Sustainable Improvement of Swiddens for Livelihoods and Environmental Services (SISLES) Report

Transcription

1 Sustainable Improvement of Swiddens for Livelihoods and Environmental Services (SISLES) Report Call For Report Call for final report Africa-Brazil Projects funded in the 2011/12 Report Status Submitted Title Sustainable Improvement of Swiddens for Livelihoods and Environmental Services (SISLES) ID 2944 Thematic Area Policy, Institutional and Market Strengthenin Reporting period 07 Nov May 2015 Co-leader Institutions Embrapa Eastern Amazon & Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) Project Co-leaders Mr. Roberto Porro & Maetin Yemefack Type of African Co-leader Institution Agricultural Research institution Summary Understanding of some aspects of swidden systems is required to develop proper initiatives for enhancing farmers livelihoods while protecting environmental resources in the tropics. This project aimed at implementing action research in selected communities of and Eastern Amazon for the identification and feasibility assessment of pathways for sustainable agricultural intensification in landscapes currently dominated by unsustainable swidden systems. The research approaches included comparative analyses across sites, and the development of an analytical and multidimensional tool to assess the economic, environmental and socio-cultural dimensions of sustainability of swidden land use systems in order to understand the drivers, patterns and processes involved in sustainable initiatives and adopted technologies. The project has promoted a bi-national collaborative task force focusing on synergistic approaches to share knowledge and innovations shaping swidden systems. Project outputs enhanced the knowledge about opportunities and tools for sustainable intensification of swidden systems that are critical for livelihoods and food security. Land pressure appeared to be a main driver of permanent food crop agriculture, but developing alternatives in less populated areas should be based on strong policy and incentives framework. The methodological framework adapted for sustainability assessment was robust when applied to stratified social groups. Country(ies) of Implementation Brazil and Cameroon Project Results 1. Strengthened relationship between IRAD and Embrapa researchers for future collaborative projects in the fields of sustainable agriculture, forestry and agroforestry. 2. Two conference papers (oral presentations): (i) Porro et al (2013). Methodological proposal for impact and sustainability assessment in agroforestry initiatives of smallholders and traditional communities. IX Brazilian Congress of Agroforestry Systems: Brazilian Society of Agroforestry Systems. Ilheus (BA); (ii) Yemefack, M., R. Porro, R. Njomgang and P.A. minang (2014). Assessing sustainability of swiddens systems in tropical forest margins. IUFRO 2014 Congress, 5-11 October 2014, Salt Lake Cty, Utah, USA. 3. Eight SISLES-Briefs are being developed (5 in Cameroon; 3 in Brazil) following a gradient of swidden intensification. SISLES-briefs of Cameroon are on the following aspects: (i) Community forest systems in Cameroon, (ii) Cocoa agroforestry systems, (iii) Oil palm systems, (iv) Food crop production in forest areas, (v) Food crop and vegetables production systems in highlands. In Brazil, the briefs will focus on (vi) upland rice production systems within secondary babassu-palm forests in central Maranhão; (vii) cassava systems in Northeast Pará; (viii) Açai-palm extraction and management. 4. Two workshops organized: a. Belém (Brazil): , a technical meeting focused on Sustainable Intensification of agricultural systems based on fallows: livelihoods and provision of environmental services, ecological dynamics, technology initiatives and methodologies for monitoring. Relevant ecological and social aspects related to swidden systems, both in Cameroon and Eastern Amazonia were discussed, and technological alternatives developed by Embrapa Eastern Amazon were presented, aimed at sustainable intensification of these systems. b. Yaounde (Cameroon): , a technical meeting focused on Relevant ecological and social aspects related to swidden systems and their sustainability, both in Cameroon and Eastern Amazonia were discussed, aiming at sustainable intensification of these systems. 5. Socioeconomic database and detailed documentation of swiddens practices An additional activity was the development of a socioeconomic survey questionnaire applied in order to analyse the diversity of farming practices implemented by households involved in swidden systems. The survey was applied to 300 households in the Brazilian Eastern Amazon, and about 150 in Cameroon. 6. Technical visits and exchange: Two visit trips in Cameroon for the Embrapa team and one trip in Brazil for the IRAD team. a- Initial visit of Embrapa s project technical coordinator to Cameroon (19-31 March 2013). b- Technical visit of Cameroon project coordinator and one IRAD female researcher to Embrapa Eastern Amazon: October 4 13, 2013 c- A second technical of of Embrapa researchers to

