oa dba sed fr a m ewor k for th e system a tic
cr oss- fer tiliza tion of exper ien ce, in clu din g th e in cor por a tion a n d dissem in a tion of in digen ou s
kn owledge.
Dir ect exch a n ges a m on g n a tu r a l r esou r ce u ser s th em selves ( fa r m er s, pa stor a lists, etc.) a r e on e
of th e m ost cost- effective system s for tr a n sfer r in g tech n ology. Don or s a n d NGOs a r e in cr ea sin g-
ly en cou r a gin g th ese exch a n ges. However, th er e is n o system a tic in stitu tion a l a r r a n gem en t for
com m u n ity exch a n ge a n d tr a in in g a ctivities th a t spa n a br oa d r a n ge of pr ojects. Neith er is th er e
a n efficien t m ech a n ism for in clu din g th e geogr a ph ica lly isola ted a n d/ or econ om ica lly m a r gin -
a l com m u n ities in th is ‘exch a n ge loop’. As a r esu lt, th eir tr a dition a l kn owledge is u n ta pped.
Th e pr ogr a m m e in ten ds to fill th is ga p by esta blish in g a flexible fr a m ewor k for pa r tn er sh ip th a t
pools don or- fu n ded developm en t pr ojects, NGO in ter ven tion s a n d th e com m u n ities th a t wou ld
oth er wise be left ou t of pr ojects. Th is type of pr ogr a m m e is ver y m u ch in lin e with I FAD’s str a te-
gic objective of pr ovidin g dir ect a ccess for r esou r ce u ser s to in for m a tion a bou t a ctivities th a t a r e
fea sible in th e con text of th eir en vir on m en t a n d r esou r ces.
As a sol u t i on t o pr obl em s of pover t y a n d en vi r on m en t a l da m a ge, for exa m pl e, t h e
En vir on m en ta l Mon itor in g Gr ou p ( EMG) fa cilita ted a com m u n ity- to- com m u n ity exch a n ge for
sixteen Rooibos tea - gr owin g fa r m er s in Su id Bokker veld. Th e fa r m er s visited n eigh bor in g com -
m u n ities for discu ssion s on cr op qu a lity, pr ocessin g a n d m a r ketin g. On th eir r etu r n , th e fa r m -
er s sh a r ed wh a t th ey h a d lea r n ed a n d esta blish ed a fa r m er s’ cooper a tive. I n a ddition , th ey
im pr oved th eir post- h a r vest pr ocessin g, r egister ed a s or ga n ic pr odu cer s a n d esta blish ed th e
Heiveld Sm a ll Gr ower s Cooper a tive to pr ocess a n d m a r ket th e tea . Th ey h a ve been gr a n ted con -
tr a cts for tea expor t to Eu r ope a n d a r e n ow r ea pin g th e ben efits of im pr oved in com es. Th e pr o-
gr a m m e h a s been a ble to pr ovide seed m on ey a n d h a s even led to th e esta blish m en t of a com -
m u n ity- ba sed tou r ism bu sin ess.
Cu r r en tly, RI OD is design in g a u n iqu e str a tegic fr a m ewor k for pa r tn er sh ips to develop a pipelin e
of com m u n ity exch a n ge pr ojects. I t is even lookin g in to or ga n izin g th em in or der to m eet th e
gr owin g im por ta n ce of th e pr ogr a m m e. For exa m ple th e NGOs fr om th e sou th er n Afr ica n devel-
opm en t com m u n ity r egion r ecen tly esta blish ed a su br egion a l Pr oject Appr a isa l Com m ittee to
h a n dle in com in g pr oposa ls m or e qu ickly a n d efficien tly. Th e com m ittee’s a ctivities a r e fu n ded
with pr oceeds fr om GM/ RI OD’s ECP gr a n t. Th e fr a m ewor k a lso pr ovides for th e or ga n iza tion of
a legisla tor s’ con fer en ce with civil- society pa r ticipa tion , a s well a s for th e ela bor a tion of a n NGO
position in pr epa r a tion for th e wor ld su m m it on su sta in a ble developm en t ( th e Rio + 10
Su m m it) .
