GOVGA – Governance for Green AgricultureFrank van Schoubroeck & Lucy Maarse

frankvanschoubroeck@yahoo.com

Arnhem, April 2011

GOVGA – Governance for Green AgricultureFrank van Schoubroeck & Lucy Maarse

frankvanschoubroeck@yahoo.com

Arnhem, April 2011

Potential financing of Agroforestry Action Planning by credits for carbon sequestration

in Niger

Potential financing of Agroforestry Action Planning by credits for carbon sequestration

in Niger

Field visit: Niger, Tillabery, 2009Field visit: Niger, Tillabery, 2009

One spot, two views: trees can grow in semi-arid pastoral landscapes – but are often absent One spot, two views: trees can grow in semi-arid pastoral landscapes – but are often absent

Field visit: Niger, Dosso, August 2010Field visit: Niger, Dosso, August 2010

Agroforestry increases production of tree crops – but also of food cropsAgroforestry increases production of tree crops – but also of food crops

Large stretches of land are bare in Niger – these lateritic soils are difficult to make productive …

Large stretches of land are bare in Niger – these lateritic soils are difficult to make productive …

… yet, ICRISAT identified trees that people can grow on such land – if they are allowed their tenure rights as well. This tree can be pruned for fuel every 2-3 years.

… yet, ICRISAT identified trees that people can grow on such land – if they are allowed their tenure rights as well. This tree can be pruned for fuel every 2-3 years.

If you drive through green stretches, you feel the fresh air.If you drive through green stretches, you feel the fresh air.

Fuel wood has a good local marketFuel wood has a good local market

Agroforestry increases production of tree crops – but also of food cropsAgroforestry increases production of tree crops – but also of food crops

August 2010: the Niger river floods and > 25,000 hh (?) are deplaced

August 2010: the Niger river floods and > 25,000 hh (?) are deplaced

Programmes for creation of horticulture value chains get a blow – as just before the Ramadan

floods destroy crops

Programmes for creation of horticulture value chains get a blow – as just before the Ramadan

floods destroy crops

Short heavy rains destroy people’s cash crops if the agricultural system at large cannot cope with itShort heavy rains destroy people’s cash crops if the agricultural system at large cannot cope with it

Building CC policy on a ´classic´ rural development discourse

Most adaptation strategies are at ease with mitigation strategy and are reasonably tailored to small farmers, women, etc.

Global mitigation strategies need elaboration to cash in on GHG sequestration potential of small farming

Climate mitigation is a service to the global community and engagement of small farmers should be in their own interest

Five conditions for change (Termeer, 2006):

Vision, directionStakeholders feel valuableMeticulous updating, meaningful

detailsCo-ordinationEnthusiasm of Key Stakeholders

Visioning an agroforestry programme supported by climate-policy

By 2030, local governments in Niger provide institutional conditions for different actors to realise tree-rich agricultural and agro-pastoral landscapes that improve local livelihoods by:

(1) Higher productivity by restoration of degraded land;

(2) Access of women and marginalised groups to fuel, fodder and fruits;

(3) Households marketing tree products.

Key components of a possible programme

Points… Global climate mitigation framework, CDM Multiple farmers’ benefits of agroforestry National Legislative Framework & Compliance with NAPA, Rural Development

Strategy etc Research capacity & involvement

… to be discussed today1. Agroforestry governance arrangement; process

2. Programme financing

3. Monitoring, Reporting and Verification

4. Enthusiasm of key stakeholders

5. Planning

How to create a pro-poor climate programme in Niger?

Creating a narrative:Focus on semi-arid regions with mixed pastoralism & agricultureA global “hot theme” such as CC mitigation needs local translation to mobilise local enthusiasm

=>How to align global CC concern and local concerns – for locally driven action?

Adaptation / resilience and new economic incentives can mobilise enthusiasm – and synergy with mitigation is possible

Agroforestry sits well in this narrative

Global level: -Carbon market; model development / research; access for agroforestry-Kick-start funding; access to global market,

National level: multi-actor co-ordination for:-rural strategy, climate strategy etc; Agroforestry policy (incl. tree tenure)-Local-level capacity building, research-Regional level MRV, sanctioning CERs, managing credit flows

Regional level: multi-actor coordination for:-Land Use / agroforestry Planning-realisation of tenure rights-Farmers’ organisation-capacity building; market development-local MRV

Future multi-actor, multi-Future multi-actor, multi-layer arrangements for layer arrangements for

agroforestryagroforestry

Communities, Individual, pastoralists, agriculturists

Goal: Land restoration for productivity / livelihood

Local Government, chefferie, NGO, Farmers’ Organisation, business

Local level: -Diverse Agroforestry Implementation-utilisation & marketing of tree products

Line Ministry, CNEDD, POs, INGOs, IFAD,

research, etc.

