case studies undp: the community nature reserve development network (rederc), benin

7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: THE COMMUNITY NATURE RESERVE DEVELOPMENT NETWORK (REDERC), Benin

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Equator Initiative Case StudiesLocal sustainable development solutions for people, nature, and resilient communities

Benin

THE COMMUNITY NATURERESERVE DEVELOPMENTNETWORK (REDERC)

Empowered live

Resilient nation

Empowered live

Resilient nation


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UNDP EQUATOR INITIATIVE CASE STUDY SERIES

Local and indigenous communities across the world are advancing innovative sustainable development solutions that wo

or people and or nature. Few publications or case studies tell the ull story o how such initiatives evolve, the breadth

their impacts, or how they change over time. Fewer still have undertaken to tell these stories with community practition

themselves guiding the narrative.

To mark its 10-year anniversary, the Equator Initiative aims to ll this gap. The ollowing case study is one in a growing ser

that details the work o Equator Prize winners vetted and peer-reviewed best practices in community-based environmenconservation and sustainable livelihoods. These cases are intended to inspire the policy dialogue needed to take local succ

to scale, to improve the global knowledge base on local environment and development solutions, and to serve as models

replication. Case studies are best viewed and understood with reerence to The Power of Local Action: Lessons from 10 Years

the Equator Prize, a compendium o lessons learned and policy guidance that draws rom the case material.

Click on the map to visit the Equator Initiatives searchable case study database.

EditorsEditor-in-Chief: Joseph Corcoran

Managing Editor: Oliver HughesContributing Editors: Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Erin Lewis, Whitney Wilding

Contributing WritersEdayatu Abieodun Lamptey, Erin Atwell, Toni Blackman, Jonathan Clay, Joseph Corcoran, Larissa Currado, Sarah Gordon, Oliver Hughe

Wen-Juan Jiang, Sonal Kanabar, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Rachael Lader, Patrick Lee, Erin Lewis, Jona Liebl, Mengning Ma,

Mary McGraw, Gabriele Orlandi, Brandon Payne, Juliana Quaresma, Peter Schecter, Martin Sommerschuh, Whitney Wilding, Luna Wu

DesignOliver Hughes, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Amy Korngiebel, Kimberly Koserowski, Erin Lewis, John Mulqueen, Lorena de la Pa

Brandon Payne, Mariajos Satizbal G.

AcknowledgementsThe Equator Initiative acknowledges with gratitude the Community Nature Reserve Development Network (REDERC), and in particu

the guidance and inputs o Gnanando Saidou. All photo credits courtesy o REDERC. Maps courtesy o CIA World Factbook and Wikiped

Suggested CitationUnited Nations Development Programme. 2012. The Community Nature Reserve Development Network (REDERC), Benin. Equator Initiat

Case Study Series. New York, NY.
http://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/events/2012events/Book_Launch/power%2520of%2520local%2520action%2520final%25202013%25208mb.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/events/2012events/Book_Launch/power%2520of%2520local%2520action%2520final%25202013%25208mb.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/events/2012events/Book_Launch/power%2520of%2520local%2520action%2520final%25202013%25208mb.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/events/2012events/Book_Launch/power%2520of%2520local%2520action%2520final%25202013%25208mb.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/index.php?option=com_winners&view=casestudysearch&Itemid=858


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PROJECT SUMMARYThe Community Nature Reserve Development Network(REDERC) originated in the community o Papatia, whichestablished the Botanical Garden o Papatia in response torapid depletion o local natural resources. The organizationunites traditional healers, beekeepers, armers, womensgroups, and students, rom dierent ethnic groups, toprotect the regions biodiversity and natural resources asthe basis o sustainable development.

Activities ocus on creating community and schoolprotected area, over 20 o which have been established

to date. Additionally, the network provides environmentaleducation, and documentation and commercialisationstrategies or traditional medicines and related knowledge.The network has developed new, sustainable sources oincome including ecotourism, apiculture, and sale o localplants and herbs. A literary and proessional learning centreor girls serves as a model or other initiatives in the village.

