Agriculture, forestry and other land uses in Nationally Determined Contributions: the outlook for Africa
K. FOBISSIE, E. CHIA, K. ENONGENE and V.O. OEBA
International Forestry Review Vol.21(S1), pp 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1505/146554819827167484
Abstract: This paper sought to examine how Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) activities and their contributions are represented in the post 2020 climate change commitments of African countries and assess the necessary conditions for their successful implementation. Secondary data on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) was collected from 52 African countries whereas primary data was obtained from Madagascar, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso. Qualitative and quantitative data analysis approaches were used. The study revealed that agricultural management (88%), wetland restoration/conservation (75%) and afforestation/reforestation (58%) were the preferred AFOLU sector adaptation activities whereas forest management (55%), bioenergy (62%) and afforestation/reforestation (78%) were proposed for mitigation. The implementation of these activities will depend on technical and financial resources as well as capacity building. The overlap of adaptation and mitigation AFOLU sector activities presents an opportunity to develop strategies and policy frameworks for synergy outcomes in Africa.
Food-fuel-fibre nexus: towards the framing of sustainable biofuel strategies for climate change mitigation in the Congo Basin
E. CHIA, K. ENONGENE, K. FOBISSIE and M. LARWANOU.
International Forestry Review Vol.21(S1), pp 67-74. https://doi.org/10.1505/146554819827167556
Abtract: Biofuel is increasingly gaining attention as a more environmentally friendly fuel and a substitute for fossil fuel because of its climate change mitigation potential. However, a robust policy and institutional framework is required to guarantee its sustainability. This paper examines the biofuel crop policy domain in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo. Despite the ongoing large scale expansion of biofuel crop plantations in the Congo Basin, national policy strategies that direct the production and consumption of biofuels are lacking. The expansion of biofuel plantations in the Congo Basin poses a threat at many levels with negative and unintended consequences. Food security, forest cover and biodiversity loss, threatened indigenous and local communities' customary land rights are examples of likely undesirable outcomes from the emerging biofuel sector. Notwithstanding, there are opportunities to make biofuel respond to both climate change mitigation and social and economic development objectives in the region.