Desertification Control in Niger: The Medium Term Action Plan 2006–2011 - Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - page 198

Fig. 10.10 Members of the steering committee of Sustainable Co-management of the Natural
Resources of the Air-Tenere Complex (C0GERAT in French) visiting a private site of outreach
bridging (May 2012)
of households is managed in a way that will not cause shortages in the future,
particularly in towns. Alternatives to wood such as petrol or gas are being promoted.
Although these are non-renewable energy sources, they do present less immediate
damage to the environment.
The production and distribution of wood, the commercialization of which takes
place in rural markets is also important. Set up by private operators, these markets
are places where wood and charcoal is sold and are managed by local producers,
away from large cities. Policy not only ensures that the wood comes from controlled
production, which is more competitive than traditional production, but also more
importantly, it insists on the rational and controlled utilization of wood resources..
The rural firewood markets are held close to the plantation sites and it is the
responsibility of the wood trader-transporters to deliver the wood to urban centers.
Satisfying the energy needs of the Niger population, without destroying their
production source, is their major concern and is part of the program to combat
desertification and land degradation.
3 -Lessons learned from MTAP implementation (Past and current measures to
arrest and reverse desertification).
Some good practices have been developed during the last years in terms of
sustainable development of natural resources and environment conservation. These
contributed to secure the agro pastoral systems and adaptation to climate change.
These good practices include: reforestation, natural regeneration (vegetation) im-
provement ; farm clearing system improvement ; wind break, life fences, bush
burning and bush fire control, sand dune fixation, gully erosion control, forest man-
agement, urban and peri urban forestry improvement (Figs. 10.10 , 10.11 ,and 10.12 ).