LEISA's Farm

Edible-seeded acacias in Farmer Managed Agroforestry Farming Systems

contributed by Peter Cunningham and Tony Rinaudo.

Certain Australian Acacia species have great, untapped potential as multipurpose tree species in agro-forestry systems, thriving under conditions in which annual plants struggle to survive. Used for windbreaks, reclamation of degraded land, biomass production for mulch and organic matter, firewood, feed for honey bees, and food for humans and livestock, they also contribute to soil fertility through fixation of atmospheric nitrogen.

With the technical assistance of the Australian Tree Seed Centre, Acacia species trials were commenced in the Maradi region of NIger,West Africa, in 1992 by the Maradi Integrated Development Project (MIDP).

Acacia seeds are tasty, safe to consume and nutritious, with significant protein, carbohydrate and fat content. They ripen at a time of low labour demand when non-irrigated crops are not cultivated. Because the Acacia trees are perennial, with established root systems, they can take advantage of unseasonal or poorly distributed rains that would be ineffective for annual crops.

Acacia seeds are easily harvested and processed into flour using existing local methods. Flour can be incorporated into local dishes and in “non-traditional” foods such as spaghetti, bread and biscuits. Seeds also have great potential as a food supplement for livestock. Finally, the hard-coated seeds may be stored for many years, allowing flexibility and value as a famine reserve food.

The MIDP now called ‘Sowing Seeds of Change in the Sahel” has been promoting edible-seeded acacias since 1994 and World Vision, with technical assistance from MIDP has been involved since 2004. In 2006, 15 to 25 selected farmers per village established 125 plots under the Farmer Managed Agroforestry Farming System (FMAFS). By 2007 there were 253 new FMAFS established in 33 villages and by early 2009 over 480 FMAFS have been established.

For further reading:

New Agriculturist

Article in Conservation Science W. Australia

and a piece from Australian television describing how acacias (known locally as wattleseed) are gradually being adopted into Australian agriculture.

Use carbon markets to halt deforestation, let small farmers partake

At the UN Climate Change Conferences, agroforestry scientists argued that existing technology to effectively monitor carbon storage in developing country landscapes could be an effective way to save carbon.
"If we want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as quickly and effectively as possible, we need to do everything we can to encourage the people living in and around the world’s tropical forests to adopt carbon-saving and carbon-enhancing approaches to development" - these are the words of Dennis Garrity, Director General of the World Agroforestry Centre. "One crucial way to do that is to give them the same opportunities to sell their carbon as a commodity in the global market as is encouraged in other sectors."

Kyoto: Think Global, Act Local (K:TGAL) is a research and capacity building program, financed by the Netherlands Development Cooperation, which is investigating the possibilities and potential for Community Based Forest Management of existing natural forest to be included as an eligible carbon mitigation activity under international climate change agreements in the future. It is also exploring the value of CBFM as a climate adaptation strategy. In the Himalayan region, the program aims to explore the capacity of community forests in carbon storing. Its objective is to develop simple but reliable measurement methods that can be carried out by communities.

In LEISA Magazine's December 2008 issue you will find an article on The potential of community managed forests for carbon trade. In a research project in the state of Uttarakhand, India, local people were trained to measure how much carbon their forests store per year. They learned how to use modern gadgets for biomass carbon measurement, and are now training other community members. They are now looking for more “buyers” for their carbon, while continuing to manage their forests sustainably.
Inclusion of forest conservation activities in international agreements and protocols will give incentives to the local population to get certified emission reductions for their efforts to conserve the forest. This would not only provide resources for sustainable livelihoods and improved lifestyles, but also encourage poor people in rural areas to make a meaningful contribution to reducing global emissions and forest conservation. In the meantime, private carbon markets can be exploited.
Click here to read the whole article.

See also this article in The East African, Dec. 27, 2008.