2 Cameroon (19-31 March 2013), comprising the project technical coordinator and one female researcher. Scalability and replicability About half a billion people depend on swidden agriculture or shifting cultivation. However, sustainable swiddens usually only occur in landscapes with high forest cover and low population density. Negative environmental impacts result from changes in these conditions, where slash-and-burn contributes to deforestation and reduce the supply of environmental services. This is particularly relevant in Central Africa, where shifting cultivation systems have been essential for establishing land tenure rights, and in the eastern Brazilian Amazon, where swidden systems continue to contribute to deforestation. The core aspect of this project was a methodological framework for sustainability assessment. The framwrok was robust when applied to stratified social groups, with reproducible results. It is expected to work well for studies of swidden dynamics in various communities in the tropical forest margins. The analyses of such frameworks also offer opportunity to team members to be well prepared to play a key role of the upcoming Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The framework was initially adapted from the AMBITEC platform used by Embrapa (Monteiro & Rodrigues, 2006;. Rodrigues et al, 2003a, 2003b, 2005). It consists of a matrix containing socio-cultural, environmental and economic aspects, components and indicators, relevant to the local context and social group. A set of spreadsheets integrates indicators to assess the contribution of an initiative, process or technological innovation for the well being of a social group or rural setting. The indicators are constructed into a weighing matrix in which data collected in the field with local informants are automatically transformed into impact indices expressed graphically. The results allow to determine which components are not in accordance with economic, social or environmental goals; and allow the decision maker an indication of which measures should support the adoption of initiatives or technologies. Impacts of project results 1. Strengthened collaboration between IRAD and Embrapa Eastern Amazon. 2. Training of six students (three in Cameroon and three in Brazil) 3. Capacity building of IRAD young researchers on the issue of sustainability assessment 4. The project has contributed with the development of a multidimensional analytical tool to access sustainability 5. Greater visibility of sustainable initiatives of farmers who are improving their swidden systems. 6. We also expected products and protocols developed through the project to be used in at least one government-sponsored program in each country to reward farmers who adopt practices leading to Sustainable Intensification of Swidden systems. Sustainability of project The SISLES project was built based on the well-functioning ASB Partnership for the Forest Margins, managed by the World Agroforestry Centre and operating in eight tropical countries including Brazil and Cameroon (through partnerships with Embrapa and IRAD). ASB prepared a global level proposal for long term research on swiddens. Results of the SISLES project are directly connected with such project, which will be a vehicle for following up on main findings, and major challenges identified. As the two project coordinators are engaged in graduate programs at national universities, a sound cooperation developed with universities in both countries engaging students is also an opportunity extend the impact of the project methodologies. A series of project products will be delivered after project completion, including SISLES-briefs (reports on specific contexts), as well as the analyses of socioeconomic surveys and detailed documentation on sustainable initiatives by farmers households. These products will certainly provide content for continued inter-institutional collaboration, joint publications, and future research opportunities. Issues in project implementation The SISLES project formally began in March 2013, when funds became available. Due to the delay in the availability of funding, the project received a sixmonth no-cost extension (December 2014 May 2015). The progress achieved covered all the aspects related to the activities scheduled in the project workplan. Some of them have been carried out continuously by each team and some others have been carried out as a joined team during the field visits in Cameroon (19-31 March 2013 and 1-8 March 2015) and in Brazil (4 14 October 2013). Despite some few difficulties encountered during the execution of the project, the expected outputs were not impacted significantly. In the overall, the project achieved 85-90% of the objectives. We continued collecting data during the extension for producing more critical information because our assumptions remained up-to-date. We would have like to use information produced to contribute to a more extensive project on swiddens with the framework of the ASB partnership where IRAD and Embrapa are both members. Lessons Learned Key Lessons: Similarities between Eastern Amazonia and Southern Cameroon in the social and environmental dimensions provide greater potential for further research collaboration. Specific project findings: 1. Land pressure (due to scarcity or limit access) is the main driver of permanent food crop agriculture. 2. The need for welfare does not seem to be a motivation factor to local people for adopting permanent food crop production which requires high inputs. 3. Developing Alternatives to Swiddens in less populated area should be based on strong policy and incentives framework. 4. The methodological framework for sustainability assessment was robust to stratified social groups; with reproducible results. It is expected to work well for studies of swidden dynamics in various communities in the tropical forest margins. The analyses of such frameworks also offer opportunity to team members to be well prepared to play key role of the upcoming Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Project implementation went very smoothly, with a very good collaboration between the two teams. Suggestions for improvement Greater interaction could be provided among projects with a similar approach or with similar contexts. The identification of priority themes for a series of on-line discussion events and/or conferences would strengthen the synergy and enhance project implementation. Publications Porro, R Proposta metodológica para avaliação de impacto e sustentabilidade em iniciativas agroflorestais de agricultores familiares e comunidades tradicionais. Ilhéus, Bahia. Sociedade Brasileira de Sistemas Agroflorestais. Resumo expandido publicado nos Anais do IX Congresso Brasileiro de Sistemas Agroflorestais (CBSAF) de outubro de 2013, Ilhéus, BA. ISBN: (Methodological proposal for impact and sustainability assessment in agroforestry initiatives of smallholders and traditional communities. IX Brazilian Congress of Agroforestry Systems: Brazilian Society of Agroforestry Systems). Yemefack, M., R. Porro, R. Njomgang and P.A. Minang (2014). Assessing sustainability of swiddens systems in tropical forest margins. IUFRO 2014 Congress, 5-11 October 2014, Salt Lake Cty, Utah, USA." International Forestry Review Vol 16(5), SISLES-Briefs in preparation. (i) Community forest systems in Cameroon, (ii) Cocoa agroforestry systems, (iii) Oil palm systems, (iv) Food crop production in forest areas, (v) Food crop and vegetables production systems in highlands; (vi) upland rice production systems within secondary babassu-palm forests in central Maranhão; (vii) cassava systems in Northeast Pará; (viii) Açai-palm extraction and management. Scientific papers in preparation.