KEY FACTS

EQUATOR PRIZE WINNER: 2010

FOUNDED: 2008

LOCATION: Atakora department, Benin

BENEFICIARIES: 20,000 local residents

BIODIVERSITY: Pendjari National Park

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THE COMMUNITY NATURE RESERVEDEVELOPMENT NETWORK (REDERC)Benin

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Background and Context 4

Key Activities and Innovations 6

Biodiversity Impacts 8

Socioeconomic Impacts 9

Policy Impacts 10

Sustainability 11

Replication 11

Partners 12


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4

he Atakora department, in northwestern Benin, is home to Pendjari

National Park, one o the most important protected areas in Benin

n terms o wildlie prevalence. The parks auna includes elephants,

monkeys, lions, hippopotamuses, bualo, antelopes and a variety o

ird species. The mountainous landscape is dominated by woody

avannas and riparian orests.

ecause o its remote location, inrastructure in Atakora lags behind

hat o southern areas o the country in terms o roads, communication

etworks, and healthcare and education services. Although primary

chool is ree in Atakora, ew children reach seventh grade due to

he prohibitive cost o secondary education. The cost o living tends

o be higher in the northwest than in other regions, and the vastmajority o the population lives in rural communities. Traditionally,

he people o northwestern Benin have depended on subsistence

griculture and livestock to meet their daily needs. However, this

estyle is increasingly threatened by environmental degradation.

Threats to local biodiversity

With the human population o the area rapidly growing, land use

as intensied in recent decades. Greater numbers o livestock graze

limited supply o pasture, and the rate o rewood consumption is

ncreasing. The most severe impact on the environment, however,

as come rom the extension o agricultural production. Farmers

ave extended cultivated areas into natural orests, have begunelying on more intensive arming methods (especially or cash

rops such as cotton and maize which are increasingly popular)

nd have shortened the allow period. These behaviors have had a

egative impact on the sustainability o agriculture in the area as

he reduction in allow periods prevents ull recovery o soil and

egetation.

Virtually no uncultivated areas remain in Atakora, even in places that

re ar rom villages. Increased grazing and pruning o odder trees

s dramatically altering the regions vegetation composition. With

annual wildres urther weakening woody vegetation, and na

orests becoming scarce, biodiversity is increasingly under th

Many plant species, especially those used heavily by the popula

are becoming rare or disappearing altogether. This progre

degradation o the environment has resulted in a serious deple

o the regions endemic ora in particular. In the late 1990s, se

local healers o the village o Papatia village observed that ce

medicinal species o great importance were becoming rare

these healers had to walk urther and urther to nd the plants

needed, local knowledge regarding traditional medicine was

threatened.

Papatia Botanical Garden

In order to remedy these environmental, livelihood and cul

challenges, the Botanical Garden o Papatia was established in

by a joint initiative o the people o Papatia Village, Universi

Frankurt, and several other organizations working in the eld

sustainable development and environmental protection. The is

involved were serious enough to inspire community members

ages, ethnic groups and proessions to come together in suppo

a common cause, with traditional healers leading the establishm

o the protected area. The aim o the garden was to address na

resource exploitation with an emphasis on indigenous speci

ora.

Papatia Botanical Garden was the rst community-mana

protected area in the north o Benin and quickly became a pro

o which the entire community was proud. The Botanical Ga

began with a eld o 16 hectares that was transerred to comm

ownership by the local king (a traditional, local authority above

village chie) and has grown to 28 hectares today, as armers

owned the surrounding territory willingly donated tracts o land

the years. Beginning in 2001, the territory was ully protected

all external inuences, such as re, logging, grazing and hun

allowing nature to regenerate reely. Today, the garden con

Background and Context


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55

ver 130 woody species and hundreds o herbaceous species that

re available to the community or sustainable collection to be used

n traditional medicine.

he success o the Botanical Garden quickly spurred several

dditional social initiatives, including a literacy and vocational center

or young girls. With the experience and expertise acquired since the

reation o the Botanical Garden, some community members elt a

esire to become active beyond the borders o their village and sharenowledge with other neighboring communities, several o which

ad approached the gardens management committee seeking

dvice in the creation o their own protected areas. With this in aim

n mind, The Community Nature Reserve Development NetworkRseau de Dveloppement de Rserves Naturelles Communautaires -

