European Tropical Forest Research Network

Rehabilitation of degraded lands in Sub-Saharan Africa

Drylands discussion

Overall vision for the drylands workshop:

"African countries develop and agree clear national policies and strategies for addressing ecological degradation of savannah and dryland forests taking account of management and climate change"

The drylands workshop purpose is:

"Key persons in Africa explore key issues in the status and future potentials of dryland and Savannah forests, deriving realistic priorities for R&D 2003-2008"

Timeframe for the E-workshop:
The E-workshop ran from 17 March to 11 April. Every week, a new theme was introduced, and from the second week onwards, the summaries of the previous week's discussions were circulated. Theme introductions and discussion summaries were posted on the workshop website and on the discussion forum. Once a new theme had started, it was still possible to contribute to previous themes.

Each theme has it's own webpage with an introduction to the theme and links to all relevant papers and case studies.

Themes and Moderators

I The current status of drylands

• Current status of dry lands from an ecological viewpoint (use, productivity, conservation status), Ben Chikamai, KEFRI;
• Current status of dry lands from an economic viewpoint (current management, uses of dry land forests, income generation), ElNour ElSiddig, Univ. of Khartoum;
• Current status of dry lands from a climatic and meteorological viewpoint, including trends, Frank Berninger, Univ. of Helsinki;
• Current status of dry lands from a social viewpoint (demography, livelihoods, poverty), Alice Kaudia, KEFRI.

II Factors in ecological degradation of drylands

• Causes of dry land forest degradation, Demel Teketay, Ethiopia, EARO;
• 'Drivers' of degradation, management (anthropogenic), climate change, land use history etc. Bashir Jama, ICRAF.

III National and international policy aspects

• Impacts of dryland forest degradation on livelihoods, ElNour ElSiddig, University of Khartoum;
• Brief review of International agreements - CBD, FCCC, CCD CCD (CITES), to be nominated;
• Brief review of national policies on drylands in SSA, Prof. Frederick Owino;
• Summary of international progress in policy and practice towards sustainable dry forest management, Prof. Frederick Owino.

IV Climate change and dryland forests
Moderator: Frank Berninger, VITRI, University of Helsinki

• Climate constraints on forests;
• Forest effects on climate;
• Implications for sustainable management of climate change;
• Impacts on biodiversity of climate change;
• Hydrology, carbon sequestration and other concerns.

V Research, development and policy priorities
Moderator: The Workshop Rapporteur, Peter Wood