News
SalvaTerra celebrates its 8th anniversary !
SalvaTerra participated in the evaluation of the Country Strategic Plan (CSP) of the World Food Programme (WFP) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The WFP in the DRC has intervened in recent years on many particularly complex humanitarian crises. The WFP has responded to the needs of displaced (e.g. conflicts in Kasai, Ituri, North Kivu) and refugee populations (e.g. conflicts in the Central African Republic), the Ebola crisis (in the East of the country) and the overall deterioration of malnutrition indicators in the country. At the same time, the WFP has developed interventions to strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers and enhance local value chains. As of January 2019, the total number of beneficiaries in the country during the period considered, was 11.7 million people.
Led by the NGO Action Against Hunger (ACF), in partnership with SalvaTerra, the independent evaluation of WFP's CSP targeted all projects in the country between January 2017 and June 2019. The purpose of the evaluation was to assess and learn from the strategy and interventions, report back to contributors and make recommendations for the next CSP currently under development.
As part of this strategic evaluation, SalvaTerra was more specifically responsible for analyzing the issues related to the resilience programs as well as the strategic positioning and operations in the refugee camps. A field mission took place during 3 weeks at the end of 2019. The report submitted to WFP provides a detailed assessment of the CSP 2017-2019 and a series of recommendations for the way forward.
SalvaTerra helps build Caritas Madagascar's capacity to deal with climate shocks and food emergencies.
The training, which took place from 28 November to 6 December 2019, is part of a support from Secours Catholique Caritas France (SCCF) to strengthen Caritas Madagascar's capacity to respond to food emergencies, particularly following cyclones or extended dry spells. More specifically, the training enabled participants to better understand the challenges of food security in emergencies and post-emergency situations, to know the main project management tools and methods, and to identify the most appropriate intervention modalities according to the needs and context, including cash transfer programmes.
The training evaluation by the participants indicates a high level of satisfaction and response to initial expectations. SalvaTerra made several recommendations for the continuation of the capacity building process, including the implementation of the tools presented during the training (food insecurity measurement indicators, decision trees, field surveys for rapid assessment or post-distribution monitoring, etc.). A discussion has also been initiated with Caritas Madagascar and the SCCF on how best to replicate the training, particularly for the collection and analysis of food security data in emergency contexts.
A new project manager in the SalvaTerra team!
In 2020, SalvaTerra recruts experts to strengthen its team and support its development in France and abroad. Eva HAENTJENS joined us in February. She is an agricultural engineer (ISTOM) specialised in rural development and spatial planning in tropical areas.
She has carried out numerous studies and expert missions in Latin America, Africa and South-East Asia: agrarian diagnostics, analysis of agricultural and forestry sectors, study of the capacity to adapt practices to climate change, support to professional organisations, etc.
She has a good experience of consultation between development actors and the mobilization of participatory methodologies (Brazil, Indonesia, France) on issues of natural resource management, renewable energy and development.
Welcome Eva!
Fair trade value chains in West Africa: SalvaTerra carries out the final evaluation of the EQUITE I program and the feasibility study of EQUITE II!
The EQUITE I program, implemented by Agronomes et vétérinaires sans frontières (AVSF), Fairtrade Africa (FTA) and Commerce Equitable France (CEF) between 2016 and 2019, has contributed to strengthen the Fair Trade sector in five West African countries. The independent evaluation carried out by SalvaTerra highlighted a very positive level of performance and results.
The EQUITE II program is in continuity with phase I to consolidate the achievements, diversify support and scale up the most impactful activities and results. It will be implemented in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali and Togo over a 4-year period with a budget of €11.5M financed by AFD and the FFEM.
EQUITE II will consolidate the Fair Trade sector in West Africa and help boost the ecological transition of production and processing methods within the main certified commodity chains (#cocoa, #shea butter, #cashew nuts, #fruits, #crafts, #sesame, etc.). For more information: https://www.programme-equite.org/
We are proud and happy to have contributed to the formulation of this beautiful project. We wish #CEF and #AVSF success in the implementation of the activities and the achievement of the objectives.
URGENT - agroeconomist research for technical assistance on the Dabola Groundnut Basin Agricultural Development Project - Guinea Conakry
The SalvaTerra and BRLi consortium was shortlisted by AFD to provide technical assistance to the management unit of the Dabola Groundnut Basin Development Project - Guinea Conakry. This €7.7M 5-year project covers various actions: R&D in agro-ecology on groundnut-based production systems; Agricultural advice on groundnut-based production systems; Promotion of harnessed cultivation; Dissemination of improved groundnut and rice seeds; Facilitation of access to agricultural credit; Promotion of irrigated rice cultivation, market gardening and complementary economic activities. More details in the attached terms of reference.
