Introduction
Foods from forests and other tree systems in Africa constitute an important component of household food supply. Such foods are found in markets in both rural and urban areas, in a wide variety of plant and animal products. In many villages and small towns, the contribution of forests and trees to food supply is essential for food security, as it provides a number of important dietary elements that the normal agricultural produce does not adequately provide. In many areas, dietary deficiencies and monotony of normal diets are reduced or avoided, through this "hidden harvest". However, despite the variety, importance and richness of foods from forests in Africa, progress has been very slow in designing and implementing measures to increase the contribution of wild plants and animals to food production and food security, through bold application of science and technology. Furthermore, forests and trees also contribute indirectly to food security because they play a major role in the sustainability of agricultural production systems. However, they could make a greater contribution to agriculture with a better and more systematic approach to agro-forestry and tree planting in agricultural systems. FAO's Special Programme for Food Security has, since February 1998, addressed this issue through the introduction of the diversification component in its strategy.
The starting point for consideration of forests and food security in Africa is the present agricultural land use situation and how it is likely to evolve with the growing demand for agricultural land to produce food for a rapidly expanding population. In 1986, the FAO study, "African Agriculture - the Next 25 Years", stated that Africa, compared to Asia, had enough land to feed itself. That meant that new land could be brought under cultivation and the challenge was how to manage and guide this process. The challenge now is to increase land productivity through sound use of the best technological practices, agricultural inputs, including irrigation, and the promotion of more effective food markets. Intensification will not only increase food production but will also ease the pressure on forest resources and other natural landscapes: less forest land will be claimed for agricultural production.
Direct contribution to Food Security and Ways to Improve it
Trees and forests contribute in many ways a wealth of products that may be used for food, medicines, beverages and other ways that improve the wellbeing of local populations. In fact, it can be said that nearly every single tree, shrub or grass species is used in one way or another for food and nutrition. Plants provide food either directly in the form of fruits, seeds and other edible parts, or indirectly by facilitating consumption of other foods.
LEAVES
Through inter-generation processes of trial and error, African societies have discovered and utilized innumerable plant species whose leaves can be used for food. The leaves contribute to the richness of diets, hence reducing various dietary deficiencies. Well known leaves include the Cameroonian ndole, the baobab tree leaves and the many types of leaves used for making beverages. With more research and greater application of the available technologies and processes, leaves can contribute a great deal more to the wellbeing of the African population.
WILD FLOWERS AND FRUITS
The issue here is not the direct contribution of forests and trees to food security, but rather their potential for future food production. For this, investment in science and technology is necessary, as well as improved management of the natural sources of forest foods. Concerned organizations including the International Council for Research in Agro-Forestry (ICRAF), FAO, a number of non-governmental organizations and national research organizations need to co-ordinate their efforts and come up with strong co-operative programmes on the various levels of action needed to fully maximize the "hidden harvest". Steps should include: i) updating documentation of the issue; ii) improvement of the traditional methods of management, conservation and use of the resource; iii) selection of key species for priority research and technology development; iv) approaches to domestication.
WILD ROOTS AND TUBERS
The tropical humid forests and woodlands contain a host of plants which produce starchy roots and tubers which are eaten. Although these may just be snacks for the youth to tap throughout the year, their variety and the potential for their improvement hold great promise for the future.
UNDERUTILIZED POTENTIAL FOR MUSHROOM PRODUCTION
The potential of mushrooms in African forests and other landscapes is largely untapped. There are long periods in which warm weather and air moisture combine to provide excellent conditions for the production of mushrooms. There are several varieties, including those which grow on decaying roots, dead wood, termite mounds or directly on cultivated land. There is much to do in sensitisation and information, but also in research to increase knowledge and use of African mushrooms for food. FAO has assisted a number of countries to develop mushroom production but the potential remains largely untapped.
FORESTS, JOBS AND INCOME
The international debate around sustainable forest management has yet to produce practical and concrete action at the field level. However, it is likely to improve the way forests are being used. The major social dimension of forestry in this debate is the possibility of creating more jobs at local level on a sustainable basis. Sylvicultural operations of managed forests are continuous throughout the year, with logging providing many job opportunities, while well organized logging companies include social programmes that cater for the wellbeing and food security of their workers. There is great scope for this in countries such as Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Ghana and Central African Republic.
Improving Agricultural Production: the Role of Trees
AGRO-FORESTRY PARKLANDS AND MODERN AGRO-FORESTRY SYSTEMS
The greatest contribution of trees to food production and food security is at the farm level. Indeed, trees under various forms, either as single trees or organized in lines or clusters (shelter belts, groves), have a fundamental role to play in food production and food security. This is particularly true in Africa, where agriculture is in transitional stages in many locations with low input levels and fragile soil systems. The development of new agro-forestry systems and/or improved management and conservation of traditional tree systems are essential to maintaining land productivity and buffering degradation processes and other constraints to sustainable farming systems. In many countries of the continent, a number of processes have led to a gradual modification of the initial natural forest and tree formations to tree-picketed land use patterns, the so-called agro-forestry parklands. The same process can lead to tree-garnered rangelands. In both land use types the tree component plays a multifunctional role, including restoration of soil fertility and diversification of production, thus contributing to food security. Agro-forestry parklands characterise most of the sub-humid to semi-arid rural landscapes of Africa and have been essential to maintaining cereal production in these eco-geographical regions.
