PENDING FINANCE

1. General Description:
ID:CN-24033
Project resulting from this CN: N/A
Note: CNs are developed into project proposals following consultation withdonor(s).
1.1 Project Title:
Pre-project: Conducting Studies in relation with the Sustainable Management ofAfzelia africana and Pterocarpus erinaceus in Benin

1.2 Submitting Country/ies:
Benin

1.3 Specific Location & Country/ies/regions/areas benefitting from the
project:
Benin

1.4 Endorsement from ITTO Focal Point:
Accord_Point_Focal_Benin.pdf
1.5 Intended Project Duration (in months):10
1.6 Indicative Budget (in US$):
ITTO

121,520

Counterpart

28,000

Total

149,520

1.7 Programme Line Focus
Conservation of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
1.8 Project TypeCapacity Building/Training, Community/field-based project implementation,
Analytical work/studies
Project Type - Other (please explain):NA

1.9 Proposal Summary:Afzelia africana and Pterocarpus erinaceus are two of the most sought-after local
timber species, and are currently in danger of extinction in their natural habitat,
due to strong anthropic pressure and overutilization compounded by the growing
demand for their wood in Benin. In addition, due to a lack of awareness of wildfire
risks, the use of forest land for agriculture, and uncontrolled logging, it is expectedthat both species will no longer be found in Benin, resulting in significant
economic and environmental damage. Following the CITES Appendix II listing of
P. erinaceus in 2016, the entire Afzelia genus was also listed in CITES Appendix II
in 2023. Despite the interest for these multi-purpose species, up-to-date
information on their availability, the extent of threats and their economic
importance for ensuring their sustainable management are lacking in Benin. Dueto the lack of essential information for decision-making, a harvesting ban waspromulgated by the Government of Benin and is currently in force. The pre-project
aims to provide sufficient information to ensure the sustainable management of A.
africana and P. erinaceus in Benin. The specific objective of the pre-project is tomake use of the necessary information for developing a project proposal on thesustainable management of A. africana and P. erinaceus in Benin. Project
expected outcomes are as follows: (i) updated ecological and socio-economic
data is available for A. africana and P. erinaceus in Benin; (ii) awareness of theimportance of sustainable management for A. africana and P. erinaceus has beenraised among all relevant actors and stakeholders; and (iii) a project proposal forthe sustainable management of A. africana and P. erinaceus in Benin is available.

2. Proponent Information:

2.1 Executing Agency Information:
Name of Agency/Organization/Institution:
Initiative for Life Conservation non-governmental organization (Initiative pour laPréservation de la Vie—IPV-NGO)

Name of main Contact Person:
Dr BIO NIGAN Raïmath

Email:
info@ipv.ipvong.com
Other E-mail address:
christdjalla@gmail.com

Phone:+229 47043088

Fax:
NA

URL:
https://ipvong.com/

2.2 Type of Organization:
Civil Society Organization
Type of Organization- other case:NA2.3 Collaborating Agency/ies:
Name of Agency/Organization/Institution:
General Directory of Water, Forests and Hunting (Direction Générale des Eaux,Forêts et Chasse—DGEFC)Name of main Contact Person:
KOROGONE Sinagabé O Ulysse

Email Address:
staulysse@gmail.com

Phone:+229 97601288

URL:
https://eforex.gouv.bj/apropos

2.4 Relevant experience of EA:
IPV-NGO has been responsible for implementing initiatives for the protection ofendangered species and the restoration of forest ecosystems in collaboration with
the DGEFC. The IPV-NGO members have expertise in project management; datacollection; threat analysis; and the development of conservation strategies
appropriate to local circumstances. IPV-NGO technical members were involved in
the 2020 forest inventory. The IPV-NGO also participates in reforestation andawareness-raising campaigns.

3. Relevance:3.1 Conformity with ITTO objectives (ITTA, 2006) and priorities (current SAP):
c. Contribute to sustainable development and poverty alleviation: The pre-projectwill collect updated ecological and socio-economic data on A. africana and P.
erinaceus in Benin. Based on collected data, actions involving communities will
be implemented for alleviating poverty in rural areas. f. Promote and support
research & development with a view to improving forest management and timberuse efficiency, and to enhancing the capacity in preserving and promoting otherforest values in timber producing tropical forests: The pre-project will assess theenvironmental and economic potential of A. africana and P. erinaceus timber in
Benin with a view to promoting their sustainable management. m. Encouraging
members to develop national policies aimed at sustainable utilization andconservation of timber producing forests, and maintaining ecological balance, inthe context of the tropical timber trade: As a result of pre-project implementation,
reliable data will be available for decision-making in connection with thesustainable management of A. africana and P. erinaceus. n. Strengthening thecapacity of members to improve forest law enforcement and governance, andaddress illegal logging and related trade in tropical timber: The pre-project willcontribute to enhancing the operational capabilities of control officers and tosupporting the sustainable management and conservation of A. africana and P.
erinaceus. r. Encouraging members to recognize the role of forest -dependent
indigenous and local communities in achieving sustainable forest managementand develop strategies to enhance the capacity of these communities tosustainably manage tropical timber producing forests: The strategy for pre-project
implementation will be based on a participatory approach.