Within this framework, we are looking for a Senior Technical Assistant to support the National Project Coordinator in order to implement and monitor all project stakeholders and activities. The following qualifications are required:
- Engineering level (Bac+5) agro-economist or equivalent, with at least 10 years of experience in terms of monitoring/coordination and management of similar development projects as senior agro-economist, project manager and/or coordinator and/or Technical Assistant ;
- Specific expertise in at least two of the following areas: professional and inter-professional organization of agricultural commodity chains, marketing and professionalization of downstream agricultural commodity chains, production of farmer seeds, support and advice in peasant agriculture;
- Work experience with different technical partners: technical services and state agencies, NGOs, professional agricultural organizations, social and environmental monitoring, agricultural research institutions;
- Knowledge of Guinea and field realities;
- Experience of working with international donors, prior experience with AFD and knowledge of its procedures will be favoured.
In addition, the following personal qualities will be favoured: interpersonal skills and a sense of contact, autonomy and initiative, ability to manage teams and mobilize the actors involved in the project, negotiation and organizational skills, written and oral communication, availability and ability to mobilize in the field and in Conakry from his residence in Dabola.
Please send your updated CV, indicating your wages proposal, to info@salvaterra.fr before the 8th of March.
Happy new year 2020 !
SalvaTerra evaluates support for the implementation of the FLEGT VPA in Congo
The European FLEGT programme aims to ensure the legality of European timber imports, excluding any imports of illegal timber. The Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) between the EU and the Republic of Congo, which entered into force in 2013, aims to establish a Legality Verification System (LVS) covering the entire timber value chain, including the domestic market.
From November 2015 to May 2019, AFD implemented a "Project to support the implementation of the FLEGT VPA in the Republic of Congo" for 5.35 million euros, focusing on revising the Congolese legal corpus, structuring civil society, strengthening forest administration and supporting the private sector to get into compliance.
In 2019, SalvaTerra was responsible for the final evaluation of this project. The conclusions indicate that very significant progress has been made in finalising the LVS, but also that efforts are still needed to operationalise control at the forest administration level.
A new senior expert in the team of SalvaTerra!
In 2019, SalvaTerra recruits to strengthen its team of experts and pursue its development. Johan PASQUET joined us in September. He is an agronomist (AgroParisTech) with 17 years of international professional experience. He is particularly skilled in the study of agrarian systems and the analysis of food security and rural livelihoods.
He has extensive field experience in fragile contexts (Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Myanmar, etc.), both in programme design, management or coordination and in advisory services (Ghana, Haiti, Madagascar, Mali, DRC, Senegal, etc.). He has carried out many assessments, formulation, support and external evaluations for food security, family farming and rural development projects, including around themes related to agro-ecology, improvement or preservation of productive potential (soil conservation, lowland rice development, etc.) and resilience to climate change.
Welcome to Johan!
SalvaTerra provides feedback on Forest management training (FOGEFOR) for France bois forêt (FBF)
FOGEFOR is a training programme for private forest owners to enable them to acquire the basics necessary for the proper management and maintenance of their forest heritage. The programme is funded by FBF and implemented jointly by the french National Center for Forest Ownership (CNPF) and the Federation of Private forest owners’ unions of France (Fransylva).
These training courses are particularly relevant since 75% of french forests belong to private owners, most often without skills in the sector. By strengthening the capacities of private owners to manage their forests properly, FOGEFOR therefore contributes to sustainable forest management and the dynamism of the forest-wood sector at the national level.
The feedback supported by SalvaTerra, made it possible to analyse the performance, content and quality of this programme as well as FBF’s visibility among participants. SalvaTerra has issued a series of recommendations for improving the programme.
Photo : https://foretsphere.com/formation-fogefor-foret-sphere/
SalvaTerra supports France Bois Forêt (FBF) for the modernization of the French forest-wood sector
The dematerialization and automation of information and data exchanges between economic operators in the French forest-wood sector represents a major challenge for competitiveness and traceability. That is why FBF, the FCBA Technological Institute and some operators in the sector launched in 2012 the eMOBOIS program "data exchange platform for wood supply".
eMOBOIS offers a common language for data exchange between operators, from lumberjacks to sawyers and transporters. Seven years later, the results are mixed: eMOBOIS works, but hardly convince enough operators.
In 2019, SalvaTerra was mobilized by FBF to provide a full feedback on this program and suggest ways to improve the acceleration of its deployment. A Letter B article briefly presents some elements of our diagnosis and recommendations.
The "de Gaulle" forest, ground for Franco-Jordanian cooperation on forest management
The "de Gaulle" forest is located in Jerash, in northern Jordan. It was named by royal decree in February 1969, in honor of the French President and the Franco-Jordanian amity. Recently, the Embassy of France in Jordan and the Jordanian Forest Services wanted to mark their commitment to this amity, by promoting the sustainable management of this symbolic forest.
