Elucidation of the th. 4 National Report submitted to UNCCD Secretariat 2010

Transcription

1 Eucidation of the th 4 Nationa Report submitted to UNCCD Secretariat 21

2 Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, 211 Materia from this pubication may be used for educationa purposes provided due credit is given. Materia from this pubication can be used for commercia purposes ony with the permission from the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India Paryavaran Bhawan, CGO Compex Lodi Road, New Dehi-11 3 Phone: Emai: r.dube@nic.in, viveksax1@gmai.com Website: Edited, Designed & Printed by Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Ahmedabad. Website: Front cover photo: Bada Bhiwada JFM site, Jhado bock, Udaipur district, Rajasthan (By Seva Mandir, Udaipur) Back cover photo: Sand dune stabiization at Smrutivan, Jaipur, Rajasthan (By CEE)

3 Eucidation of the th 4 Nationa Report submitted to UNCCD Secretariat 21

4 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

5 Index Foreword 5 Abbreviations 6 India's dryands and emerging chaenges 9 India and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) 15 Reporting on the Operationa Objectives of 'the Strategy' 23 Programmes and Initiatives 28 Land 3 Water 41 Liveihoods 49 Renewabe Energy 54 Science and Technoogy Initiatives 62 Sustainabe Land and Ecosystem Management 82 Best Practices 96 Soi & Water Conservation 98 Land-use Panning 14 Securing Liveihoods: Muti-foca approach 16 Knowedge Management 114 References 12 Annexures 121 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

6 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

7 FOREWORD th It gives me great peasure to introduce India's 4 Nationa Report to UNCCD, 21. This report provides a hoistic overview capturing comprehensivey India's poicies and programme reated to desertification, and degradation and drought. Poverty and environmenta degradation are major probems in dry ands, where forests and trees contribute significanty to rura iveihoods. In order to eradicate poverty in the dry ands, it is important to protect the and from deforestation, fragmentation, degradation and drought. About 228 mha (69%) of India's tota geographica area (about 328 mha) is under dry ands (arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid). These areas incidentay are highy popuated which makes the peope vunerabe to environmenta stress and impacts iveihoods directy. In order to tacke the issues of desertification, and degradation and droughts, 22 major programmes are being impemented in the country, incuding, the Mission for Green India, one of the Missions under the Nationa Action Pan on Cimate Change, which wi address dry and forests, in addition to other ecosystems. This report not ony encompasses the Government of India's initiatives but aso Civi Society's contribution in addressing the issues of desertification, and degradation and drought. I am confident that this report wi enabe us to understand the key issues as aso the measures undertaken to address the same; and wi be usefu for poicy makers, panners, academicians, civi society groups and reevant stakehoders. (Jairam Ramesh)

8 Abbreviations AFRI AICRPAM AIS&LUP AOFFPS ARWSP ASTRPS BRGF BT CADP CAZRI CBO CDM CDWM CEE CGWB CONS COP CPP CRIC CRIDA CSO CSSRI CSWCRT CSWRI CT DLDD DRDA DSM EGS ENVIS FAO FDA FES FFS FPR FSHG FSI GBPIHED GEF GOI GP GVT IAEPS Arid Forest Research Institute A-India Coordinated Research Project on Agro-Meteoroogy A India Soi and Land Use Survey Organization Area Oriented Fue wood and Fodder Project Scheme Acceerated Rura Water Suppy Programme Association of ST and Rura Poor in Regeneration of Degraded Forests Backward Regions Grant Fund Box Trench Command Area Deveopment Programme Centra Arid Zone Research Institute Community Based Organisaton Cean Deveopment Mechanism Command Area Deveopment and Water Management programme Centre for Environment Education Centra Ground Water Board Consoidated Performance Indicators Conference of the Parties Country Partnership Programme Committee for the Review of the Impementation of the Convention Centra Research Institute for Dryand Agricuture Civi Society Organisation Centra Soi Sainity Research Institute Centra Soi and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute Centra Sheep and Woo Research Institute Contour Trench Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought District Rura Deveopment Agency Desertification Status Monitoring Empoyment Guarantee Scheme Environmenta Information System Food and Agricuture Organisation Forest Deveopment Agency Foundation for Ecoogica Security Farmer Fied Schoos Food Prone Rivers Federation of Sef Hep Groups Forest Survey of India Govind Baabh Pant Institute of Himaayan Environment and Deveopment Goba Environment Faciity Government of India Gram Panchayat Gramin Vikas Trust Integrated Afforestation and Eco-deveopment Project Scheme 26 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

9 ICAR Indian Counci of Agricutura Research ICFRE Indian Counci of Forestry Research and Education ICRISAT Internationa Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics IGNFA Indira Gandhi Nationa Forest Academy IGFRI Indian Grassand and Fodder Research Institute IIFM Indian Institute of Forest Management IRDP Integrated Rura Deveopment Programme IREDA Indian Renewabe Energy Deveopment Agency ISRO Indian Space Research Organisation IWMP Integrated Watershed Management Programme JFM Joint Forest Management JFMC Joint Forest Management Committee KJBF Kamanayan Jamnaa Bajaj Foundation KVK Krishi Vigyan Kendra M&E Monitoring and Evauation MASS Manav Adhikar Seva Samiti MGNREGS Mahatma Gandhi Nationa Rura Empoyment Guarantee Scheme mha Miion Hectares MoEF Ministry of Environment and Forests MSP Medium Scae Project MWS micro-watersheds NABARD Nationa Bank for Agricuture and Rura Deveopment NAEB Nationa Afforestation and Eco-Deveopment Board NAIP Nationa Agricutura Innovation Project NAP-CD Nationa Action Programme to Combat Desertification NAP Nationa Afforestation Programme NARS Nationa Agricutura Research System NATMO Nationa Atas and Thematic Mapping Organisation NBA Nationa Biodiversity Authority NBSS&LUP Nationa Bureau of Soi Survey and Land Use Panning NCSA Nationa Capacity Sef Assessment NGO Non Governmenta Organisation NRAA Nationa Rainfed Area Authority NRASA Nationa Remote Sensing Agency NRCAF Nationa Research Centre on Agroforestry NRDWP Nationa Rura Drinking Water Programme NREGA Nationa Rura Empoyment Guarantee Act NRLM Nationa Rura Liveihood Mission NRM Natura Resource Management NRSC Nationa Remote Sensing Centre NSC Nationa Steering Committee NTFP Non-Timber Forest Produce NWDPRA Nationa Watershed Deveopment Project for Rainfed Areas C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1 7

10 O&M PPS PRAIS PRI R&D RAP RKC RRR RVP SAC SFA SGP SGSY SHGs SLEM SLUSI SOC SPV SPWD SRAPS ST STI SWC TFO TGA TGCS TNP UDWDP UNCCD UNDP UNFCCC USD VD VUS WALMI WII WORLP WOTR ` Operation and Maintainance Programme and Project Sheet Performance Review and Assessment of Impementation System Panchayat Raj Institutions Research and Deveopment Regiona Action Programme Rura Knowedge Centre Repair, Renovation and Restoration River Vaey Project Space Appications Centre Standard Financia Annex Sma Grant Programme Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojagar Yojna Sef Hep Groups Sustainabe Land and Ecosystem Management Soi and Land Use Survey of India Soi Organic Carbon Soar Photovotaic Society for Promotion of Wasteand Deveopment Sub-Regiona Action Programmes Schedued Tribes Scientific and Technica Institutes Soi Water Content Technica Faciitation Organisation Tota Geographica Area Tree Growers Cooperative Society Thematic Programme Network Uttarakhand Decentraized Watershed Deveopment Project United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification United Nations Nationa Deveopment Programme United Nations Framework Convention on Cimate Change United States Doar V-ditches Van Utthan Sansthan Water and Land Management Institutes Widife Institute of India Western Orissa Rura Liveihood Project Watershed Organization Trust Indian Rupees 8 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

11 India's dryands and emerging chaenges Photo: Seva Mandir, Udaipur Dry deciduous ecosystem of Jhado bock, Udaipur district, Rajasthan. Dryands India has a tota geographica area (TGA) of miion hectares (mha) with dryands covering mha (69.6%) of the tota and area. Within the dryands, arid area is 5.8 mha (15.8% of TGA), semiarid is mha (37.6 % of TGA) and dry sub-humid is 54.1 mha (16.5 % of TGA) (DSM Atas, 27). The dryands comprise a arge bet running from the border in the northwest through Peninsuar India to the southern tip of the country. The hot arid regions in India occupy major parts of Rajasthan (Western), Gujarat, southern Punjab and Haryana and a sma portion of Deccan Peninsua in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. Roughy, three-fourth of the State of Rajasthan, comprising 12 western districts, fas within the hot arid zone. The Great Indian Desert aso known as the 'Thar' Desert ies in Western Rajasthan and comprises an area of 196,15 sq km. In addition, an area of about 15.2 mha of cod desert is ocated in Jammu and Kashmir and the Lahu-Spiti region in Himacha Pradesh (NAP, 21). About mha (37.6% of TGA) consist of semi-arid region (NBSSLUP, 21). The semi-arid tropica areas can be further cassified into dry and wet. Crops and C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1 9

12 cropping systems are quite diverse here depending on soi type and ength of agricutura season. Sorghum, cotton, soyabean, groundnut and puses are the major crops. About 54.1 mha (16.5% of TGA) fa within the dry subhumid region. Receiving fairy high rainfa the region gets ampe opportunities for water harvesting. Rainfed rice is the predominant crop foowed by puses, oiseeds and to some extent, vegetabes and fruit crops are aso an important component of the production system (DSM Atas, 27). The hot arid region suffers ow and erratic rainfa, frequent droughts, high evaporation, intense heat and high winds. The sois are not conducive to intensive cropping. The density of both human and ivestock popuation is high as compared to the nationa average. A part of this popuation is nomadic foowing a pastora system of iving. This has put the scarce natura resources under severe stress. The agricutura season here is very short, so ivestock farming forms an integra part of iveihoods. DRYLANDS OF INDIA 1:6,, 1 cm = 5 kms km LEGEND Arid Semi-arid Sub-humid (Dry) Other 1 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1 Source: Agro-Ecoogica Subregions of India, NBSS&LLP (ICAR), Nagpur

