March 2014: The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) has released a publication detailing how forestry codes impact the use and management of protected indigenous tree species in the Sahel based on case studies from Mali, Niger and Senegal.

The publication notes that the lack of recognition of tenure and use rights in many West African Sahel countries has led to a disconnect between the intention of policies to protect species and the realities on the ground. The publication also underscores that a lack of enforcement and poor consideration of socio-economic criteria further weakens the effectiveness of existing policies.

The publication assesses the sustainability of agroforestry systems, identifies key actors in tree use and conservation and develops participatory methods for analysis. Based on the assessment, the publication suggests: instituting a participatory approach to forest policy reform focused enhanced sustainability; operationalizing forest policies related to agroforestry; expanding the territorial coverage of agencies responsible for forest policies and tenure; and strengthening joint forest management.

The publication also calls for enhanced awareness raising and understanding of forest policies, and strengthened support for on-farm tree conservation. ICRAF is a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). [Publication: Occasional Paper 15 – How do forestry codes affect access, use and management of protected indigenous tree species – evidence from West African Sahel]