Thus, at the invitation of the French Embassy in Jordan and with AFD financing, SalvaTerra initiated the development of a plan for sustainable management, in order to contribute to the general reflection on the sustainable management of forests, going beyond the case of the de Gaulle forest, and strengthening the capacity of Jordanian institutions through practice.
SalvaTerra is 7 years old
SalvaTerra supports the adaptation of the Dominican agriculture to climate change!
Our experts Olivier BOUYER and Anis CHAKIB are coming back from the Dominican Republic, where they participated in the launching of a project aimed at supporting the adaptation to climate change of Dominican agriculture.
The Dominican Republic is indeed one of the most affected countries by climate-related risks worldwide. Its agricultural sector has a strategic importance for socio-economic development. It is also particularly vulnerable to long-term climate changes (rainfall reductions) and the proliferation of extreme events (droughts, floods, hurricanes, etc.).
The project on which SalvaTerra is involved is part of the Adapt'Action program of the Agence française de développement (AFD). It has two components: 1) A vulnerability study of the agricultural sector to CC; 2) A feasibility study for the development of climate information services for the agricultural sector. It will be implemented for about 13 months in collaboration with our partners EGIS Eau, Carbonium and Meteodyn.
In this context, SalvaTerra will assess the vulnerability of six production systems / strategic value chains for the country (banana, cocoa, coffee, beans, plantains and rice), identify good practices of climate-smart agriculture and develop operational plans for the adaptation to climate change impacts.
We'll keep you updated!
SalvaTerra keeps growing! Welcome Blanche!
Blanche RENAUDIN joined the team in June 2019. She is an agricultural engineer specializing in the fields of food security, resilience of population, management of natural resources, agricultural development in the South, with more than 17 years of experience at international level.
After an experience in the Brazilian Amazon on the comparative analysis of soils before and after deforestation, she worked at Action Against Hunger (AAF), first based in Laos as program manager of rural agricultural development for ethnic minorities, then as an expert in charge of opening missions and programs in various countries (Zimbabwe, Chad, Central African Republic). After a few years in an organization consulting firm, she focuses on international expertise missions in the fields of rural development and the environment (needs analysis, strategy and project development, training, project evaluation), starting in 2010, first in the Groupe URD then as an independent. These missions have been carried out in many countries for various organizations: Swiss Cooperation, AFD, FAO, UNDP, WFP, European Union, ECHO, Oxfam, AAF, etc.
SalvaTerra completed the mid-term evaluation of the project FONABES
In early 2019, SalvaTerra completed the mid-term evaluation of the project "Natural Forests Management and Sustainable Wood Energy Supply in the Sahel Cities" (FONABES). In a context where the vast majority of households use firewood and charcoal for cooking, increasing the pressure on the lean Sahelian forests, this project aims at promoting sustainable forest management practices.
Our experts Olivier BOUYER and Anis CHAKIB carried out a mission to Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali to meet stakeholders, partners, and beneficiaries of the project. A mid-term evaluation report presenting i) the results achieved by the project ii) the evaluation of its performance, and iii) recommendations, was submitted to CIRAD in charge of the implementation and FFEM which finances the project (1.5 M€). The project site: www.fonabes.org/
SalvaTerra international expertise is well recognized in the fields of reforestation, natural resource management and bioenergy. To know more, do not hesitate to contact us and to visit our website: http://www.salvaterra.fr/en/activites / http://www.salvaterra.fr/en/references
A year 2018 rich in events ... We hope it stays that way in 2019!
In 2018, SalvaTerra has successfully carried out inspiring expertise and support missions on a wide range of topics in many countries.
We thank our clients and partners for their confidence: African Development Bank, AgroParisTech, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, Directorate of Food, Agriculture and Forestry of Martinique, Expertise France, French Agency for Development (AFD), French Fund for the Global Environment (FFEM), German Cooperation (GIZ), Ministry of Agriculture of Haiti, National Directorate of Water and Forests of Mali, National Geographic Institute – France/International (IGN-FI), Rainforest Alliance, Swedish Cooperation (SIDA), Territorial Authority of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), World Bank.