13 Land Degradation and Desertification Land degradation and desertification are compex phenomena caused by natura and anthropogenic factors. Desertification in this context refers to 'and degradation in dryands'. In fact, UNCCD (Art.1) defines desertification as and degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resuting from mutipe factors, incuding cimatic variations and human activities. It is estimated that about 32% of India's tota and area is affected by and degradation and 25% of the geographica area is affected by desertification. About 69% of the country's and is dryands and degradation of this and has severe impications for the iveihood and food security of miions (DSM Atas, 27). Land degradation impacts agricutura productivity, bio-diversity, groundwater and overa water avaiabiity. A these ead to a decine in the quaity of ife, eventuay affecting the socio-economic status of the region. Land degradation has far-reaching consequences that affect ives and iveihoods of the popuation, often precipitating forced migration and socio-economic conficts. Causes of Land Degradation Natura The major process of and degradation is soi erosion (due to water and wind erosion), contributing to over 71% of the and degradation in the country. Water erosion, the most widespread form of degradation, occurs widey in a agrocimatic zones. It has caused up to mha (1.21% of TGA) of and degradation. Wind erosion dominant in the western region, eading to oss of topsoi and shifting of sand dunes, has caused upto mha (5.34% of TGA) in degradation. Aso vegeta degradation of mha (9.63% of TGA), and frost shattering of 9.47 mha has occurred. The other processes incude probems of water ogging, sainity-akainity. Rajasthan (12.79% of TGA), Gujarat (12.72% of TGA) and Maharashtra (12.66% of TGA) have high proportions of and undergoing degradation (DSM Atas, 27). Land degradation is aso a serious probem even in the humid/subhumid regions, particuary in the hiy regions, where the main process of and degradation is water erosion resuting in high osses of top soi and fertiity Processwise status of and degradation in India Source: DSM Atas, 27 Water erosion (1.21%) Water degradation (9.63%) Wind/Eoian degradation (5.34%) Frost shattering (3.1%) Sainity/akainity (1.6%) Mass movement (1.35%) Water ogging (.3%) Rocky areas/barren (.5%) Others (.4%) Scare water resources in dryand regions imit green coverage couped with stress on and due to increasing demand for agricuture and fodder production for ivestock. Agricutura practices ike excessive use of fertiizers, pesticides, intensive cropping patterns, inappropriate technoogies, etc have ead to further degradation of and. In regions with higher demands on and production, unsustainabe agricutura practices cause severe harm. Poor and inefficient irrigation practices, over expoitation of ground water, particuary in the coasta regions resuting in saine intrusion into aquifers, etc ead to and degradation and desertification. Drought, a naturay occurring phenomenon, can be exacerbated due to absence of vegetative cover impacting the hydroogica regime. It is aso another causative factor for and degradation in arid and semi-arid regions, instigating crop faiures and then famines. Recurrent droughts cause ower biomass production, poor grain yieds and scarcity of fodder. Further more, scarcity during drought years eads to enhanced grazing pressure by the ivestock, which accentuates the probem of oss of vegetative cover. The process of and degradation is further aggravated by high biotic pressure - human C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

14 popuation and ivestock popuation. India has ivestock popuation of about 485 miion, consequenty burdening the imited and resources for fodder. Short-ived yet recurrent droughts can aggravate conditions interfering with the natura capacity of and to recover and advance the process of desertification. Anthropogenic Anthropogenic causes incude expansion of agricuture and unsustainabe agricutura practices such as intensive cutivation, chemica nutrient use, poor irrigation practices, and overgrazing. Such unsustainabe resource management practices are often induced by popuation pressures, socia conficts, unsuitabe panning etc. Peope affected by desertification need to draw on their imited assets in order to survive, accentuating their poverty. This constitutes a vicious cyce inking deteriorating natura resources to deteriorating iveihoods as peope need to encroach further on fragie sois, sparse vegetation and imited water resources to meet their basic needs. Diversion of and from forestry and agricuture to other and uses has been one of the principa causes of and degradation. Wherever diversion of forest and is unavoidabe, for instance for important deveopmenta programmes, compensatory afforestation on non-forest and is mandatory. However, the oss of prime forests impacts the ong-term stabiity of forests. The causes and effects of deforestation and forest degradation are interinked. Some direct causes of deforestation are and cearance for agricuture (incuding shifting cutivation). Other and use changes incude unpanned deveopment, and transfers, different forms of encroachment, over-grazing, uncontroed and wastefu ogging, iega feing and excessive fue wood coection. In this context, however, it is necessary to understand that in India fue wood contributes 84% of the tota househod energy consumption (UNDP, 1997) and there are 66.5 miion triba peope in India, who, with a few exceptions, are forest dweers (FAO, 1997). Industria effuents are emerging as significant agents of and degradation. Industria effuents discharged into barren ands and inand water bodies degrade the and and the water tabe. Industria effuents discharged into non-perennia streams and rivers cause ong term contamination impacting oca agricuture and the quaity of ground water. Mining is another factor causing and degradation in India. This is especiay the case with unpanned open cast mining and where dumping of mine refuse occurs in the vicinity of agricutura ands. Open cast mining of sandstone, imestone, marbe, gypsum and cay is argey practiced by sma scae entrepreneurs who do not take up post mining operations, consequenty, such areas graduay turn into wasteands. China cay, Fuer's earth, cacite and gypsum generate fine partices which are washed down sopes with runoff and get deposited in the adjoining cutivated fieds. This eventuay eads to probems of water ogging and sainity. Most rura communities in dryands rey on a combination of rain-fed agricuture, ivestock rearing and other income generating activities that are extremey vunerabe to the expected cimate change impacts. Land degradation and depeting water suppy are aready critica probems. Desertification and oss of bioogica potentia wi restrict the transformation of dryands into productive ecosystems. Deveopment in the dryands depends on addressing degradation of the ecosystem, mainstreaming sustainabe natura resources management and buiding upon the existing adaptive capacities of community and institutions. Cimate change wi further chaenge the iveihoods of those iving in these sensitive ecosystems and may resut in higher eves of resource scarcity. The DLDD issues and iveihoods security is addressed by the various projects and programmes under various Government of India agencies. Programme and initiatives have been underway over the past 4 years. Some of the major programmes and initiatives deveoped and underway are discussed in detai in Chapter C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

15 Photo: Seva Mandir, Udaipur C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n Status of Aravai, Jhado bock, Udaipur district, Rajasthan.

16 DESERTIFICATION STATUS MAP OF INDIA Srinagar N Chandigarh Shimaa Dehradun Dehi Jaipur Lucknow Patana Gangtok Guwahati Shiong Itanagar Kohima Impha Ahmedabad Bhopa Ranchi Kokata Azaw Agartaa Raipur Mumbai Bhubaneshwar Hyderabad Panaji Bangaore Chennai Andaman & Nicobar Isands Lakshdweep Isands Thiruvananthapuram 5 1 Kiometers (Scae = 1:5,) 14 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

17 Code Fv1,2 Gv2 Sv1,2 Dw1,2 w1,2 Fw1,2 Sw1,2 Bw1,2 Rw1,2Ew1 EW1 Lw1 De1,2 e1,2 Se1 Be1 Description Forest/Pantation, Vegeta degradation Grassand/Grazing and, Vegeta degradation Land with scrub, Vegeta degradation Agricuture Unirrigated, Water erosion Agricuture Irrigated, Water erosion Forest/ Pantation, Water erosion Land with scrub, Water erosion Barren, Water erosion Rocky area, Water erosion Dune/Sandy area, Water erosion Perigacia, Water erosion Agricuture Unirrigated, Wind erosion Agricuture Irrigated, Wind erosion Land with scrub, Wind erosion Barren, Wind erosion Legend Code Ee1,2 Ds1,2 Is1,2 Ss1,2 Bs1,2 D1,2 1,2 B1,2 Bg1,2 Ch2 Lf1,2 Fm2 Bm1,2 Tm1,2 NAD Cassification System Description Dune/Sandy area, Wind erosion Agricuture Unirrigated, Sainization/akaization Agricuture Irrigated, Sainization/akaization Land with scrub, Sainization/akaization Barren, Sainization/akaization Agricuture Unirrigated, Water ogging Agricuture Irrigated, Water ogging Barren, Water ogging Barren, Mass movement Gacia, Frost heaving Perigacia, Water erosion Forest/Pantation, Man made Barren, Man made Others, Man made No Apparent Degradation Land use/land cover Process of degradation Severity 1=Low 2=High Symbo Code Description Symbo Code Description Code Description I Agricuture Irrigated V Vegeta degradation 1 Low D Agricuture unirrigated W Water erosion 2 High F/P Forest/Pantation e Wind erosion G Grassand/Grazing and s/a Sainization/akaization S Land with scrub Water ogging B Barren (Barren Scree) g Mass movement R Rocky area h Frost heaving E Dune/Sandy area f Frost shattering W Water body/drainage m Man made C Gacia NAD No Apparent Degradation L T Perigacia Others Internationa Boundary State Boundary River/Stream Settement Area not taken for mapping Source: IRS-P6, AWIFs data (23-24) and Anciary Information Prepared by: Space Appications Centre, Ahmedabad &Coaborating Agencies C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

