Transcript LANDSCAPE INTERVENTIONS

COUNTRY PROGRAM
LANDSCAPE STRATEGY
COMDEKS WORKSHOP,
14 FEB 2013, DEHRADUN
Anil Arora and Prabhjot Sodhi
CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION (CEE)
Our Earth and Our Heritage

COMDEKS’ DEFINITION:
- LANDSCAPES MEAN RESILIENT SOCIETIES IN HARMONY WITH
NATURE.

LANDSCAPES ALSO MEAN SUSTAINABLE HUMAN-INFLUENCED
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT THAT IS THREATENED BY URBANISATION,
INDUSTRIALISATION, INCREASE IN RURAL POPULATION AND
NATURAL CALAMITIES, CLIMATE CHANGE. Etc…

LANDSCAPES ARE LIVING EXAMPLES OF CULTURAL HERITAGE AND
ARE KNOWN BY DIFFERENT NAMES.

SOME
ARE
FORMALLY
RECOGNIZED
AS
PROTECTED
LANDSCAPES/SEASCAPES AND ARE THE HERITAGE SITES AND SOME
ARE KNOWN AS INDIGENOUS AND COMMUNITY CONSERVED AREAS.
DEFINITION OF LANDSCAPES AS
PER COMDEKS

LANDSCAPES FORM THE BASIS OF PHYSICAL,
CULTURAL AND OFTEN, SPIRITUAL CONDITIONS OF
A COMMUNITY’S WELL-BEING.

THE PRACTICED ECO-SYSTEM SERVICES/ACTIVITIES
AND INSTITUTIONS THAT REGULATE THE USE OF
NATURAL RESOURCES INFLUENCE THE LANDSCAPE
RESILIENCE.

LANDSCAPES RANGE FROM VILLAGES, FARMLANDS,
ADJACENT WOODS, GRASSLANDS AND COASTS.
HOW AND WHAT OF LANDSCAPES

THREE LANDSCAPES IN UTTARAKHAND ARE COVERED IN
THE STRATEGY. THESE ARE:

Local Plains as RASULPUR – IMPACTED ON ACCOUNT
OF FOREST DWELLERS DRIVEN OUT OF THE RAJAJI
NATIONAL PARK WITHOUT ANY COMPENSATORY RIGHTS;

Medium Highlands & Ravines as SHANKARPUR –
WHERE EXISTING FARMLANDS ARE AFFECTED THROUGH
HEIGHTENED RAVINE ACTIVITY DUE TO FLASH FLOODS
FROM RIVERS.
Higher Mountain Zones as at Varying LOCATIONS OF THE MID-HIGH HIMALAYAN AREA WITH SMALLER
VARIANCES OF ALTITUDE WITH OVERALL ECOLOGICAL
ENDOWMENT NEEDS, WITH TOO MANY EXPECTATIONS.

CHOSEN LANDSCAPES AND THEIR
MANAGEMENT
LANDSCAPES

COMDEKS should Focus through Different
Projects Linking with Concerned Central and
State Departments addressing Primarily the
following Issues:
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Food And Nutrition Security
Local Institution Building
Land Improvement
Dairying and Livestock Management
Community Managed Tourism
Local Resource and Market Based Enterprises
MAJOR OUTCOME OF BASELINE
STUDY

RESTRICTIONs ON THE FOREST BASED LIVELIHOOD
OPTIONS

ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY AND TIMELY CREDIT FACILITIES

MAN-ANIMAL CONFLICTS DUE TO DEPLETING FOREST
RESOURCES

FALLING RESPECT FOR Local BIODIVERSITY AND
PRESSING SURVIVAL NEEDS

CLIMATE CHANGE AND SHIFTING WEATHER PATTERNS.
MAJOR REASONS OF DEGRADED
SITUATION IN CHOSEN
LANDSCAPES in UTK

PRESSURE FROM INCREASED DEMANDS AND
POPULATION FOR IMMEDIATE INCOMES REPLACING
DIVERSE HORTICULTURE BASED SYSTEMS TO MONOCROPPING SYSTEMS OF PADDY-WHEAT CROPS.

LACK OF POLICY INITIATIVES FOR INTEGRATED
RURAL DEVELOPMENT

POOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONNECTIVITY
RESULTING LACK OF EFFICIENT LINKAGE TO
MARKETS.

OUTWARD MIGRATION TO EARN A DECENT LIVING
STANDARD.
Continued…

CONSOLIDATE WISDOM AND OBTAIN A
CONSENSUS
FOR
STABLE
SUPPLY
OF
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES.

INTEGRATE
TRADITIONAL
KNOWLEDGE WITH MODERN
BETTER LIVES & LIVELIHOODS.

EXPLORE NEW WAYS OF CO-MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMS WHILE RESPECTING TRADITIONAL
COMMUNITY LAND USE.
ECOLOGICAL
SCIENCE FOR
COMDEKS Focus is on a
THREE-FOLD APPROACH…
RECORDS PASSBOOKS
PARTICIPATORY METHODS
– TRUST BUILDING
MORE CAN BE DONE
DOCUMENTATION
GUIDANCE
BETTER CAPACITIES CREATED
REDUCED DRUDGERY
WOMEN CENTRED
WE CAN DO IT –GIVE US THE
CHANCE

RESOURCE USE WITHIN THE CARRYING CAPACITY AND
RESILIENCE OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

CYCLIC USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

RECOGNITION OF THE VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF
LOCAL TRADITIONS AND CULTURES.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT BY VARIOUS PARTICIPATING
COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL INSTITUTIONS AS ENTITIES.