EDERC) was ounded in 2008 by some members o the ounding

roup o the Botanical Garden. The main objectives o REDERC are to

oster community conservation o biodiversity and poverty reduction

hrough the development o income-generating activities.

he organization brings together traditional healers, beekeepers,

armers, womens groups and students rom dierent ethnic groups

who share the common goal o protecting the regions biodiversity

as a basis or sustainable development. As well as creating

community reserves areas modeled on the Papatia Botanical Ga

REDERCs activities ocus on promoting environmental educa

and improving marketing strategies or traditional medicines

plants. The group has successully developed new and sustain

sources o income or the community, including ecotou

apiculture and the sale o local plants and herbs.

Since expanding its outreach eorts, REDERC has been successprotecting biodiversity in the vicinity o the village and ensurin

availability o plants or use in traditional medicine. To date, RED

has supported the establishment o 24 community nature reserv

our municipalities. Local awareness o the importance o tradit

medicine has also increased, thanks to the creation o REDE

network o traditional healers. The group ensures the transmis

o traditional knowledge to younger generations. About 20

people benet directly rom REDERC activities. The organization

ve employees on the ground and about 870 local volunteers

keep the organization running smoothly. Major decisions are m

by the General Assembly, and the Board o Directors guides

executive management or the eective implementation o t

planned actions.

Given the threats to the biodiversity of the region (not to mention climate change, which has bee

evident for some time), acting together, as is the case now, the consequences will be disastrou

In general, the population is aware of this threat to its own future.

Gnanando Saidou, REDERC


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6

Key Activities and Innovations

REDERC contributes to the protection and regeneration o

biodiversity through the establishment o new community nature

eserves, educating the local population o the importance o

onserving biodiversity, and supporting the transmission o

raditional knowledge o medicinal plants

Community nature reserves

he initiative has established a network o community nature

eserves, belonging either to communities or to schools, each

modeled ater the Papatia Botanical Garden. REDERC provides

ongoing support to protect these community reserves rom re,

ssists in setting up nurseries, and trains nursery workers. Theseurseries help to regenerate species that have become rare or

xtinct. Each REDERC nursery produces an average o 1,500 seedlings

per year. The main species cultivated are anacardium occidentale,

eucena, gryricidia cepium, moringa oleiera, mangiera indica, vitex

oniana, tamarindus indica, kigelia aricana, senna siamea, albizzia

ebeck, khaya senegalensis, and azelia aricana. The seedlings are

estined both or sale (usually in the case o ruit trees) and or

eorestation (in the case o local species).

Once created, these reserves become centers or activities that

over other important areas o community development including

ducation, poverty reduction and income generation, gender

quality, the promotion o traditional medicinal knowledge, andtrengthening ties between dierent ethnic groups. The latter

s important because each village in which REDERC works is

omposed o several ethnic groups with dierent liestyles. For

xample, the Fulani are herders by tradition, which oten puts them

nto conict with other ethnic groups who traditionally practice

griculture. Creating a consensus on the shared management o the

nvironment contributes to a general spirit o cooperation among

hese ethnic groups.

REDERC is also dedicated to conducting scientic research on the

propagation and distribution o endangered local species. One o

the organizations goals is to monitor the botanical and zoolo

evolution o all o the protected areas. They are also committe

keeping members o the communities inormed o any threa

and improvements in specic species populations.

Educating the next generation

The organization also emphasizes environmental education,

a particular ocus on reaching younger generations. REDERC h

training sessions in order to raise awareness o environme

issues and the uses o traditional medicinal plants. School gar

also play a large role in environmental education. Manage

students, teachers and parents associations, these reserves are mainly by teachers as an educational tool, or conducting rese

and or student eld trips. Each year, REDERC, cooperates

research institutions and international development organiza

in the organization o a summer school that oers activities su

environmental clubs, eld trips and perormance groups that t

courses on environmental education. Prizes o bicycles and sc

supplies are distributed to the best ecologist students, encoura

the winning children to remain in school the ollowing year.

