Ouagadougou: The Belgian International Cooperation Agency (Enabel) and the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) have initiated a significant Natural Resource Management Stakeholders’ Forum in Ouagadougou. This three-day event brings together participants from nine countries to exchange experiences on “Sustainable Natural Resource Management: Synergy for the Sahel’s Socio-Ecological Resilience.”
According to Burkina Information Agency, Danny Denolf, Country Director for Mali and Burkina Faso at Enabel, highlighted the tangible impacts of natural resource degradation. Speaking at the forum’s official opening, he emphasized how this degradation threatens food security, youth employment, and social peace, influencing whether communities remain on their land or are compelled to migrate. Denolf noted that these factors ultimately determine national wealth and the future of essential services like schools, hospitals, and jobs.
The event, co-organized by Enabel and SNV, gathers participants from Burkina Faso,
Mali, Niger, Senegal, Mauritania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain. The objective is to foster a synergy of actions to bolster the resilience of Sahelian populations and ecosystems.
The Ambassador and Consul General of the Kingdom of Belgium in Burkina Faso addressed the forum, acknowledging the challenges and opportunities presented by the Sahel’s climate. The Ambassador pointed out that the region is confronted with multifaceted challenges, including natural resource degradation, climate change impacts, demographic pressures, and humanitarian and security issues. These challenges directly influence production systems, food security, biodiversity, and the overall resilience of populations.
Supported by the Ministry of the Environment, Water and Sanitation (MEEA), the forum focuses on three key areas: water, land, and timber and non-timber resources. Dr. Boureima Kouanda, Secretary General of the Ministry of the Environment, expressed hope that the forum would enhance collaboration, identify
suitable solutions, and establish a shared action plan. He highlighted that the ministry’s resilience strategy for 2025 prioritizes reforestation and ecosystem restoration, with initiatives such as ‘Patriotic Hour to Green Faso,’ ‘One Province, One Medicinal Grove,’ and ‘One School, One Botanical Garden.’