18 India and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Photo: CEE Photo Bank Sand dune stabiization at Smrutivan, Jaipur district, Rajasthan. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is one of the three Rio Conventions that focuses on desertification, and degradation and drought (DLDD). UNCCD is the ony convention that focuses on sustainabe and management and arresting and degradation. This convention was adopted on 17th June 1994 and entered into force on 26 December 'Desertification' as defined in the UNCCD is and degradation in the dryands (arid, semi arid and dry sub humid regions) resuting from various factors and does not denote spread or expansion of deserts. UNCCD with 194 Parties recognizes and degradation as an important factor affecting some of the most vunerabe peope and ecosystems in the word. The UNCCD aims at combating desertification / and degradation and mitigating the effects of drought whie contributing to the achievement of sustainabe deveopment. The Convention benefits from universa membership and is increasingy recognized as an instrument that can make a asting contribution to poverty reduction and other deveopmenta and environmenta goas. The Convention stresses the need for integrated efforts and ong-term strategies on cross-sectora issues such as environmenta conservation, 16 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

19 agricutura productivity, sustainabe energy, fodder production and use, activities targeting socioeconomic condition of oca communities, and efficient management of natura resources. Thus the UNCCD provides a patform for addressing these issues at the nationa as we as in the goba context. The convention promotes sustainabe and management (SLM) as a soution to goba chaenges. Land degradation causes ong-term oss of ecosystem functions and productivity from which the and cannot recover unaided. Sustainabe Land Management is focused on changes in and cover/and use to maintain and enhance ecosystems functions and services. India became a signatory to the UNCCD on 14th October 1994 and ratified it on 17th December With about 32% of its and being affected by and degradation, India has high stakes and stands strongy committed to impementing the UNCCD. The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) is the noda Ministry in the Government of India for the UNCCD. The formation of Desertification Ce within the MoEF refects India's active and invoved commitment to the UNCCD and focused efforts at combating desertification, and degradation and drought across the nation. Tabe-1: Poicies and Acts S. Poicy/Act Webink India activey participates in internationa events on desertification and is currenty the Chair of the Regiona Impementation Annex for the Asia and the Pacific region. As host country for the Thematic Programme Network (TPN-2) on Agroforestry with Centra Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur as the host institution, MoEF pubished the Agroforestry Manua for Asia-Pacific Region in coaboration w i t h t h e U N C C D i n 2 4 ( India is a eading country on the work on TPN 1: Desertification Status Monitoring (DSM). Space Appications Centre, Ahmedabad pubished a DSM Atas of the country in 27, which is a gobay pioneering work, based on a piot project sponsored by MoEF ( desertification-ce/contents/desert_atas.pdf). Poicy Initiatives and Institutiona Mechanisms Though India does not have a specific poicy or egisative framework for combating desertification. The concern for arresting and reversing and degradation and desertification gets refected in many of the nationa poicies which have enabing provisions for addressing these probems. Various poicies and acts are given beow. 1 Indian Forest Act, 1927 www. envfor.nic.in/egis/forest/forest4.htm 2 Forest (Conservation) Act, Environment (Protection) Act, Nationa Forest Poicy, Nationa Agricutura Poicy, Bioogica Diversity Act, Nationa Water Poicy, 22 nwp pdf 8 Nationa Environmenta Poicy, Nationa Poicy for Farmers, Nationa Green Tribuna Act, 21 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

20 Photo: FES, Anand Ravine recamation at Khorwad, Umreth bock, Anand district, Gujarat. After independence, India has taken a number of steps to tacke the probem of and degradation and desertification. The first five year pan ( ) had 'and rehabiitation' as one of the thrust areas. In the subsequent pans, too, high priority has been consistenty attached to deveopment of the dryands. Systematic efforts through the aunching of ong-term counter measures were initiated in the Second Pan ( ) which were substantiay expanded during the Fourth Pan ( ). The Fourth Pan suggested that much of the amount spent on reief in famine-affected areas coud be so depoyed in the areas chronicay affected by drought as to generate empoyment in rura sector. Various projects and programmes reated to desertification contro were aunched and are continuing within the framework of the Ninth Five Year Pan. The Working Group for formuation of 1th Five-Year Pan (22-27) recommended twenty year projections (22-222) for watershed deveopment, rainfed farming and natura resource management. The Ministry of Environment and Forests is the foca point at the nationa eve, with severa other ministries having a number of programmes and poicy initiatives reated to the DLDD issue. State government aso have a major roe in combating DLDD by impementing centra government programmes, schemes, and reguations. Civi Society organizations, grassroots organizations and arger NGO's aso undertake grassroots projects on issues pertaining to NRM, iveihoods and sustainabe and m a n a g e m e n t. S o m e o f t h e m a j o r ministries/departments invoved are: Panning Commission Ministry of Rura Deveopment o Department of Land Resources o Department of Rura Deveopment o Department of Drinking Water Suppy Ministry of Agricuture o Department of Agricuture & Cooperation o Department of Agricutura Research and Education/ Indian Counci of Agricutura Research o Department of Anima Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries Ministry of Water Resources Ministry of New and Renewabe Energy Ministry of Earth Sciences o India Meteoroogica Department o Department of Science and Technoogy Ministry of Space o Space Appications Centre Ministry of Consumer Affairs & Pubic Distribution Ministry of Panchayati Raj Ministry of Science and Technoogy Ministry of Environment and Forests o Nationa Afforestation and Eco-deveopment Board o Environment Education Division o Nationa Biodiversity Authority 18 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

21 In order to provide research support to the various programmes for combating desertification, Government of India (GoI) has estabished a network of nationa eve research institutes as detaied in tabe beow: Tabe-2: Scientific and Technica Institutes Scientific and Technica Institutes Centra Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur Indian Counci of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI) Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun Nationa Bureau of Soi Survey and Land Use Panning (NBSS&LUP), Nagpur Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopa Widife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun Centra Research Institute for Dryand Agricuture (CRIDA), Hyderabad Centra Soi and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute (CSWCRT), Dehradun Nationa Research Centre on Agroforestry (NRCAF), Jhansi Centra Soi Sainity Research Institute (CSSRI), Karna Indian Grassand and Fodder Research Institute, (IGFRI), Jhansi Centra Sheep and Woo Research Institute (CSWRI), Avikanagar Water Technoogy Centre at the Indian Agricutura Research Institute, New Dehi Indira Gandhi Nationa Forest Academy (IGFNA), Dehradun Nationa Afforestation and Eco-Deveopment Board (NAEB), New Dehi Nationa Biodiversity Authority (NBA), New Dehi Nationa Tiger Conservation Authority, New Dehi Nationa Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad Nationa Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA), New Dehi Website States have aso estabished institutions and agencies to conduct research and impement programmes at the oca eve. The Nationa Action Programme to Combate Desertification (NAP-CD) The NAP-CD formuated and submitted to UNCCD in 21, identifies the need to address and incorporate the foowing into an integrated panning for sustainabe deveopment-natura resource conservation and management, socio-economic issues, strengthening the process of decentraisation of governance and formuation of more community driven projects and programmes, gender issues, pubic participation, strengthening the interface and co-ordination between various stakehoders, and awareness raising. The NAP-CD be downoaded at -ce/?f=nap In order to achieve the above, NAP-CD mentions a greater shift from centraised mode of governance to more decentraised governance; identification of probems/ C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

22 priorities by the oca communities and a greater devoution of powers to the oca communities; Greater integration of existing programmes and activities not ony at the nationa eve but a more coordinated approach, particuary at the oca eve. A step towards 'Singe window' impementation of programmes and schemes through oca sef governments (Panchayats) is emphasised. Water woud be made centra to a conservation measures and for production systems. Focus woud be to improve the quaity of ife. The oca communities are empowered to take decisions, and impement programmes reating to their iveihood. The approach and strategy to combat desertification under UNCCD is appropriatey described in NAP-CD. With reference to UNCCD decision 3/COP.8 the NAP-CD needs to be aigned with the 1-year strategic pan and framework to enhance the impementation of the Convention. Nationa Capacity Needs Sef-Assessment (NCSA) NCSA prepared in 27 suggested that India has sufficient capacity requirements for meeting UNCCD obigations. Some of the strengths are : 1. Address a causes of desertification in impementation of NAP to combat desertification; 2. Mainstreaming of combating desertification works for ands that are not yet degraded; 3. Provide egisative support pertaining to combating desertification; 4. Provide for effective participation at the oca, nationa and regiona eves of NGOs and oca; 5. Estabish and strengthen eary warning system for combating desertification Some of the important deficiencies in capacity needs are 1. I m p e m e nt a c t i o n o f N A P to combat desertification 2. Research and deveopment 3. Conceptuaize and formuate poicies, egisations, strategies and Programs 4. Incorporation of traditiona knowedge 5. Mobiization of private sector contributions. The above depiction of strengths and deficiencies ceary indicate that the country is strong in arge number of capacities especiay in terms of impementation of nationa pans as we as preventive measures for ands that are yet not degraded; information generation and eary warning, and transfer of adaptation and deveopment of technoogy. There are however few inadequacies that need immediate attention. Foowing the Strategy adopted in 28, foow-up of NCSA in review and foow-up with the Strategy is needed. Sustainabe Land and Ecosystem Management (SLEM) Programme The SLEM Programme is a joint initiative between the Government of India (GOI) and the Goba Environmenta Faciity (GEF), under the ater Country Partnership Programme (CPP) under GEF 4-cyce. The objective of SLEM Programmatic Approach is to promote sustainabe and management and use of biodiversity as we as to maintain the capacity of ecosystems to deiver goods and services taking into account cimate change. SLEM programme is based on the foowing- Prevention and/or contro of and degradation by restoration of degraded (agricutura and forested) ands and biomass cover to produce, harvest, and utiize biomass in ways that maximize productivity, as we as by carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and sustainabe use of natura resources; Enhancement of oca capacity and institution buiding to strengthen and and ecosystem management; Faciitation of knowedge dissemination and appication of nationa and internationa good practices in SLEM within and across states; Repication and scaing up of successfu and and e cosystem m a n a gement p ra c t i c e s a n d technoogies to maximize synergies across the CBD, UNFCCC, UNCCD conventions. Under the SLEM Programmatic Approach, seven projects have been formuated and are under various stages of impementation. ( modues/divisions/desertification-ce/?f=sem) UNCCD 1 year Strategy (28-18) and the 4th Nationa Report As the Convention entered into its second decade, the Parties unanimousy adopted the 1-year strategic 2 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