Below is an overview of our main missions in 2018:
- Côte d'Ivoire: Feasibility study of a project focusing on adaptation of agriculture to climate change;
- Ethiopia: Feasibility study of a project to support the quality control of exported honey;
- France: Training of post-graduate students from AgroParisTech (forest, carbon cycle, and forest carbon projects) and Bordeaux Sciences Agro (agroecology, theory and practice);
- Guinea: Feasibility study of the Dabola agricultural development project; Audit of the services of the Ministry of Agriculture;
- Haiti: Identification and capitalization study of the main agro-ecological practices in rural areas;
- Jordan: Analysis of the challenges of a multifunctional management of the "Forêt de Gaulle";
- Latin America (18 countries): Evaluation of more than 30 projects focusing on the promotion of agroecology and resilient food production in a context of climate change;
- Madagascar: Study of various agricultural value chains (cashew, clove, cocoa, coffee, cotton, dry grains, groundnut, honey, lychee, moringa, pepper, pink pepper, vanilla) and elaboration of development plans;
- Mali: Training of civil servants from the forest services in forest statistics, forest mapping, and sustainable management of classified forests;
- Martinique (France, Caribbean Area): Support to the development of the Regional Forest and Wood Program;
- Niger: Support to the implementation of the country's climate commitments (NDC), particularly in terms of restoration of degraded lands;
- Senegal: Mid-term evaluation of a project to support pastoralism in the Ferlo area;
- St Pierre and Miquelon (France, Off Quebec - Canada): Elaboration of the agricultural development strategy; Agro-pedological zoning.
- West and Central Africa (8 countries): Prospective study on the use of satellite imagery to improve forest and agricultural land management;
- West Africa (6 countries): Final evaluation and feasibility study of a second phase of a program to support the development of fair trade in various agricultural value chains (cashew, cocoa, hibiscus, mango, sesame, shea nu, etc.);
SalvaTerra gets involved with UNIDO to support the honey sector in Ethiopia
More than 14 million rural households in Ethiopia practice beekeeping as an income-generating activity. However, Ethiopian honey exports are very low compared to its production, despite growing demand in the European and US markets.
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has engaged SalvaTerra to develop a value chain support project, which will result in support for the development, implementation and monitoring of standards in line with European requirements on quality and traceability.
The search for funding has started for this project, which is scheduled for implementation in 2019.
A plan for the agricultural development of Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
Throughout the year 2018, SalvaTerra has supported the French State, the Territorial Collectivity of Saint-Pierre et Miquelon and all the actors of the agricultural sector in the development of the Sustainable Agricultural Development Plan of Saint Pierre et Miquelon.
It has three objectives: (i) to strengthen the share of agriculture in the economy of the archipelago, (ii) to improve the coverage of the needs for agricultural products by local products and (iii) to strengthen the role of agriculture in spatial planning, biodiversity conservation and landscape maintenance.
This document is now available to the public for consultation.
Welcome David COMBAZ!
SalvaTerra keeps growing!
This autumn 2018, we are welcoming a new versatile expert in agriculture, forestry and environment, with specific skills in territory planning and participatory processes. David COMBAZ will strengthen our team with a profile oriented towards sustainable territorial development and multi-scale management of natural resources.
David spent the last 5 years in Mexico, where he was in charge of many development projects to support local agriculture (strengthening of the coffee value chain, ecological intensification and diversification of food production systems), to reduce environmental risks (soil stabilization, waste management, etc.) and to reduce the social gap (nutritional monitoring and food security enhancement, access to education and healthcare, etc.) Before that, he carried consultancy assignments on natural resource management, in Africa (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DRC, Congo, Gabon and Central African Republic) and in Asia (India, Indonesia), on behalf of big international NGOs (Greenpeace, Global Witness) and research institutes (AgroParisTech, CNRS, CIRAD).
So, welcome David!
SalvaTerra is 6 years old
SalvaTerra is on the move !
We welcome Gabriel Morin-Kasprzyk, tropical agronomy and livestock specialist, to diversify our skills and respond to the increasing request for services!
Gabriel worked for almost 12 years overseas, as technical assistant in Madagascar, West Africa (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger...), and Tanzania. At the same time, he also carried out short term missions in various other countries. Initially specialized in tropical livestock systems, he enlarged his skills with rural development and particularly agro-ecology, agro-forestry, water and land conservation. He worked for various consulting firms (SDMad in Madagascar, ICI and SHER in Burkina Faso) and developed strong consultancy and project management abilities. Enterprising and creative, he has developed this past five years an original offer of services, combining simultaneously his agronomist and graphic designer skills, realizing communication and training tools for rural development stakeholders in southern countries.
SalvaTerra involved in supporting the cashew nut sector in Burkina Faso
In November 2017, the project Support the development of cashew nuts in the Comoé basin for the reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (PADA / REDD+) was launched in Bérégadougou, Burkina Faso.
The project aims to support the cashew nut sector and combat climate change by promoting carbon sequestration in new plantations. The project idea was developed in 2013 by SalvaTerra (see reference) and we were again involved in its finalization in 2016 (see reference).
-> See the presentation of the project on the Burkina Faso Forest Investment Program website.
EUROCLIMA+ Program: SalvaTerra participates in the organization of a workshop on Climate-smart agriculture in Latin America!