3.2 Relevance to the ITTO Programme Lines:
Program Line 1: Legal and sustainable supply chains (LSSC): Pre-project
implementation will contribute to stakeholder capacity building on the ecologicaland economic role of P. africana and P eraneus with a view to ensuring theirsustainable management. This will ensure the continued and sustainable supplyof utility wood and timber in the long term. Program Line 2: Biodiversity andecosystemic services: The pre-project will contribute to biodiversity conservation
through the restoration of A. africana and P. erinaeus in timber production forests.
In addition, the sustainable management of A. africana and P. erinaeus forest
species and the maintenance of related ecosystemic services will be ensured
through the implementation of the various activities.

3.3 Relevance to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Global
Forest Goals (GFGs) and other forest related global agenda:
SDG 15 (Life on Earth): The project will contribute directly to achieving SDG 15
through the preservation of land biodiversity, including threatened plant species
such as A. africana and P. erinaceus. It also aims to combat deforestation; torestore degraded ecosystems; and to promote sustainable forest management.
SDG 13 (Climate action): Forest conservation, including conserving forest species
such as A. africana and P. erinaceus, contributes to greenhouse gas emission
reduction; carbon sequestration; and adaptation to climate change. This is key forachieving the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. SDG 1: (No Poverty) andSDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth): The project will contribute to poverty
alleviation; promote inclusive economic development through local community
involvement in the sustainable management of forest resources; and support
economic initiatives based on A. africana and P. erinaceus species. Global Forest
Goals (GFGs): The project will contribute to achieving the goals as contained in
the New York Declaration on Forests, such as deforestation reduction; forest
ecosystem restoration; and promotion of sustainable forest management. REDD+
Program (Reducing emissions resulting from deforestation and forest
degradation): By contributing to forest conservation, the project will support the
REDD+ Program objectives through reducing carbon dioxide emissions fromdeforestation and enhancing the sustainable management of forest resources.

3.4 Relevance to submitting country’s policies:
The pre-project is fully in line with Benin's new forestry policy, legislation andregulations, and current national strategies and sectoral action plans, as well as
the Government's PAG2 Action Program. Benin's forest resource management
policy is based on a participatory approach for the management of natural forest
and wildlife resources, by involving local populations in the sustainable
management of protected areas. It promotes strengthening the technical,
logistical and operational capacities of stakeholders. It also aims to preserve thevarious environmental, economic and social functions of forests and wildlife
populations, while organizing resource management following an approachconsistent with agricultural and pastoral development strategies. The pre-projectprovides an opportunity to implement certain aspects of Benin's national policy.
The project will serve as a framework to help achieve Action 4 of the 2021-2026
PAG, which aims to improve the well-being of all and to preserve theenvironment. The project will address the international strategic policies endorsed
by Benin through the ratification of several environment-related conventions,agreements and initiatives. The listing of A. africana and P. erinaceus in CITES
Appendix 2 makes it mandatory to carry out a study for producing a nondetriments findings report, to which project outcomes will greatly contribute. To
avoid any risk associated with logging, Benin has followed a conservative
approach prohibiting A. africana and P. erinaceus harvesting, including fordomestic consumption. The project will therefore provide Benin with updated datafor decision-making and the development of a project proposal for theconservation and sustainable utilization of A. africana and P. erinaceus.