23 pan and framework to enhance the impementation of the Convention for at COP8, hed in Madrid in September 27. The Strategy provides a unique opportunity to address some of the Convention's key chaenges, to capitaize on its strengths, to seize opportunities provided by the new poicy and financing environment, and to create a new, revitaized common ground for a UNCCD stakehoders. The Strategy contains the strategic objectives to be achieved over the 1 years and the operationa objectives that guide the actions of short and medium-term effects. The strategy can be downoaded at docs/the%2strategy%2eafet-engish.pdf As an integra part of its obigations, India submits a Nationa Report to the UNCCD Secretariat as per COP decisions. Ti date four Nationa Reports have been submitted. The first report was submitted in 2, second report in 22, and the third report in 26. The fourth nationa report was submitted onine in October 21, and reported for three years (FY27-8, 8-9, 9-1). (A the nationa reports can b e accessed o n the MoEF website on-ce/). The 4th Nationa Report had a revised reporting format vis-à-vis the previous years. To support this new resut-oriented management structure, UNCCD had Parties at the Ninth Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 9), decided on a new Performance Review and Assessment of Impementation System (PRAIS). This aows the Committee for the Review of the Impementation of the Convention (CRIC) to effectivey review the impementation of the Strategy and the Convention, based on a new methodoogica approach, which envisages reporting on performance and impact indicators, best practices and financia fows. The 4th Nationa report confirms to the Strategic and Operationa Objectives of the 1 year Strategy of UNCCD. But for this particuar reporting, country parties were expected to report on the 5 Operationa Objectives and Expected Outcomes (against Performance Indicators) ony, which are as detaied beow. And the reporting on the Strategic Objectives (against Impact Indicators) wi be from the next reporting period, i.e Operationa Objectives and Expected Outcomes 1. Advocacy, awareness raising and education: To activey infuence reevant internationa, nationa and oca processes and actors in adequatey addressing desertification/and degradation and drought-reated issues. Photo: GUIDE, Bhuj Grassands of Bunni, Kachchh district, Gujarat. C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

24 2. Poicy framework: To support the creation of enabing environments for promoting soutions to combat desertification/and degradation and mitigate the effects of drought. 3. Science, technoogy and knowedge: To become a goba authority on scientific and technica knowedge pertaining to desertification/and degradation and mitigation of the effects of drought. 4. Capacity-buiding: To identify and address capacity-buiding needs to prevent and reverse desertification/ and degradation and mitigate the effects of drought. 5. Financing and technoogy transfer: To mobiize and improve the targeting and coordination of nationa, biatera and mutiatera financia and technoogica resources in order to increase their impact and effectiveness. Strategic Objectives: 1. To improve the iving conditions of affected popuations 2. To improve the condition of affected ecosystems 3. To generate goba benefits through effective impementation of the UNCCD 4. To mobiize resources to support impementation of the Convention through buiding effective partnerships between nationa and internationa actors Through the fourth reporting and review process Parties and the other reporting entities provided information on: Performance indicators for the five operationa objectives of the Strategy; Financia fows (through the Standardized Financia Annex (SFA) and Programme and Project Sheet (PPS); Best practices on SLM technoogies, incuding adaptation; Feedback on indicators and methodoogies appied in this reporting and review process, as we as other pertinent information that reporting entities may wish to provide to the COP. The process of preparation of the report incuded data coection and synthesis of important programmes undertaken by the various Government of India ministries, research institutes, and civi society organisations. Nationa consutations with ministries and departments were an ongoing process and a Nationa Consutative meeting was hed on August 17, 21. The Consutative meeting with the Civi Society Organisations (CSOs) was organized on 14 Sept 21 to invite inputs for the Nationa Report. The vaidation meeting was organized on 1 October 21 and the nationa report was finaized for submission. The 4th Nationa Report submitted to UNCCD secretariat onine in October 21, was imited in scope as it did not refect India's initiatives reated to desertification, and degradation and drought issues in a hoistic and summarized format. Therefore, this report is the 'Eucidation' of the fourth Nationa Report and contains detaied information that coud not be incorporated in the on-ine report and that coud be shared widey with mutipe stakehoders. Chapters in this report are organized according to the reporting format to refect background to these initiatives and a summary highighting the country's commitment to addressing the issues of desertification, and degradation and drought. The focus of Chapter 1 is essentiay on providing a background to the concept of and degradation and desertification in India; and Chapter 2 summarizes the programmes and initiatives of various Government of India agencies in an effort to arrest and degradation. Chapter 3 incudes anaysis of the Performance Indicators; whie Chapter 4 summarises the programmes categorised as per the thematic areas: a) Land (Land resources, Agricuture, Afforestation); b) Water; c) Liveihoods; d) Renewabe Energy; e) Science and Technoogy Initiatives; and f) Sustainabe Land and Ecosystem Management programme (SLEM); ast but not the east, Chapter 5 covers the 11 Best Practices from across the country that has been reported on sustainabe and management techniques, incuding adaptation. The origina fourth Nationa Report submitted onine can be accessed at /divisions/desertification-ce/contents/india-4thnationa-report-21.pdf. 22 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

25 Reporting on the Operationa Objectives of 'the Strategy' Photo: CEE Photo Bank Degraded viage pasture ands at Jasdan bock, Rajkot district, Gujarat. U n i t e d N a t i o n s C o n v e n t i o n t o C o m b a t Desertification's (UNCCD) 1 year strategic pan and framework was adopted at Conference of the Parties (COP 8) at Madrid to enhance the impementation of the Convention for The Strategy provides a unique opportunity to address some of the Convention's key chaenges, to capitaize on its strengths, to seize opportunities provided by the new poicy and financing environment, and to create a new, revitaized common ground for a UNCCD stakehoders. The Strategy contains the strategic objectives to be achieved over the 1 years, and the operationa objectives that guide the actions of short and medium-term effects. Performance indicators compare actua conditions with a specific set of reference conditions. They measure the 'distance(s)' between the current situation and the desired situation (target). The performance indicators were deveoped to measure the progress of the five operationa objectives of The Strategy, in ine with decision 3/COP.8 (Conference of Parties). The affected country Parties were to report on the foowing fourteen performance indicators out of the eighteen Consoidated Performance Indicators (CONS). C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

26 Tabe-3: Operationa Objectives and Performance Indicators 24 Combat Desertification 21

27 A brief anaysis of the information provided in this segment of the reporting format is as foows. Operationa Objective 1: Advocacy, awareness raising and education Government of India, Science and Technoogy Institutes and the civi sector have paced significant emphasis on the issues of DLDD. The reporting on awareness generation activities and media campaigns though undertaken across the nation, however, have not been quantified and inbuit into the reporting mechanism at the nationa eve. With regard to education, severa research institutions operating within dryand regions focus their research on region-specific issues which incude DLDD. Additionay, cross cutting agricutura educationa institutions focus on systems, methods, technoogy which can assist in adaptation to these regions. These coud and woud incude awareness generation on methods of combating desertification, improving the water tabe to reduce impacts of drought and and degradation etc. A few case studies of the events and activities towards advocacy, awareness raising and education on DLDD are aso incuded in the chapter on programmes and best practices. The number of information events organized was 1,725 and 12,786 during 28 and 29, respectivey, across the country by various government agencies and civi society organisations. This shows amost a 1 fod increase in the number of events in this reporting period. Estimated number of research papers reated to DLDD that reached the key stakehoders was 14 and 15 during 28 and 29, respectivey. There were about 52 (28) and 131 (29) media outreach programmes through radio and TV; and 1, products shared through other ICT (Websites, CDs, DVDs, etc.). The trend of participation of CSOs and STIs in DLDDreated programmes/projects is rising. The government is undertaking initiatives to increase the deivery of DLDD-reated efforts in the forma and non-forma education sector by CSOs and STIs. However, the reporting period is too short for a more detaied trend anaysis. Operationa Objective 2: Poicy framework India's Nationa Action Programme to Combat Desertification (NAP-CD) for combating desertification was formuated in 21. NAP-CD integrates traditiona and modern scientific knowedge and takes into consideration the programmes and activities undertaken by various ministries and departments. Considering that the UNCCD 1 year Strategy was adopted in 28, NAP-CD is yet to be aigned with 'the Strategy' and is under consideration. It is reevant for a stakehoders, both at nationa and internationa eve, to take appropriate action in addressing the probems of and degradation and desertification for achieving sustainabe deveopment. Hence, NAP-CD aignment wi draw upon the atest nationa poicies and acts that have impications on and reates to addressing DLDD issues. Operationa Objective 3: Science, technoogy and knowedge The nationa eve environmenta monitoring system of India partiay covers the monitoring of DLDD. Consequenty India does not have an independenty estabished and supported monitoring system for DLDD at nationa eve. There are monitoring systems at the sub-nationa eves which contribute to UNCCD reporting. Most of the DLDD performance indicators reated to science, technoogy and knowedge are monitored by these systems, some of which are isted beow. Desertification Atas of India, Space Appications Centre, Indian Space Research Organization- Commissioned by NFP, UNCCD, Ministry of Environment ( d i v i s i o n s / d e s e r t i f i cation-ce/contents/ desert_atas.pdf) Land Degradation Mapping, Soi and Land Use Survey of India, Department of Agricuture & Cooperation ( Detaied Soi Survey, Soi and Land Use Survey of India, Department of Agricuture & Cooperation ( C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

