CIFOR’s success depends heavily on strong, healthy partnerships. In October 2005 CIFOR worked with French agricultural research partner CIRAD and Mali’s Institut d’economie rurale (IER) to hold a West African savanna productivity workshop in the capital of Mali, Bamako.

In most countries in West Africa, fuelwood and charcoal are important sources of cooking energy. Most of this woodfuel comes from the savannas, especially around urban centres, placing huge pressure on this resource. People now have to travel much further in search of woodfuel, with distances of 200km not unheard of.

To sustainably manage this resource, equilibrium must be found between demand and supply. It is therefore important to know the productivity of the savannas. In other words how long it takes for an area of land to re-grow after harvesting. In 1982 a synthesis of knowledge of savanna productivity was produced* and since then new inventory methods have been tested, providing new results to base research on. But there is still much to be learnt about savanna productivity.

This is why CIFOR, CIRAD and IER organised the ten-day Savanna Productivity Network Workshop, which brought together over 20 specialists in the savanna productivity of West Africa’s dry forests. Savanna productivity researchers in West Africa are often isolated, with only one or two scientists specialising in this field in each country. The workshop brought these researchers together so they could discuss their work, problems and new ideas. A common shared problem is how to understand the links between productivity and rainfall. Estimating productivity is very difficult because different data collection methods are used. The workshop allowed scientists to discuss ways of ensuring their measurement methods are consistent.

As a result of the workshop, the members of the network continue to support each other via a specially created website. CIFOR, CIRAD and IER also use the site to provide facilitation, advice and assistance. For more information on savanna productivity and inventory techniques visit http://savafornetwork.ifrance.com/ 

*CLÉMENT J., 1982. Estimation des volumes et de la productivité des formations mixtes forestières et graminéennes tropicales. Bois et Forêts des Tropiques 198 (4):35-58.