Promoting traditional medicine

As or traditional knowledge, REDERC has developed strate

to encourage the transmission o traditional knowledge elderly healers to younger generations and to promote the u

traditional medicine in general. REDERC has created an inven

o traditional plants and their uses by dierent groups in the re

and has developed sustainable harvesting methods or impo

species in order to avoid overuse. REDERC has succeeded in crea

ve local networks o healers, which included making lists o

known healers along with photos and their specialties. These

are on display in health centers, in mayors ofces and in city

so that patients can easily contact them. REDERC also serves a

intermediary between patient and healer and between compe

healers, and puts traditional healers in touch with those mo


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7

medical practitioners in order to acilitate cooperation between

two groups.

The organization has also established traditional pharmacies se

sustainably produced products made by local healers. There

currently two large pharmacies, one in Papatia and one in Pehu

REDERC rents the building and collects products rom local he

who have joined the initiative. REDERC helps the healers to pac

and properly label their products with inormation that inclcontact inormation or both REDERC and the producer as we

instructions or use, dosage guidelines, and an expiration dat

the end o each month, REDERC invites the producers to take st

and each producer receives his or her share o the revenue,

10% o revenue going to cover pharmacy operating costs.

As Atakora is a rural department with a high level o pov

REDERC also promotes sustainable, income-generating activ

such as ecotourism, selling herbs and plants, beekeeping

market gardening. REDERC partners with several womens gro

that participate in salvage activities, collecting plastic bags

using them to produce and market recycled purses, shirts, hats

other items. REDERC has also established hives or beekeepingcontinues to promote the development o ecotourism activiti

each target community.

A novel approach

With the creation o the Papatia Botanical Garden in 2001, RED

ounders were the rst in northern Benin, and in act in this e

area o West Arica, to implement such an initiative. The organiza

is urther characterized by its emphasis on scaling out. In

activities, new and appropriate approaches have been adopte

make the experience and lessons relevant to other communitie

this way, REDERC has built a ramework or creating local prote

areas using a participatory and bottom-up approach that has badopted by other municipalities in the region.

REDERC is currently considering the easibility o a new appro

to create protected areas and local orests not only or the d

benet o the people, but to combine the protection o biodive

with payments or carbon sequestration, thus creating a new so

o income. A pilot project is currently being designed.

Table 1. Community Forests and Gardens founded by REDERC

Name Village Municipality

Botanical Garden o Papatia Papatia Kouande

Botanical Garden o GoussonSonsara-

rou Pehunco

Community Forest o Dakirerou Dakirerou Pehunco

Ten tore son Dasso Pehunco

Taou koo gounou Gountia Pehunco

Kookoossou sonGnemas-

son Pehunco

Community Forest o Nassou Nassou Pehunco

Community Forest o GnangbannouSinend

Gnaro Sinende

Community Forest o Kpyissob Sinaicir Natitingou

Yassari Sinaicir Natitingou

Kounkarou Kounkarou Natitingou

School garden o Papatia Papatia Kouande

School garden o OroungbniOroung-

bni Kouande

School garden o Gorgoba Gorgoba Kouande

School garden o Kouboro Kouboro Kouande

School garden o Tamand Tamand Kouande

School garden o Gbniki Gbniki Kouande

School garden o Gantioko Gantioko Kouande

School garden o Tchoumi-TchoumiTchoumi-

Tchoumi Natitingou

School garden o Chabi-Kouma Chabi-Kouma Koaunde

School garden o Sinaicir Sinaicir Natitingou

School garden o Tobr Tobr Pehunco

School garden o Ouassa-MaroOuassa-

Maro Pehunco

School garden o Soaoudou Soaoudou Pehunco

ource: REDERC


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8

Impacts

BIODIVERSITY IMPACTS

Northern Benin is an environment under extreme pressure rom

human activities such as intensive cash-crop arming and animal

grazing. REDERC has contributed to local biodiversity conservation

hrough the creation o 24 community and school nature reserves

n the municipalities o Kouand, Phunco, Sinend, and Natitingou.

These nature reserves have reversed the trend o natural resource

depletion. In act, environmental monitoring o the gardens has

hown an increase not only in terms o numbers o individual plants

but also in the number o species present. Since 2001, Papatia

Botanical Garden has housed more than one hundred species o

woody plants, and rom 2001 to 2010 the oristic compositiono this garden grew rom 90 to 102 species. The previously grass-

dominated plant lie now includes woodlands, urther supporting

nimal species that depend upon these plants or ood and shelter.