28 Tabe-4: Knowedge-sharing system SL Knowedge-sharing system Internet Link 1 Drought Management Information System www. agricoop.nic.in/droughtmgmt/drought.htm 2 Watershed Atas of India 3 Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) 4 Crop Weather Outook- A-India Coordinated Research Project on Agro-Meteoroogy (AICRPAM) 5 Weather Based Agro Advisory 6 Weather Forecasting District Leve Forecast INDIAct.htm 7 Agromet Services A India AAS Buetin 2BULLETIN/ALL%2INDIA%2AAS%2BULLETIN.htm 8 State wise composite Agromet Advisory Service Buetin composite%2buetin htm 9 District Leve Agromet Advisory Services daasindiact1.htm 1 Specia Monsoon Report dynamic/splnew.htm 11 Decision Support Centre- ISRO 12 Environmenta Information System (ENVIS) Forest Cover Mapping, Forest Inventory and State of the Forest Report, Forest Survey of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests ( Nationa Agricutura Drought Assessment and Monitoring System, Disaster Management Support Programme, Nationa Remote Sensing Centre ( Wasteand Atas of India, Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rura Deveopment ( Ground Water Monitoring, State Ground Water Profies and District Ground Water Brochures, Centra Ground Water Board, Ministry of Water Resources ( India has created an enabing constitutiona, ega, poicy and programme framework for addressing these issues through its Five-year Pans. Over the years a arge number of new initiatives have been taken to strengthen the poicies and programmes in the reevant sectors that incude agricuture, environment and forests, rura deveopment, socia wefare, poverty aeviation and women's empowerment. These incude initiatives for addressing food production, preventing and reversing and degradation as aso the associated issues of human deveopment, which are inextricaby interinked with DLDD. India has rich and diversified DLDD-reated knowedge-sharing systems and networks at a nationa eve. There is additionay adequate scientific and traditiona knowedge, incuding best practices, which is suitaby reeased to end-users. Operationa Objective 4: Capacity buiding Assessment on DLDD-reated capacity buiding activities show a positive trend and aso recognizes the need to focus and strengthen the impementation of NAP-CD across the country. A tota of 93 activities have been reported in this 26 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

29 period, which fa outside the areas of intervention as mentioned in the Nationa Capacity Needs Sef- Assessment ( NCSA) report. Consequenty, the MoEF, Government of India wi be addressing the issues mentioned in the NCSA framework. The NCSA is concerned with a country's capacity the abiities of individuas, groups, organizations and institutions to address the priority environmenta issues as part of the efforts to achieve sustainabe deveopment. The NCSA focuses on India's capacity requirements to impement the three 'Rio Conventions' on biodiversity (CBD), and degradation (UNCCD) and cimate change (UNFCC). In addition, the NCSA process aims to identify cross-cutting capacity issues and foster synergies among these. Operationa Objective 5: Financing and technoogy transfer Substantia funding has been raised around the issues of DLDD. The amount of funds raised for the on-going projects in the corresponding Standard Financia Annex (SFA) during 27-1 was ` biion (USD.99 biion approx.). This refects across 5 programmes reported in the SFA and reates to the same reported in the programme and project sheets. A other programmes are funded by the government agencies both centre and state. This operationa objective aso incorporates information pertaining to the Integrated Investment Framework, which aims to catayze investments in SLEM from such sources as pubic expenditure at the nationa and oca eves, private sector investments (incuding investment by farmers and communities) and funds from internationa deveopment partners. In India investment in SLEM is across various ministries and departments, and it may not be possibe to achieve the eve of integration expected. However, the process for integration of programmes to avoid dupicity and for maximum resource utiisation is in pace and, in future, wi be part of the DLDD-reated activities as we. C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

30 Programmes and Initiatives LAND WATER LIVELIHOODS RENEWABLE ENERGY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES 26 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1 SUSTAINABLE LAND AND ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT Photo: Seva Mandir (Udaipur), MARAG (Ahmadabad) And CEE Photo Bank

31 Introduction This section highights the 27 programmes and initiatives reported for the period 27-21, and contain information as reported in the Programme and Project sheets (PPS) & the Standard Financia Annexe (SFA). It may be noted that though some of these programmes have been impemented over decades, ony the reevant components incuding finances have been reported for the above mentioned period. Aso ony five out of seven SLEM programmes have been reported as the other two programmes were not in the impementation phase at the time of reporting. The programmes categorized as per thematic areas are as foows Land 1 Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) 2 Nationa Afforestation Programme (NAP) 3 Soi Conservation in the Catchment of River Vaey Project and Food Prone River 4 Nationa Watershed Deveopment Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA) 5 Fodder and Feed Deveopment Scheme- component of Grassand Deveopment incuding Grass Reserves Water 6 Command Area Deveopment and Water Management (CADWM) programme 7 Nationa Rura Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) 8 Nationa Project for Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies Liveihoods 9 The Mahatma Gandhi Nationa Rura Empoyment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) 1 Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojagar Yojna (SGSY) / Nationa Rura Liveihood Mission (NRLM) Renewabe Energy 11 Nationa Biogas and Manure Programme 12 Biomass Energy and Cogeneration (Non-bagasse) in Industry 13 Biomass Gasifier Programme 14 Soar Photovotaic (SPV) Programme Science and Technoogy Initiatives 15 Desertification Monitoring and Assessment: Desertification Status Mapping 16 Arid Zone Research 17 Identification and Demarcation of Degraded Watersheds in the Catchment Area for Macro Leve Panning 18 Efficacy and Economics of Water Harvesting Devices in Controing Run-off Losses and Enhancing Biomass Productivity in Aravai Ranges 19 Generation of Detaied Database on Soi and Land Characteristics for Degraded Watersheds 2 Addressing the Issue of Land Degradation is a Component in some of the R&D Projects of the Institute 21 Enhancing Productivity of Saine Wasteands in Kachchh- through Improved Tree Panting Techniques and Sivipastora Study 22 Study of Characteristic Features Pertaining to Bio-drainage Potentia of some Seected Tree Species Sustainabe Land and Ecosystem Management (projects under GEF) 23 Poicy and Institutiona Reform for Mainstreaming and Upscaing Sustainabe Land and Ecosystem Management (SLEM) in India 24 Sustainabe Rura Liveihoods Security through Innovations in Land and Ecosystem Management 25 Sustainabe Land, Water and Biodiversity Conservation and Management for Improved Liveihoods in Uttarakhand Watershed Sector 26 Integrated Land and Ecosystem Management to Combat Land Degradation and Deforestation in Madhya Pradesh 27 Sustainabe Participatory Management of Natura Resources to Contro Land Degradation in Thar Desert Ecosystem C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

32 1 Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) Summary: Ø Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) is being impemented by Ministry of Rura Deveopment. IT is a comprehensive programme that brings together three different ong existing watershed programmes viz. Drought Prone Areas Programme -DPAP (started ), Desert Deveopment Programme DDP (started ) and Integrated Wasteand Deveopment Programme IWDP (started ) to be impemented under Common Guideines on Watershed Deveopment, 28. The main objectives of the IWMP are to restore the ecoogica baance by harnessing, conserving and deveoping degraded natura resources such as soi, vegetative cover and water. IWMP is a comprehensive programme impemented to deveop widespread degraded and across the country by common guideines. These guideines broady indicate a fresh framework for the next generation watershed programmes. The key features are as foows: States are empowered to sanction and oversee the impementation of watershed projects within their areas of jurisdiction and within the parameters set out in these guideines. Dedicated impementing agencies with mutidiscipinary professiona teams at the nationa, state and district eve for managing the watershed programmes. Additiona financia assistance provided for strengthening institutions at the district, state and nationa eve to ensure professionaism in management of watershed projects. The project duration has been enhanced in the range of 4 to 7 years depending upon the nature of activities spread over 3 distinct phases viz., preparatory phase, works phase and consoidation phase. Productivity enhancement and iveihoods are given priority aong with conservation measures. Resource deveopment and usage are panned to promote farming and aied activities to promote oca iveihoods whie ensuring resource conservation and regeneration. The new custer approach envisages a broader vision of geo-hydroogica units normay of an average size of 1, to 5, hectares comprising custers of micro-watersheds. Specia efforts are made to utiize information technoogy and remote sensing inputs in panning, monitoring and evauation of the programme. Capacity buiding and training of a functionaries and stakehoders invoved in the watershed programme impementation to be carried out on war footing with definite action pan and requisite professionaism and competence. Muti-tier ridge to vaey sequenced approach is adopted towards the impementation of the Watershed Deveopment Projects. The watershed deveopment process is synergized with the empoyment generating programmes such as the Mahatma Gandhi Nationa Rura Empoyment 3 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

33 Guiding Principes Equity and gender sensitivity; Decentraization; Faciitating agencies; Centraity of community participation; Capacity buiding and technoogy inputs; Monitoring, evauation and earning; Organizationa restructuring. Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) etc. thus providing strong coordination. IWMP emphasises on peope's participation through watershed committees at viage eve, which consist of Sef Hep Groups (SHGs), users group and cross section of viage community incuding marginaized communities, abourers and women. For its impementation, panning, monitoring and technica input, IWMP invoves a number of Scientific and Technica Institutes (STIs) ike Internationa Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Centra Research Institute for Dry-Land Agricuture (CRIDA), Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Centra Arid Zone Research Organization(CAZRI), Indian Counci of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Indian Counci of Agricutura Research (ICAR) and Civi Society Organisations (CSOs) such as Mysore Resettement and Deveopment Agency, Peope's Science Institute, Watershed Support Services and Activities Network, Advanced Center for Water Resources Deveopment and Management. The ine departments of State Governments Agricuture, Forest, Soi and Water Conservation, Land Resource Deveopment, Land and Water Deveopment, Rura Deveopment etc are aso active partners in the impementation of Integrated Watershed Management and were aso invoved for research and expertise input for scientific impementation of the same. Achievements: 46,666 watershed projects sanctioned mha area covered under the programme. Out of 33,724 projects, 22,597 watershed projects are competed (67%). 58 miion person days generated. Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rura Deveopment 2 Area covered 5.6 miion ha 3 Target group Individuas, Sef Hep Groups, user groups, peope iving in watershed project areas 4 Programme period and status Ongoing 5 Funding Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rura Deveopment - ` miion Approx. (USD Miion Approx.) Department of Land Resources, State Governments - ` Miion Approx. (USD Miion Approx.) Tota : ` (USD ) For more information: C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

