Guidance WorkshopCOMDEKS & GEF UNDP SGP India

16.04.2014

• Is a unique global project implemented by UNDP, and delivered through the Small Grants Programme as the flagship of the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative

• Funded by the Japan Biodiversity Fund• India with Brazil, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana,

Malawi, Nepal, Slovakia, and Turkey.

Community Development and Knowledge Management for the Satoyama Initiative Project

(COMDEKS)

This is what makes COMDEKS

• Built on the Satoyama Initiative framework, • Very relevant at a philosophical and practicable level for

enhancing sustainable practices that follow a landscape approach.

• More importantly it is an initiative that is not imposed and can be practiced at ease by mountain communities.

• The main objective of the Project is to develop sound biodiversity management and sustainable livelihood activities with local communities in socio-ecological production landscapes to maintain, rebuild, and revitalize landscapes.

Why in Uttarakhand• We thought for Hill communities• Communities residing within the mountain system in

India earn their living through a multiplicity of livelihood pursuit.

• As such the integration needed between forestry, agriculture, and animal husbandry, among others is an ongoing phenomenon and one for which there is appreciation by all stakeholders.

• Forces of the markets, constraints such as animal menace, fragmentation of land holdings, and outward migration are all testing traditional systems and bringing sustainable practices under threat.

What is Satoyama Initiative (SI)

• Advancing Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes (SEPL) for the benefit of biodiversity and human well being

• Ministry of the Environment of Japan and the United Nations university Institute of Advanced studies (UNU-IAS) partnered to SI

• The Core Vision: Enable Societies (communities of practice) to realize in harmony with nature, that is built on positive human nature relationships.

Scope of Landscape - SI India• State: Uttarakhand• Areas: 2-3 districts and nearly 2 projects in each

district as ‘pilots’.• Funds Support: Equal Co financing• Methodology: GEF SGP Global Guidelines• Communities: 5000 HHs, nearly 50,000 persons

directly. • Links established with the state, district and local

level governments, other stakeholders including the forests, civil society, institutions etc.

• Technology interface

Overall 3 landscapes within the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand

• We have 3 landscape covered for the baseline study forming part of the larger Himalayan Eco-system.

• The first landscape, Rasulpur is located in the foothills of the Himalayas but is impacted on account of forest dwellers driven out of the designated Rajaji National Park without any compensatory rights.

• Being cattle grazers the pressure to feed needs of households is forcing them into pursuing activities that are wreaking havoc in the local ecosystem within and adjoining Rajaji National Park, and

• As such needs to be addressed through more focused landscape-based diverse livelihoods actions.

Continued• The second landscape being addressed is Shankarpur, also

set in the foothills of the Himalayas where much damage is being caused to existing farmlands through heightened ravine activity due to flash floods from rivers originating in the hills. This has eroded land, widened river banks and is now threatening the pursuit of agriculture.

• The third landscape has varying locations that forms part of the mid-high Himalayan system though with smaller variances of altitude in the local context. This region has an important role to play in meeting overall ecological endowment needs and as such has too many expectations from it, yet is moving to a state of extreme fragility.

Map of the Area

Approach and Expected Outcome

• Based on the main perspectives of Satoyama Initiative approach,

-that focus on ensuring that communities live in harmony with nature

-with a clear emphasis on 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, -natural resource management by various participating

and cooperating entities, and contributions to local socio-economies.

Some of the Outcomes Expected • Enhanced provision of ecosystem services within the target landscapes through

conservation activities and sustainable use of natural resources.

• Improved agricultural productivity in the target landscape by promoting sound and sustainable agricultural practices, resulting in increased food security and income generation.

• Alternative livelihoods options promoted within the landscape to enable access to markets and local financial institutions (SHGs).

• Institutional systems strengthened at the landscape level by promoting sharing of knowledge and information on effective use of resources and landscape related issues, and a more participatory decision making in the target landscapes.

• A new learning having emerged and shared as a winning example of a doable approach for others to emulate.

Actions based on • Food and nutrition security: Food and nutrition security in this

area is directly associated with agriculture production. As an example, traditionally grown millets and pulses while highly nutritious are losing importance within cropping systems, as noted at the Ranikhet location, due to lack of access to markets.

• Land Improvement: The important aspect of land degradation will be addressed at Rasulpur locations through improved tree cover in the former and grasslands in the latter region. Along with water conservation, soil conservation addressed.

• Dairying: Given the the relevance of integrated farming-livestock systems, dairying will also be promoted to add to household income at Tadikhet.

Continued

• Tourism: At Pipalkoti, and Almora tourism constitutes a major source of income for local communities given its proximity to religious tourism sites where more than a million people visit during a period of 4 months, as well as year-round from nature based tourism.

• Developing an environmentally conscious tourism industry as an ecosystem sensitive activity will help minimize negative impacts to the landscape as well as increase livelihood options for the poor of the region over the longer term.

• Water Mills and Energy Efficiency: An integrated approach through a range of actions; Chulhas; Biogas; Water mills and Micro hydels etc,,,

• Market and Value addition and increased incomes through processing

The Strategy

Vision: Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes resilience enhanced for the 2 districts of Almora/Ranikhet and Gopeswar Uttrakhand through community led actions

Approach:-Inception workshop with different stakeholders to have

common vision and ownerships on approach.-Develop a common 4 page Strategy Paper for the stakeholders-Using a more Participatory, process based, gender sensitive

approach encouraging mutual trust, respect and flexibility-Select partners agreeing to be locally based in the area, have

local working experience, have a more sensitivity and long term vision to the local concerns for SEPL.

