Multi-criteria multi-stakeholder decision analysis using a fuzzy-stochastic approach for hydrosystem management

The conventional methods used to solve multi-criteria multi-stakeholder problems are less strongly formulated, as they normally incorporate only homogeneous information at a time and suggest aggregating objectives of different decision-makers avoiding water–society interactions. In this contribution, Multi-Criteria Group Decision Analysis (MCGDA) using a fuzzy-stochastic approach has been proposed to rank a set of alternatives in water management decisions incorporating heterogeneous information under uncertainty. The decision making framework takes hydrologically, environmentally, and socio-economically motivated conflicting objectives into consideration. The criteria related to the performance of the physical system are optimized using multi-criteria simulation-based optimization, and fuzzy linguistic quantifiers have been used to evaluate subjective criteria and to assess stakeholders' degree of optimism. The proposed methodology is applied to find effective and robust intervention strategies for the management of a coastal hydrosystem affected by saltwater intrusion due to excessive groundwater extraction for irrigated agriculture and municipal use. Preliminary results show that the MCGDA based on a fuzzy-stochastic approach gives useful support for robust decision-making and is sensitive to the decision makers' degree of optimism

Scaling Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) in Niger

Niger regards restoring degraded landscapes as a critical issue for achieving its environmental and development goals. Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) is an agroforestry-based low-cost land restoration technique where farmers take an active role in regenerating and managing the growth of trees and shrubs from existing root systems or stumps. FMNR is increasingly advocated as a nature-based solution to address land degradation. Niger has long history of practicing FMNR, and the government has committed to restoring 3.2 million hectares of land by 2030, primarily through FMNR, to enhance the living conditions of its population. Despite many years of experience in implementing FMNR in Niger, there have been significant challenges concerning the sustainability of the environmental and socio-economic benefits derived from it.1 One of the critical issues lies in the lack of a mechanistic understanding of how contextual factors influence FMNR and its subsequent impact on sustainability.2 Among these gaps is the need for a deeper comprehension of how various biophysical, social, economic, and political conditions at the local level affect the sustainability of FMNR. To scale up FMNR and achieve the desired land restoration objectives, it is crucial to establish a systematic approach that can assist and guide the process of determining where and for whom FMNR is an appropriate restoration technique and where it might be necessary to complement it with other soil and water management technologies to enhance FMNR adoption and achieve its desired outcomes. This technical brief provides governments, NGOs, local communities, and international partners with actionable insights on implementing and scaling FMNR for sustainable land management in Niger. The brief presents a holistic conceptual framework for the assessment of local agricultural governance and socio-economic systems, and the requisite biophysical conditions for scaling FMNR. The framework can serve as a tool to guide FMNR suitability assessing where, when, and for whom FMNR might be appropriate. Moreover, this holistic approach helps in understanding the barriers that hinder its uptake. For FMNR to be scaled up in Niger and elsewhere, such assessments are crucial so that initiatives will be informed by evidence demonstrating how and why farmers might practice a restoration activity as well as how context influences their choices. Furthermore, the brief presents result from integrated management options that are designed to test different soil and water management technology options that can be combined with FMNR and help improve crop yield at farm-level in the short term. Our findings reveal that farmers shape their perspectives on the value of FMNR through nuanced insights into local farming practices and livelihood benefits, as well as the systems governing land and tree tenure

Scaling up land restoration in Niger: insights from a national workshop

This report provides a summary of the key outcomes of the Niger FMNR Scaling National Workshop held between 12th and 13th July 2023 in Niamey. The workshop was organized in collaboration of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Niger, ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the semi-Arid tropics), and DGDT/F (Direction of Sustainable Forest and Land Management (DGDT/F) to support Niger’s attainment of its Farmer Managed Natural regeneration (FMNR) ambition and to bring together diverse stakeholders. Over 52 people from 15 organizations participated and reflected upon and celebrated the many achievements and emerging approaches for sustainability and scaling FMNR and identified how these can be amplified. Through this interaction, synergies between initiatives were enhanced and areas for coordinated implementation and monitoring discussed. Mechanisms that will better harness the collective strengths of government with non-government organizations were also discussed