REDERCs nature reserves have become havens or small mammals,

mphibians and birds, many o which ace threats inside villages.

Protected animal species ound in the reserves include hares, snakes,

zards, partridges, squirrels, mice, rats, guinea owl, wild bees,

butteries, grasshoppers, birds, rodents, hedgehogs, turtles, lizards

nd patas monkeys. Targeted species o ora vary greatly across the

egion. In general, the rare and threatened species in the north o

Benin are Arican mahogany (khaya senegalensis), azelia (afzelia

africana), muninga (pterocarpus erinaceus), tamarind (tamarindusndica), kigelia (kigelia africana), shea (vitellaria paradoxa) and nrparkia biglobosa). The latter our o these species are particularly

mportant to local populations because they are used intensively or

variety o purposes contributing signicantly to local incomes.

REDERC has created inventories o traditional plants and their uses

by dierent groups in the region, and works to develop sustainable

harvesting methods or important species. The organization is

urrently in the process o developing guidelines or sustainable

harvesting in the two largest reserves.

REDERC measures the impact o its activities on biodiversity thro

ecological monitoring o the reserves which is regularly condu

by the Laboratory o Applied Ecology at the University o Abom

Calavi in Cotonou, Benin. This monitoring includes taking inve

o ora through the phytosociological survey method, develop

1932 by Josias Braun-Blanquet.

Each o REDERCs nature reserves represents not only a sae ha

or existing wildlie but also a starting point or other native sp

to recolonize the area. The denser this network o reserves beco

the more readily local species regenerate on land previously

REDERCs goal is to establish as many local reserves as possiblethus contribute to the larger conservation goals o the region.

Education for biodiversity

Environmental education is an important aspect o REDERCs wo

biodiversity conservation. Part o the impetus behind the creati

the rst botanical garden was to enable local people, visitors, sc

groups, NGOs working locally and other regional stakeho

to learn about the importance o biodiversity conservation

ecology o the region, the characteristics o various plants, and

sustainable management o natural resources. A kilometer-

nature trail runs through Papatia Botanical Garden, allowing vis

to explore the natural diversity o the site, which includes variouzones, a small, seasonal creek, and a river.

The biodiversity o riparian ormations on this land is particu

important. About 60 woody species exist in the marsh, over an

greater than one hectare in size, including at least 30 species w

are not present in the main garden. Along the nature trail,

woody species has a placard showing its scientic and com

names. Grass and herb species, present on the ground only du

the rainy season, are on display in an extensive herbarium which

be ound at the Botanical Gardens inormation center. The herba


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was developed with the help o students who were tasked with

ecording the names o the plants in their local language. Thanks to

REDERCs environmental education program and ten environmental

clubs, most school-aged children in the target communities have

become aware o environmental issues.

SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS

REDERCs emphasis on income-generating activities has createda strong link between the creation o protected areas and the

mprovement o socioeconomic conditions o the local population.

These income-generating activities include ecotourism, beekeeping,

market gardening, harvesting o non-timber orest products (e.g.

eeds and ruits), and the establishment o traditional pharmacies

where sustainably-harvested, therapeutic products are sold.

Ecotourism activities take place primarily within the reserves,

but much o the region has beneted rom secondary activities

associated with tourism. Papatia Botanical Garden currently receives

he highest number o visitors because o its prime location near the

nterstate road and its mention in the Routard guidebook. Since the

creation o the garden, Papatia has welcomed about 2,000 tourists,whereas it had previously received very ew visitors. Each reserve

has a management committee that is in charge o organizing

ecotourism activities carried out within their protected area. At

present, the botanical gardens o Papatia and Phunco employ both

our guides and security guards who are paid on a monthly basis

rom unds obtained through visitors donations.