I n cen tr a l Asia a n d La tin Am er ica , th e Ger m a n Agen cy for Tech n ica l Cooper a tion ( GTZ) h a s
esta blish ed close colla bor a tion with th e GM to sca le u p th e CETP a s a n im por ta n t tool in su p-
por t of CCD n a tion a l a ction pla n s a t th e loca l level.
18
The Global Environment Facility
GEF wasestablishedtoforgeinternational cooperationandfinanceactionstoaddress
fivecritical threatstotheglobal environment:biodiversityloss,climatechange,
degradationof international waters,ozonedepletionand,most recently,landdegradation.
Launchedin1991asanexperimental facility,GEFwasrestructuredafter theEarthSummit
inRiodeJaneirotoservetheenvironmental interestsof peopleinall partsof theworld.In
1994,34nationspledgedUSD2billioninsupport of theGEFmission;in1998,36nations
pledgedUSD2.75billiontoprotect theglobal environment andpromotesustainable
development.
On11May2001,theGEFCouncil approvedarecommendationtomakeIFADanexecuting
agencyof GEF,recognizingthat IFADhasdistinct capacitiesthat canassist inapressing
operational concern– namely,howtomeet global environmental objectivesthrough
activitiesthat addresslanddegradation.GEFbelievesthat IFADiswell-placedtoprepare
andimplement suchGEFprojectsbecauseof itsmandateinagricultureanddevelopment,
itsexperienceinaddressinglanddegradationandenvironmentallyunsustainableland-
andwater-management practices,itsabilitytomanagethesmall projectsandgrants
typicallyrequired,anditsdedicationtoaddressingsuchissuesinAfrica.Withthesigning
of amemorandumof understandingon9October 2001,GEFandIFADwill beworking
together toidentifyanddevelopprojectsthat,amongother concerns,addressland
degradation.
GEFcansucceedinitsglobal environmental missiononlyaspart of aworldwide
movement towardssustainabledevelopment.GEFbringstogether morethan150
member governments,leadingdevelopment institutions,thescientificcommunityanda
widespectrumof theprivatesector andNGOsonbehalf of acommonglobal
environmental agenda.
Tanzania Guatemala Philippines
Sus tai ni ng bi o di ve rs i ty
i n Mal i
Th e in ter ior delta of th e Niger, in th e Sa h el r egion of Ma li, is biologica lly r ich . I t pr o-
vides th e h a bita t for a va r iety of n a tu r a l a n d h u m a n ecosystem s, in clu din g a la r ge diver sity of
wild a n d dom estica ted a n im a l a n d pla n t gen etic r esou r ces. However, th e n a tu r a l ecosystem s a r e
bein g degr a ded, or a r e u n der sever e pr essu r e, beca u se of th e pover ty in th e r egion . Th e Sa h elia n
Ar ea s Developm en t Fu n d Pr ogr a m m e ( SADeF) wa s cr ea ted in 1999 to offer a n u m ber of ser vic-
es a n d fin a n cia l su ppor t m ea su r es to r u r a l com m u n ities: expa n sion of r u r a l fin a n cia l ser vices;
pr odu ction , m a r ketin g a n d socia l in fr a str u ctu r e developm en t; a n d gr a ss- r oots in stitu tion a l
developm en t. Th ese in itia tives will r edu ce th e pr essu r e on th e r em a in in g n a tu r a l h a bita ts.
However, pr eser vin g a n d r estor in g th e r egion ’s r ich a n d globa lly sign ifica n t biodiver sity will
r equ ir e a ddition a l effor ts a n d r esou r ces. Th is is wh er e GEF will pla y a m a jor r ole.
