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of Antsiranana. This project is an impressive example of

how combating desertification also contributes to climate

protection, biodiversity preservation — among other

things, by reducing the pressure on natural forests — and

rural development. To ensure that the impact of such inno-

vative approaches is as widespread as possible, German DC

is also carrying them over to other countries.

Desertification, climate variability and population growth

are drivers of poverty and resource degradation in Niger.

Competition for shrinking areas of fertile land is leading

to conflict and forcing local people to migrate. Through its

‘Promotion of productive agriculture’ programme, German

DC is providing support in reclaiming degraded land for agri-

culture, forestry and pasture farming. This involves retaining

and harnessing the fertility of floodplains threatened by soil

erosion through the construction of water-spreading weirs.

During the rainy season these constructions, similar to dams,

act to slow and spread the flow of rainwater through the

valleys and allow it to be used to irrigate a larger area of agri-

cultural land. Having greater control over the floodwaters

also helps to prevent soil erosion and replenish groundwater

reserves. Reclaiming degraded arable land and improving

irrigation enables higher crop yields to be achieved and thus

improves food security and the general economic situation

of the local population.

In the Piura region of northern Peru the local popula-

tion, associations and the regional government decided to

collectively tackle the problem of desertification which was

severely affecting the area. In the context of an Economics

of Land Degradation initiative study, the partners received

advice on integrating strategies of sustainable land manage-

ment and desertification control in development and public

budget plans. The results of the study showed that the

economic cost of soil loss amounts to approximately 14

per cent of agricultural gross domestic product, with a

total loss of around US$100 million. This strong argument

convinced all stakeholders to jointly develop innovative

approaches for the sustainable use and reforestation of

dry forests. This was the significant motivation behind the

Peruvian Government’s decision to introduce a mechanism

for payments for ecosystem services into national legisla-

tion in 2014.

Cooperation projects help to enable food security, rural development, watershed management, preservation of ecosystem services, and climate change

mitigation and adaptation

Image: Michael Martin

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