Newly completed project in Benin promotes sustainable use of forest resources
The NDF co-financed Increased Access to Modern Energy Project in Benin has recently been completed. One of the first projects approved under NDF’s climate change mandate – less than a year after the shift in strategy - it built on a history of partnership between Benin, NDF and the World Bank in the energy sector
NDF is now assessing the results and lessons learned of the project. The specific objectives of the NDF component were to reduce deforestation, promote community based sustainable wood fuel production and market management systems, as well as increase access to and broaden the selection of renewable and cleaner fuels.
The components financed by NDF included:
(i) Promoting community-based sustainable wood fuel supply systems
(ii) Promoting biomass efficiency and inter-fuel substitution
(iii) Supporting local economic development in the region of the Moyen Ouémé
The project’s target area was the Moyen Ouémé region - a territory of approximately 20 000 km2 (20 percent of Benin’s territory) in the basin of the Ouémé river, covering 9 counties with about 600,000 ha of forests degraded to various degrees. The project aimed at decentralising forest resources management in order to empower the people living in the Moyen Ouémé to manage their forest on a sustainable basis.
The key results of the NDF components are summarised below:
(i) Promoting Community-based Sustainable Wood Fuel Supply Systems
The NDF grant contributed to the implementation of the community-based forest management plans (300,000 ha) by undertaking reforestation and overall protection of managed forests (including plant nursing, tree planting, fertilisation, maintenance, rural and forest road and fire-break planning). The achievements included:
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Selecting, planning, and implementing nurseries as well as planting and maintaining their growth
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Enriching degraded forest areas by planting trees in a selected areas (in Djidija, Savalou, Banteand Bassila) out of the total project area of 300 000 ha
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Environmental impact studies carried out relating to the forest development plans of five communes (Djidija, Savalou, Bante, Bassila, and Tchaourou)
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Training of 40 forester officials as trainers in improved charcoal production techniques, and supporting the further training of 655 residents (of which 82 were women) of 50 villages, and providing equipment for this activity.
(ii) Promoting Biomass Efficiency and Inter-fuel Substitution
The NDF grant contributed to the promotion of private sector-based efficient cook stoves as well as liquefied petroleum gas inter-fuel substitution (including education and awareness campaigns, marketing promotion activities, and subvention of equipment costs).The achievements included:
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In total, 8 670 butane gas cookers were sold at a promotion price through three distributors (JNP, BENIN PETRO and ORYX) at nine distribution points in Parakou and eight in Porto-Novo, supported by NGOs that identified priority criteria and areas, disseminated information, selected sellers and buyers, coordinated and implemented activities.
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In total, 9 136 efficient cook stoves were sold at a promotion price in Porto-Novo and Parakou, supported by NGOs that identified priority criteria and areas, disseminated information, selected sellers and buyers, coordinating and implementing activities. The project also supported the development of 27 business plans in this field: 19 of these were for men engaged in production of efficient cook stoves, and 8 were of women engaged in distribution of cook stoves.
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Tests on the performance and social acceptability of the cook stoves were carried out in Porto-Novo et Parakou by LEMA.
(iii) Support Local Economic Development
This activity delivers a variety of services to the rural communities, as incentive mechanisms for compliance with the sustainable forest management plan. The NDF grant contributed to the promotion of apiculture - bee farming (including small tools, training and local capacity building activities, field equipment, small works, follow-up support).The achievements included:
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16 honey-producing units in Glazoue, Ouesse, Savalou and Bante equipped with 320 large beehives and 800 small beehives, honey-producing equipment (also 16 tricycles+16 additional); and peasants trained to manage the honey-producing units. A total of 160 bee farmers were trained and equipped, of which 41 were women.
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16 000 cashew nut trees planted to benefit beehive keepers in the communes of Glazoué, Ouèssè, Savalou and Bantè.