REDERC has also installed bee hives and nurseries in the buer zones

o the reserves, spurring the development o marketable products

and alternative livelihood options. Some o the protected areas have

as many as 60 hives, which each producing 15 to 25 liters o honey

per season. REDERC trains beekeepers and nursery workers within

he local communities, and these people now derive most o their

ncome rom these activities. External nancial assistance granted

by individuals and corporations allows these workers to be paid ater

easonal maintenance work is carried out in the gardens. In addition,

traw and medicinal plants are harvested near the protected areas

and sold in the markets. Straw is very useul to the communities

or weaving mats and constructing roos and ences. Community

members who express a desire to collect straw must apply or a

icense with the management committee o the given reserve.

The village o Papatia has urther beneted rom the establishment

o a Center or the Promotion o Medicinal Plants (CVPM), rom the

drilling o a large diameter well with a permanent water source, androm the construction o a service road. The creation o the Center

has increased the purchasing power o traditional healers, many o

whom had never beore derived nancial compensation rom their

expertise. Traditional healers can now receive more than XOF (West

Arican rancs) 18,000 per three-month cycle through activities at

he center. Sales clerks also receive compensation or their activities

at the center, oten receiving more than XOF 6,000 per three-month

cycle. Since villagers no longer have to get water rom the creeks

and rivers to meet their water needs, there has been an observable

decrease in waterborne diseases and there are ewer conicts at

water points.

Supporting women

REDERC also works with womens groups that conduct activ

contributing to improved socioeconomic conditions. There

currently our large womens groups with a total o 145 active wo

members. These women meet once a week to pay into a rota

savings scheme whereby each woman contributes XOF 500 and

take turns receiving the total sum (with 40 members meeting

contributions total XOF 20,000), allowing them to make impoinvestments which would be beyond their individual re

Additionally, each womens group promotes market garde

among their members, an activity which has had an signi

positive impact. There has been a decrease in malnutrition

result, and the sale o vegetables in the local market provides wo

with income which they mainly use to pay or breakast or

school-aged children. REDERC provides these womens groups

technical support and helps them to nd unding to support

gardening activities. For example, one group received a small g

or the construction o a cistern and the purchase o a generat

allow them to water their gardens.

REDERC also works with womens groups to construct disseminate uel-efcient stoves, a project that is carried out thro

unding rom the International Union or Conservation o Na

(IUCN). These stoves reduce consumption and thereore the co

wood and coal, allowing women to spend less time collecting w

and less money on charcoal. As or gender equality, women

occupied important posts in REDERC since its oundation, and

o its sub-organizations, the Healers Network and the Comm

or the Sustainable Management o Protected Areas, are comp

primarily o women.

REDERC has also contributed to social cohesion among ethnic gro

Papatia Botanical Garden was the initiative o a group o Fula pe

9

Table 2. Womens groups working with REDERC

Name o Group Members Activities

Bariba womens

group o Papatia40

Market gardening ; Recyc

o plastic bags ; Savings

group; Small business

Fulani womens

group o Papatia25

Market gardening; Making

cheese rom cows milk; R

cycling o plastic bags; Sa

ings group; Small busines

Otamari womens

group o Papatia30

Market gardening ; Recy-

cling o plastic bags; Savin

group; Small business

Bariba womens

group o Pehunco50

Savings group; Small

business; Recycling o pla

bags

Source: REDERC


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n ethnic group that has traditionally been marginalized in Beninese

ociety. The success o this rst botanical garden has contributed

normously to raising the status o the local Fula as a group that

s actively working toward the betterment o all. Furthermore,

EDERC is headquartered at Papatia, a village inhabited by several

thnic groups, including Ditammaris, Baribas, Peulhs, Lokpas, Yoms

nd Solas. REDERCs various projects have strengthened the links

etween these groups and have brought them together in pursuit

a common goal.

POLICY IMPACTSEDERC plays a crucial role in speaking out or the local environment

nd making sure that the subject is regularly on the agenda at

egional meetings. The organization has invited local political

eaders to participate in events and ceremonies organized by

heir 24 community nature reserves. As a result o both direct

ction and awareness raising campaigns, REDERC has managed to

successully advocate or laws and policies that are more avo

to the conservation o biodiversity and the promotion o tradit

knowledge.

