LEISA Magazine, volume 23
Issue 2 - Securing seed supply
The development of farmer managed natural regeneration
Conventional methods of reforestation in Africa have often failed. The obstacles working against reforestation are enormous. But a new method of reforestation called Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) could change this situation. This article describes how the method was "discovered" in Niger, one of the world’s poorest nations, and how different efforts have made it possible to re-vegetate more than 3 million hectares using this method. Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration involves selecting and pruning stems regenerating from stumps of previously felled, but still living trees. Sustainability is a key feature of the programme which requires very little investment by either government or NGOs to keep it going.
Tony Rinaudo© 2004-2010 ILEIA. For comments, please mail webmaster(at)ileia.nl.