June 2017, Quito (Ecuador). SalvaTerra supported Expertise France and GIZ in the preparation, facilitation and analysis of the results of a multi-stakeholder workshop within the framework of the "resilient food production" component of the EUROCLIMA+ Program (€ 80 million).
More than 60 experts from 17 countries in Latin America participated in the discussions organized around four themes: 1. Efficient use and sustainable management of water in agriculture; 2. Good agricultural practices for adaptation and mitigation of climate change; 3. Good livestock practices for adaptation and mitigation of climate change; 4. International climate funds for agriculture.
This participatory workshop contributed to the process of defining the activities of the “Resilient Food Production” component of the EUROCLIMA + Program. A call for projects proposals will be published in the first quarter of 2018!
Happy birthday SalvaTerra
SalvaTerra celebrated its 5th anniversary on July 10th. Thank you for your trust.
SalvaTerra carried out the feasability study of the OSFACO Project
SalvaTerra carried out the feasibility study of the "Spatial Observation of Forests in Central and West Africa" Project - OSFACO (study available here): € 6.2 million to support 8 countries in Central and West Africa in accessing high-resolution satellite image coverage between 1990 and 2015 and in producing Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) maps. This contributes to the REDD +, LDN, CSA, FLEGT mechanisms. More information on the latest OSFACO newsletter here.
Drylands - Don't leave the vulnerable populations on the wayside!
Gtd's members are raising awareness of people to tackle desertification issues.
"Everybody should have the ability to live decently on his or her own land." This is the call from GTD's members (Groupe de travail désertification/ working group on desertification) who are mobilized for the World day to Combat Desertification, celebrated the 17th of June. On this occasion, GTD is launching a website in order to raise the awareness of as many people as possible on the vulnerability of rural populations in drylands. www.nosviesuneterre.org
Desertification is a global process affecting about 40 % of arable land on Earth. However, the process of desertification does not only impact the drylands. With Climate change, this issue concerns us all. Land degradation is a factor of poverty and rural exodus, and as such it is urgent that actions be taken to combat it. The rate of land degratidation is staggering. At the global level, an area equivalent to a football pitch is degraded every 3 seconds. This should ring alarm bells in governments worldwide.
Clic in solidarity, this website invites internet users for support to a better recognition of drylands in international negotiations, subscribe on this links.
Do as your fellow citizens, confront your a priori on this process and compare it to reality! Take a look at the videos and make your own opinion! (video)
More than an observer, become a relay! We are all concerned!
Help us to mobilize governments and the United Nations before the 2017 international meetings
Give power to the civil society message!
SalvaTerra participates in the dissemination of the Climate Smart Agriculture concept in Guinea
In 2014, SalvaTerra conducted the baseline study of the Agriculture Education and Market Improvement Program (AEMIP) implemented by Winrock International in Guinea. In 2017, SalvaTerra was approached again by WI to design and conduct a training on Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA).
Using the work of FAO, CILSS, CGIAR's Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security Program (CCAFS) and its own experiences and projects, SalvaTerra has developed an interactive training on CSA for researchers and young graduates of the “Institut supérieur agronomique et vétérinaire de Faranah (ISAV-F)” in Guinea.
The training took place from March 20 to April 4, 2017 in Faranah and included an upgrade in agronomy and climate change, an introduction to the CSA concept, analysis of several CSA practices and technologies adapted to the West African context, an introduction to various tools such as FAO EX-ACT and the Land Use Planner developed by SalvaTerra and the presentation of CCAFS tools and methods.
Participants were then supervised and advised by SalvaTerra to develop CSA regional plans that proposed some good CSA practices with interesting potential.
SalvaTerra involved in the analysis of the drivers of deforestation and degradation in Madagascar
In consortium with the geomatics/spatial modeling team of the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL), SalvaTerra carried out an analysis of the drivers of deforestation and degradation in the ecoregions of moist forests of the East and dry forests of the West in Madagascar.
The team mobilized four sources of information: bibliography, field surveys of about 200 households and more than 60 key informants on 10 deforestation hotspots, regional workshops in the 7 regions concerned and spatial analyzes permitting to explore the statistical link between deforestation and more than 370 potential explanatory variables.
This study validated the importance of already known processes by bringing new data (detailed description of the agricultural practices of 200 producers and spatial variations for example), but also bring a new highlight on often cited but poorly documented processes (relativisation of the importance of carbonization, artisanal mining, and livestock, for example).
This diagnosis led to an analysis of the relevance of the REDD+ strategic options identified in the Madagascar RPP and thus contributes to the process of developing strategies to reduce deforestation and forest degradation in this country.
A new expert in the SalvaTerra team!
In 2017, SalvaTerra welcomes a new expert in its team. Anis CHAKIB, tropical forest engineer, comes to strengthen our team, diversify our skills and then contribute to the development of our activities.
