TGO/001
Forests4Future

The forested landscapes of northern Benin are increasingly affected by deforestation. The population is growing rapidly (around 2.7% per year) and with it the demand for fuelwood and timber, as well as arable and grazing land. The state authorities do not have sufficient resources or opportunities to advise the population on alternative, sustainable use of the forests and to prevent illegal deforestation. Laws to control migratory grazing in order to better protect growing trees exist, but are not enforced. The annual rate of deforestation in Benin is around 2.4%, with the greatest extent in the north of the country. Alluvial forests, despite their important ecological function, have been considerably reduced or no longer exist at all, due to agriculture. While Benin has committed to restoring 500,000 hectares of forest landscape as part of the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative, a lack of strategies and capacity at national level limits the possibility of meeting this commitment. The Forests4Future project is committed to ensuring that international, national and local stakeholders in the upper Pendjari and Mékrou catchments in northern Benin increasingly implement measures to restore tree-rich and productive forests and landscapes. At national level, the project is supporting the Beninese Ministry of the Environment in drawing up a national strategy for restoring forest landscapes and coordinating the various ministries responsible.

In the Atakora region of northern Benin, it is supporting the local population, the forestry service, other relevant authorities and civil society organisations in the inclusive and participatory planning and implementation of ecologically and economically sustainable measures. These actions aim to restore forest landscapes in two particularly degraded catchment areas.

The project is also supporting the development of value chains for high-quality honey and shea butter in order to identify ways in which trees and forests can make a sustainable contribution to household incomes.

To reduce the causes of degradation in the longer term, Forests4Future is working to negotiate and make visible pastures and corridors for transhumant grazing, formalise land tenure and use rights for restored land, promote the use of energy-efficient stoves, and reduce conflicts between user groups. 

The project, implemented by GIZ over a five-year period, is funded by the European Union, including Luxembourg through cooperation delegated to GIZ.

The project, implemented by GIZ over six years, is cofinanced by the European Union, including Luxembourg through cooperation delegated to GIZ.