In Benin, the rate of land degradation is estimated at around 2.2 million hectares of land, or 19% of the national territory between 2000 and 2010. With the support of the Integrated Project to Restore and Improve the Value of Degraded Land and Forest Ecosystems for Greater Climate Resilience in Benin (PIRVaTEFoD-Benin), launched on 06 July 2023, village communities are being trained in good agricultural practices and the process of restoring degraded land through innovative practices.
 

In the eight (8) communes where the project is active (Karimama, Kouandé, Ségbana, Gogounou, Aplahoué, Klouékanmè, Za-Kpota and Covè), measures are being taken to restore 5159 ha of degraded land identified through various sustainable land management measures. These include combining crops with soil-improving plants such as mucuna, pigeon peas and green lentils, stone cordons, ploughing perpendicular to the slope, windbreaks, mulching without ploughing, and so on. These measures are being implemented in 137 villages in the pilot communes by setting up 181 agricultural advisory units (UCA) and 181 demonstration units covering around 200 ha of degraded land.

Indeed, land degradation has resulted in a 47.2% increase in cultivated areas, a 14.8% decline in shrub savannah and a drop of more than 21.3% in forested areas (NDT Policy Note, 2017). To remedy this situation, the PIRVaTEFoD project was set up by the Government of Benin with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Its aim is to build the capacity of beneficiary communities through sustainable land and forest management practices that take climate risks into account, develop value chains and strengthen the climate resilience of vulnerable populations. It also contributes to Benin's targets for neutrality in terms of land degradation (NDT) and to achieving the climate change adaptation objectives set out in the country's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
 

In four months of operation, the project has supported the planting of 72,146 seedlings of various species (Gliricidia, Gmelina, Acacia, Shea, etc.) for green belts to act as windbreaks, land demarcation, animal penetration, etc. These activities have mobilised 4,887 beneficiaries, including people living with disabilities, 2,351 of whom are women, i.e. 48.72% of the total.

Field activities for the benefit of grassroots communities are carried out with the collaboration of seven (07) non-governmental organisations (NGOs) under the supervision of the Territorial Agencies for Agricultural Development of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MAEP). The project is being implemented at national level by the Directorate-General for the Environment and Climate (DGEC), in close collaboration with the Directorate-General for Water, Forests and Hunting, both of which report to the Ministry for the Environment and Transport, which is responsible for sustainable development (MCVT).

Source : PNUD