I t will con ver t th is ‘ba selin e’ scen a r io – th e SADeF pr ogr a m m e of su sta in a ble r u r a l developm en t
– in to a n in tegr a ted, coh er en t biodiver sity- con ser va tion a n d su sta in a ble developm en t pr o-
gr a m m e. Un der th is GEF a lter n a tive, th e followin g su b- com pon en ts will be a dded to SADeF to
r ea lize th e globa l biodiver sity- con ser va tion objectives:
• Re al i z ati o n o f bas e l i ne s urve ys , i nve nto ri e s and targe te d re s e arch o n bi o -
di ve rs i ty re s o urce s . Th is su b- com pon en t will en a ble th e ga ps in existin g en vir on m en -
ta l in for m a tion on th e biologica l diver sity of th e a r ea to be filled a n d syn th esized.
• In s i tu co ns e rvati o n o f do me s ti cate d and wi l d ani mal and pl ant re s o urce s .
Th is su b- com pon en t will pr om ote su sta in a ble pr odu ction system s by diver sifyin g gen etic-
r esou r ce- ba sed pr odu ction system s a n d th r ou gh socio- econ om ic con flict r esolu tion . I t will
a lso su ppor t th e pr odu ction , distr ibu tion a n d exch a n ge of tr a dition a l seeds by loca l cu lti-
va tor s a n d a ssist pa stor a l com m u n ities in con ser vin g tr a dition a l br eeds.
• Co mmuni ty- bas e d natural re s o urce manage me nt and bi o di ve rs i ty co ns e r-
vati o n. Th is su b- com pon en t will in tegr a te com m u n ity- ba sed NRM in to th e SADeF a ctivi-
ties to a ddr ess biodiver sity con ser va tion in a n d a r ou n d pr otected a r ea s. For exa m ple a wa r e-
n ess r a isin g wou ld be u n der ta ken in loca l com m u n ities on a va ila ble option s a n d th eir ben -
efits. Tr a in in g for loca l com m u n ities wou ld en su r e a dequ a te loca l ca pa city to pa r ticipa te in
developin g NRM pla n s a n d en a ble com m u n ities to en ter in to ‘con tr a ctu a l’ a gr eem en ts for
th e a dequ a te con ser va tion of a r ea s with pa r ticu la r biodiver sity va lu e.
Th e GEF Cou n cil h a s a ppr oved a PDF- B gr a n t for for m u la tion of th e GEF com pon en t, wh ich will
be execu ted by I FAD on beh a lf of th e Gover n m en t of Ma li. Th e for m u la tion pr ocess will be cou n -
tr y- dr iven , wh ich is key in pr om otin g own er sh ip of th e five- to six- yea r pr oject by th e
Gover n m en t of Ma li a n d en su r in g its su sta in a bility over th e lon ger ter m .
Ma n y lesson s h a ve been lea r n ed fr om I FAD’s evolvin g exper ien ce in a ddr essin g th e
en vir on m en t a n d NRM. At th e sa m e tim e, a n u m ber of ch a llen ges h a ve been iden tified. Som e of
th e m ost im por ta n t on es a r e descr ibed below.
• Parti ci pati o n and co mmuni ty o rgani z ati o n. NRM is m or e su sta in a ble wh en ben -
eficia r ies en ga ge in m a n a gin g r esou r ces a n d m a in ta in in g str u ctu r es. Str on g loca l in stitu -
tion s a r e a pr er equ isite for equ ita ble NRM, a n d in m a n y ca ses th e m ost su ccessfu l in ter -
ven tion s in volve com m u n ity or ga n iza tion s su ch a s wa ter u ser s’ a ssocia tion s. I n bu ildin g
on existin g for m a l or in for m a l com m u n ity gr ou ps, it is cr u cia l to en su r e th a t th e poor est
a n d m ost vu ln er a ble, pa r ticu la r ly wom en , a r e in clu ded a n d h a ve a n oppor tu n ity to pa r tic-
ipa te in com m u n ity decision - m a kin g pr ocesses.
