Landscape Level Assessment of Environmental Services

•  Environmental services and rural livelihoods in the forest margins of West and Central Africa
  Many activities have been carried out under this IRAD/ASB project: the characterization of land use systems and the study of tradeoffs; development and participatory testing of new technologies; and modelling and empowerment of local farmers at the watershed level. Capacity building was also emphasized by training 3 young scientists to Masters level degrees and 1 to PhD level. Moreover, 5 grassroots training courses were organized at the farm level. Before the field work was initiated, the following training took place: 15 national scientists were trained on carbon stock, biodiversity (aboveground), and greenhouse gas measurement methodologies; and 12 scientists on the measurement of sustainability indicators at the farm level. After the training, the land use systems were characterized, the tradeoffs analysed and the land-use carbon stocks were measured. Technology development and training were 2 other important aspects of this project. Results from this project include the collection of baseline data on soils and major land use systems of each landscape mosaic/community in the 3 ASB sites (in Yaounde, Mbalmayo, and Ebolowa regions); and the rehabilitation and/or establishment of smallholder perennial crop and multi-strata systems based on farmer priorities. Development of participatory approaches to community-based management of natural resources and the organization of rural stakeholders into common initiative groups has empowered the local communities to deal with issues directly and not to depend on government authorities to take the initiative. An information video on the ASB approach and partnerships in West Africa was produced and distributed. Funding: European Commission and ASB. Region: West and Central Africa. (Project Leader: Jean Tonye)
  
  For further information on the above project, contact asb@cgiar.org.