0
0
By Annonciata Byukusenge
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) shared insights on investing in regenerative agriculture, emphasizing the importance of nature-based solutions as a key entry point. It’s in the Africa Food System Forum in Kigali, on Thursday, 5th September 2024.
Speaking alongside others on the Promotion of regenerative Agriculture, Ms. Kaori Yasuda, IUCN Rwanda Country Representative, highlighted the significance of biodiversity conservation in addressing effective investment in regenerative food systems, alongside climate change.
At the forum, Ms. Yasuda referenced the recommendations made at the IUCN Africa Conservation Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, where participants called for regenerative action in agriculture and the removal of barriers to sustainable ecosystem services. The focus was on promoting conservation that not only restores but also sustains the land, providing food security and income-generating opportunities for local communities and farmers.
She said that “IUCN has developed land health indicators and nature-based solution standards as scientific tools to guide investment in regenerative agriculture.”
“These tools have been tested in agricultural landscapes across African countries to tailor them to local contexts,” she added.
The land health indicators assess the condition of ecosystems at various levels and help in implementing interventions for sustainable agriculture.
According to Ms. Yasuda “The global nature-based solution standards, consisting of eight criteria, serve as a guiding tool for project design, formulation, implementation, and monitoring to address societal challenges while benefiting human well-being and biodiversity.”
She highlighted three additional recommended actions for regenerative agriculture based on IUCN’s experience on the ground and in policy influencing.
Firstly, she emphasized the importance of agroforestry in maintaining and improving soil health and productivity.
She explained that in Rwanda, IUCN works with partners to implement agroforestry in drought-prone areas, providing evidence-based knowledge and tree species through various projects.
“For example, in Rwanda, we work with the government of Rwanda and other partners to implement agroforestry in drought-prone areas in the eastern province by generating and disseminating agroforestry evidence-based knowledge through action research and provisions of trees, shrubs, and fruit species. These are achieved, delivered through EU-funded DeSIRA projects and the GCF-funded TREPA and BMUV-funded AREECA projects, respectively.” Ms. Yasuda said.
She also mentioned that multi-stakeholder dialogues on sustainable agriculture are crucial to finding production systems that are nature-friendly, supporting the agriculture-conservation nexus.
As she concludes, Ms. Yasuda revealed that also establishing public-private partnerships is essential to strengthen farmers’ organizations and ensure sustainable food production with community ownership.
“Through integrated and community-centric approaches, such as village land-use action plans and payment for ecosystem services, IUCN aims to promote regenerative agriculture as a means to enhance climate and biodiversity resilience,” she said.
IUCN’s advocacy for regenerative agriculture at the Africa Food System Forum underscores the organization’s commitment to promoting sustainable practices that benefit both people and the environment.
