Creating deforestation-free supply chains

Project description

Title: Programme for sustainable agricultural supply chains and standards
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Côte d’Ivoire
Lead executing agency: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Overall term: 2017 to 2019

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Context

The strategy of completely stopping deforestation (‘zero deforestation’) was developed with the support of the UN initiative to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+). The aim of the strategy is to reduce deforestation and thus to increase the amount of CO2 absorbed by forests. So far, however, it has not been implemented consistently. The initiative for deforestation-free supply chains was created to provide the necessary support. In the case of Côte d’Ivoire, the programme is designed to create forest models in the San Pedro region – for example, in line with the agroforestry principle. This involves growing woody perennials alongside agricultural crops. These models are to be subsequently applied in other areas too, thus actively promoting the goal of stopping deforestation.

Objective

National strategies for stopping deforestation and restoring forests are supported. The area of forest land has been increased. Supply chains (cocoa, rubber and oil palm) to Germany and Europe have become sustainable and traceable. In Côte d’Ivoire, zero deforestation is implemented effectively at national level.

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Approach

Six pilot models are currently being implemented in the San Pedro region. These include:

  • Planting trees together with new cocoa plantations to enhance the forest character of the plantation
  • Mixed cultivation of rubber and trees aimed at enhancing the forest character of new plantations.
  • Introducing shade trees  (100 trees per hectare) in existing cocoa plantations
  • Creating forest land by planting trees in illegal cocoa plantations that are no longer used
  • Developing protection and management concepts for remaining forests in cooperation with the local population 
  • Reforesting  embankments in the voluntary protected area of the non-governmental organisation CEM.

Partners from industry and civil society who help to prevent deforestation for plantations receive the necessary technical and content-related advice and are supported in planting trees. In addition to reforestation, support is provided in developing clear management plans for forest land and agroforestry areas to safeguard these areas in the long term.

Results 

  • A memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed with the San Pedro region to protect forested areas.
  • Ten hectares of rubber plantation have been renewed together with trees (teak/Cedrela) and food crops.
  • Thirty hectares of land in Côte d’Ivoire have been reforested.
  • Agroforestry is practised on an area of more than 60 hectares in cocoa plantations.