• Reference: P-BJ-AAD-003
• Approval date: 06/07/2005
• Start date: 18/10/2006
• Appraisal Date: 01/02/2005
• Status: On goingOnGo
• Location: Communes du territoire national
• Implementing Agency: CAISSE AUTONOME D'AMORTISSEMENTPROJET D'

Context

Conservation of natural resources is one of the Government of Benin’s concerns. Forest areas are being degraded. Protection of these areas and the creation of communal plantations with participation by the local population in keeping with the ongoing decentralization processes will ensure the conservation of natural, forest and wildlife resources as well as the maintenance of biodiversity. To that end, in 2004 Benin’s authorities prepared a document aimed at implementing a natural forest management program and establishing communal plantations.  This program is intended to support the local communities to enhance natural resource management in accordance with the responsibilities transferred to them within the decentralization framework.

Rational

The Forest Project, or “Programme for the Management of Natural Forests and the Establishment of Communal Plantations” aims to satisfy requirements in the new decentralization context by enhancing forest resources of the decentralized communities and through the development of communal plantations. This programme option which constitutes a concretization of the participatory approach to natural resource management aims to support local development and reduce poverty. In addition to its  local development support aspect, this program is also intended to conserve and restore the country’s forest ecosystem. Its effective implementation will ensure the sustainable development of the communes concerned through its environmental protection, socioeconomic development, and local capacity building activities.

Objective

The project’s specific objective is to contribute to the sustainable management of forest resources and to the improvement of the population’s incomes and living conditions.

Description

The principal project outputs are: 

1. aerial coverage and mapping of about fifty sacred forests, and forest inventories;
2. preparation of three Divisional Land Use Plans (SDAT) and 23 Communal Land Use Plans (SCAT);
3. the development of 150,000 ha of natural forests (Communal Forests by enriching them with native species;
4. opening and maintenance of firebreaks;
5. setting up of forest protection committees;
6. planting of 6,900 ha of teak and fuelwood with  rapid growth species;
7. enrichment of about 2,300 ha of sacred forests and organization of communities to monitor plantations;
8. support for creation of about 1,000 ha of private plantations;
9. support for the development of 3 game ranches (about 3,000 ha); (x) building the capacities of 23 Communes and farmer organizations (OP);
10. preparation and implementation of a functional literacy and post-literacy plan (20,000 beneficiaries);
11. preparation/revision of Communal Development Plans (PDC) and establishment of a Local Development Fund (FDL) for financing collective infrastructure activities;
12. preparation and implementation of an Integrated Soil Fertility Management Plan (ISFMP) in twenty villages and the dissemination of appropriate techniques; and
13. implementation of HIV/AIDS prevention and malaria control activities.

Impact

There are many expected project benefits, covering technical, ecological, cultural, socioeconomic, and financial aspects. Technologically, results and available information show that there is enough efficient and adapted technology to improve natural resource management. These techniques have been adequately tested within the framework of other development operations in Benin. Ecologically, the Project will allow sustainable management of communal forests and enrichment of degraded forests in a manner that will maintain biodiversity at acceptable levels.

The environmental benefits are awareness-raising for, and accountability of the population and local authorities regarding the rational management of natural resources, building of the population’s own ecological monitoring capacities with the support of forestry services thus ensuring better monitoring of communal lands and biodiversity conservation, the introduction of more appropriate cropping methods for reducing soil degradation, and adequate fertilization. 

The Project will significantly improve the population’s living standards especially due to the sustainable, rational exploitation of forest resources, in particular timber.  Indeed, about  CFAF 1 billion will be distributed in year 10 of the Project and CFAF 33 billion from year 20 on, from the revenue received from the various project activities:  sale of timber and fuelwood, the hunting of game, and food products. From the financial standpoint, farm incomes are substantial.

DAGAMAISSA Abdoulaye - OSAN4

Finance source	Amount
ADF	UAC 35,000,000
Government	UAC 8,700,000
Total	UAC 43,700,000