34 2 Nationa Afforestation Programme (NAP) Summary: Ø Nationa Afforestation Programme (NAP) is impemented by Nationa Afforestation & Eco-Deveopment Board (NAEB), Ministry of Environment and Forests. It has been formuated by the merger of four centray sponsored afforestation schemes i.e. Integrated Afforestation and Eco-deveopment Project Scheme (IAEPS), Area Oriented Fue wood and Fodder Project Scheme (AOFFPS), Conservation of Non-Timber Forest Produce incuding Medicina Pants (NTFPs), and Association of Schedued Tribe and Rura Poor in Regeneration of Degraded Forests (ASTRPs) during Ninth Five Year Pan ( ). Ø The probem of deveoping arid ands and improving the we-being of the peope iving on them is that of both magnitude and compexity, magnitude in terms of the arge area invoved and compexity because their deveopment cannot be dissociated from their ecoogica, socia and economic characteristics. Afforestation is emerging as a potent too for arresting the degradation and over-expoitation of ands and environmenta degradation in India. NAP aims to support and acceerate the ongoing process of devoving forest protection, management and deveopment functions to decentraized institutions of Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC) at the viage eve, and Forest Deveopment Agency (FDA) at the forest division eve. Four centray sponsored afforestation schemes were merged for reducing mutipicity of schemes with simiar objectives, ensuring uniformity in the funding pattern and impementation mechanism, avoiding deays in avaiabiity of funds at the fied eve and institutionaising peope's participation in project formuation and impementation. NAP is the fagship scheme of NAEB and it provides support, both in physica and capacity buiding. It is a 1% Centray Sponsored Scheme (except for the components of Area Oriented Fue Wood and Fodder Projects Scheme). Institutiona framework and its strengthening The scheme is being impemented through State agencies by a two-tier set-up, namey Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC) at the viage eve, and Forest Deveopment Agencies (FDA) at the forest division eve. Thus, FDA is the confederation of JFMCs in that forest division to undertake hoistic deveopment in the forestry sector with peope's participation. The experiences with the present institutiona framework of FDA at the forest division eve and JFMC at the viage eve are encouraging. Some noteworthy features of this framework are as foows: The district-eve officers of reevant ine departments of the State Govt. and Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) are members of FDA. The institutions of FDAs and JFMCs are highy innovative resource transfer mechanisms whereby the Government of India channeizes funds directy to the grassroot eve impementing agency for the afforestation activities. The structure of FDAs and JFMCs is gender 32 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

35 Short term objectives Regeneration and eco-deveopment of degraded forests and adjoining areas on a watershed basis. Raising coasta sheterbets to mitigate the adverse impacts of cyconic winds. Deveopment and extension of improved technoogies such as cona propagation and use of root trainers for raising seedings, mycorrhiza inocuation, etc. Rehabiitation of specia probem ands ike saine/akaine sois, ravines, desert areas, coasta areas, mined areas, Himaayas, Aravais and Western Ghats. Empoyment generation for the disadvantaged sections of society, particuary women, schedued castes/ schedued tribes and andess rura abourers, inhabiting the forests and adjoining areas. Long-term objectives Protection and conservation of natura resources through active invovement of the peope. Checking and degradation, deforestation and oss of biodiversity. Ecoogica restoration, environmenta conservation and eco-deveopment. Evoving viage eve peope's organisations which can manage the natura resources in and around viages in a sustainabe manner. Fufiment of the broader objectives of productivity, equity, and sustainabiity for the genera good of the peope. Improve quaity of ife and sef-sustenance aspect of peope iving in and around forest areas. sensitive. Women's membership up to 5% is mandatory in these bodies. Members of Schedued Castes and Schedued Tribes are the focus groups in JFMCs. This decentraized institutiona structure aows greater participation of community both in panning and impementation of the appropriate afforestation programmes. The viage is recognised as a unit of panning and impementation and a activities under the programme are conceptuaized at the viage eve. Under Entry Point Activities, community assets are created with a 'care and share' concept. The two-tier approach, apart from buiding capabiities at the grass-roots eve, aso empowers the oca peope to participate in the decision making process. Capacity buiding of FDA and JFMC members is organized by State Forest Departments, as we as by seven Regiona Centres of Nationa Afforestation and Eco-deveopment Board. To hep and guide the FDAs and JFMCs, there is a nationa-eve Steering Committee of NAP and at state eve one caed the State-eve Coordination Committee chaired respectivey by the Secretary (Environment and Forests), Government of India, and the Chief Secretary of the representative State Government. Components: Financia support under NAP scheme is avaiabe for (1) Mobiisation of viage JFMC and micro-panning in project viages (2) Afforestation: Aided Natura Regeneration, Artificia Regeneration, Bamboo & Cane Pantation, Mixed Pantation having NTFP and medicina vaue, Regeneration of perennia herbs and shrubs of medicine vaue and Pasture Deveopment/ Sivipasture (3) Soi and Moisture Conservation (4) Entry Point Activities (for viage deveopment, average assistance of `.16 Miion per viage) (5) Fencing, Monitoring and Evauation, Training, C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

36 Awareness raising, and Overheads. Achievements: 42,535 Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMC) and 8 Forest Deveopment Agencies (FDAs) have been incuded in the programme since its inception miion ha area has been afforested at an expenditure of ` Miion. During 27-1, 18,333 JFMCs and 71 FDAs were created and brought under the programme. Some of Activities In situ soi and moisture conservation measures ike contour furrows, staggered trenches, muching, box trenches, bench terracing, vegetative barriers, etc. Soi and moisture conservation by construction of sma scae engineering structures ike guy pugging, check dams, retaining and breast was, toe was, spurs and torrent contro measures, sma water harvesting structures incuding ponds, tanks and such vegetative measures as may be necessary. In the case of projects impemented in the periphery of nationa parks and sanctuaries, augmentation of water suppy, faciities for bunds, dams, wes and for transporting and/or pumping of water may be permitted. Panting and sowing of muti-purpose trees, shrubs, grasses, and egumes, as we as non-timber species. Fue wood and fodder pantations incuding pasture deveopment for meeting biomass needs of the rura communities. In situ conservation of medicina pant species and augmenting their pant popuation by undertaking pantation in the watershed. Raising of bamboo, cane pantations and medicina pants. Raising of coasta sheterbets in probem areas. Cutura operations ike cutting back of existing root-stocks, tending, coppicing/poarding, cimber cutting, weed remova, soi working to encourage natura regeneration. Promotion of agro-forestry and sericuture etc., as appropriate. Wood substitution and fue wood conservation measures such as distribution of fue-efficient stoves. Measures needed to disseminate new technoogy such as use of root trainers for raising seeding in nurseries, mycorrhiza treatment of sois, cona propagation of pants, etc. Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Nationa Afforestation and Eco Deveopment Board, Ministry of Environment & Forests 2 Area covered 77,52 ha 3 Target group Panchayat, Viagers and Forest Department. 4 Programme period and status Ongoing 5 Financing pattern 1% centra funding with some exceptions 6 Funding Ministry of Environment and Forests - ` Miion Approx. (USD Miion Approx.) For more information: 34 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

37 3 Soi Conservation in the Catchment of River Vaey Project and Food Prone River Summary: Ø This project is being impemented by the Ministry of Agricuture, and Department of Agricuture, State Governments of a the states. Ø In November 2 two earier separate schemes - Soi Conservation in the Catchments of River Vaey Projects (RVP), and Food Prone Rivers (FPR) were merged and this scheme came into effect. Ø In this project, a types of and - agricuture, wasteand, forest and - are treated in an integrated manner with suitabe packages of treatment e.g. construction of Contour Vegetative Hedge, Contour/ Graded Bunding, Horticuture Pantation, Contour/ Staggered Trenching, Sowing and Panting of Pants, Sivi-Pasture Deveopment, Pasture Deveopment, Afforestation, Farm Pond, Percoation Tank, Drainage Line Treatment ike Earthen Loose Bouder structures, Water Harvesting Structures, Check Bund, Spi-way, Sediment Retention Structures, etc. The treatment measures under RVP and FPR are essentiay designed in the context of highy degraded areas of the catchments to prevent soi erosion, improve and capabiity, moisture regime, biodiversity and bioogica resource endowment. The Centray Sponsored Scheme of soi conservation in the catchments of River Vaey Projects was aunched in for mounting a concerted effort at prevention of catchment deterioration. Whereas Food Prone Rivers (FPR) project was started for proper catchment management of moderating peak foods and improvement of and resources and moisture regime and reduction of sit oad in the channe fow affecting river beds in the Sixth Five-Year Pan ( ). These schemes were primariy meant for treating catchment areas with appropriate soi and water conservation measures to enhance the productivity of degraded ands, minimize sitation rates in reservoirs and reduce food peaks in food prone rivers. Thus both were merged and aso been integrated under Macro Management of Agricuture. Approach The treatment of the watersheds is panned for a period of five years. The watershed is divided into micro watersheds of 5 1 ha, and the watershed deveopment work is segregated on the basis of these micro watersheds. The treatment of each micro watershed is phased over 3 to 5 years. Treatment measures for soi and moisture conservation and afforestation are panned in a synchronized manner so as to compete the treatment of the whoe watershed within the panned period. High priority is given to vegetative measures ike afforestation, growing grasses and shrubs, agroforestry, horticuture and panting fue, fodder, timber and fruit trees species. Bio-diversity is the guiding principe in the 'greening' programme. Contour bunds, vegetative contour barriers, earthen contour bunds, check bunds aong drainage ines from top downward, pantation aong fied boundaries as per the need of the site after discussions with the beneficiaries are adopted. Land shaping, terracing and eveing are avoided as they give rise to C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

