Resource information
Sahelian rural populations’ needs are sourced from on-farm indigenous tree species. However, access, use and management of indigenous tree species within their territories are restricted by forestry laws. This has built suspicion and discontent between foresters and natural resource users. Natural resource users argue that they own the trees on their farms; in contrast, the state claims to own protected indigenous trees on farms as stipulated in the forestry laws. These mismatches have served to increase deforestation despite stringent penalties and use of permits and licenses. This brief argues that there is a need to move beyond these forestry laws to find new sustainable solutions. It is asserted that to deal with the mismatches between foresters and natural resource users, Sahelian governments should work with rural communities and other stakeholders to amend their forestry laws to:
facilitate negotiation support among stakeholders
operationalise decentralisation and power transfer initiatives for management of agroforests
recognise and facilitate formulation and use of local by-laws to control access, use and tree management
use permits and licenses to regulate access and use of indigenous trees only in state controlled “classified” forests
provide extension services to natural resources users
promote agroforestry as a business
review land and tree tenure laws
enhance collaborative work among Sahelian governments, development partners and research institutions
It is noted that, in countries where natural resource users and by-laws have been recognised and integrated in conventional law, there is improved access, use and management of indigenous tree species.
