DOCUMENT 6: SUMMARY OF THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND FORESTRY STATUS REPORT

LAND OCCUPATION

RURAL ZONES

LARGE & MEDIUM-SIZED FARMS

PEASANT FARMS

GRAZING LAND

RESERVE LAND

RURAL INDUSTRY

NA 1

Generally land use is on a sustainable basis, favourable features being the role of tree crops, and that most farmers have the capital and education to practice adequate rotations and install approved soil conservation features. But the report has concerns about (i) pollution of water courses from intensive use of fertilizer and chemicals & (ii) poor management practices on some large farms, which include felling of tree plantations for grazing.

Peasant farmed land in NA1 tends to have higher gradients than large farms, with a higher risk of erosion from run-off. Nevertheless land management is of a high standard with strong integration of cropping and livestock, a major role for tree crops and, where necessary, well kept terraces.
As population density increases, peasant farming areas are becoming peri-urban in character, and there are concerns relating to uncontrolled residential development.

not applicable

not applicable

not applicable

NA 2

Land management is generally inferior to NA1 and gives rise to a number of concerns: (i) a third of the farmed area was observed to suffer from severely inadequate conservation practices and/or rotations; (ii) on farm woodland being felled for energy needs and insufficient new planting.

A varied picture, exhibiting a spectrum of excellent sustainable agricultural practices and some areas where severe environmental degradation is occurring.
Aspects of degradation are continuous cropping with cereals and inadequate strategies for maintaining soil fertility, removal of most trees, inadequate measures to protect soil from rain and wind erosion.
Areas with environmental difficulties tend to be characterized by below average of rainfall (for the zone) and low initial soil quality, remoteness from urban areas and poor physical accessibility.

not applicable

not applicable

The recent industrialization of the urban-rural fringe has increased pressure on the environment in these areas, which encompass NAs 2, 3 and 4. Indeed, there is evidence that investors are not only attracted by the lower taxes and cheap labour but also weaker environmental regulation in that enforcement procedures appear to be more lax than in urban areas.
Water resources are particularly affected due to effluent and run-off from operations such as tanneries. Atmospheric pollution has increased, from chimneys at the plants.

NA 3

Relatively little cropping by large farms, but that which was observed gave rise to considerable concern, as it consisted mainly of mechanized land-extensive rain-fed production of coarse grains (largely sorghum) on land cleared from bush without much regard for long-term sustainability.
Cattle ranches are on the whole well managed and are compatible with adequate tree cover.

Much smallholder cropping in this zone is fairly recent, being practised by in-migrants from better-watered but overpopulated areas. Because of the uncertainty of rainfall, and poverty of farmers, very little inorganic fertilizer is applied. Where spare land still exists, farmers respond to declining soil fertility by clearing new land, leaving previously cropped land with unsatisfactory cover and vulnerable to erosion. Little evidence of tree planting by farmers.
Effective water conservation techniques are practised by original inhabitants of the zone, but are not general among in-migrants.

Smallholder grazing land is communal and increasingly overstocked. Many tree species are being removed by stock pressure and household energy needs.
Health condition and economic value of most cattle is poor, although greater resources are devoted to draft animals. A growing practice is to feed crop residues to favoured animals, thus preventing the return of nutrients to the soil.

Reserve land is under increased pressure from the expansion of smallholder grazing and cropping. The area of indigenous bush-forest cover is estimated to have declined by 4.5% per annum over 1975-85.

see above

NA 4

not applicable

The population derives most of its income from livestock products, and has not been very much supplemented by in-migrants. Traditional cropping with sorghum and millet appears to be sustainable, and only provides a major contribution to household food needs one year in three or four.

Grazing land is communal, but with much lower stocking rates than for NA3. There are longer-term concerns about the expansion of the human population, and the ratio of cattle to humans, but, in the short term, pressure on the environment is not critical.

Reserve land is as yet under moderate pressure, but there are locally acute conflicts between herders and the management of wildlife reserves.

see above

NA 5

not applicable

not applicable

With very low population densities, traditional grazing appears to be sustainable.

Local conflicts between herders and the management of wildlife reserves, not yet as severe as for NA4.

not applicable