A one-day Steering Committee Meeting took place in Dakar, Senegal on 25 September to discuss the activities under the project “Global transformation of forests for people and climate: A focus on West Africa”. Supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the five-year project aims at protecting West Africa's forests and safeguarding the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on them.

Held on the premises of FAO Subregional Office for West Africa, the meeting gathered the representatives from the three organization who discussed the progress so far and considered how to overcome possible barriers to project’s implementation. The Committee discussed and adopted the Inception Phase Plan and the calendar of activities. With the aim of harmonising national, institutional, legislative and regulatory frameworks, the representatives discussed the details of the three focus area of the project:

• Focus area 1: Sub-regional knowledge of forest status and dynamics with development of a West Africa knowledge portal on forest resources
• Focus Area 2: Assessment of forest and land-related laws, policies and strategies at the sub-regional level towards the development of effective decentralized governance instruments
• Focus Area 3: Demonstration of community-based sustainable forest and land-use practices that are shared within the region and globally

In his opening remarks, Sub-Regional Coordinator for West Africa, Dr Gouantoueu Robert Guei highlighted the long-standing partnership between FAO and ECOWAS that has led to far-reaching achievements and highly significant results for the West Africa region, in the field of sustainable natural resources management, agriculture and food security, as well as to ongoing work. Mr Guei adds: “This first Steering Committee meeting is very important as it comes at the end of the inception phase to make decisions on a number of important aspects of the project in order to set the stage for its effective implementation.  It is a great opportunity to allow for open and frank discussions which should lead to great outcomes”.

 “This Steering Committee meeting kicks off the implementation of the project that will support West African countries in addressing drivers of deforestation and forest degradation as well as addressing transboundary challenges to forests,” stated Ms Malgorzata Buszko-Briggs, FAO’s Senior Forestry Officer and the REDD+ Team Leader. “With this project, countries will have better access to forest data. The community-based demonstration projects are critical to help reconnect people to nature to achieve the Paris Agreement and secure a sustainable future for all.”

“This programme comes at a very opportune time when climate change is happening everywhere. Our well-known young advocate for climate change Greta Thunberg is asking for action, which this programme reflects. We are looking forward to the implementation of this partnership to support climate action in West Africa," said Ms Ulla Andrén, Sida's Head of Regional Development Cooperation in Sub-Saharan Africa

Dr Johnson Boanuh, Director of Environment at ECOWAS Commission, reflected on the importance of this project for the rolling out of the ECOWAS-led Convergence Plan for the Sustainable Management and Use of Forest Ecosystems in West Africa: “The three components of this project are drawn from the seven priority intervention areas from the Forest Convergence Plan adopted by the ECOWAS Council of Ministers. Some gains have already been made in implementing the priority areas of the Forest Convergence Plan, such as illegal trade in wildlife, conservation of species and restoration of degraded landscapes,” adds Dr Johnson Boanuh. “There is, therefore, an urgency to identify and capitalize on these needs to forge synergies for upscaling across the region. It is our strong belief that this project will strengthen decision making in relation to forest and land management and strengthen capacities to implement elements of the Forest Convergence Plan.”

West Africa forests for people and climate.

Covering about 72 million hectares, West Africa’s forests and wetlands are an important source of fuel, food and livelihood for millions of people. They are also home to a wide range of vulnerable endemic plant and animal species. Yet, they are exceedingly affected by deforestation and degradation caused by various drivers including unsustainable agricultural expansion and illegal logging. These are often exacerbated by transboundary issues such as trade between regions or within a region, which require strengthened forest governance and capacity at a regional level.

In response to these threats, the project is supporting the implementation of the priorities outlined in the Convergence Plan for the Sustainable Management and Use of Forest Ecosystems in West Africa, which aims to mobilize political, institutional, financial and technical support to address transboundary forest issues across ECOWAS’s 15 member states. The project’s objective is to strengthen decision-making on forests and land management across West Africa by improving knowledge of forest dynamics, supporting legal reform, and demonstrating and sharing the best community-based forest practices across the region and globally.

For further information, please contact:

Ms Malgorzata Buszko-Briggs

Senior Forestry Officer, REDD+ Team Leader

Forestry Department, FAO Headquarters

Email: [email protected]

Mr Mohamadou Aw

FAO Subregional Office for West Africa,

Email: [email protected]

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