• Fo cused and flexible techno lo gies. Con serva tion tech n ologies do n ot a lwa ys lea d to
qu ick in crea ses in yield a n d ca sh retu rn s. Th is is a disin cen tive for th e poor to a dopt a n d m a in -
ta in th em . Wh ere tech n ologies do exist, a doption is con stra in ed by low sh ort-term retu rn s, la ck
of la bou r, food-secu rity n eeds, poor m a rketin g opportu n ities a n d poor com m u n ica tion a n d
exten sion services. Th e su ccess of tech n ology pa cka ges depen ds on deta iled kn owledge of loca l,
in tegra ted fa rm in g system s a n d th e livelih ood stra tegies of loca l popu la tion s.
Insights for the Future
• Tradi ti o nal kno wl e dge . I n digen ou s kn owledge is dir ectly tied to th e su sta in a ble u se a n d
m a in ten a n ce of a h ea lth y a n d vibr a n t ecosystem . Ma n y su ccessfu l exa m ples of r egen er a tin g
ecosystem s a n d su ppor tin g loca l livelih oods a r e fou n d in a r ea s wh er e u ser s th em selves h a ve
esta blish ed a m a n a gem en t str u ctu r e, or m a n a gem en t is ba sed u pon a n in digen ou s system .
Fu r th er effor ts a r e n eeded to docu m en t tr a dition a l, su sta in a ble fa r m in g system s a n d best pr a c-
tices a n d to design pr ojects th a t blen d tr a dition a l a n d n ew tech n ologies.
• Ge nde r i s s ue s . Ru r a l wom en h a ve specific kn owledge of loca l r esou r ces a n d pr ocesses.
Th ey a lso h a ve gen der- specific NRM r espon sibilities a n d a r e exper ien ced n a tu r a l r esou r ce
m a n a ger s. NRM a ctivities n eed to con sider th is kn owledge a n d exper ien ce a n d bu ild u pon it.
Th e developm en t of su sta in a ble livelih ood system s depen ds on im pr ovin g wom en ’s a ccess to
pr odu ctive n a tu r a l r esou r ces, in clu din g la n d, for est a n d wa ter r esou r ces, a n d th eir pa r ticipa -
tion in decision - m a kin g pr ocesses. En h a n cem en t of wom en ’s r oles, in clu din g pa r ticipa tion in
pu blic a n d com m u n ity a ffa ir s, is cr itica l to NRM.
• Land i s s ue s and co mmo n- pro pe rty re s o urce s . La n d r igh ts a r e of u tm ost im por ta n ce
in r ela tion to NRM. Secu r e la n d r igh ts a r e a n in cen tive for fa r m er s to in vest a n d en ga ge in su s-
ta in a ble la n d- a n d wa ter- m a n a gem en t pr a ctices. Com m on - pr oper ty r esou r ces a r e a lso cr u cia l
to th e livelih oods of m a n y poor people, su pplyin g th em with fu elwood a n d fodder. I n m a n y
cou n tr ies, h owever, th e poor con tin u e to be system a tica lly exclu ded fr om th ese r esou r ces. I FAD
h a s fou n d th a t in stitu tion a l str en gth en in g of com m on - pr oper ty r esou r ces ca n gr ea tly r edu ce
pover ty. Con tin u ed ca r e m u st be ta ken to en su r e th a t poor people, pa r ticu la r ly wom en , a r e n ot
exclu ded fr om com m u n ity NRM, a n d th a t con tin u ed con sider a tion is given to con flictin g
r igh ts to com m on - pr oper ty r esou r ces by differ en t gr ou ps.
