Write the project's self-explanatory title. (Text; 50 words)

Piloting the “Twin Regions” concept in Benin to boost sustainable natural carbon sequestration and facilitate its adoption at scale for the benefit of women, youth, and the environment.

Write the acronym, if applicable. (Text;1 word)

List of the countries where the project will be active, separated by a semicolon ";". (Text; 20 words)

Benin

Prime beneficiaries/target group of the project. (Text; 20 words)

Rural communities in Benin and in particular women and youth.

The international community engaged in equitable and sustainable natural carbon removal and ecosystem restoration.

Indicate the number of months that project implementation requires. (Integer; 3 digits)

36

Name of the lead organization (Text; 10 words)

The project team will decide depending on the opportunities that arise.

Contact details of the project team leader (coordinator), including email address. (Paragraph; 50 words)

Marc Bernard, marcwbernard@gmail.com

Cite the name of team members who have contributed to the concept note, separated by a semicolon ";". (Text; 50 words)

1. Marc Bernard: Soil scientist, an expert in tropical agriculture, Twin Regions Task Force Leader of the 4p1000 initiative, and consultant to the municipalities of Kouandé and Copargo, Benin;
2. Bantchi Sanni: Lawyer and contact person for the municipality of Copargo, Benin;
3. Nazir Allagbe: Geographer and contact person for the municipality of Kouandé, Benin
4. Natacha Agbo: Agronomist, Université Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Benin;
5. Konrad Egenolf: Soil Scientist, NRW Chamber of Agriculture, Germany;
6. Frank Sonntag: Meteorologist, Earth Science IT systems, EnVisMo, Germany;
7. Ouorou Baro Mora:  Public Administration - Sub-prefect of Kouandé, General Secretary of the Atacora- Donga Department, Cabinet Director for the Minister of the Interior and Public Security. (Retired)

Describes what problem your project is designed to solve. (Paragraph; 100 words)

Tackling the climate crisis requires removing significant amounts of carbon from the atmosphere in the coming years. Passive reforestation has the greatest potential for carbon removal of all available technologies and positively affects biodiversity and microclimate, bolstering resilience. Successful implementation requires an optimal allocation of financial and natural resources. A major obstacle to realizing this potential is the unequal distribution of the necessary financial resources on the one hand and suitable land on the other. Within their borders, most regions do not have the environmental or financial resources to fully exploit their natural carbon sequestration potential or fulfill their responsibilities.

Rich, densely populated areas in the northern hemisphere do not have enough land and an unfavorable climate, and regions in the south cannot realize their carbon sequestration potential due to poverty. On the contrary, they are cutting down their forests to cope with the acute lack of money.

Explains the planned end goal. Describe the project's expected outcomes and how it will contribute to solving the problem. (Paragraph; 100 words)

The concept of Twin Regions (https://twinregions.earth) uses the complementarity of different locations to overcome situational constraints and obstacles.

Typically, a region with a low standard of living, low emissions, and high nature-based carbon sequestration potential is combined with a region with a high standard of living, high emissions, and low carbon sequestration potential.

Implementing the approach requires an operational framework that fosters trust and enables adoption at scale. To develop such a framework, several key issues related to carbon stock change monitoring, governance, accountability, and environmental and social impacts need to be addressed through research and experimentation.

A decisive obstacle to the broad acceptance of the concept is the still unreliable determination of long term changes in carbon storage through the interpretation of satellite images.

The proposed project aims to learn from first-hand experience and develop version 1 of the operational framework by addressing these key issues:

1. Proof of the feasibility of the Twin Regions concept.
2. Up-to-date information on carbon-stock changes and essential environmental and societal indicator dynamics.
3. Realistic assessment of carbon removal potential.
4. Information about the institutional arrangements, rules, and regulations governing the action.
5. A set of clearly defined result-oriented supporting services. 
6. Assessment of technologies for improved land use.

Gives a synopsis of the steps to take to achieve the goal. (Paragraph; 100 words)

Over the past two years, the pioneers of the “4 per 1000” Twin Regions Task Force (F1) have worked with local authorities and stakeholders from two municipalities in Benin (Kouandé and Copargo), and two municipalities in Germany (Bonn and Alfter), to agree on the modalities for optimized land use.

The agreed modalities form the basis for developing a range of services that support the planning, implementing, and monitoring of optimized land use according to the best practice methodology. The project trains women and young people in the pilot areas to provide on-demand services based on the principle of payment on delivery. They will support the population in six selected areas (average 1km2; total 6km2) of Kouandé and Copargo to adopt the concept and optimize land use to increase carbon stocks. The activities focus primarily on land that is not cultivated annually to avoid negative consequences for food production. Forests, grassland, fallow land, and plantations have the highest potential for sustainable carbon removal. At present these areas are exploited by women (responsible for the sourcing of firewood), pastoralists, and plantation owners.

The action focuses on four areas:

A) Boost natural vegetation

• Protection against illegal cultivation and exploitation of legally protected areas and promotion of spontaneous vegetation as a contribution to the enforcement of existing environmental protection regulations. 
• Active fallow management and the planting of native species may be used to increase the above-ground biomass. Care must be taken to ensure that biodiversity is maintained or increased.

B) Plantations

• Planting of fast-growing trees for firewood and charcoal production to avoid clearing of natural forests and protected areas.
• Establishment of tree plantations for timber fruit and other uses.

C) Agroforestry

• Establish hedges for green manure and firewood production and soil and crop protection
• Establishment of fruit trees in cropped areas
• Protecting useful trees in cropped areas such as Shea and Parkia biglobosa 

D) Fodder

• Fodder banks

E) Soil improvement

• Improve the nutritional status of soils

F) Sustainable Agriculture / Agroecology

• Improve sustainability and productivity of agriculture

Field measurements and satellite image interpretation will be combined to monitor carbon stock change and other ecological parameters. The population will be rewarded with 50€ per Mt of sequestered carbon according to the modalities agreed. Surveys will help to assess the socioeconomic impact. 

