 |
|
Guinea Expanded Natural Resource Management - n/a Environment: Forestry, Energy & Environmental Services Guinea 1999 - 2005 USAID |
Increasing Use of Sustainable Natural Resource Management Practices in Guinea
RATIONALEGuinean small landholders, who account for 96 percent of the rural population, have increasingly relied on extensive subsistence farming and environmentally inappropriate cropping patterns to satisfy their food needs. More marginal lands are being farmed and more fragile woodlands are converted to agriculture by slash-and-burn practices. Investment in natural resource conservation is very low. Without improving the management of Guinea's natural resource base, agricultural production and growth cannot be sustained.
OBJECTIVES
Assist farmers and community groups in investing in more profitable, less destructive agricultural practices by improving natural resource management capacity, increasing sustainable farm production and productivity, and developing income-generating, non-farm small enterprises.
ACTIVITIES
Winrock works with communities to empower local decision-making for agriculture marketing and production, improved natural resources management practices, and non-farm income producing activities. By providing information and new skills, project participants can make informed decisions to sustain and protect their livelihood and resource base. Winrock supports this approach with: extension and training materials, simplified land use agreements and forest co-management plans, and small enterprise development. The project also is creating institutional strengthening models targeting the Guinean Forest Service, community-based organizations, and local nongovernmental organizations.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• More than 100,000 hectares of natural forests (incl. 7 classified forests) and plantations of forest species and/or fruit trees managed under a sustainable management plan in the project zone.
• More than 50,000 hectares of land under cultivation using sustainable agricultural techniques.
• More than 200 NRM plans being implemented by local communities.
• Almost 500 GOG and NGO agents have participated in capacity building training evens.
• Approximately 35,000 producers have invested in sustainable production techniques that increase productivity.
• Approximately 50,000 producers are using market information to commercialize their products.
• Approximately 2,500 enterprises newly established in the activityzones.
• Approximately 5,000 enterprises are expanding in the projectzones.
• 4500 enterprises adopted improved managementpractices.
• Approximately 380 land-use agreements established between land-owners and landusers.
• More than 19,000 loans granted over the life of theproject.
• 200 informational activities conducted related to the laws, texts, and decrees regulating the management of natural resources.