Turning the tide on desertification in Africa (7min43sec version)

Summary

This video discusses a project combating desertification in the Sahel region of Africa. Over the past decades, climate change, deforestation, and overfarming have turned once fertile lands into deserts. Since 2004, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has worked with local communities to plant native acacia trees, which restore soil fertility, prevent erosion, and provide economic benefits. Women in the region are learning to grow and market acacia gum, a valuable product in international markets. The project aims to expand, improving land management and offering economic opportunities to vulnerable communities.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Less than 50 years ago, the land in the Sahel region was a lush savannah, but desertification has caused significant vegetation loss.
• 🔥 Climate change, prolonged droughts, over-farming, overgrazing, and deforestation have contributed to the desertification of the Sahel region.
• 🌳 A recent project focuses on planting Acacia (gum) trees to reverse desertification and restore soil fertility.
• 👩‍🌾 Around 150 women from a single village benefit from the Acacia project, which started in 2004 through the United Nations FAO and local forestry departments.
• 🚜 FAO provided seeds, seedlings, and tools like tractors with special diggers adapted to dryland conditions, helping collect rainwater for the trees.
• 🌱 The planting of Acacia trees helps prevent soil erosion, restores nutrients, and supports other plant and crop growth.
• 🌍 The trees also contribute to reducing carbon in the atmosphere, making the project environmentally beneficial.
• 💼 Acacia gum has an international market, providing economic opportunities for local communities through sales and processing.
• 🤝 Middlemen, such as private plantation owners, help connect small producers to big companies that buy and process the gum.
• 💡 The project's success has led to plans for expansion, with FAO seeking additional funding to scale the initiative across eight countries to combat desertification and improve food security.

Q & A

What factors have contributed to the desertification of the Sahel region?

Desertification in the Sahel has been caused by climate change leading to prolonged droughts, land degradation due to over-farming and over-grazing, and deforestation.

What is the goal of the project involving Acacia trees in the Sahel?

The project aims to reverse desertification by planting Acacia trees, which prevent soil erosion, restore soil fertility, and provide economic opportunities through gum production.

Who are the primary beneficiaries of this project in the local communities?

Women in local communities, such as Fat Say and 150 others in her village, are primary beneficiaries. They are involved in planting and harvesting the gum from Acacia trees.

Which organizations are involved in supporting the Acacia tree project?

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Forestry Departments of several Sahel countries are supporting the project, along with funding from the Italian government.

How does planting Acacia trees help combat desertification?

Acacia trees prevent soil erosion, improve soil fertility, and help retain rainwater, creating conditions that allow other plants and crops to grow.

Why is Acacia a suitable tree for this project?

Acacia is a native tree in the region, which means it does not alter local biodiversity. It also offers multiple benefits, including soil improvement, providing fodder for livestock, and producing gum with a valuable international market.

What economic opportunities does the project create for local communities?

The project provides economic opportunities by allowing local communities to harvest and sell gum produced by the Acacia trees, which is used in pharmaceutical and food industries.

What challenges do local communities face in marketing the gum from Acacia trees?

Since the quantities of gum collected by the women are small, they sell the gum through middlemen like Isasa, who connects small producers with large companies that buy the gum.

What are the plans for expanding the project in the future?

Based on the project's success, FAO is seeking further funding to extend the project to eight countries and increase the focus on good land management and marketing of the gum to maximize incomes.

How does this project help mitigate the effects of climate change?

The project helps mitigate climate change by preventing desertification, restoring vegetation, and reducing atmospheric carbon through tree planting, while also providing economic protection for vulnerable communities.