38 Objectives: Prevention of and degradation by adoption of muti-discipinary integrated approach of s o i c o n s e r v a t i o n a n d w a t e r s h e d management in the catchment areas. Improvement of and capacity and moisture regime. Promotion of and use that matches and capacity. Prevention of soi oss from the catchments to reduce sitation of mutipurpose reservoirs and enhance the in-situ moisture conservation and surface rain water storages in the catchments to reduce food peaks and voume of runoff. substantia soi erosion. Muti-discipinary approach, invoving various ine departments ike Agricuture, Forests, Horticuture, Anima Husbandry, Minor Irrigation etc. is adopted at the district and project eve whie evoving programme measures and conducting farmer training. Emphasis has been paced on entry point activities, transfer of technoogy, water harvesting structure in arid and semi arid regions, invovement of beneficiaries for panning, impementation and post care maintenance of assets created under the programme and coection of information for sef appraisas. The A India Soi and Land Use Survey Organization (AIS&LUS) is engaged in the task of priority deineation and detaied soi survey for guiding the treatment of degraded areas and improving and capabiities. Presenty, this project is being impemented in 6 catchments having a tota catchment area of about miion hectares out of which about 3 miion ha is categorized as priority area, need urgent treatment spread across 27 States of the country. Achievements: Increase in Agricutura Yied increase in the yied of agricutura crops varies from 2.7% to 76% in the watersheds treated under the programme. Increase in Cropping Intensity cropping intensity has increased ranging from 85% to 115% in Matatia (Uttar Pradesh), Nizamsagar (Andhra Pradesh) and Ukai (Gujarat) catchments. Sediment Production Rate has been reduced ranging from 17% to 94% in Matatia, Nizamsagar and Ukai catchments. Peak Rate of Runoff reduction in runoff peak voume varies from 46.6 to 1.6% in different watersheds of Sahibi (Haryana) catchment. Ground Water Recharge increase of water tabe in wes in the watershed area ranged from 1 to 2.5 metres. Empoyment Generation empoyment generated due to watershed intervention ranges from 2. to 7.9 akh person days in various watersheds treated under the programme. Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Ministry of Agricuture, Department of Agricuture of a states 2 Area covered 411,3 ha 3 Target group District eve organizations and individuas inhabiting the watersheds treated and those iving downstream 4 Project period and status Ongoing 5 Funding Ministry of Agricuture, Department of Agricuture of a states ` Miion Approx. (USD Miion Approx.) For more information: 36 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

39 4 Nationa Watershed Deveopment Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA) Summary: Ø Nationa Watershed Deveopment Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA) introduced by the Ministry of Agricuture in is based on the twin concepts of integrated watershed management and sustainabe farming systems. Ø The activities undertaken in these programmes incude soi and moisture conservation measures ike construction of check dams, water harvesting structures, desiting of viage ponds, treatment of drainage ines/ guies, and eveing, bunding of farms, treatment of probem sois, agro-forestry, agri-horticuture, sivi-pasture, organic farming, use of bio-fertiizers, vaue addition and marketing of produce through farmers groups, training and capacity buiding of stakehoders. Ø The project provides fexibiity in choice of technoogy, decentraization of procedures, provision for sustainabiity and ensures active participation of watershed community in the panning and execution for their watershed deveopment programme This project is aimed at restoring ecoogica baance in degraded and fragie rainfed eco-systems and promoting diversified farming systems to enhance the income eves of farmers and viage communities on a sustainabe basis. Watershed deveopment has evoved from an externay imposed purey technica intervention of the 198s to a more participatory structured cimate change action which oca peope hep design and impement management pans. Aso, the thrust is on ow-cost, ocation specific technoogies which are more knowedge-based and give room to oca innovation rather than being capita and chemica intensive. It is not ony a iveihood deveopment programme for sustainabe deveopment but aso a too for gender deveopment by encouraging, increasing participation of women as women pay a centra roe in the management of natura resources. Rainfed areas constitute about 85 mha, i.e. 6% of the tota 142 mha net cutivated area in India. Rainfed agricuture is characterized by ow eves of productivity and ow input usage. Therefore, the Nationa Agricuture Poicy seeks to promote an integrated and hoistic deveopment of rainfed areas through conservation of rain water and augmentation of biomass production through agro and farm forestry with the active invovement of the watershed communities. Hence, highest priority is given to the hoistic and sustainabe deveopment of rainfed areas through a watershed deveopment approach. To give a specia thrust to these areas the Nationa Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) was set up in November 26. Main features Promotion of ow-cost and eco-friendy technoogy. Integrated watershed management approach. Farming systems deveopment. Peope's participation through suitabe C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

40 Objectives: Prevention of and degradation by adoption of a muti-discipinary integrated approach of soi conservation and watershed. management in the catchment areas. Conservation, deveopment and sustainabe management of natura resources incuding various uses. Enhancement of agricutura production and productivity in a sustainabe manner. Restoration of ecoogica baance in the degraded and fragie rainfed ecosystems by greening these areas through appropriate mix of trees, shrubs and grasses. Reduction in regiona disparity between irrigated and rainfed areas. Creation of sustained empoyment opportunities for rura communities incuding the andess. institutiona arrangements. Management of common property resources and cost-benefit sharing. Long-term sustainabiity. Main components are as foowing Treatment of arabe and non-arabe ands through various soi and watershed activities. Treatment of drainage ines. Production system in arabe and non-arabe ands. Liveihood support. Institution and capacity buiding. Achievements: Increase in groundwater recharge Increase in the number of wes and water bodies Enhancement of cropping intensity Changes in cropping pattern Higher yieds of crops and reduction in soi osses Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Ministry of Agricuture and Departments of Agricuture of a the State Government 2 Area covered hectares 3 Target group Watershed Users' Group, farmers, and viagers 4 Project period and status Ongoing 5 Financing pattern Centra Vs State Ratio is 9:1 except for north eastern states where 1% funding is centra 6 Funding Ministry of Agricuture and Dept of Agricuture through sectora budget support ` Miion approx. (USD 17.5 Miion approx.) For more information: 38 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

41 5 Fodder and Feed Deveopment Schemecomponent of Grassand Deveopment incuding Grass Reserves Summary: This Centray Sponsored Fodder and Feed Deveopment Scheme is being impemented by Department of Anima Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries', Feed and Fodder Unit since Apri 25. It incudes four components. a. Estabishment of Fodder Bock Making Units b. Grassand Deveopment incuding Grass Reserves c. Fodder Seed Production and Distribution. d. Biotechnoogy Research Project Ø As part of the Fodder and Feed Deveopment Scheme, under component 2, emphasis is aid on grassand deveopment incuding grass reserves. Ø The scheme envisages improvement of degraded grassands and rehabiitation of probematic sois ike saine, acidic and heavy sois through vegetation cover. Under this scheme, panting of specific grasses and egumes suitabe for particuar type of soi is promoted so that a vegetation cover may be provided to give fodder as we as to rehabiitate the degraded areas. The nutritive vaue of feed and fodder has a significant bearing on productivity of ivestock. Due to increasing pressure on and for growing food grains, oi seeds and puses, attention towards adequate fodder crops has reduced. Further, on account of diversified use of agricuture residues, the gap between the demand and suppy of fodder is increasing. According to the report of working Group on Anima Husbandry and Dairying for Tenth Five Year Pan (22 27), the avaiabe fodder can meet the demand of ony 46.7 percent of the ivestock. Eeventh Five Year Pan (27-212) Working Group, Nationa Bank for Agricuture and Rura Deveopment (NABARD) and Nationa Institute of Anima Nutrition and Physioogy have aso estimated shortage of feed and fodder in the country. This eads to enhanced pressure on viage commons, community managed and other forest areas in the country. To overcome this environmenta pressure on and and forests, the Department of Anima Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries has two schemes, namey 1) Centra Fodder Deveopment Organization and 2) Centray Sponsored Scheme for Assistance to States for Feed and Fodder Deveopment, which has grassand deveopment as one of the components. As part of the scheme, the fertiity status of and is improved by introducing suitabe egumes. Grassands requiring regeneration through the process of natura recovery by cosure/ excusion of biotic interference are aso eigibe for funding under the scheme. This invoves fencing of the area, estabishment of soi and moisture conservation structures to support natura regeneration such as contour bunding, furrowing, poughing, fertiization, etc. C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

42 Photo: Prayatna samiti, Udaipur Grassands deveopment through community participation, Udaipur district, Rajasthan. Centra Government provides 1% assistance to states to support proposas for improvement of grass ands, or even perennia fodder crop cutivation on individua fieds, where farmers can make agreements with NGOs or SHGs to continue cutivations. Achievements: JFMC at the viage eve are encouraging. Some noteworthy features of this framework are as foows. Objectives: Improve the degraded grassands by introducing suitabe grass, egumes and fodder trees. Minimize the extensive erosion presenty taking pace in these ands. Minimize the bio-mass produced wi hep to minimize the gap between avaiabiity and requirement of fodder. Estabish fodder banks, depots as reserves where the forage obtained from these ands wi be stored. Enhance biomass production from grassand, which wi be cheaper and wi increase the animas' productivity. Increase fodder production through individua farmers. Improvement of degraded grassand and aso the vegetation cover of probematic sois ike saine, acidic and heavy soi. Identification of specific fodder trees (sivipasture), grasses and egumes specific to soi type. Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Department of Anima Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, Ministry of Agricuture 2 Area covered 4,161 ha 3 Target group State Departments of Anima Husbandry, Agricuture and Forest, Farmers, NGOs, Goshaas (catte care centres), Sef Hep Groups 4 Project period and status Ongoing 5 Financing pattern 1% centra grant 6 Funding Department of Anima Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, Ministry of Agricuture - ` Miion Approx. (USD 6.56 Miion Approx.) For more information: 4 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

