The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has collaborated with the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance (CBA) and LVMH to launch a project which aims to address the negative impact of climate change on the Lake Chad basin in Central Africa, while supporting sustainable cotton cultivation in the region
Cotton is a major cash crop in Chad and is mainly grown in areas bordering Lake Chad since it needs a lot of water to grow. As a result of reducing rainfall however, the lake has shrunk by 90%, thereby raising fears that it could disappear 20 years from now.
In support of the country’s efforts to regenerate land and boost cotton production, the new four-year programme will support sustainable cotton farming in Logone Occidental and Lac provinces, and plant over half a million indigenous trees across 4,800 hectares of land around the lake. Through local farmers’ associations, it will also support other agricultural value chains like timber and fruit farming, while facilitating access to markets.
Ali Amadou, IRC Chad deputy director of Programmes stated that sustainable cotton growing not only provides a vital source of income for farmers but also has the potential to mitigate the impacts of climate change by promoting responsible land use practices. At the same time, the programme also ensures that local communities have access to markets for their cotton, enabling them to continue supporting themselves and their families.
The programme will be implemented in partnership with the Pretaterra, the largest agroforestry intelligence hub in the world and Reforest'Action, which preserves, restores, and grows forests globally, along with Olam International, CotontChad SIV and RAPS Mandoul based in Chad’s Longone province.
"The programme is special to the Alliance as it demonstrates how the need to decarbonise economic sectors like the fashion industry can act as a catalyst to restore degraded landscapes,’’ commented CBA Chair, Marc Palahí.
According to LVMH environmental development director, Hélène Valade, the group is also targeting to implement regenerative agriculture in all its strategic supply chains.
