Report on the China-Mauritania Livestock Demonstration Center and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Project Background and Environmental Context

A technical cooperation project, backed by China, was initiated in 2017 at the Livestock Demonstration Center in Idini village, Mauritania. The project addresses severe environmental challenges in a nation where over 80% of the territory is desert. The region faces extreme conditions unconducive to agriculture, including:

• Scorching heat and persistent drought
• Poor soil quality
• Violent sandstorms

These factors have historically created a critical shortage of forage for livestock, undermining local livelihoods and food security.

2. Agricultural Innovation and Project Outcomes

Through the transfer of technology and expertise, the project has achieved significant milestones in desert agriculture:

• Introduction of Resilient Crops: Chinese experts successfully introduced and cultivated hardy forage plants, most notably Juncao grass and alfalfa, which are well-suited to the arid environment.
• Land Reclamation: Between 2020 and 2024, the project team developed approximately 20 hectares of desert land, converting it into productive trial plantations.
• Advanced Irrigation Systems: The project implemented water-efficient technologies, including center-pivot and drip irrigation systems, to sustain cultivation in the Sahara Desert.
• Alleviation of Forage Shortage: The large-scale cultivation of these forage plants has directly addressed the local feed scarcity, providing a stable source of nutrition for cattle and other livestock.

3. Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Livestock Demonstration Center project serves as a practical model for achieving several key SDGs.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• The project directly contributes to Target 15.3 by combating desertification and restoring degraded land.
• Planting forage crops helps stabilize soil, prevent erosion from sandstorms, and reintroduce vegetation to the desert ecosystem.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• By ensuring a stable supply of livestock feed, the project enhances the productivity and health of local herds, which is crucial for food security (Target 2.1).
• It promotes sustainable agricultural practices (Target 2.4) by introducing resilient crop varieties and efficient irrigation, building a more resilient food production system in a challenging climate.

SDG 1: No Poverty & SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• A reliable source of forage improves the viability of pastoralism, securing and enhancing the income of local herders, thereby contributing to poverty reduction (Target 1.1).
• The project supports productive and sustainable economic activities in the agricultural sector, fostering local economic growth (Target 8.2).

SDG 13: Climate Action

• The initiative strengthens resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards such as drought (Target 13.1).
• The expansion of green cover in the desert contributes to carbon sequestration, a vital climate change mitigation effort.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• This project is a clear example of effective South-South cooperation (Target 17.6), involving the transfer of environmentally sound technologies and knowledge from China to Mauritania.
• It demonstrates a successful partnership to enhance capacity-building and support the implementation of the SDGs (Target 17.9).

4. Project Timeline

1. 2017: The China-backed technical cooperation for the Livestock Demonstration Center was officially launched in Idini.
2. 2020-2024: Approximately 20 hectares of desert land were successfully developed for forage plantation trials.
3. 2025: The center continues to guide local herders in upgrading pastures and managing the large-scale cultivation of Juncao and alfalfa, securing a sustainable solution to forage shortages.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The article directly addresses food security by focusing on alleviating the “local forage shortage” for livestock. By successfully cultivating forage like Juncao and alfalfa, the project supports the livestock sector, which is crucial for the food supply (meat, milk) and livelihoods of herders in Mauritania. This contributes to building sustainable food production systems in a harsh environment.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The project is a direct response to the challenges of desertification. The article states that “More than 80 percent of Mauritania’s territory is covered by desert” and describes the project’s success in making “forage plants have now taken root in the Sahara Desert.” This effort to cultivate land, prevent soil degradation, and restore productivity in an arid region is central to combating desertification.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The initiative is explicitly described as a “China-backed technical cooperation for the Livestock Demonstration Center.” This highlights a global partnership where China provides financial and technical assistance (“Chinese experts”) to Mauritania to help it achieve its development goals. This collaboration is a clear example of South-South cooperation for sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular… pastoralists… The project directly supports herders (pastoralists) by providing a stable and local source of forage, which is essential for improving the health and productivity of their livestock.
   • Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production… and that progressively improve land and soil quality. The introduction of drought-resistant forage like alfalfa and Juncao, combined with efficient irrigation systems, represents the implementation of resilient agricultural practices in a desert environment.

2. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods… The article’s core theme is the successful cultivation of plants on what was desert land. The project’s action to “developed about 20 hectares of desert land for forage plantation trials” is a direct effort to restore degraded land and combat desertification.

3. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.6: Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation… The project is a model of South-South cooperation, where “Chinese experts” share agricultural technology (Juncao, alfalfa cultivation) and innovative practices with Mauritania.
   • Target 17.9: Enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted capacity-building in developing countries… The establishment of the “Livestock Demonstration Center” and the guidance provided by experts serve as a capacity-building initiative for local herders in Mauritania.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several quantitative and qualitative indicators:

• Area of restored land: The article explicitly states that “Between 2020 and 2024, the team developed about 20 hectares of desert land for forage plantation trials.” This is a direct indicator for Target 15.3 (combating desertification).
• Introduction of resilient agricultural practices: The successful introduction and large-scale cultivation of “alfalfa” and “Juncao” are indicators of implementing resilient agriculture (Target 2.4).
• Adoption of technology: The use of “center-pivot irrigation system” and “drip irrigation system” is an indicator of technology transfer and water-use efficiency in agriculture.
• Establishment of partnerships: The existence of the “China-backed technical cooperation for the Livestock Demonstration Center” since 2017 is a clear indicator of an active international partnership (Target 17.6).
• Alleviation of shortages: The statement that the project is “helping alleviate the local forage shortage” is a qualitative indicator of increased agricultural productivity and improved food security for livestock (Target 2.3).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: english.news.cn