These important systems are now seriously threatened and need to be conserved until improved farming systems are developed to replace them. The challenges to their conservation are the following:
Active government, community and individual commitment is necessary to maintain these systems and their role in sustainable farming systems and, most importantly, the conservation of biological diversity in the rural landscapes.
DIVERSIFICATION COMPONENT IN THE SPECIAL PROGRAMME FOR FOOD SECURITY
Trees, shrubs and grasses contribute directly to maintaining or restoring soil fertility through build-up of organic matter and slowing down soil erosion. This is another important contribution to food security. They also contribute to water resources conservation by limiting run-off and increasing soil water intake, thus improving water resource availability in any farming system, including systems in semi-arid lands. In addition, they contribute to improved agricultural practices by controlling water logging. Diversification and sustainability of farming systems are the basic reasons for the introduction of both tree planting and agro-forestry practices in FAO's Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS). Since February 1998, the clear definition of the diversification concept and its incorporation into the SPFS have provided greater scope for trees and tree-related systems in the Special Programme. This is important for Africa as many countries need and recognize the role of trees, in both irrigated and rainfed farming systems.
The Energy Dimension
The contribution of forest and tree resources to household energy supply is essential in Africa and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Africa has the highest per capita annual fuel wood consumption in the world (0.89 m3 per year). An estimated 623 million m3 are taken annually from forest and tree resources. Most of this goes to cooking, thus contributing to household food security and nutrition. However, in fragile areas, such extractions cause severe deforestation, bio-diversity loss and reduction of food opportunities from natural vegetation. This means that the supply of wood to meet household energy needs should be properly taken into account in forest policy formulation and planning. It should also be incorporated into agricultural diversification programmes.
Contribution of Wild Animal Resources
The conservation of forest resources in Africa is no easy task. The continent
is losing 4.1 million hectares of forests annually. The protected areas of the
continent face many pressures, including severe poaching, illegal logging and
land clearing for agriculture. Also the pressure of livestock in some areas
has serious consequences for the status of wildlife. Nevertheless, wild animal
resources contribute greatly and in a very diversified manner to food production
and household food security.
Game meat, the so-called "bush" meat, is an important complement to
household food supply and nutrition. Besides the adult activity of hunting,
the direct consumption of small wild animals provides a remarkable amount of
proteins. A study in Senegal has shown that the use by children of only small
rodents, reptiles and fowl resulted in an average protein intake of 400g/person/month1.
Hunting still provides a sizeable part of meat consumption for many societies, but also cash income that contributes to food security. In a study "Wildlife and Food security in Africa"2, the various aspects of wildlife contribution to food, jobs and income have been described and analysed. The study makes the important conclusion that "a number of promising emerging wildlife production systems, including wildlife ranching, farming and domestication can contribute significantly and sustainably to food security and nutrition in Africa, if proper measures and approaches are taken." Hunting is, however, doomed to disappear as a factor in food security in Africa unless it is organized. There are good examples where the setting up and proper management of game preserves provide many opportunities to local populations as they create jobs, including servicing tourism and organized hunting.
New trends towards fully fledged, community-based natural resources management schemes, especially in Southern Africa, are emerging and will help organize and modernise the wildlife sectors, allowing increased use of wildlife resources for food and income, thus contributing to diversification of food production and to sustainable food security and nutrition. In West Africa, especially in the Benin Gulf region, the use of game meat provides a substantial amount of proteins, and initiatives for raising small rodents and antelopes are promising. There is scope for small animal domestication in the diversification component of the SPFS. Improved organization of the wildlife sector will require: i) re-orientation of wildlife management and use towards more community-sensitive programmes; ii) more research and development in the area of wildlife domestication and husbandry; iii) organization of markets and introduction of related regulations. The rich and diversified wildlife of Africa has a huge potential for enhancing food security and nutrition in the continent.
_______________
1 In "Pour une gestion de la faune au Sahel: Enjeux et perspectives de la conservation au Service du développement: le cas de la Mauritanie"
2 FAO Conservation Guide No 32: Wildlife and Food Security in Africa, by Yaa Ntiamoa Baidu.
Conclusions
The contribution of forests and trees to food security in Africa is significant, diversified and valuable. It ranges from direct production of food to provision of jobs and income. Also, most African households, both rural and urban, depend on fuel wood for domestic energy supply. However, under current practices, these contributions are not sustainable. They can only be sustainable if the natural resources are managed in an appropriate manner and if substantive research and improved technology are invested in the forestry sector. A combination of initiatives aiming at better understanding of local and traditional practices, inventorying, better management of resources, and integration of trees into farming systems, can greatly enhance the contribution of forests to food security in Africa.
