Food Security Policies: The Ecosystem Perspective Richard Munang, PhD Africa Regional Climate Change Coordinator Ecosystem-based Adaptation for Food Security Coordinator Regional Office for Africa United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
2015
Questions Posed: What contributes to the disparate and sometimes incompatible interventions of those actors working towards food security? What considerations are necessary to establish clear guidance, common goals and coordination? How can we develop policies that sustainably contribute to food security? A lack of understanding that food security is based in Ecosystem Productivity
Ecosystems Services
What do ecosystem-based food security policies look like then? Effective policies for food security should value ecosystems as productive assets Effective policies should invest in ecosystem restoration which will not only stabilize the supply of wild-sourced food products from these ecosystems but will also help vulnerable groups to buy food, by maintaining their income-earning opportunities from the sale of natural products (e.g. non-timber forest products, fish). UNEP has been working throughout Africa to demonstrate that these types of policies can generate greater food security by maintaining the flow of ecosystem goods and services to agriculture
Mozambique
Implications for Regional Food Security Policy Africa has 26,000 km of coastline; in many locations the coastline hosts mangroves. Of the over 30 countries in Africa that host a coastline, FAO estimates show that about 25 have varying degrees of mangrove. For $120 per person, the Mozambique project succeeded in securing continuous and increased food security, diversification, climate change resilience and community-led innovation for livelihoods. Following the intensive population of coastal cities, capitalizing on seafood productivity provides an important source of food security in Sub-Saharan Africa and the potential for up-scaling the Mozambique project and expanding the programme to cover the whole of Africa and other developing country regions
Uganda $13.26 per person 75,404 direct beneficiaries Estimated 1million indirect beneficiaries
Implications for Regional Food Security Policy The Uganda project demonstrates that local engagement can have very large responses. Over the 4.5 year project, an investment of $13.26 PER PERSON PER YEAR generated enormous gains in ecosystem protection, livelihood improvement, while the planting of 31,272 tree seedlings was achieved. Up-scaling to other forest-adjacent communities throughout Africa has outstanding promise.
Zambia District Chongwe Kazungula Shangombo Sesheke Mongu Province Lusaka Southern Western Western Western
Zambia Ripe for up-scaling wherever agriculture takes place, particularly well suited for smallholder farmers
Burkina Faso 120 Women are now permanently employed in producing Shea Butter earning $18.35/month Huge potential for upscaling 4-5 million women in West Africa earn about 80 percent of their income from the collection, processing, and the marketing of nuts harvested from Shea Trees
Togo Investment of $2.86USD per cubic meter of water OR $9.53USD per person Grew water supply by 82% and 25% Contributed to greater Food security Resilience to droughts Water access/sanitation Emerging opportunities for vulnerable groups (women and children) Emerging opportunities in brickmaking and other industries
Togo The actions in Togo demonstrate that small dams rehabilitation offers great opportunities in addressing water needs for African rural communities and provide local support for adaptation in sectors such as agriculture, livestock, health, and energy helping boost the resilience of ecological systems.
Current Policies Policies that do not promote Ecosystem Health Ecosystem-based Policies Food Insecurity Ecosystem Degradation Food Security Ecosystem Rehabilitation/ Preservation Current food security policies continue to focus on the same three issues agricultural productivity, trade and macro-economic policies all of which have an array of diverse actors seeking often unsustainable and sometimes opposed goals while neglecting the central role of ecosystem management. By understanding that degraded ecosystems are the root cause of food insecurity and productive ecosystems are the foundation for greater agricultural productivity, policymakers can begin to focus on sustainable, coordinated solutions
Conclusion How can we develop policies that sustainably contribute to food security? What considerations are necessary to establish clear guidance, common goals and coordination? Answer: By ensuring the ecosystem health and productivity is the foundation for policy making. With relatively little inputs, ecosystem-based adaptation can increase yields and profits, while climate-proofing local ecosystems and improving community wellbeing. The examples illustrated attest to this. Developing policies which balance maximizing food production with environmental protection is imperative. Strengthening ecosystems governance and institutions at local and national levels, including through collaborations between the public and private sectors, civil society and local communities is key. Valuing longer-term services provided by ecosystems above short-term gain. Incorporating environmental values into economic models in order to move towards sustainable development and Investing in research to find optimal long-term balance between production and environmental protection.
1st Africa Food Security & Adaptation Conference
Experience from the EbA intervention model of addressing climate change and enhancing food security shows that well-timed and targeted EbA interventions can have a significant impact on, for example, addressing food security and empowering societies to build their biophysical and social resilience to climate change and variability and also benefiting the environment. Rising food prices do not have to mean greater food insecurity in Africa under the changing climate. Communities across the continent are already building resilience to climate change by stimulating their existing ecosystems. Let s not squander the opportunity to avoid the unmanageable and manage the unavoidable effects of climate change. This is the only way that Africa will be able to achieve the envisaged food secured society, in which its population does not experience the fear of want.
Thank You! Sources Munang et. Al (2013). Using Ecosystem-based Adaptation Actions to Tackle Food Insecurity. Environment Magazine. Philadelphia, PA. CBD (2013). Convention on Biological Diversity: 12 Principles for Ecosystem Management. http://www.cbd.int/ecosystem/principles.shtml MES (2013). Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005. Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Synthesis. Washington, DC. FAO (2010). Climate-Smart Agriculture: Policies, Practices and Financing for Food Security Adaptation and Mitigation. Rome, Italy.