UNFCCC, carbon market, research, donors, INGO

Agroforestry Land Use Planning: Prefecture X; Yr 1

Agroforestry Land Use Planning: Prefecture X; Yr 2

Agroforestry Land Use Planning: Prefecture X; Yr 4

Agroforestry Land Use Planning: Prefecture X; Yr 6

Agroforestry Land Use Planning: Prefecture X; Yr 10

Agroforestry Land Use Planning: Prefecture X; Yr 15

Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) Systems – in Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

CDM originates in the industry and energy sectorsMRV by comparing “baseline” and “project” scenarios MRV procedures for agricultural GHG so far mainly for industrial agriculture, plantations, etc.Agricultural MRV is developing – e.g., GHG Protocol Initiative

An area-based approach with a variety of land uses – as in small-scale farming situations - needs to be developed – who takes the initiative?Crediting can only take place under strict circumstances: additionality, no leakage, long-term sequestration, etc.Social standards are being developed – again mainly for industrial sequestration – e.g., socialcarbon.org

(1) Preparatory phase

(End) Sustain the new level of productivity and phase out carbon credit funding

Financing by donor investments in adaptation & mitigation opportunities

Financing by carbon credits & development funding

Financing by local taxation

Possible programme outline

Local Agro-forestry Planning

Agroforestry Plan -Implementation

Measure CO2 sequestered & claim credit

Document, reflect, learn

(2) Implementation phase

(3) Programme phasing out

The foreseen financial base of the programme

0

20

40

60

80

100

% f

inan

cin

g

Set-up Yr 1-3 Yr 4-6 Yr 6-9 >10years

Developmentinvestment

Carbon credit

Business

1. Initial phase: development investment in a governance arrangement

2. Scaling-in phase: carbon credits will pay for the agroforestry programme

3. Trees will start producing and marketing of tree products (and cash crops) will become the economic base of the system

Local Capacity for agroforestry-related planning

Insofar I know, prefecture or region-wise land use planning is not practiced in Niger – but I might be wrongYet I came across a variety of “building blocks”:

Community-based groups – also with Agro-Forestry activities Agreements between agriculturists and pastoralists Farmers’ Organisations Chefferie Traditionnel Local Government Commissions Fonciers

The proposed process foresees Agroforestry Land Use Planning per local government unit

Mamadou Hassane, Executive Secretary of MOORIBEN - a 60,000 member farmers’ organisation: “we need the Government to take the lead to change our agricultural system”

Mamadou Hassane, Executive Secretary of MOORIBEN - a 60,000 member farmers’ organisation: “we need the Government to take the lead to change our agricultural system”

Entusiasm of key stakeholders...?Entusiasm of key stakeholders...?

In some areas in Niger the vision is reality. Prof. Adam Toudou, CRESA, Niamey: “3-5 million ha of

semi-arid lands in Niger are now under “agro-park” coverage”

In some areas in Niger the vision is reality. Prof. Adam Toudou, CRESA, Niamey: “3-5 million ha of

semi-arid lands in Niger are now under “agro-park” coverage”

Two people at one table think up an outline for a national agroforestry programme

Two people at one table think up an outline for a national agroforestry programme

How to start? – begin with a preparatory Phase (6-12 months) – and seek donors

1. Ensure national political support / CNEDD, Ministries, Oxfam-Niger, etc.

2. Form a preliminary national co-ordination unit

3. Document (formal, informal) legal framework for tree tenure, agroforestry planning, opportunity to involve women, marginalised groups etc

4. Select 2-3 pilot areas and form local co-ordination units

5. Ensure local political support

6. Develop link with carbon market (involve researchers and credit buyers)

7. Develop link with possible timber / pulp markets

8. Prepare project documents “Agroforestry strategic planning in region XXX” and submit to donors

Financing by a donor ready to invest in climate-smart farming / food security / agricultural system development