3.5 Linkages to previous/ongoing ITTO and other projects/activities (if any):
The pre-project is closely linked to previous and ongoing activities implemented
by the ITTO and other organizations working in the field of forest management
and biodiversity conservation. Potential links with these initiatives include: 1.
Sustainable forest management programs: The ITTO has implemented several
programs promoting the sustainable management of tropical forests. The A.
africana and P. erinaceus conservation project will be part of these efforts byintegrating sustainable forest management practices and contributing to theconservation of forest resources. 2. Research and monitoring programs:
Research institutions such as the Center for International Forestry Research(CIFOR), the International Development Research Center (IDRC) and partner
universities have carried out studies on the distribution, ecology and conservationof A. africana and P. erinaceus in the region. This conservation project will draw
on the study findings to guide its interventions and contribute to biodiversity
monitoring efforts. 3. The project is in line with the priorities of regional initiatives
such as those of the Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC) and theWest African Forest Commission in terms of conservation and sustainable forest
management. 4. Biodiversity conservation projects: Other institutions such as theUnited Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Global Environment Facility(GEF) and non-governmental organizations specializing in biodiversity
conservation have previously implemented forest ecosystem and endangered
species preservation projects in West Africa. This project can benefit frompartnerships with these initiatives to ensure access to funding, technical expertiseand lessons learned.

4. Project synopsis:

4.1 Objectives (reflecting reference to elements within all ITTO Guidelines asapplicable):
The pre-project development objective is to contribute to the sustainable
management of A. africana and P. erinaceus in Benin. Specifically, the pre-project
aims to i) assess the current status of A. africana and P. erinaceus populations in
Benin's secondary forests, focusing on geographical distribution, abundance andthreats. This objective is in line with the guideline Restore degraded naturalforests. It represents an effort to (i) increase timber production in a sustainable
way and develop policies for the sustainable conservation of A. africana and P.
erinaceus; (ii) assess the socio-economic data available on A. africana and P.
erinaceus in Benin. Based on this data, effective strategies will be developed(priority areas for conservation, inclusive management, and sustainable economic
alternatives for communities) for the conservation and sustainable managementof A. africana and P. erinaceus populations; iii) raise awareness among all actors
and stakeholders involved in the sustainable management of target species. Thisobjective is also in line with the guideline Integrate trees into agriculturallandscapes. Stakeholders will be made aware of ecosystem services andagroforestry associated with A. africana and P. erinaceus, and of the uptake ofpractices minimizing overgrazing, forest fires, overuse and overlogging for
fuelwood with a view to increasing crop yields, and improving livelihoods andincomes; and (iv) develop a project proposal for the sustainable management of
A. africana and P. erinaceus in Benin. This objective is in line with the guideline
Management of secondary forests. A pilot project proposal will be developed for
promoting the conservation and regeneration of A. africana and P. erinaceus
populations through appropriate management practices, such as assisted naturalregeneration and the protection of critical habitats.

4.2 Key problem(s) to be addressed:
The study on the status of P. erinaceus carried out in 2020, and enhanced by aliterature review on both species, showed a number of constraints for theirsustainable management such as the lack of updated information on their national
potential (productivity and regeneration); a lack of consistent information on the
dynamics of natural stands; lack of socio-economic data; lack of mechanism forcentralizing harvesting and marketing data for each forest species; lack of a nondetriment findings report essential for determining harvesting quotas and thesustainable management of the species. All above constraints are compoundedby the degradation of the species' habitat. As fertile land becomes scarcer, local
populations are increasingly turning to other land, particularly in gazetted foreststhat are now the main areas where A. africana and P. erinaceus are found in
Benin. Anthropogenic pressures in protected areas contribute to the degradationof potential habitats for species conservation. As a result of severe degradation
due to the loss of species populations from wildfire, agriculture, logging andhabitat fragmentation, A. africana and P. erinaceus populations have become
reduced. While short-term threats are mainly selective logging, deforestation,
wildfire and agriculture, the reduction in stand size and the lack of gene flows
between populations will threaten the species' capacity for regeneration andadaptability in the long term. Priority actions must therefore be taken with regard
to local communities living in the vicinity of the various forests still home to A.
africana and P. erinaceus.

4.3 Main stakeholders and beneficiaries:
Sustainable management of A. africana and P. erinaceus in Benin involves close
collaboration between a large diversity of beneficiaries and stakeholders. They
include: Local communities: One of the main beneficiaries of A. africana and P.
erinaceus sustainable management for their subsistence, livelihoods and culture.
At least 590,000 community members will be impacted. - Timber harvesters andprocessors: Those involved in the harvesting and processing of A. africana and P.
erinaceus timber will be encouraged to uptake legal and sustainable logging
practices, which will contribute to their economic stability. - Timber industries:
Timber industries using A. africana and P. erinaceus timber for furniture-making,construction and handicraft activities will benefit from their sustainable
management by ensuring a steady supply of high-quality timber. It will alsoenhance the image of businesses in terms of environmental and social
responsibility. - Civil society organizations and environmental NGOs: They will be
involved in awareness-raising activities promoting the sustainable management oftarget forest resources. They will benefit from technical expertise for supporting
local communities with the uptake of more sustainable practices. - Government
and local authorities: they are important stakeholders in the sustainable
management of forest resources. Through pre-project implementation, theforestry administration (DGEFC) will be provided with updated data for thedevelopment and implementation of policies, laws and regulations governing theharvesting and management of A. africana and P. erinaceus.

