country program landscape strategy comdeks workshop, 14 feb 2013, dehradun anil arora and prabhjot...
TRANSCRIPT
COUNTRY PROGRAM LANDSCAPE STRATEGY COMDEKS WORKSHOP,
14 FEB 2013, DEHRADUN
Anil Arora and Prabhjot SodhiCENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION (CEE)
Our Earth and Our Heritage
DEFINITION OF LANDSCAPES AS PER COMDEKS
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.
HOW AND WHAT OF LANDSCAPES
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.
CHOSEN LANDSCAPES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT
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.
LANDSCAPES
MAJOR OUTCOME OF BASELINE STUDY
COMDEKS should Focus through Different Projects Linking with Concerned Central and State Departments addressing Primarily the following Issues:
Food And Nutrition SecurityLocal Institution BuildingLand ImprovementDairying and Livestock ManagementCommunity Managed TourismLocal Resource and Market Based Enterprises
MAJOR REASONS OF DEGRADED SITUATION IN CHOSEN LANDSCAPES in UTK
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.
Continued…
PRESSURE FROM INCREASED DEMANDS AND POPULATION FOR IMMEDIATE INCOMES REPLACING DIVERSE HORTICULTURE BASED SYSTEMS TO MONO-CROPPING 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.
COMDEKS Focus is on aTHREE-FOLD APPROACH…
CONSOLIDATE WISDOM AND OBTAIN A CONSENSUS FOR STABLE SUPPLY OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES.
INTEGRATE TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE WITH MODERN SCIENCE FOR BETTER LIVES & LIVELIHOODS.
EXPLORE NEW WAYS OF CO-MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS WHILE RESPECTING TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY LAND USE.
MORE CAN BE DONE
RECORDS - PASSBOOKS
PARTICIPATORY METHODS – TRUST BUILDING
BETTER CAPACITIES CREATED
DOCUMENTATION GUIDANCE
WE CAN DO IT –GIVE US THE CHANCE
REDUCED DRUDGERY WOMEN CENTRED
KEY PERSPECTIVES OF THREE FOLD APPROACH
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.
WE ARE A PART OF THE ECOSYSTEM.
RESTORE LANDS CONSERVE & PROTECT
WE MUST SHARE & CONTRIBUTE
WE CAN AGREE LET US PRIORTISE
COMDEKS - OUTCOMES & INDICATORS
APPROACH TO BE ADOPTED IN COMDEKS…
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
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
ENHANCED PROVISION OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES - MORE GRASSLANDS, MORE PRODUCTIVITY, SUSTAINABLE INCOMES, CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES.
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.
Ecosystem Level Outcomes:
Improved biodiversity endowment influences micro climate (HHs) more investments (HHs)
Improved respect for ecosystem leads to future sustainable utilization of resources
Improved soil and water conservation contributes better to agriculture productivity
Regeneration measures of agro forestry and fodder plantation helps long term goals of biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods
INDICATORS
Change in soil health and erosion status Improvement in water availability and its utilization
Qualitative improvement in agricultural outputs and productivity. New crops and seeds adopted and conserved
Limited need to apply external plant protection measures, increased local biological remedies
Fodder variety species accessed and productivity increased
Improved health and productivity of milch animals, number of animals increased
Agriculture Level Outcomes:
Improved productivity from improved soil and water endowment
Traditional practices find new meaning through scientific validation
Reduced vulnerability to climate shiftsImproved food security and income
generationDiversification reduces vulnerability and
improves on income source
Indicators
Improved food security and nutrition in number of HHs
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
Livelihoods Level Outcomes:
Created additional sources of income generation opportunities
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
New activities and links emerge from project and existing activities now increased
Number of families incomes increased, by amount and more assets accessed, investments made etc…
Savings improve to focus on development spending
Institutional/governance strengthening at landscape level:
No of different institutions, SHGs, lethargy gives way to improved and more relevant role for institutions
Strengthening of local institutional systemsImproved documentation constitutes an
effective “leave behind” for future effortsInstitution bridges gap between
knowledgeable elders and youth workers to create a complementary role for both
Convergence with state supported initiatives
Indicators
Number of SHGs promoted, banks linked, credit accessed, loans repaid. Number of alternative income sources created through livelihood
diversification.
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
Better integration with state supported efforts, access to in kind resources
Established examples influence policy measures, called into workshop etc
More access of funds from Government and other sources both at the project activities and community levels etc
Post project sustainability with impact on future replication influence in surrounding areas
Your Ideas…
CONT’D….
My Gains are Our Gains
Give us the Opportunity …
REDUCE OUR WORKLOADS
WE WILL DO IT
Facets of COMDEKS
Discussions-Sharing Supply Chain Thinking
We will do it together…let us pledge for it…THANKS!