Short description of the best practice
The best practice is a research into impact of RNA on household economies (including agriculture and animal husbandry) in 4 locations in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Implementation of Assisted Natural Regeneration (RNA) by households and communities is partly determined by property rights (so land rights) of households and communities. RNA means investment in e.g. stone rows, that promotes water infiltration and up growth of vegetation. RNA means protecting upcoming vegetation.|
Location
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger|
Brief description of the natural environment within the specified location.
RNA contributes to improving soil fertility by promoting fertilising trees and composting and improving availability of manure by strengthening animal husbandry
no specific information available
Was not part of the research, but RNA certainly has climate impacts as it strengthens the capacity of households to resist droughts, hungry periods by restoring vegetation and diversifying livelihoods
Prevailing socio-economic conditions of those living in the location and/or nearby
Households and communities have property rights (so land rights.
RNA contributes to improving households revenues by increasing cereal yields, revenues form animal husbandry (e.g. countering slump prices in the dry season) and revenues from herbs and tree crops
A combination of agriculture, animal husbandry and RNA combined with migration labor. The 4 pilots are deficit areas in cereals, but participating households have granaries that can feed year round, except in dry years.
On the basis of which criteria and/or indicator(s) (not related to The Strategy) the proposed practice and corresponding technology has been considered as 'best'?
Up till now the impact of RNA is only described in vague terms, like beneficial for agriculture, animal husbandry and ntfp's, but hard evidence is lacking. This has to do with the fact that products are many, mostly for household use, units of prive and volume, weight are informal and RNA is used indirectly, via agriculture and animal husbandry. Untill now mostly survey type of enquetes have been done, but the current research follows ten households each for a whole growing season during weekly intervalls.