Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

With 338.652 ha of mangroves, Guinea-Bissau hosts 2.5 per cent of the global mangrove surface [ ] 117 Actions against deforestation and for the reduction of forest degradation The deforestation process, forest degradation and changes in the use of the soils are considered as a principal risk and threat for the coastal and terrestrial biological diversity. Several initiatives have been undertaken to reduce this phenomenon. Among these, the activities of the countryside federation KAFO deserve particular attention. KAFO was established in 1996 and has been operating as an NGO since 2000. The fundamental missions of the organization are Community Self-Promotion and Rural Sustain- able Development. KAFO supports both individual and community empowerment in order to advance development and environmental protection in countryside areas. The KAFO federation has contributed positively to conservation efforts through information, education and awareness raising activities in farming communities. Thanks to a partnership with Community Radio of Djalicunda it was able to reach farmers to share good practices and to spread agricultural and tradition- al knowledge. KAFO is involved in capacity building activities targeting farmers and the communities which are supported by farming activities. The NGO also promotes apiculture and conservation, and has established a seed bank. Moreover, it has undertaken research activities in the forest areas and has trained farmers to protect forest resources. For example, the population of 150 villages was taught to apply four good practices for forests, namely: fight and prevent fires in forests, sustainable produc- tion of vegetable coal, production of forest trees’ seeds, and reforestation techniques. KAFO has trained and empowered 300 farmers who are followed by a group of community forests agents and also by the Forest Management Committee. The new dynamics of local farming in these forest areas ensures the participation of the local community and women who are also trained by professional forest agents, gardeners and coal workers. The actions resulted in positive conservation efforts: the production of coal has been reduced and fire- wood is sustainably sourced. Extinc- tion of rare species is being prevented in the forests of Oio, Cacheu and Ba- fatá Regions, thanks to the protection of Borassus aethiopium, Pterocarpus erinaceus, Afzelia africana. KAFO has also set-up six forest nurseries which yield an average annual production of 47,136 forest plants. The efforts of these communi- ties have been consolidated resulting in the protection and regulation of 30 forests around 150 villages. Varela beach, Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau G uinea-Bissau is a coastal country in West Africa in the transition zone between the Sudanese Sahel and Congolese Guineo domain displaying remarkable biodiversity recognized worldwide. Guinea-Bissau’s territory has a total surface of 36.125 km² and is constituted by a continental part, and a group of about 80 islands and islets. The Guinean population, mostly live and depend on these diverse biological resources, which are the basis of its economy and its welfare. Nations Online Project