Ecosystem-based Adaptation Actions

The first component of the project is the implementation of large scale EbA interventions aimed at increasing the generation of climate-resilient natural resources and ecosystem services in community forests (CFs); community protected areas (CPAs) and agricultural lands in Lower, Central and Upper River Regions of the Gambia. This is achieved through developing a CF-specific EbA protocol that integrates EbA practices into the community level management plans. The protocol describe the area, specific characteristic such as soil types, climate changes, land uses, the dominant type of vegetation, adaptation outcomes and proposed EbA practices. EbA protocol data is provided by the community members through their village development committees, forest management committees, and village leaders (alkalo). Expert opinions arebe provided by technical people from the government, line ministry and departments, as well as other stakeholders. Secondary data to support the project implementation, including climate data, is extracted from reliable sources such as government reports and peer-reviewed sources. Other outputs include:

1. Development of spatial and resources maps to capture different land attributes within the intervention sites
2. Review of the existing CF and CPA management plans and aligning them with the EbA protocol
3. Development of EbA protocols outlining the proposed and feasible EbA interventions and their intended adaptation outcomes
4. Sourcing for the required materials and services for the implementation of the proposed material, including seeds, seedlings, and planting materials
5. Training and other capacity development activities to the regional coordinators, extension workers, and other players whose services are essential for project implementation, scaling up and replication
6. Establish and promote livelihood activities that are nature-sensitive and to increase social, economic and ecological benefits to the community

Some of the significant achievements include:

1. Development and validation of 50 community forest EbA protocol for different intervention sites
2. Land degradation surveillance framework and improvement practices for the project regions developed.
3. State of land degradation in the project regions based on quantitively laboratory analysis results developed and recommendations designed.
4. Modalities for community forests clustering for sustainable NR economy, considering the ecological, social and economic aspects
5. Technical guides and EbA implementation guidelines developed. These include:
   1. A technical guide on fire management for CFs, CPAs and agricultural areas
   2. Manual for agroforestry management in the Gambia
   3. Guideline for assisted natural regeneration in the Gambia
   4. An empirical study that informs the current state of transhumance issues and a guideline document on identifying sustainable land management options while managing free grazing of livestock in agricultural and forest landscapes
   5. Comprehensive monitoring strategies for EbA interventions and their impacts (Validation of frameworks, training and applications)
   6. A woodlot establishment guideline
6. Establishment of propagators for edible wild and indigenous species to be planted for boosting adaptive strategies
7. Guide to forest and woodland restoration in and around CFs and important areas considered for their recovery.
8. Manual on critical characteristics of commonly used tree species preferred for restoration in community-managed areas.
9. Regional land cover-land use maps, change detection, identifying the drivers of change and their impacts on CFs and village level EbA options areas delineated using GIS and Remote Sensing to classify, detect and analyze the change that has taken place over two decades.
10. Protocol for designing enterprises in community-managed areas and entities to systematically select and design nature-based enterprises that can transform rural livelihoods while ensuring environmental sustainability.