The initiative has also attracted the attention o policy makers a

national and international levels as well as rom NGOs workin

the environment and sustainable use sectors. The work o RED

is regularly presented at international conerences as an exem

model o the community-based natural resource managemFor example, a representative o REDERC was invited to ma

presentation at a side event or the Biodiversity Transect Ana

project (BIOTA Arica) at the Ninth Conerence o the Parties to

United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 9) in B

Germany, in 2008. REDERC has also been cited in ofcial docum

rom international conerences as an example o ee

capitalization on indigenous knowledge or the conservatio

biodiversity.

10

In the framework of strategic action plans for the implementation or revision of nationa

biodiversity policies, we urge the authorities at various levels to take into account endogenou

knowledge in conservation matters.

Gnanando Saidou, REDERC


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11

Sustainability and Replication

SUSTAINABILITY

n 2001, when the networks rst nature reserve was established

n Papatia, the community was already supported by a dynamic

etwork o partners, which aided the ounding group in expanding

he reach o its projects and garnering support or its biodiversity

onservation work throughout the region. Those partners have

ontinued to guarantee a small amount o nancial support, which,

long with tremendous participation rom the local population,

as ensured the longevity o the project over the decade since it

riginated.

EDERC derives much o its social sustainability rom its bottom-uptrategy o designing activities that take into account the needs o

he local population. The organizations oundation on principles

social cohesion, directly involving all ethnic groups, ages,

roessions, and other segments o society, ensures the involvement

dierent sectors o the community in the project, and supports a

ense o community ownership.

ince a large number o people prot either directly or indirectly rom

EDERC activities, there is wide local support or the continuation o

rojects. Traditional healers, in particular, have benetted rom the

erennialization o resources and rom the increased protability o

heir livelihoods. Newly trained beekeepers, nursery workers, and

our guides are other examples o population segments that have atake in REDERCs continued success.

conomic sustainability is assured through ecotourism revenue,

onations rom visitors, the sale o honey and plants, and the sale o

raditional medicine in the pharmacies, rom which REDERC receives

en per cent o total sales revenue.

REPLICATION

REDERC was ounded or the purpose o replicating its orig

endeavor, the Papatia Botanical Garden, in other villages. To

the organization has supported the establishment o some 23

nature reserves, modeled ater Papatia Botanical Garden. In som

these cases, people rom neighboring villages, aware o biodive

loss in their communities and conscious o the threat it represe

to their utures, approached REDERC to express their desire to cr

a reserves modeled on Papatia.

In other cases, the new reserves were created on abandoned

where a armer had set up his eld but died beore the harSuch elds become worthless as superstition prevents others

arming there. By creating reserves on such sites, REDERC is ab

give the land value both as a sacred site and as a natural heritag

or biodiversity conservation to the benet o the entire popula

In addition, the organization conducts knowledge exch

activities among participating communities by acilitating v

inormational meetings, awareness-raising, and celebrations o

International Day or Biodiversity among other environmental

REDERC has also contributed to the increasingly strong cooper

among local, traditional healers who belong to many die

ethnic groups and whose methods vary greatly. The organiz

has arranged activities to acilitate knowledge exchange amtraditional healers and meetings to encourage the adoption

shared environmental vision. REDERCs community protected a

have been visited by a number o delegations, including a g

o 50 European and Arican researchers, led by the Universi

Abomey-Calavi, UNDP-Benin with Canal3 (a Beninese telev

station), and a number o international development institution


12/13


13/13

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FURTHER REFERENCE

The Community Nature Reserve Development Network Photo Story (Vimeo) vimeo.com/15748278

Krohmer, J. and Hahn-Hadjali, K. 2004. The botanic garden of Papatia (Northern Benin): Perspectives for sustainable use, biodive

conservation and preservation of traditional knowledge. Presented at the 2nd World Botanic Gardens Congress, Barcelona, 2004.

bgci.org/barcelona04/abstracts/pd_abstracts/Krohmer.pd

Equator Initiative

Environment and Energy GroupUnited Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

304 East 45th Street, 6th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Tel: +1 646 781-4023

www.equatorinitiative.org

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UNs global development network, advocating or change

onnecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better lie.

The Equator Initiative brings together the United Nations, governments, civil society, businesses and grassroots organizati

o recognize and advance local sustainable development solutions or people, nature and resilient communities.

2012 by Equator Initiative

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case studies undp: the community nature reserve development network (rederc), benin

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