FARMER MANAGED NATURAL REGENERATION (FMNR)

Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) is a sustainable land restoration technique aimed at combating poverty and hunger among subsistence farmers by enhancing food and timber production and increasing resilience to climate extremes. Defined by the United Nations, FMNR is recognized for its cost-effective approach to restoring degraded lands by promoting the systematic regrowth of trees and shrubs from existing root systems or seeds. 

FMNR was pioneered in 1983 by Tony Rinaudo, an Australian agronomist with World Vision, while working in Niger. The method proved successful in increasing wood supply and vegetation regeneration, providing significant benefits during the 1984 famine. By 2004, FMNR was being utilized by half of the farmers in Niger. 

FMNR has shown remarkable results since its inception. In 2004, a community in the Humbo region of Ethiopia, with the support of World Vision Australia and World Vision Ethiopia, initiated a carbon project using FMNR methodology. This project regenerated 2,728 hectares of degraded native forests. Within two years, the community began reaping benefits from wild fruits, fodder, firewood, and reduced erosion and flooding. 

FORLIANCE has been a partner in the Sodo-Humbo project for over a decade, collaborating with Tony Rinaudo and World Vision Australia. This partnership has enabled local communities to receive payments for carbon credits generated from their FMNR activities, enhancing both local livelihoods and environmental sustainability. 

FMNR aims to improve the health and function of vegetation, addressing multiple environmental and socio-economic challenges: 

• Food Insecurity: Enhancing food production through improved soil fertility. 
• Biodiversity Loss: Promoting the growth of diverse plant species. 
• Land Degradation: Restoring degraded lands to productive use. 
• Fuel Wood Provision: Providing sustainable sources of firewood. 
• Soil Infertility and Erosion: Reducing soil erosion and improving fertility. 
• Groundwater Recharge and Soil Moisture: Enhancing water retention in the soil, benefiting crops and reducing drought impacts. 

FMNR offers numerous benefits, including: 

• Increased Soil Fertility: Enhancing soil quality for better crop production. 
• Fodder Supply: Providing feed for livestock. 
• Food for People: Growing wild fruits and other edible plants. 
• Marketable Products: Producing goods that can be sold for income. 
• Climate Change Mitigation: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing carbon sequestration.