Where: Global (in 24 countries)
Solutions: Biodiversity and nature-based solutions, climate adaptation and resilence, Involvement of local communities and indigenous peoples
World Vision Australia has introduced Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), a low-cost land restoration technique used to combat poverty and hunger amongst poor subsistence farmers by increasing food and timber production and resilience to climate extremes.
FMNR involves the systematic regrowth and management of trees and shrubs from felled tree stumps, sprouting root systems or seeds. The regrown trees and shrubs integrated into crops and grazing pastures help restore soil structure and fertility, inhibit erosion and soil moisture evaporation, rehabilitate springs and the water table, and increase biodiversity. Implementation can help bring community cohesion, build peace, reduce risks and build prosperity.
The main beneficiaries of FMNR are land users. FMNR has doubled crop yields under harsh conditions, increased fuel wood supply, fodder and gross income. Farmers are more likely to survive drought with improved growing conditions and harvest a greater range of products (timber and non timber forest products). Urban populations also benefit because of the regular supply of fuel wood and increased grain and livestock production. When incomes of rural people increase from sale of wood and surplus grain and livestock production, their purchases from urban areas increase also. Over five million people have been impacted in Niger Republic alone.
In Niger alone, farm tree density increased from 4 trees / hectare to 40 across 6 million hectares, equating to 240 million trees. FMNR resulted in improved soil fertility, increased biodiversity, food security, fuelwood and & timber, fodder and water. FMNR enabled diversification of agriculture, lifted incomes and resilience to shocks, especially drought. Annually, Nigerien farmers grow an additional 500,000 tons of grain and earn $900 million in gross income due to FMNR. Women and children benefit. Women have more time to pursue economic, educational and family activities. They often participate in decision making activities and sometimes, leadership.
Obstacles included community opposition, farming practices, damage by livestock, fire, fuelwood collection and theft. At the core, these are all human behavior issues driven by beliefs and attitudes. World Vision Australia overcame the obstacles through perseverance and by listening to people¡¯s felt needs then facilitated in meeting those needs (whether for medical, water supply, food or other needs). They carefully explained the link between tree loss and hunger and poverty and they chose and trained community leaders and followed up the work regularly and long term. The organization worked closely with local government, forestry officials and other NGOs.
Photos provided by World Vision Australia
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