Forest Landscape Restoration through a Sustainable Wood Energy Value Chain

The afforestation of degraded areas reduces the pressure on wood resources in existing natural forests and agroforestry areas. Rehabilitating forest landscapes avoids greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and restores natural carbon sinks, leading to an increased carbon sequestration contributing to climate change mitigation. Furthermore, the solution promotes the more energy-efficient use of energy wood, which in turn contributes to lower wood consumption and thus again to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Through training, rural communities increase their knowledge and capacities in establishing tree nurseries and energy wood plantations, in the restoration and management of their natural resources and the sustainable and efficient production of charcoal. Protection of natural forests, including valuable tree species and capacity building in the use and marketing of Non-Timber-Forest-Products provide further, sustainable income sources. A better regulation on the production and trading of charcoal reduces unsustainable and illegal activities. By introducing green fire belts and agroforestry systems, damages on farms through bush fires, wind erosion, floods and droughts are reduced in the long term. The experience gained will be disseminated at regional level within West Africa.