Assess the Impact of Bush Encroachment and Bush Thinning on CCMA
Detailed description of project:
On behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is implementing the Bush Control and Biomass Utilisation (BCBU) project (2014-2024) in close collaboration with the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT).
In its current phase (04.2022-03.2024), the project supports the creation of a National Dialogue Platform on Bush Resources which brings together relevant ministries, civil society, and private sector to navigate the complex and multi-disciplinary challenges and opportunities of bush encroachment and bush biomass utilisation. There is considerable debate around the carbon balance of bush control. The removal of bushes causes the carbon stored in the above-ground biomass to be released into the atmosphere, contributing to global GHG budgets. However, the impact on soil organic carbon is uncertain.
A detailed study with soil carbon measurements in different areas and under different bush management regimes is conducted to assess the impact of bush control on soil organic carbon and inform the promotion of measures that enhance carbon sequestration.
The study consists of the following work packages:
Work Package A: In line with international best practices, develop a methodology and indicators to assess the impact of different bush harvesting (woody biomass removal) and management regimes on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Work Package B: Collect relevant data in the field based on the methodology developed in Work Package A and evaluate the data based on a scientific approach.
Work Package C: Develop a position paper on the key findings and derive resolutions.
Type of services provided:
- Conduct a literature review on the best available science and assess key knowledge gaps and develop a database of available data.
- Develop indicators to assess the impact of different bush harvesting and management regimes on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
- Identify suitable farms for in-field data collection.
- Conduct ground truthing to collect relevant data and evaluate the data applying a scientific approach.
- Prepare a detailed report on the findings and present findings to stakeholders of the National Dialogue Platform on Bush Resources.
- Based on the discussion of the findings with the dialogue platform, develop a position paper highlighting important findings.
- Develop a monitoring framework for future tracking of climate change mitigation and adaptation-related indicators.
- Validate the position paper and monitoring framework with stakeholders of the National Dialogue Platform on Bush Resources.
- Deliver a final report on the overall assignment, position paper and monitoring framework approved by the National Dialogue Platform Coordinator.
| MEFT |
| BMZ through GIZ |
| 04/2023-12/2023 |
| Contract value: 110,500 € |