Anis has a strong international background (Benin, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, Madagascar, Morocco, etc.) and a polyvalent profile based on various experiences in international organizations (FAO), research institutions (AgroParisTech, CIFOR, IDDRI), consulting firms and NGOs. He joins our team after working in 2015 as a field agronomist in Madagascar for the development of an export chain of Organic and Fairtrade certified cosmetic plants. In 2016, he worked as a consultant for the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) on sustainability, certification (RSPO, ISCC, ISPO, MSPO) and "zero deforestation" issues in the palm oil sector.
Welcome to Anis!
SalvaTerra has contributed to the FAO forestry paper on the role of forests in the fight against climate change
Thanks to the financial support of the German cooperation between 2012 and 2014, SalvaTerra carried out studies in Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey, to estimate the costs and benefits (market and non-market, direct and indirect) of the forest protection and, among others, to estimate the abatement cost for the avoiding emission and/or removal per tCO2e.
These estimates and underlying analyses were included in the report presented on the 20th of July 2016 at the 23rd Committee on Forestry (COFO 23) in Rome.
> Link to the FAO report
> Link to the cost-benefit study for Lebanon
> Link the cost-benefit study for Morocco
> Link the cost-benefit study for Tunisia and regional summary
> Link to the cost-benefit study for Turkey
SalvaTerra celebrates its 4th birthday
Continued support to set up the agroforestry cooperative "GICET N'sia mala mala" in DR Congo
In March 2015, we started the support for setting up the GICET cooperative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (see News) in partnership with the European Forest Institute and the EU Joint Research Centre (JRC). The mobilization of our field team helped to map about 10 000 ha of land on the so-called Plateau Batéké and perform an analysis of land use and land use changes between 2010 and 2014, using Landsat 8 and SPOT 5 images. The agricultural potential of these lands was also evaluated as well as all the production constraints (water availability, accessibility, etc.). The cooperative's business plan was developed on the basis of an accurate estimation of the production costs (installation, harvest, transport, marketing, management ...). Finally, we revised the institutional arrangements and estimated the capital share.
The results of this work were presented during the COP 21 in Paris at the event organized by the DRC December 8, 2015. Further information is available on the GICET's website of, as well as two documentaries made by the RTNC during the cooperative's last General Assembly.
> Visit the GICET's webpage on EFI's website
> Consult the report produced by SalvaTerra (in French only)
SUPERKUU*: for a sustainable and efficient yam sector in Guinea Conakry
SalvaTerra supports the Federation of yam and sesame producers of Guinea (FUCPIS-G) to switch the current yam production model (forest clearing - inefficient yam cultivation - rapid decline of soil fertility - migration to forest areas – forest clearing...) to a more efficient and sustainable model, maintaining soil fertility, protecting forests, reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, increasing farmers income and food security.
The program has to meet the needs of farmers, so it is with them that SalvaTerra began the work during a two-week mission in December 2015 in the Region of Haute Guinée (near the city of Kankan). 40 yam producers were interviewed in their fields. We identified varieties and techniques used, quantified the production time and costs, estimated the gross and net margins, identified major constraints to production and sedentarization and corollary, improvements techniques that could be tested.
On this basis, a 4-year program of farmer trials will allow validating improved cropping techniques: adapted varieties, fertility and weed management by cover crops, reduction of post-harvest losses, etc.
*Kuu = Yam in Malinke
Carbon stored in Harvested Wood Products (HWP) in Turkey and projections for 2020
Turkey is an Annex 1 Party to the UNFCCC with “specific circumstances”: because of its fastest population growth rate among all OECD countries and its lowest energy related CO2 emissions per capita among IEA countries, national indicators could lead to consider Turkey as a developing country. In that context, Turkey was not included in the Annex B of the Kyoto Protocol and did not commit to reduce its GHG emissions.
In the context of the COP21 and the preparation of a 2015 multilateral treaty on climate change, which would enter into force in 2020, differentiation among Annex 1 and non-Annex 1 Parties may be revisited and it seems useful to explore the possible consequences of such reclassification. Based on the foregoing, a study was carried out in 2014 by SalvaTerra to provide for a neutral costs and benefits assessment of implementing LULUCF accounting rules in Turkey, since the LULUCF sector in Turkey has a significant impact on the national GHG emissions.
Among other results, the study estimated the carbon sequestration in the Harvested Wood Products (HWP) category of the Turkish inventory, according to relevant guidelines of the UNFCCC and IPCC. The HWP pool can add 3.14 MtCO2eq/yr additional removals to LULUCF sector in the GHG inventory of Turkey for 2013 compared to 1990. The amount of contribution is estimated to rise up to 10.99 - 13.70 MtCO2eq/yr by 2020, depending on the intensity of harvest (intensive vs extensive).