3 Quantitative Project Results Quantitative - Project Results Number of Key Project Outputs Training and Technical Visits Knowledge Generated Technologies Products Services 1- Strengthened relationship between IRAD and Embrapa researchers for more future collaborative projects; 2- Development of an analytical framework for assessing sustainability of swidden systems and trajectories 3- Knowledged and characterisations of the diversity of farmer's agricultural practices have been developped on agradient of swidden intensification and presented in a number of SISLES-Briefs in preparation on the following aspects: (i) Community forest systems, (ii) Cocoa agroforestry systems, (iii) Oil palm systems, (iv) Food crop production systems in forest areas, (v) Food crop and vegetables production systems in highlands; In Brazil (vi) upland rice production systems within secondary babassu-palm forests in central Maranhão; (vii) cassava systems in Northeast Pará; (viii) Açai-palm extraction and management. 1- A methological framework adapted for assessing sustainability of swidden systems in the tropics 1- Eight to ten SISLES- Briefs in preparation presenting various swidden systems 2- Socioeconomic database and detailed documentation of swiddens practices 3- Development of a multidimensional analytical tool to access sustainability 1- Training of Students 2- Capacity building of young researchers on the issue of sustainability Name Country/city Number of Days Gender Dr Roberto Porro Dr Martin Yemefack Dr Rosaline Njomgang Dr. Tatiana Deane de ABREU SÁ Dr Roberto Porro Two MSc Students Brazil/Belem and eastern Amazon Brazil/Belem and eastern Amazon 12 in March 2013 Male 13 in October 2013 Male 13 in October 2013 Femele 10 in Feb-Mar 2015 Femele 10 in Feb-March 2015 Male 6 months Male Events Organized Event Name IX Brazilian Congress of Agroforestry Systems IUFRO Congress 2014 Country/City Brazil/ USA / Salt Lake City Event Type (workshop, forum, symposium, etc.) Conference (oral Presentation) Symposium (oral presentation) Year

4 Technical meeting on Sustainable Intensification of agricultural systems based on fallows: livelihoods and provision of environmental services, ecological dynamics, technology initiatives and methodologies for monitoring Technical meeting focused on Relevant ecological and social aspects related to swidden systems and their sustainability, Brazil/Belem (Embrapa) Workshop 2013 Cameroon/Yaounde (IRAD Nkolbisson) Workshop 2015 Germplasm Exchange Number of Participating Professionals (in the project team as a whole) Species Number of Accessions Recipient Country x x x y y y z z z w w w Female Male 4 8 Attachments (photos and other documents) Figure 1. (a) SISLES project coordinators (Dr. Yemefack and Dr. Porro) with graduate students of the University of Yaounde during field visit at Ebolowa forested area. March (b) Intensive horticulture in mountainous area in the highlands of western Cameroon. March 2013.

5 Figure 2. (a) Cassava field at family farm, municipality of Igarapé-Açu, Pará state. (October 2013). Figure 3. Field visit to the Santa Maria s community, municipality of Tomé-Açu, Pará. (October 2013). Figure 4. Field visit to (a) açai based systems and (b) a yam based systems (October 2013).

6 Figure 5. Field visit to (a) irrigated soybean farm and (b) chop-&- mulch system (October 2013). Figure 6. Field visit to local palm oil processing in Kaya, Cameroon (March 2013). Figure 7. A village meeting with the join team in Akom 2, Cameroon (March 2015).