Niger - Natural Forest Management Project (NFMP)

The Natural Forests Management Project (NFMP) in Niger is an answer to the Government’s concerns to supply the urban populations with fuel wood while preserving the resource. This policy of promoting the sustainable management of forest resources was hinged around the Domestic Energy Supply Strategy (DES), put in place in 1992 after several attempts at natural forest development that fell short of expectations. At appraisal (1997), NFMP was in keeping with the Bank’s strategy, as with that of the Government; indeed, for both parties, the agroforest and pastoral sector was vital to Niger’s economic and social development. The project is organised around the following 3 components: (i) natural resource management, (ii) accompanying actions, and (iii) project management. In order to maintain, preserve and develop the country’s forest resources and meet the fuelwood and leaf needs, the proposes three (3) important programmes involving: a) the creation of rural markets and the integrated management of forests; b) the intensification of forestry and pastoral activities; and c) strengthening of accompanying measures. The implementation of the project will last 60 months.