The results have been published in the Journal of the Faculty of Forestry Istanbul University [Bouyer, O., Serengil, Y., 2016. Carbon stored in harvested wood products in Turkey and projections for 2020. Journal of the Faculty of Forestry Istanbul University 66(1): 295- 302. DOI: 10.17099/jffiu.48603] and can be accessed at http://dx.doi.org/10.17099/jffiu.48603
SalvaTerra has 3 years. Thank you to those who have trusted us!
Promoting 0 deforestation cocoa and palm oil in Ivory Coast
Charlotte Martin, engineer in tropical agronomy and new member of the SalvaTerra team, took office in early April in Abidjan to support voluntarily engaged corporations in promoting 0-deforestation cocoa and palm oil.
As a technical assistant for a duration of 16 months in the Ivoirian Minister of Environment, Charlotte is the focal point of a consortium of experts from the Center for International Cooperation in Agronomic Research for Development (CIRAD), the World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF) and the University Center for Research and Remote Sensing Application (CURAT). She will coordinate and supervise operational activities on a pilot area (mapping of forest carbon areas vs agricultural zones, test of improved crop strategies, evaluation of carbon and socio-environmental impacts), all activities which validity of results will be controlled by an independent observer.
Knowing and understanding West Africa's environmental challenges
With the support of CILSS, Salvaterra, SOS Sahel, and IRD have just published ten 4-page publications on the issues and actions regarding major environmental challenges in West Africa: climate change, desertification and land degradation, biodiversity loss, etc. and their impacts on food security and livelihood of the populations.
These 4 pages present, in a synthetic and educational way, the latest scientific and technical advances helping to understand these global changes, the resulting socio-economic and environmental impacts, and the political statements and field actions aiming at addressing them.
These 4-page publications can be downloaded both in English and French at http://www.agrhymet.ne/portailCC/index.php/fr
What role for Mediterranean forests in the fight against climate change?
During the international online conference "Economic analysis of mitigation options to climate change in the forestry sector", on 6th of February, 2015, Salvaterra presented the results of three studies conducted between 2012 and 2014. These studies, funded by the Technical German Cooperation (GIZ) assessed the economic costs and benefits of REDD+, including the valuation of ecosystem goods and services of forests, for Morocco, Lebanon and Tunisia.
The carbon and non-carbon costs and benefits of 7 mitigation strategies were studied: fight against forest fires, afforestation, reducing fuelwood needs, sustainable woodfuel production, reduction of overgrazing , forest management and control of urban expansion.
Based on limited data, these studies allowed to initiate reflection on several important aspects of REDD+.
First, it appears that the REDD+ funding based on results would fail to cover the costs of the deployment of the mechanism in the case of a low carbon price ($ 5 / tCO2e). However, it represent a significant source of cofinancing.
Beyond mitigation aspects, protection of Mediterranean forests allows multiple benefits in terms of climate change adaptation.
The integration of co-benefits (protected ecosystem goods and services) in the economic calculation justifies all REDD+ activities. The production of goods and services from protected forests can be unlimited in time. If the investments for the conservation of these forests are themselves limited in time, profit is unlimited.
> Watch the full presentation (4'08", in English)
Setting up the "GICET N'sia mala mala" agricultural cooperative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: land-tenure security, a key-issue for rural development
The "Novacel South Kwamouth REDD+ pilot agroforestry project" (NSK) is run by Novacel SPRL on the Plateaux District in the province of Bandundu. Taking place near the capital-city Kinshasa in a mixed landscape of shrubby savannahs and gallery forests, this project intends to reduce local deforestation and forest degradation promoting adequate land-use and agricultural techniques.
In 2014, an agricultural cooperative was born on the Teke territory parallel to this initiative under the name "GICET N'sia Mala Mala" (acronym for Economic and cooperative interest group of the Teke territory). The cooperative intends to reinforce the land-tenure security of its village-members, with respect due to traditional land-use systems and in compliance with the congolese regulations on land-tenure, agriculture, civil right, commercial and industrial laws...
The cooperative benefits from the European Forest Institute's (EFI), SalvaTerra's and the Joint Research Centre of the Economic Commission's support during its early stages. Several activities will take place in the forthcoming months to make it operational, such as the identification and mapping of the traditional lands that will be brought to the cooperative, an estimation of their agricultural potential, market and non-market values, an evaluation of the cooperative's capital and, finally, an update of the cooperative's articles of incorporation.
SalvaTerra recruited mapping specialist Álvaro NAVARRO whom background is introduced on our Team page. Álvaro will be on mission in DR Congo between March and June 2015 within a multidisciplinary team. Welcome aboard !
