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Comoros case study: using landscape approaches to manage sustainable outcomes
amidst competing land-usesHugh Doulton, Technical Director of the NGO Dahari
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Plan
1. Introduction to the Comorian context and the causes of ecosystem degradation
2. Dahari’s approach to biodiversity conservation through landscape management
3. Highlight results 2008 to 20134. Perspectives and lessons
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Specificities of the Comoros
• Very steep volcanic islands• Mayotte is a French département (contested by Comorian government)
• Highest rate of deforestation in the world between 2000 and 2010 (FAO)• Around 40 of 45 permanent rivers on Anjouan now flow only intermittently
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The factors leading to deforestation
Demographic pressure
Lack of alternatives to agriculture
Lack of social cohesion and respected power
Lack of effective governance structures at all levels
Overexploitation of soils
Extensive and ill-adapted agricultural techniques
Insecure land tenure
Extraction of firewood
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Intervention strategy towards biodiversity conservation
1. Landscape approach attempting to tackle the underlying problems
2. Development prioritised 3. Initial natural resource management
initiatives based on areas of short-term interest to local communities
4. Biodiversity conservation needs to benefit local stakeholders: Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) mechanisms
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Intervention area
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Forest underpinning Anjouan’s water and biodiversity services is protected
Long-term Impact: Anjouan’s water resources and endemic biodiversity conserved
Medium term outcome
Immediate Outcomes
Upland and lowland farming systems sustainable, profitable,
and do not require further clearing of forest
Fuelwood for local village use, and ylang ylang distillation
can be sustainably produced on-farm
Project outputs Farmers trained in
sustainable, profitable
upland and lowland
management
Farmers manage cattle and use composting to enhance soil
fertility in permanent
fields
Biodiversity baseline
established for Anjouan
against which to measure
improvement
Driver: Greater market profitability makes
intensification of farming worthwhile
Assumption: Village and island-level governance arrangements able and willing to support forest
protection
Planned outcome
• Quantities and sources of wood-use for charcoal and timber identified
• Market study conducted on volumes +sustainability
Key areas reforested and
managed sustainably
Community structures
leading reforestation
of priority sites
Water sources valorised
through creation of irrigation areas and
improved pipes
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Result highlights (2008
to 2015)
• 3000 farmers supported• New agricultural innovations introduced and integrated into national policy• Three water catchment areas under reforestation• Priority species and biodiversity hotspots identified and PES protection scheme underway
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Landscape management example : Ouzini village
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Strategic plan 2015 to 2020
• Expansion of core programmes to the national level• Development of agricultural important and export, and our ecotourism programme• Integration of coastal resource management, health and education initiatives
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International Partners
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Funders for 2013-2015
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