-Proposals invited, approved and being implemented in the agreed formats on a range of verifiable indicators of success

Contd…• Consult and collaborate during the pre project phase local

knowledge from elders, local governments, opinion leaders - and stakeholders

• Develop a baseline assessment of key landscape performance indicators including conservation, production, livelihood and institutional dimensions

• Develop ideas /activities both for livelihoods and understanding landscapes with all stakeholders to assess current status of the landscape across the multiple dimensions – to initiate baseline assessment

• Sharing findings from the various tools with stakeholders to mobilize interest and focus for desired change

• A set of agreed formats will be used for proposal & monitoring on the projects

Issues / Challenge on each project (1-3) -Examples

-Soil erosion and landslides due to agricultural and farming practices in mountains

-Increasing intensity of rainfall and flash floods-Unplanned infrastructural development and skewed

investments by private sector-High out migration of local working age labour force

to cities for better wage incomes-Un-coordinated Government action for landscape

planning and management-Lack of technology interface and access etc…

Indicators: assess progress toward SI goal

S No Project Activities Verifiable Indicators

1 Village Meetings and Local institutions set up.

- No of meetings, held, documented, records available in each local institution/village

2 Women based Savings and Credit Groups

- No. of SHGs formed, savings, bank links established, loans accessed

3 Biodiversity-Forest Based:---

- No. of species protected/conserved

4 Livestock based:---

5 Biodiversity based- Crops

6 Energy related actions

This will be more completed during the workshops. More indicators will also be developed

Desired impacts across the landscape (on livelihoods, environment/ecosystem services, institutions & production)

• Local community, kinship and common trade groups established to address the local sustained actions for SEPL

• Low cost, easy to understand and manage technologies accessed, tried and tested for better results for enhanced incomes and reduced drudgery

• Enhanced skills and confidence of - communities of practice - of all age groups, gender and class for sustained incomes from the local resources

• Increased natural resource base through integrated land use planning of the landscapes

• Monitor the changes and outcomes at the individual, institutional and policy levels.

Who needs to be involved? Strategy Who?

Deciding on an issue or challenge

All stakeholders, including communities and local, District, State and National Governments

Setting a goal for the landscape To be decided in the Stakeholders meetings.

Selecting, adapting and measuring the indicators -do-

Evaluating and reporting on impacts -do-

How do we begin a landscape management process?

• Initiating integrated landscape management involves identifying a core group of ‘landscape leaders’ who are motivated to join a small team that will drive the process.

• The core group works to build interest and enthusiasm for landscape management by opinion leaders and stakeholders in the landscape,

• Address commonly recognized issues and/or to realize valuable opportunities through collaboration and better understanding.

Steps in initiating a landscape management process – project level

• Defining the landscape around commonly perceived conservation , production and/or livelihood issues and opportunities

• Identifying communities and organizations with clear stakes in the issues and control over resources for realizing new opportunities

• Forming a core team of landscape leader/facilitators from these communities and organizations

• Identifying key characteristics, assets and opinion leaders in local communities as well as public, private and civic organizations

1. Hand Pounded Rice (Kalbhat)2. ‘Nachani’ Biscuits (Finger Millet) 3. Wheat ‘Kuradai’ (Chandoshi)4. Honey (‘Madhuras’ harvested from

forest)5. Wild Berry Pickle (Karvand) 6. Wild Berry Juice (Karvand) 7. Chilly Powder8. Coriander Powder 9. ‘Nachani’ Papad (Finger Millet)10. Org. manure and pesticide by using

neem seed 11. Collection and conservation of

indigenous farm produces like Devthan Bajra, Maldandi Jowar, Chandoshi Wheat, Kalbhat Paddy

Value Added Green Products

ginger

Expected Outcomes

The COMDEKS programme in India seeks to achieve the following outcomes:

Outcome 1:Enhanced provision of ecosystem services within the

target landscapes through conservation activities and sustainable use of natural resources.

• Indicator 1.1: Number of hectares of degraded ecosystems in the landscape brought under sustainable resource management restored or rehabilitated

• Indicator 1.2: Number of communities demonstrating sustainable land and forest management practices.

Outcome 2:Improved agricultural productivity in the target landscape

by promoting sound and sustainable agricultural practices, resulting in increased food security and income generation.

• Indicator 2.1: Number of hectares where more sustainable land use practices are implemented by type.

• Indicator 2.2: No of farm groups/communities and farmers (disaggregated by gender) participating in adoption of appropriate technologies and systems including crop diversification, agroforestry, irrigated agriculture, conservation farming, low cost renewable technologies for drying, and energy efficiency technologies, mixed farming-livestock systems, etc.

Outcome 3:Alternative livelihoods options promoted within the

landscape to enable access to markets and local financial institutions.

• Indicator 3.1: Number of alternative income sources created through livelihood diversification (i.e. dairying and ecotourism).

• Indicator 3.2: Number of participating community members (gender disaggregated) benefitting by project activities.

Outcome 4:Institutional systems strengthened at the landscape level by

promoting sharing of knowledge and information on effective use of resources and landscape related issues, and a more participatory decision making in the target landscapes.

• Indicator 4.1: Number of community-based institutions created or strengthened who are engaged in integrated landscape management.

• Indicator 4.2: Number of policy or plans influenced or created at the national and community levels which reflect decisions negotiated in a participatory manner at the landscape level.

• Indicator 4.3: Number of COMDEKS lessons learned from the project.