600 small-scale tree nurseries in Burkina Faso hold large diversity

By Barbara Vinceti and Sean Mattson, NATURE+ and Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT

Burkina Faso is ramping up efforts to plant native tree species to tackle desertification and landscape degradation. Ongoing research by the CGIAR’s Nature-Positive Solutions Initiative builds on a growing knowledge base that will be key to the country’s commitment to restoring 5 million hectares by 2030.

Key messages:

• Tree diversity in Burkina Faso’s large, informal network of community nurseries is encouragingly high, providing a key resource for ambitious restoration plans
• Funding and technical support is needed to improve seed quality, genetic diversity, seed sourcing and management of planting material
• Findings support the implementation of a large-scale capacity-building program aimed at improving the quality and diversity of tree-planting materials provided by small-scale nurseries
• The new research is part of a growing body of work on native tree systems in Burkina Faso and other African nations by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and other CGIAR centers

Enhancing the quality and quantity of tree planting material in nurseries is vital to support large-scale forest landscape restoration. These critical resources help ensure the establishment of healthy trees resistant to pests, diseases, and environmental stress. Well-established tree-based restoration also improves the economies of communities that rely on these tree resources and promotes biodiversity conservation by focusing on native species, which tend to be neglected. High-quality planting materials also contribute to environmental sustainability: because they are adapted to local environments, they reduce the risk of planting failures, and lead to optimized use of resources, such as water, labor, and land.

The production of high-quality tree planting material depends heavily on a well-structured tree seed system with adequate technical capacity. Among other important aspects, it is crucial to establish appropriate methods for collecting, processing, and storing seeds, which requires technical expertise to maintain seed viability and prevent damage or loss. Furthermore, a well-organized system ensures access to a wide variety of species and genetic material, supporting biodiversity. This diversity is critical for developing resilient planting material suited to different environmental conditions. Technical capacity ensures that the right care is applied in the propagation of planting material, from germination to seedling growth.

Burkina Faso is significantly involved in forest landscape restoration efforts as part of its fight against desertification and land degradation, largely driven by agricultural expansion and climate change. One of the country’s key commitments is to bring into restoration 5 million hectares of degraded land by 2030, a goal aligned with the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100) and the Great Green Wall Initiative. These initiatives aim to combat desertification in the Sahel region by restoring ecosystems and improving livelihoods.

Local communities, NGOs, and international donors play critical roles in these restoration projects but big challenges persist. Among others, these include limited seed diversity and quality, and a lack of technical capacity.

In close collaboration with the Alliance, the National Tree Seed Center of Burkina Faso led a survey targeting about 600 small-scale, largely informal, nurseries across eight regions in the country, to characterize the tree seed sector, understand the diversity of planting material handled and quantities produced, examine technical skills in place and identify knowledge gaps. (Additional information can be found in this research paper, which includes an analysis of native tree seed systems in three other African countries.)

Findings point to high diversity, sustainable business potential

Survey results are being fully analyzed but some interesting and surprising findings are already emerging.

“We were surprised by the large number of species handled by small-scale nurseries,” said Edith Daboue, the director of the National Tree Seed Center of Burkina Faso. “We recorded around 250 plant species, including both native and exotics plants. Trees constitute about 50% of the species managed, the rest are herbs, shrubs, palms, vines, etc.” (See the Tree Seed Center’s Facebook page for more information.)

“Interestingly, nurseries tend to diversify their production, managing a mixed portfolio of native and exotic plants, and more than half of the nurseries involved in our study target ornamental species, which tend to be more expensive and help to ensure the business is viable,” said Regis Oubida, research director at the National Tree Seed Center.

Nursery managers often cite constraints including lack of water, limited market access, and a lack of technical support.

What’s next for researchers, partners, and Burkina Faso stakeholders?

Survey results will be the basis for developing and launching a large-scale capacity-building program to enhance the quality and diversity of tree planting material supplied by small-scale nurseries. Most nurseries produce small quantities of planting material but their efficiency can be largely improved with targeted training. In addition, nursery manager skills focus on the multiplication and production of plants but few nursery managers received any training on seed collection, preparation, and conservation, which are also critical to successful restoration.

Finally, many respondents indicated they use social media and radio to improve their skills. A further initiative under consideration is establishing a platform for tree-sector stakeholders to exchange technical information.