The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is working with the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance (CBA), which is an initiative by King Charles III, and luxury fashion company, LVMH, to address the impact of climate change on the Lake Chad basin in Central Africa.
The partnership seeks to support sustainable cotton growing, which is a vital source of income for local communities in Chad while restoring the biodiversity of the degraded land around the lake.
David Miliband, the president, and CEO of the IRC, stated, “The IRC is delighted to join hands with CBA, LVMH, and partners to restore biodiversity, heal degraded soil and strengthen local livelihoods through sustainable and resilient farming solutions in Chad.”
The programme will be implemented in partnership with a number of organisations: Pretaterra Reforest’Action Olam International CotontChad SIV RAPS Mandoul
It is estimated that four fifths (80%) of Chadians work in the agricultural sector and cotton is a significant cash crop forthe region, so the new four-year programme aims to support sustainable cotton farming in its Logone Occidental and Lac provinces.
Over half a million indigenous trees will be planted across 4,800 hectares of land surrounding Lake Chad to regenerate the region’s ecosystem. The programme will also facilitate access to markets and support other agricultural value chains like timber and fruit farming through local farmers’ associations.
Ali Amadou, the IRC Chad deputy director He said that by adopting sustainable farming methods in the Logone Occidental and Lac provinces, local communities can reduce water usage and prevent soil degradation while protecting fragile ecosystems.,