{"id":2643,"date":"2025-10-14T10:29:50","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T10:29:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.communitiesregreenthesahel.org\/?p=2643"},"modified":"2025-11-06T15:15:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T15:15:08","slug":"climate-resilience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.communitiesregreenthesahel.org\/en\/climate-resilience\/","title":{"rendered":"Climate resilience"},"content":{"rendered":"

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One of the hottest regions in the world, the Sahel is particularly vulnerable to climate change. In addition to long dry spells and shorter and more erratic rainy seasons, climate change is driving temperatures even higher. Degraded land leaves the region\u2019s ecosystems \u2013 and its people \u2013 highly vulnerable to climate shocks, including drought, floods and heavy winds.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Fortunately, local communities in the Sahel are successfully restoring the Sahel\u2019s fragile ecosystems through Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration<\/a>. By reviving the Sahel\u2019s \u2018underground forests\u2019, communities are helping mitigate climate change, while also adapting and building resilience to its impacts. Thanks to the Communities Regreen the Sahel programme, more than 140,000 hectares have been regreened across Niger, Burkina Faso and Senegal. Average tree density has more than doubled \u2013 from 30\/ha to 70-80\/ha \u2013 on regreened areas.<\/p>\n

Restoring ecosystems, creating resilient landscapes<\/h4>\n

FMNR is a highly effective, indigenous technique to regenerate endemic forest landscapes by reviving dormant roots, stubs and seeds. Farmers identify and protect tree seedlings, and nurture the regrowth of native, drought-resistant trees on their land.<\/p>\n

The integration of trees on agricultural land helps farmers cope with the more extreme and unpredictable weather brought on by climate change, while also increasing agricultural productivity<\/a> and biodiversity. Regenerated indigenous trees protect the ground from heat stress, and improve soil moisture and soil fertility. By reducing run-off and evaporation, trees foster water retention and groundwater recharge. Their deep roots prevent soil erosion from wind and water.<\/p>\n

Increased diversity of trees and crops also spreads the risks of climate impacts. When drought hits or heavy rain falls, some plants can cope better than others. More diverse sources of food and other non-timber forest products increases food security and provides more stable income streams for the Sahel\u2019s local communities.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ module_class=”images-row” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.communitiesregreenthesahel.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IA-climate-woman-takes-care-of-a-tree-in-Niger.png” title_text=”IA climate – woman takes care of a tree in Niger” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

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Woman takes care of a tree in Niger<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.communitiesregreenthesahel.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IA-climate-green-landscape-in-Senegal.png” title_text=”IA climate – green landscape in Senegal” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

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Green landscape in Senegal<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/www.communitiesregreenthesahel.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Quotationmark-2024.svg” icon_placement=”left” module_class=”quote-blurb” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”50px|||||” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

By reviving the Sahel\u2019s \u2018underground forests\u2019, communities are helping mitigate climate change, while also adapting and building resilience to its impacts<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

An important locally-led climate mitigation strategy<\/h4>\n

Land degradation, which decreases the soil\u2019s ability to store greenhouse gases, is one of the biggest causes of climate change. Reversing land degradation is thus crucial for tackling climate change. By reviving the Sahel\u2019s dormant forests and restoring soil health, FMNR helps keep carbon out of the atmosphere and in the ground and trees. As such, in addition to helping communities adapt to climate change, FMNR provides a locally-led, extremely cost-effective and scalable strategy for climate mitigation.<\/p>\n

Communities Regreen the Sahel is raising awareness about the climate benefits of FMNR. We engage with decision-makers at all levels, from the local to the global<\/a>, to recognise FMNR as an effective method for climate mitigation and adaptation, and support its massive upscaling, including by embedding FMNR in climate and land use strategies and policies<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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FMNR increases water levels and enables irrigation<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.communitiesregreenthesahel.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IA-climate-baobab-tree-in-Senegal.png” title_text=”IA climate – baobab tree in Senegal” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

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Baobab tree in Senegal<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”related-posts full-width” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#75BDD7″ width=”100%” max_width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

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[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blog posts_number=”3″ include_categories=”64″ show_author=”off” show_date=”off” show_categories=”off” show_excerpt=”off” show_pagination=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_level=”h3″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_blog][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the hottest regions in the world, the Sahel is particularly vulnerable to climate change. In addition to long dry spells and shorter and more erratic rainy seasons, climate change is driving temperatures even higher. Degraded land leaves the region\u2019s ecosystems \u2013 and its people \u2013 highly vulnerable to climate shocks, including drought, floods […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2819,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2643","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-themes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.communitiesregreenthesahel.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.communitiesregreenthesahel.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.communitiesregreenthesahel.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.communitiesregreenthesahel.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.communitiesregreenthesahel.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2643"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.communitiesregreenthesahel.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3180,"href":"https:\/\/www.communitiesregreenthesahel.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643\/revisions\/3180"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.communitiesregreenthesahel.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2819"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.communitiesregreenthesahel.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2643"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.communitiesregreenthesahel.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2643"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.communitiesregreenthesahel.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2643"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}