NIGER

The government of Niger is modifying the country's forestry policy to evolve sustainable ways to harvest wood. It is launching a project, Domestic Energy Strategy (des), that aims to make rural population responsible for the management and sustainable development of wood supplies. "Rational and sustainable forests development to meet firewood needs along with natural regeneration of resources are the objectives of des," said Doukia Kaka, the project's director.

Four-fifths of the land area in Niger is covered by desert. Some of the forested areas in the country are now being subjected to extensive deforestation. In Niger, more than 95 per cent of the population uses wood to meet their energy needs, according to the country's environment ministry.