• Ho l i s ti c appro ach to NRM. I FAD ca r r ies ou t th e va st m a jor ity of its in ter ven tion s a t th e
m icr o level. NRM issu es a r e, h owever, a ffected by econ om ic, socia l a n d politica l situ a tion s a t
m a cr o levels a s well. Th e m a in ben eficia r ies of pr ojects a r e u su a lly sm a llh older fa r m er s, bu t
in som e r egion s with in a given ecosystem , m or e la n d is u n der th e m a n a gem en t of la r ge- sca le
own er s a n d com m er cia l fa r m s. Th e ecologica l fa te of th e en tir e ecosystem th u s depen ds m ost-
ly on th e decision s of th e la r ge la n down er s a n d com m er cia l en ter pr ises, r ega r dless of th e su p-
por t pr ovided to sm a ll fa r m er s for su sta in a ble NRM. A com pr eh en sive a ppr oa ch to im pr ovin g
la n d m a n a gem en t r equ ir es con sider a tion of en vir on m en ta l decision - m a kin g a t th e r egion a l,
n a tion a l a n d in ter n a tion a l level a s well a s a t th e loca l level. I t is expected th a t th is will lea d to
a m or e in tegr a l vision du r in g pr oject design a s well a s to m or e a tten tion to con flict r esolu tion
with la r ge- sca le fa r m er s.
• Envi ro nme ntal as s e s s me nt. Gr ea ter u se of str a tegic en vir on m en ta l a ssessm en t is n eed-
ed a t th e cou n tr y a n d r egion a l level, a n d m or e a tten tion m u st be given to bu ildin g in - cou n tr y
a n d r egion a l ca pa city to ca r r y it ou t. Assessm en ts th em selves n eed to be u sed m or e effectively
to gr a pple with com plex NRM issu es, a s well a s to in cr ea se sta keh older in volvem en t in th eir
pr epa r a tion a n d in a ctin g u pon r ecom m en da tion s.
• Me as uri ng pro gre s s and i mpact. Relia ble in dica tor s a r e n eeded in or der to m ea su r e th e
sta te of n a tu r a l r esou r ces in a given a r ea a n d eva lu a te th e en vir on m en ta l effect a n d im pa ct of
pr ojects. Em ph a sis n eeds to be pu t on developin g in dica tor s th a t a r e pr oject- specific a n d th a t
cr ea te a pa r ticipa tor y m on itor in g pr ocess.
• Inte grati o n. NRM a ppr oa ch es m u st sh ift fr om in pu ts a n d pr ocesses a lon e to a ch ievin g ta n -
gible ben efits th a t con tr ibu te to I FAD’s m ission to figh t pover ty. A five- pr on g str a tegy h a s been
a dopted com pr isin g policy- level a ctivities, oper a tion a l a ctivities, ca pa city- bu ildin g, pa r tn er -
sh ips a n d kn owledge m a n a gem en t. I n a ddition , a m or e pr oa ctive r ole is bein g pu r su ed
towa r ds bu ildin g syn er gies with su ch cr osscu ttin g issu es a s gen der, pa r ticipa tion , civil- society
or ga n iza tion s a n d in stitu tion a l str en gth en in g.
Viadel Serafico,107– 00142Rome,Italy
Tel.:+39-06-54591– Fax:+39-06-5043463
e-mail:[email protected]
Web page:www.ifad.org
All photographsIFAD
Cover:JeremyHartley,LouisDematteis,RobertoFaidutti,AlbertoConti
Insidecover:C.Rycroft
Page2:GiuseppeBizzarri,RobertoFaidutti,FrancoMattioli
Page3:AnwarHossainl,FrancoMattioli
Page4:GiuseppeBizzarri,AnwarHossain
Page5:HorstWagner,RobertGrossman,LouisDematteis,FrancoMattioli,JonSpaull
Page6:HorstWagner
Page7:RobertGrossman,ChristineNesbitt
Page8:RobertGrossman
Page9:RobertMaass
Page10and11:LouisDematteis
Page12:SusanBeccio
Page13:GiuseppeBizzarri AlbertoConti
Page14:JonSpaull
Page15:AlbertoConti
Page16:HorstWagner,AlbertoConti,NancyMcGirr
Page17:JeremyHartleyAnwarHossain
Page18:RobertGrossman,NancyMcGirr,LouisDematteis
Page19:HorstWagner
Page20:GiuseppeBizzarri,AlbertoConti
Backcover:GiuseppeBizzarri,LouisDematteis,RobertoFaidutti
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February2002
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