> Alvaro's profile on our Team page
> See the European Forest Institute - EU REDD Facility website
> See the European Commission Joint Research Centre website
Dates, Natron and Sesame: Opportunities for the Development of Chad?
In early February 2015, SalvaTerra carried out two field missions in Chad to progress the assessment of the dates, natron (sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate, massively used in the livestock sector) and sesame value chains. Investigations around Moundou, Doba, Sarh, and Koumra (for sesame), as well as Bol and Mao (for natron and dates), and N'Djamena (for the three products) have allowed to refine our understanding of these value chains, from production to local or international consumption. The objective is to identify opportunities for development of these products and thus, to contribute to poverty reduction. In 2013, Chad was still ranked 184th out of 187 countries in terms of Human Development Index.
Afforestation/Reforestation in Turkey: a huge potential for carbon sequestration, but also for the provisions of market and non-market services!
On the 6th of February, SalvaTerra took part to the international online conference “The economics of climate change mitigation options in the forest sector” and presented the key results of a study carried out early 2014 for the Turkish State Forest Agency (OGM), with technical support from the University of Istanbul and funding from the German Technical Cooperation (GIZ).
This study aimed at estimating Kyoto carbon benefits associated with post-1990 forests (Art. 3.3 of the Protocol) and pre-1990 forests (Art. 3.4 of the Protocol), as well as the related operation and transaction costs, non-carbon values (wood and non-wood forest products, grazing, hunting, recreation, pharmaceuticals use, fight against erosion and forest fires...).
As Turkey has made huge efforts in terms of Afforestation/Reforestation (roughly 170,000 ha/year over 2006-2014, third country in the world after India and China in terms of A/R areas) and intends to maintain these efforts for the next years, gross benefits associated with AR are important both in terms of carbon (around 600 M$ over 2013-2020) and non-carbon (around 2,700 M$ over 2013-2020) and net benefits are positive (around 100 M$ over 2013-2020). Carbon benefits were estimated based on the current EU carbon market price, around 4 $/tCO2e…And would be much bigger taking into account the carbon shadow price, i.e. the carbon price to keep under +2°C (around 53 $/tCO2e in 2013).
> Watch the full presentation (6’23”, in English)
Cooperation Brazil/DRC on REDD+: a study presented at the COP20 in Lima
Salvaterra, in collaboration with the REDD+ National Coordination of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the EU REDD Facility, and the Fundação Amazonas Sustentável (FAS) has identified and prioritized opportunities for cooperation between Brazil and the DRC for the implementation of REDD+. This study is the subject of a side-event to be held on Thursday, December 11 at 10:30 at the Climate Conference in Lima (COP20).
> Look at the briefing note on South South Cooperation between DRC and Brazil
Bulletin COP20: What are the challenges for West Africa in the climate negotiations?
On the occasion of the Climate Conference in Lima (COP20), SalvaTerra co-publishes with CILSS and ECOWAS a “COP20 Bulletin” highlighting 20 years of climate negotiations since the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 till the COP19 in Warsaw in 2013. This document decrypts the challenges of COP20 for West Africa and aims at helping West African negotiators to easily locate in the negotiations.
Since October 2013, SalvaTerra supports the strengthening of technical and scientific capabilities of the Inter-State Committee for the Fight against Drought in the Sahel (CILSS) on issues related to climate change and of natural resources management.
> Look at the special COP20 bulletin for west-african negotiators here
CILSS-ECOWAS-WAEMU: Preparing West Africa to the upcoming COP20 climate talks
This workshop took place in Bamako from the 7th to the 9th of October. It gathered Member States of the Permanent Interstate Committee on Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). Facilitated by SalvaTerra among others, it allowed the West African countries to refine their positions on topics of major interest (adaptation, climate finance, loss and damage mechanism, agriculture, etc.).
Study of the dates and natron value chains in the Chadian Sahara
SalvaTerra took part from the 12th to the 24th of October 2014 to a study of the dates and natron (sodium carbonate used for animal feed and human medication) in Northern Chad. During a trip of more than 3 400 km in the desert, some of the major oasis of Borkou and Ennedi (Faya-Largeau, Ouadi Doum, Gouro Onienga Kebir, Fada, etc.) were visited and helped to highlight the crucial importance of these chains of value for the local populations.
Dialogues & Exchanges Day on desertification, land degradation and climate change
SalvaTerra, represented by Olivier Bouyer, intervened on the theme of Climate Change in the World and Sub-Saharan Africa: Impacts on Agriculture and Adaptation in the Context of Desertification and Land Degradation, during a roundtable held today at the Halle Pajol, Paris 18, by the French Desertification Working Group (GTD) and the Climate Commission of Coordination Sud, an international network of environmental NGOs
> Find the program of the roundtable on the website of GTD
> Download the presentation made by SalvaTerra