4.4 Key activities:
1- Assess the current status of A. africana and P. erinaceus populations in Benin:
This activity will assess the available potential of A. africana and P. erinaceus(occurrence, volume, abundance) as well as faced threats. 2- Assess the current
socio-economic and cultural potential of A. africana and P. erinaceus in Benin:
Surveys will be carried out in the pre-project areas, taking into account eachcategory of stakeholder. Semi-directive interviews will be conducted on local
knowledge and perceptions; traditional and commercial uses; conservation andsustainable management initiatives; cultural importance; challenges andopportunities; and future prospects for the use and conservation of A. africana
and P. erinaceus. 3- Outreach and awareness raising among stakeholders: A
workshop will be held to report study results to stakeholders. Following theworkshop, stakeholder consultations will be held to promote local ownership ofactions and to consolidate the sustainable management of A. africana and P.
erinaceus. The Information Education and Communication (IEC) approach will be
used. Consultations will be held with all actors and stakeholders and awarenessraising will be conducted on the sustainable management of A. africana and P.
erinaceus. Awareness-raising and information meetings will be held forstakeholders. 4- Developing a project proposal for the sustainable managementof A. africana and P. erinaceus: An expert in ITTO project development will be
hired to develop a project proposal following a participatory approach including all
stakeholder categories. The ITTO Manual for Project Formulation will serve as the
template for developing the project proposal. 5- Production and dissemination of
the final pre-project report.

4.5 Expected outcomes and impacts, including innovation/transformation:
Output 1: Updated ecological and socio-economic information on A. africana andP. erinaceus in Benin is available. Output 2: Awareness of sustainable
management for A. africana and P. erinaceus has been raised among relevant
actors and stakeholders. Output 3: A project proposal for the sustainable
management of A. africana and P. erinaceus in Benin is available. Implementing
the project to be developed will ensure the sustainability of A. africana and P.
erinaceus, and the maintenance of related ecosystem services.

4.6 Existing funding for (related) initiative(s)/established contacts to potential
donors:NA

4.7 Any other information deemed necessary/important:
Pre-project implementation is important and urgent for Benin in order to beprovided with key data for: (a) Strengthening national management measures for
A. africana and P. erinaceus on the basis of sound data; (b) Ensuring compliancewith CITES requirements; (c) Raising stakeholder awareness and developing a
project for the production, conservation and sustainable management of two of
Benin's most prized species for timber and utility wood. The IPV-NGO will work inclose collaboration with the DGEFC to ensure the sustainability of pre-project
outcomes and to facilitate the successful implementation of the project to be
developed. ITTO's contribution to the project will be an essential added value.

4.8 Risk mitigation measures:
The likely risks and related mitigation measures identified for the project are as
follows: Socio-economic and environmental studies: Support from various
stakeholders will be pursued through awareness raising and involving thecollaborating agency in all stages, from study planning to actual implementation.
Forestry personnel will be involved in inventories to build up trust for the project
among communities. Awareness raising will also be conducted prior to project
start among local and community authorities. Availability of stakeholders to takepart in awareness-raising sessions: This risk will be kept under control asstakeholders will find it in their interest to have their concerns addressed. Openand transparent communication mechanisms will be established with all relevant
stakeholders, providing regular information on project objectives, activities andoutcomes, and promoting stakeholder participation and feedback. Project
document meeting national expectations: To limit the risk of producing a project
document not endorsed by stakeholders, consultant selection and the methodical
approach to be followed by the consultant will be validated with the DGEFC, anda monitoring committee will be established.

Pledges/Addtional funding
SessionDonor

PledgeRem

Person in charge:
Masupa Kambale

5. Indicative Budget (in US$):Indicative Budget (in US$):Description

ITTO

Counterpart

Total

Personnel

19,50019,00038,500Sub-contracts

42,000042,000Travel and DSA

3,500

0

3,500

Capital Items

4,000

0

4,000

Consumables

6,500

3,000

9,500

Publication /14,0000

14,000Miscellaneous

4,000

6,000

10,000Total

93,50028,000121,500

ITTO Project

10,000-10,000

Annual/Final Audit

5,000

-

5,000

ITTO Programme

13,020-13,0200-0121,520

28,000149,520

Dissemination

Monitoring & Review

SupportITTO Ex-post
Evaluation
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