COMMUNITIES
SHARING
COSTS,
ROLES
AND
RESPONSIBILITIES AND TAKING & DOCUMENTING
DECISION MAKING PROCESSES AT THE VILLAGE LEVELS.
– VILLAGE METTINGS.
KEY PERSPECTIVES OF THREE
FOLD APPROACH
RESTORE LANDS
CONSERVE & PROTECT
WE ARE A PART OF THE
ECOSYSTEM.
WE CAN AGREE
LET US PRIORTISE
WE MUST SHARE & CONTRIBUTE
COMDEKS - OUTCOMES
& INDICATORS

LEARN FROM EACH OTHER, EXPOSURE VISITS, WORKSHOPS,
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT PRODUCTS.

ESTABLISH
LINKS/PARTNERSHIPS
WITH
FOREST
DEPARTMENTS,
SOIL
&
CONSERVATION
DEPARTMENT,
RENEWABLE ENERGY,
PANCHYATS,
LAND-USE
PLANNING
DEPARTMENT, LAND/SOIL SURVEY DEPARTMENTS TO CARRY OUT
ACTIVITIES.

DEVELOP BASE-LINES AND INDICATORS THROUGH THE
STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOP AND BY ENGAGING AN INDEPENDENT
CONSULTANT AS A PART OF THE OVERALL LANDSCAPE
STRATEGY.

ATTEMPT REPLICABLE DEMOSTRATION MODELS WITH SMALL
FUNDING, LEVERAGING ADDITIONAL FUNDS
APPROACH TO BE ADOPTED IN
COMDEKS…

ENHANCED PROVISION OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES - MORE
GRASSLANDS, MORE PRODUCTIVITY, SUSTAINABLE INCOMES,
CONSERVATION
AND
SUSTAINABLE
USE
OF
NATURAL
RESOURCES.
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IMPROVED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY THRU SUSTAINABLE
PRACTICES, RESULTING IN INCREASED FOOD SECURITY AND
INCOME ENHANCEMENT.

ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT – USE OF LOCAL RESOURCES
ALTERNATE LIVELIHOODS OPTIONS PROMOTED & ENABLING
ACCESS TO MARKETS AND FINANCE.

STRENGTHENED INSTITUTIONAL SYSTEMS - PROMOTING
SHARING OF KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION ON EFFECTIVE
USE OF RESOURCES AND PARTICIPATORY DECISION-MAKING.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Improved biodiversity endowment influences
micro climate (HHs) more investments (HHs)

Improved respect for ecosystem leads to
future sustainable utilization of resources
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Improved soil and water conservation
contributes better to agriculture productivity
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Regeneration measures of agro forestry and
fodder plantation helps long term goals of
biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods
Ecosystem Level Outcomes:
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Change in soil health and erosion status
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Improvement in water availability and its utilization
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Qualitative improvement in agricultural outputs and
productivity. New crops and seeds adopted and conserved
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Limited need to apply external plant protection measures,
increased local biological remedies
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Fodder variety species accessed and productivity increased
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Improved health and productivity of milch animals, number
of animals increased
INDICATORS
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Improved productivity from improved soil
and water endowment
Traditional practices find new meaning
through scientific validation
Reduced vulnerability to climate shifts
Improved food security and income
generation
Diversification reduces vulnerability and
improves on income source
Agriculture Level Outcomes:

Improved food security and nutrition in number of HHs
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Improved productivity in number of Hectares

More local investments in degraded/fallow lands

Changing cropping patterns, high valued crops introduced,
Improved value realization.

Number of farm groups/communities participating in adoption of
appropriate technologies and agro systems.

Improved soil health through integrated farming systems
approach
Indicators

Created additional sources of income generation
opportunities
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Reduced vulnerability of both men and women through
new investments in securities/assets

Market linkages help improve cash flow and present
options to sell at better prices
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New activities and links emerge from project and existing
activities now increased
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Number of families incomes increased, by amount and
more assets accessed, investments made etc…
Savings improve to focus on development spending
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Livelihoods Level Outcomes:
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No of different institutions, SHGs, lethargy
gives way to improved and more relevant
role for institutions
Strengthening of local institutional systems
Improved documentation constitutes an
effective “leave behind” for future efforts
Institution bridges gap between
knowledgeable elders and youth workers to
create a complementary role for both
Convergence with state supported initiatives
Institutional/governance
strengthening at landscape level:
Number of SHGs promoted, banks linked, credit accessed, loans repaid.
 Number of alternative income sources created through livelihood
diversification.
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Number of participating community members benefitting by project
activities increased.
Number of policy or plans influenced or created that reflect decisions.
 Confidence established from diversification options practiced
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Better integration with state supported efforts, access to in kind resources
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Established examples influence policy measures, called into workshop etc
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More access of funds from Government and other sources both at the
project activities and community levels etc
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Post project sustainability with impact on future replication influence in
surrounding areas
Indicators
Your Ideas…
CONT’D….
My Gains are Our Gains
REDUCE OUR
WORKLOADS
WE WILL DO IT
Give us the Opportunity …
Discussions-Sharing
Supply Chain Thinking
Facets of COMDEKS
We will do it together…let us
pledge for it…THANKS!
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