The National Agroecology Programme (PRONAE) and the Southern Xayabury Application Point(PASS) of the Capitalization and Rural Development Support Programme (PCADR) have developed an approach in the provinces of Xayabury and Xieng Khouang that relies on direct-sowing mulch-based cropping systems (DMC). This approach has provided relevant alternatives to traditional agricultural practices which can no longer ensure the foundations of sustainable agriculture.In view of the results obtained, be they socio-economic or environmental, the Council of Ministers asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) to promote these techniques throughout the country, and called for this approach to be included in university and school courses. It is in that context that the Sector-based Agroecology Programme (PROSA), whose main aim is to define and implement a national strategy for the dissemination of Conservation Agriculture based on agroecological techniques (DMC), operates.This strategy is based on implementing an Agroecology Action Plan relying on the necessary incorporation ofnatural capital in rural development policies. The plan involves programming activities, setting in place decision-making and operational processes and bringing into play financial, material and human resourceson both a central and local level (province, district and sub-district). The finest level of intervention comprisesgroups of farmers linked to service centres set up by the government within the districts (Kum Ban Pattana). On each level, the agroecology action plan is to arise from an integrated and concerted approach, in which each category of rural development stakeholders is committed to a process in which their needs and skills are acknowledged by all. Likewise, on each level, it is necessary to define, in a concerted manner, the initiatives that have to be taken (diagnosis, planning, implementation, monitoring-appraisal), the tools required (training of the different stakeholders, organization and structuring of the State sector and of the private sector, contractualization between stakeholders) and the fields of involvement (extension, local development funding arrangements, management of natural resources, equipment management, organization of supplyand marketing chains, etc.). Each of the two pilot provinces, Xayabury and Xieng Khouang, is in the process of defining its Provincial Action Plan in Agroecology. An initial diagnosis of farming systems and their environmental impacts, along with the needs and contributions of each category of stakeholders, has been completed. The provinces then gave priority to defining decision-making and operational processes, and setting in place financial arrangements for the Provincial Action Plans. Initially, two funding tools are under consideration: constitution of a development fund, and agricultural credit. On a central level, the decision-making and operational processes are directly attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, notably via the Planning Department. The creation of a Research and ServiceProvider Centre in support of local and national development is envisaged. Likewise, on a central level, it is a matter of facilitating the implementation of training plans for the different stakeholders. Lastly, the inclusionof agroecology in university and school courses is under way. Also for the educational sector, it is necessary to define a training plan to strengthen the skills and abilities of teachers. The creation of a national, or even regional network associating agricultural faculties and agricultural schools would enable an economy of scale by more effectively taking advantage of complementarities and decentralization to a more functional local level.

The National Agroecology Programme (PRONAE) and the Southern Xayabury Application Point (PASS) of the Capitalization and Rural Development Support Programme (PCADR) have developed an approach in the provinces of Xayabury and Xieng Khouang that relies on direct sowing mulch-based cropping systems (DMC). This approach has provided relevant alternatives to traditional agricultural practices which can no longer ensure the foundations of sustainable agriculture.

Stratégie de gestion de biomasse et des feux de brousse = Contexte et justification - Objectifs - Stratégie adoptée en 2008 et résultats - Révision de la stratégie - Démarche - Schéma de l’évolution de la sensibilisation - Résultats attendus.

DMC, a tool for the raise of new forms of family based agriculture in Cambodia: situation of cambodian agriculture, news DMC systems : 1st PART Agriculture and territory occupation - 2nd PART = Current agricultural dynamics in the “full” and “empty” Cambodia - 3rd PART = Potential input of DMC technologies for a reviewed agricultural DevelopmentDMC, a tool for the raise of new forms of family based agriculture in Cambodia: situation of cambodian agriculture, news DMC systems : 1st PART

To ensure a sustainable strategy of development of the agroecology in Laos, it is necessary: • To precede in a integrative and participatory way since, only the direct and volunteer involvement of each actor will make it possible to make sure that the objectives and the means mobilized to achieve these goals are well shared and accepted by each one, • To approach jointly and in close interaction with the technical aspects all the socio-economic favorable conditions for the appropriation, the diffusion and sustainability of dynamic in progress

The Framework document is the outcome of a Technical Workshop, held at FAO headquarters in Rome in July 2008, entitled: ",Investing in Sustainable Intensification: The Case for Improving Soil Health",. The Framework document together with other information on the Workshop can be found at www.fao.org/ag/ca/. A Workshop report is under preparation.

Faisabilité et adaptation au contexte, les systèmes/plantes retenus en 2006 et 2007 avec atouts et limites. Le bilan de la pré diffusion des SCV 2006 suit avec quelques premiers résultats de la diffusion des SCV en 2007 puis la vision de L'OPCC par rapport la diffusion des SCV.

Ce document de travail souligne le paradoxe entre une faible prise en compte du capital naturel dans les politiques d'aide au développement « favorable aux pauvres » et l'importance pratique de ces ressources pour les pauvres. Il propose un argumentaire pour compléter, tout particulièrement en Afrique, les paradigmes actuels de la lutte contre la pauvreté par un volet consacré à la préservation des ressources naturelles renouvelables. Le paradigme actuel des politiques d'aide au développement est la « croissance favorable aux pauvres ». On constate qu'il est peu question du capital naturel dans ce paradigme. Certains « biens publics globaux » (BPG), en revanche, sont des biens environnementaux : climat, biodiversité. La préservation d'un capital naturel est alors au coeur des actions destinées à produire ces biens publics. Mais ce capital naturel producteur de BPG est fréquemment pris dans une contradiction entre objectifs locaux de court terme et objectifs globaux. Nous citons deux études récentes qui illustrent le lien entre pauvreté et ressources naturelles renouvelables, ainsi que les résultats du rapport de la Banque mondiale : «Where is the Wealth of Nations’ » sur la composition de la richesse des pays africains. Ces études montrent l'importance du capital naturel pour les pays les plus pauvres. Prenant l'exemple de l'Afrique, nous examinons la diversité des fonctions économiques des ressources naturelles. Nous en proposons alors une typologie que nous résumons dans un schéma : le « triangle du capital naturel ». Nous présentons enfin une esquisse de modélisation de la relation entre capital naturel et développement : le « modèle aux élastiques». Nous montrons ensuite qu'en Afrique, l'absence, pour une grande majorité de pauvres, d'opportunité alternative ou de substituabilité facile du capital naturel plaide pour une approche « plus naturelle » du développement. La conclusion souligne donc la nécessité de prendre beaucoup mieux en compte le capital naturel renouvelable et sa conservation dans les politiques de développement en Afrique. Les documents de stratégie de réduction de la pauvreté (DSRP) actuels et les projets du Plan Marshall » sont en effet encore trop centrés sur le capital humain d'une part, sur le capital physique d'autre part. Les ONG spécialisées dans la sauvegarde de la biodiversité telles WWF, CI ou l'UICN, ont commencéde compléter leurs engagements sur la biodiversité par des préoccupations concernant le capital social concourant à la préservation ou les effets économiques des aires protégées. Les bailleurs de fonds ont un parcours symétrique à faire, en incorporant plus d'actions sur le capital naturel dans leurs financements, par exemple : préservation des sols, des ressources halieutiques, des forêts.

Objectifs par pays, besoins communs et compétences à mobiliser.

Diaporama on land degradation and examples of structural, agronomic, vegetative measures, and on the works of WASWC (AMCSE) worldwide in 10 idioms.