Decentralized Forest and Woodland Management Project

The objective of the Decentralized Forest and Woodland Management Project for Burkina Faso was to promote national development policies and support the definition and implementation of community-based natural resource management processes in thirty-two, mostly rural, communes, to strengthen sustainable local development practices and contribute to reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from deforestation and woodland degradation. The project consisted of the following components: 1) mainstreaming climate change and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) into sectoral frameworks and strategies; 2) participatory planning and management of forests and woodlands; and 3) coordination and information and knowledge sharing. The first component supported the adoption of a REDD+ approach that incorporates climate change adaptation and mitigation into sectoral frameworks, policies, activities and investments based on a broadly informative, gender sensitive and consultative process. It consisted of the following sub-components: i) development of a national REDD+ strategy; ii) broad awareness-raising and consultations related to REDD+ and climate change; and iii) strengthening Burkina Faso climate governance and resilience. The second component targeted the drivers of deforestation and forest and woodland degradation by focusing on activities that reduce pressures on forests and woodlands in twenty-seven rural communes and five urban communes in areas outside of targeted classified forests. It was implemented through the following sub-components: a) support land management capacities of local communities; b) investing in activities that reduce deforestation and improve management of forested land. The third component provided resources that support integration of national and project level initiatives and the integration of knowledge and lessons into further strategic development. The project strengthened climate governance and resilience, including through re/afforestation efforts.