Consultation platforms at communal, regional and national level to facilitate Forest Landscape Restoration in Togo

The operationalisation of the National Commission on Sustainable Development of Togo within the framework of the AFR100 initiative was held in Lomé at Hôtel La Concorde on 8 February 2023. It was attended by 53 participants from public, civil society organisations, parliament, religious and traditional leaders and international institutions working in Togo.

The meeting was presided over by The Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources. Representatives of all sectoral ministries attended the metting. The speech of the CEO of AUDA-NEPAD, Dr Nardos-Bekele Thomas was read by Ousseynou Ndoye, the AFR100 Regional Coordinator for West and Central Africa. The speech of GIZ-F4F was read by Simon Lange of GIZ-F4F. The Secretary General read the speech of the Minister of Environment and Forest Resources.

The CNDD is a decree signed by the President of the Republic of Togo, the Prime Minister and several sectoral ministries in Togo. This shows a very high level of appropriation and it is unique in the AFR100 initiative. Furthermore, there are other administrative orders creating committees at regional (CRDD) and communal levels (CCDD). The operationalization of the CNDD has been done through articles 3 and 4 of the government decree creating the CNDD. 

21. FLR ACHIEVEMENTS BY PARTNERS IN TOGO

1. Political involvement in FLR by high level authorities.
2. Green jobs are provided for women, youth, adult and minorities through FLR activities.
3. Organization of an annual reforestation campaign in the Togo.
4. Organization of a national campaign to fight forest fire and to sensitize the population.
5. Ambition to plan 1 billion trees by 2030 as recommanded by the President of Togo.
6. In 2022, the Union of NGOs of Togo has planted 826,665 trees over a target of 1,412,740 trees (59 %) on 428 hectares over a target of 1423 hectares (30%). 
7. 279 enterprise development plans (business plans) have been elaborated for communities.
8. Consolidation of 30 value chains related to agricultural and agroforestry products.
9. Evaluation of FLR opportunities at national level.
10. In 2021, in total 3,303,024 plants were produced and 4500 hectares restored by the national reforestation program with funding from the government and involvement of national stakeholders.
11. In 2022, in total  5,207,250 plants were produced and 8256 hectares were restored.
12. Average revenue was increased by 25 % for households involved in honey, parkia biglobosa, shea butter and fuelwood value chains.

22. FLR CHALLENGES IN TOGO

1. Tenure issues and conflict between smallholder farmers, pastoralists/herders, fishermen and managers of protected areas
2. Degradation and reduction of forest cover due to increasing demand of fuelwood, timber and uncontrolled fires
3. Lack of financial resources to carry out restoration activities at very large scale
4. Mobilisation of stakeholders to monitor AFR100 implementation
5. Sensitization and capacity strengthening on best FLR practices
6. Elaboration of a national strategy on FLR in Togo
7. Maintenance and monitoring of seedlings planted
8. Water management in nurseries
9. Integration of climate change mitigation and adaptation and forest landscape restoration in municipal development plans
10. Climate risks and forests fires
11. High dependency of communities on forests resources
12. Weak competitiveness of NGOs in mobilizing trust funds
13. Predominance of biomass as the main source of energy
14. Failure to materialize or respect transhumance corridors
15. Overgrazing and unsuitable agricultural practices
16. Uncontrolled urbanization and demographic explosion

The operationalization of the Regional Commission on Sustainable Development of the Central Region of Togo within the framework of the AFR100 initiative was held in Sokode, Togo on 4 May 2023. It was attended by 67 participants from public, civil society organisations, prefets, mayors, religious and traditional leaders, communities.

The meeting was presided over by The Prefet of Tchaoudjo.  The speech of the CEO of AUDA-NEPAD, Dr Nardos-Bekele Thomas, was read by Ousseynou Ndoye, the AFR100 Regional Coordinator for West and Central Africa. The speech of GIZ-F4F was read by Simon Lange of GIZ-F4F. The Prefet of Tchaoudjo delivered the speech of the official opening ceremony.

32. FLR CHALLENGES IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF TOGO

1. Tenure issues and conflict between smallholder farmers, pastoralists/herders, fishermen and managers of protected areas
2. Degradation and reduction of forest cover due to increasing demand of fuelwood, timber and uncontrolled fires
3. In the Central region of Togo, Ricinodendron heudelotii is a threaten specy. This is interesting because in Central Africa, Ricinodendron heudelotii is not a threaten specy

In the framework of an inclusive environmental management, Togo established Communal Commissions for Sustainable Development (CCDD) which comprise decentralized consultation platforms to improve the participation of communities in environmental discussions. These commissions also deal with issues related to FLR. F4F-Togo supported the creation of CCDDs in three communes of the prefecture of Tchamba in order to improve the operational capacity to carry out FLR measures. A CCDD is a multisectoral platform composed of the mayor, canton chiefs, presidents of village committees, heads of decentralized services, women's groups and NGOs. It acts as a management committee for environmental aspects, in general, and for  FLR, in particular. Members of these commissions are resource persons for advisory support and capacity-building, enabling the commissions to assess environmental problems, propose solutions and mobilize resources.