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Comoros case study: using landscape approaches to manage sustainable outcomes

amidst competing land-usesHugh Doulton, Technical Director of the NGO Dahari


Plan

1. Introduction to the Comorian context and the causes of ecosystem degradation

2. Dahari’s approach to biodiversity conservation through landscape management

3. Highlight results 2008 to 20134. Perspectives and lessons


Specificities of the Comoros

• Very steep volcanic islands• Mayotte is a French département (contested by Comorian government)

• Highest rate of deforestation in the world between 2000 and 2010 (FAO)• Around 40 of 45 permanent rivers on Anjouan now flow only intermittently


The factors leading to deforestation

Demographic pressure

Lack of alternatives to agriculture

Lack of social cohesion and respected power

Lack of effective governance structures at all levels

Overexploitation of soils

Extensive and ill-adapted agricultural techniques

Insecure land tenure

Extraction of firewood


Intervention strategy towards biodiversity conservation

1. Landscape approach attempting to tackle the underlying problems

2. Development prioritised 3. Initial natural resource management

initiatives based on areas of short-term interest to local communities

4. Biodiversity conservation needs to benefit local stakeholders: Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) mechanisms


Intervention area


Forest underpinning Anjouan’s water and biodiversity services is protected

Long-term Impact: Anjouan’s water resources and endemic biodiversity conserved

Medium term outcome

Immediate Outcomes

Upland and lowland farming systems sustainable, profitable,

and do not require further clearing of forest

Fuelwood for local village use, and ylang ylang distillation

can be sustainably produced on-farm

Project outputs Farmers trained in

sustainable, profitable

upland and lowland

management

Farmers manage cattle and use composting to enhance soil

fertility in permanent

fields

Biodiversity baseline

established for Anjouan

against which to measure

improvement

Driver: Greater market profitability makes

intensification of farming worthwhile

Assumption: Village and island-level governance arrangements able and willing to support forest

protection

Planned outcome

• Quantities and sources of wood-use for charcoal and timber identified

• Market study conducted on volumes +sustainability

Key areas reforested and

managed sustainably

Community structures

leading reforestation

of priority sites

Water sources valorised

through creation of irrigation areas and

improved pipes


Result highlights (2008

to 2015)

• 3000 farmers supported• New agricultural innovations introduced and integrated into national policy• Three water catchment areas under reforestation• Priority species and biodiversity hotspots identified and PES protection scheme underway


Landscape management example : Ouzini village


Strategic plan 2015 to 2020

• Expansion of core programmes to the national level• Development of agricultural important and export, and our ecotourism programme• Integration of coastal resource management, health and education initiatives


International Partners


Funders for 2013-2015


[email protected]

www.daharicomores.org facebook.com/daharicomores comoros case study: using landscape approaches to...

Documents

biodiversity services

local village use

forest coverextraction

areas of shortterm

sources of wood

local stakeholders

sustainable outcomes

comoros archipelago