AI will be used in data analysis to develop an algorithm for improved interpretation of satellite images for monitoring carbon stock change.

The pilot experience and results will be used to develop a web service for management and monitoring, facilitating the adoption of the concept in other regions.

The information and experience from the pilot project will also be used to promote the concept of Twin Regions in the North and convince people to invest in carbon removal to offset their emissions. Several events and campaigns will be organized for this purpose.

Discusses challenges the project might face and plans for overcoming them. (Paragraph; 100 words)

Uncertainty of carbon removal quantities

Due to the lack of experience and weather fluctuations, it is difficult to predict how much carbon will be sequestered and how much money will be needed to pay for carbon removal. To overcome this, the project's predetermined contribution is fixed (e.g. 120,000 USD). If this amount is not sufficient, additional funds can be raised from third parties. If funds remain, the campaign will be extended beyond the duration of the project. 

Management of funds

To assure effectiveness and efficiency, all payments for the provision of support services and carbon sequestration are made upon delivery. Payments of support service providers and those contributing to carbon removal are made directly to individuals using mobile money. To assure the sustainability of increased carbon stocks, payments are made in installments (see Modalities for promoting better land use). 

To assure accountability and to facilitate coordination and reporting, the project will take advantage of the Confluence wiki and other ICT solutions. 

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion

Lack of inclusion and local ownership leads to the failure of many initiatives. To mitigate this, the action is guided by four fundamental principles:

i) Human rights;

ii) Community ownership: Assure local community ownership and buy-in by following Elinor Ostrom's 8 principles for managing the commons;

 iii) Stakeholder engagement: Assure the participation of national and local stakeholders at the various stages from design through results; and,

iv) Personal information sovereignty: Assure the protection of personal information. 

All actors will follow these principles directly and indirectly across all stages of the project life cycle.

To support gender equality and inclusion, the project will train women and youth from all ethnic groups to provide extension services.

Describe how the project fits into the context and related developments and policies or how it will deal with the situation. (Paragraph; 100 words)

Municipalities and agricultural organizations will take the lead. They will organize collaboration with the population in the pilot areas. This will allow harmonization with relevant ongoing national and local policies and actions.

National research organizations will be involved in the design of support services and training of local service providers. Data analysis, interpretation and valorization of outputs is carried out in collaboration with international partners that have the required expertise leading to a transfer of know-how and capacity development in Benin. 

Tackling the climate crisis requires removing significant amounts of carbon from the atmosphere in the coming years. Passive reforestation has the greatest potential for carbon removal of all available technologies and positively affects biodiversity and microclimate, bolstering resilience. A major obstacle to realizing this potential is the unequal distribution of the necessary financial resources on the one hand and suitable land on the other.

Wealthy areas in the north do not have enough land, and southern regions cannot realize their carbon sequestration potential due to poverty. On the contrary, they are cutting down their forests to cope with the acute lack of money.

The concept of Twin Regions (https://twinregions.earth) uses the complementarity of different locations to overcome situational constraints and obstacles.

Typically, a region with a low standard of living, low emissions, and high nature-based carbon sequestration potential is combined with a region with a high standard of living, high emissions, and low carbon sequestration potential.

Implementing the concept requires a framework fostering trust and enabling adoption at scale. To develop it, key issues relating to carbon stock change monitoring, governance, accountability, and environmental and social impacts need to be clarified through research and experimentation.

The proposed project aims to clarify key issues, learn from first-hand experience, and develop a framework that will facilitate the adoption of the concept in other regions.

Over the past two years, we collaborated with local stakeholders from Kouandé and Copargo to agree on the modalities for piloting the concept in six selected areas, 1km² each. The population is rewarded with 50 € per Mt of sequestered carbon.

Field measurements and satellite images will be analyzed using AI to monitor changes in carbon stocks and other ecological parameters more reliably and timely. Surveys will help assess the socio-economic impact.

States your specific request for the reader to make the project move forward. (Paragraph.; 100 words)

Promoting "Twin Regions" is a cross-sectional action of the 4p1000 initiative. The aim is to promote cooperation between the partners of 4p1000. The project is ambitious in terms of the expertise required. In addition to financial support, the project team aims to establish partnerships with research institutions with relevant expertise. Don't hesitate to get in touch with us if you feel you can contribute to the success of the project. 

Design a set of services supporting the organization and monitoring of optimized land use based on best practice protocols and standard methodologies.

Training of local youth for the provision of services on a demand-driven and payment-upon-delivery basis.

A set of standard services facilitating all stages for optimized land use is publically shared for adoption in other areas and regions

Teams of young service providers are trained and can support improved land use beyond the pilot areas.

Organise improved land use in pilot areas of several km² following the rules and regulations set out in the operational framework under the leadership of territorial authorities representing the population. Each community project will establish 3 pilot areas, each covering 1 km² (total area 6 km²)

The carbon stock is increased by 2,400 t of CO2

Improved biodiversity micro-climate in pilot areas.

Increased income of women, youth, pastoralists, and plantation owners involved.

Improved modalities to promote optimized land use.

Develop and implement a web-based platform facilitating the adoption of the Twin Regions concept for Land Use Optimization.

Document and share the experience with the partners of "4 per 1000" and the public in near real-time on the internet.

Promote the concept to convince responsible consumers to participate in the action and to convince other regions to adopt the action as a pilot project.

Information and data are shared publicly in near real-time.

Feedback leading to improvement and adoption of the Twin Regions concept.

Responsible consumers invest in carbon removal, ecosystem restoration and justice.

273,000 ?

300,000