16 July 2013: The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) has announced the launch of a booklet, titled ‘The Quiet Revolution: How Niger’s Farmers are Re-greening the Parklands of the Sahel,’ which is the twelfth in the ‘Trees for Change’ series that focuses on the efforts of farmers in managed natural regeneration.

The booklet highlights the farmer-led restoration of 5 million hectares of degraded farmland through the planting and regeneration of trees and shrubs. In addition to reversing land degradation, the re-greening has increased household income and crop yields, provided fuelwood, medicine and fodder, and enhanced food security.

According to the booklet, re-greening has been facilitated in part by the revision of Niger’s forest code to grant ownership of trees to private landowners. Other contributing factors include the need to respond to repeated droughts and the clear demonstration of benefits from re-greening. The publication also notes a number of challenges to continued re-greening efforts by farmers, including rapid population growth, repeated exposure to drought, high levels of poverty, and increased demand for off-farm employment opportunities.

Finally, the booklet identifies the need for further research on the impacts of farmer managed natural regeneration on the environment, local livelihoods and crop yields. It notes that the collection and dissemination of good practices and lessons learned is also important to expanding the practice.

ICRAF is a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). [ICRAF News Release] [Publication: The Quiet Revolution: How Niger’s Farmers are Re-greening the Parklands of the Sahel]