43 6 Command Area Deveopment and Water Management (CADWM) Programme Summary: Ø Command Area Deveopment and Water Management (CADWM) programme impemented by Ministry of Water Resources, aims to bridge the gap between the irrigation potentia created and that utiized. This is done through micro eve infrastructure deveopment, efficient farm water management practices for optimizing agricutura productivity and improving socio-economic condition of farmers. Ø In 1974 initiated as Command Area Deveopment Programme (CADP) aiming to improve irrigation potentia utiization and optimize agricutura production from irrigated and through integrated and coordinated approach of efficient water management, it was revised and from 24 a more comprehensive and integrated programme came into effect known as CADWM. Ø It is a centray sponsored scheme where the centra government gives grant to the state governments for carrying out on-farm deveopment and water management activities. It envisages integration of a activities reating to irrigated agricuture in a coordinated manner with a muti-discipinary team under a Command Area Deveopment Authority. CADWM is a programme being executed by Ministry of Water Resources. Some of the programme components are as foows. Survey, panning and designing of On-Farm Deveopment (OFD) works; OFD works comprising construction of fied channes and reaignment of fied boundaries; Construction of fied, intermediate and ink drains for etting out surpus water; Correction of system deficiencies above the outet up to distributaries of 15 Cusec (4.25 cumec) capacity; Recamation of water-ogged areas incuding use of ocation specific bio-drainage techniques to suppement conventiona techniques for recamation of water-ogged area; Training/adaptive trias/demonstrations through Water and Land Management Institutes (WALMI) and other Centra/State institutions Some other components supported under the programme incude institutiona support to Water Users' Associations R&D, Enforcement of Warabandi, Renovation and Desiting of Tanks, etc. Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) puts emphasis on optima upkeep of irrigation systems and efficient utiization of water through maximizing invovement of beneficiaries in the process. PIM aso heps to deveop community responsibiity to coect water charges and raise interna resources and to create a sense of ownership of a water and irrigation system among users. Under the CADWM programme, formation of Water Users' Associations is mandatory. C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

44 Thrust Areas Beneficiary Participation in construction and O&M; Water Management above, at and beow farm eve; Recamation of water-ogged areas; R&D on Bio-drainage; Adaptive Trias/ Demonstrations and Training; Strengthened Monitoring and Evauation Mechanism; Emphasis on Data Coection, Anaysis and Dissemination. Achievements: 14 States viz. Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Keraa, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tami Nadu and Uttar Pradesh have either enacted excusive egisation or amended their Irrigation Acts for invovement of farmers in irrigation management. Other States are aso taking steps in this direction. Water Users' Associations, numbering 56,539, have been formed in various States covering an area of mha under various commands of irrigation projects. Moisture conservation at Rura Knowedge Centre, Havad bock, Surendranagar district, Gujarat. 482 schemes of 9 States, namey, Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Keraa, Maharashtra, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh have been approved for recamation of ha water-ogged area. Out of this, an area of 5,249 ha has been reported to be recaimed by these States. Photo: CEE Photo Bank Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Ministry of Water Resources 2 Aggregate no. of 136 projects under impementation Projects presenty 3 Area covered 1141 ha 4 Target group State Governments, Viagers, Farmers 5 Programme period and status Ongoing 6 Funding Ministry of Water Resources- ` Miion Approx. (USD Miion Approx.) Ÿ State Governments - ` Miion Approx. (USD Miion Approx.) Tota: ` Miion (USD Miion) For more information: 42 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

45 7 Nationa Rura Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) Summary: Ø Nationa Rura Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) is impemented by Department of Drinking Water Suppy, Ministry of Rura Deveopment is the fourth generation Drinking Water Suppy programme which goes beyond the earier approach of 'providing a water suppy system in the viage' to 'ensuring water suppy security at the househod eve. Ø It recommends adopting 'Wise Management of Water' for the equitabe use, management and aocation of water for domestic purposes, which invoves optimized use of both conventiona and non-conventiona water resources and focuses on both the 'water quaity and water quantity', by providing soutions from the catchment to consumer. Ø It ays major emphasis on ensuring sustainabiity of water avaiabiity in terms of potabiity, adequacy, convenience, affordabiity and equity whie aso adopting decentraized approach invoving Panchayati Raj Institutions (Loca Sef Government) and community organizations. The goa is to provide every rura person with adequate water for drinking, cooking and other domestic basic needs on a sustainabe basis. This basic requirement shoud meet certain minimum water quaity standards and be readiy and convenienty accessibe at a times and in a situations. Government of India's effective roe in the rura drinking water suppy sector started in with the aunch of Acceerated Rura Water Suppy Programme (ARWSP), with a major thrust on ensuring provision of adequate drinking water suppy to the rura community. In , aunch of the Technoogy Mission which stressed on water quaity, appropriate technoogy intervention, human resource deveopment support and other reated activities marked the 2nd generation of water suppy programmes. This was renamed as Rajiv Gandhi Nationa Drinking Water Mission. Later in 22, through the Swajadhara Programme community participation was encouraged. NRDWP is more fexibe and broad based which merges adequacy with quaity and community participation. NRDWP Sustainabiity Ensuring sustainabiity is an important sub-mission for the success of water suppy schemes, on a ongterm basis. Sustainabiity funds for improving the source and system sustainabiity by augmenting drinking water resources. Ground water recharge through check dams, percoation tanks, etc., surface water impounding ike ponds, etc., improvement of traditiona water bodies, conversion of defunct bore wes into point source recharging systems can be taken up under this component. Convergence with MNREGS by panning funds required for excavation from MNREGS with C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

46 materia component from NRDWP-Sustainabiity funds. Promoting use of new and renewabe energy sources, wherever necessary Conjunctive use of ground-water, surface water and rainwater harvesting to ensure drinking water security Priorities to over-expoited, critica and semicritica bocks identified by Centra Ground Water Board (CGWB). 2% of funds provided under NRDWP to States for sustainabiity as 1% Centra assistance. Objectives: Ensure permanent drinking water security in rura India. Ensure drinking water security through measures to improve/augment existing drinking water sources and conjunctive use of groundwater, surface-water and rain water harvesting based on viage water budgeting and security pan prepared by the community/oca government. Deivery of services by the system for its entire design period of quaity of water in conformity with the prescribed standards at both the suppy and consumption points. Enabe communities to monitor and maintain surveiance on their drinking water sources. Ensure that a schoos and Anganwadis have access to safe drinking water. Provide enabing environment for Panchayat Raj Institutions and oca communities to manage their own drinking water sources and systems. Provide access to information through onine reporting mechanism with information paced in pubic domain to bring in transparency, accountabiity and informed decision making. Achievements: Bringing awareness through Information, Education & Communication activities to address ownership of the systems, heath hazards due to poor drinking water quaity, hygiene, sanitary survey, importance of environmenta sanitation, etc. Good institutiona structure of State Water and Sanitation Mission, Rura Water Suppy Dept., District Water and Sanitation Mission, Gram Panchayat, Viage Water and Sanitation Committee and invovement of scientific institutions and civi society. Community-based rura drinking water faciities, Havad bock, Surendranagar district, Gujarat. Training 5 grassroots workers in each Gram Panchayat, who may be Accredited Socia Heath Activist, anganwadi worker, science teacher, high schoo gir chid, Panchayat member, exserviceman, etc. Under the programme, provision of water testing kits for each Gram Panchayat was made. 1% financia assistance was provided to the states for this task. 86% of rura popuation have access to safe drinking water About 1.15 miion rura habitations are fuy covered with access to safe and adequate drinking water Photo: CEE Photo Bank 44 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

47 To meet the emerging chaenges in the rura drinking water sector reating to avaiabiity, sustainabiity and quaity, the components under the programme, activities therein and funding are as beow: No Component % of Funds aotted Activities/Focus 1 Coverage 38% For providing safe and adequate drinking water suppy to un-served, partiay served and un-served back habitations. 2 Water Quaity 2% Addressing water quaity probems to enabe rura community to have access to potabe drinking water 3 Operation and 1% States/UTs on O&M of rura drinking water suppy schemes Maintenance 4 Sustainabiity 2% Encourage States/ UTs to achieve drinking water security through sustainabiity of sources and systems. Impemented in the form of decentraized, community-managed, demand -driven programme on broad Swajadhara principes wherein innovations wi be encouraged 5 DDP Areas 5% To tacke the extreme conditions of ow rainfa and poor water avaiabiity. Can be used for buk water transfer, treatment pants, distribution network in addition to in-viage water suppy infrastructure 6 Natura caamity 5% Providing assistance to States/UTs to mitigate drinking water probems in the rura areas in the wake of natura caamities 7 Support 2% Different support activities which wi be required to be carried out in order to enabe the rura communities to have access to assured avaiabiity of potabe drinking water, use of advanced technoogy, viz. sateite data/ imageries; GIS mapping; MIS and computerization; etc. Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Department of Drinking Water Suppy, Ministry of Rura Deveopment 2 Area covered Nationa 3 Target group Rura poor, Gram Panchayat ( oca sef government), ine departments of State Governments 4 Programme period and status Ongoing 5 Financing pattern Varies as per the programme component 6 Funding Department of Drinking Water Suppy, Ministry of Rura Deveopment - ` Miion Approx. (USD Miion Approx.) State Governments of a States of India ` Miion Approx. (USD Miion Approx.) Tota: ` (USD ) For more information: C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

48 8 Nationa Project for Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies Summary: Ø The Nationa Project for Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies is impemented by Ministry of Water Resources, since January, 25. Ø Project emphasizes on de-siting in terms of quantum of sit to be removed, repair of conveyance system, strengthening of bund(s), repair of weirs and suices, catchment treatment, command area deveopment, soi erosion prevention works, quaity contro measures. Ø The major benefits under this project is creation of additiona irrigation potentia, Increase in agricuture/horticuture/piscicuture production and productivity, increase in recharge of ground water, improvement in water use efficiency, increase in avaiabiity of drinking water, impact on water quaity, promotion of tourism and cuture. RRR as a state sector scheme aiming to upscae the gains from water bodies and create additiona irrigation potentia by repair, renovation and restoration of water bodies such as tanks, ponds and akes. The Government of India sanctioned a Piot Scheme for Nationa Project for Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies directy inked to Agricuture in January, 25 for impementation during the remaining period of Tenth Five year Pan (22 27) with the outay of ` 3 miion to be shared by the Centre and the States in the ratio of 3:1. The scheme was sanctioned in respect of 1,98 water bodies in 26 districts of 15 states with a target to create.78 miion ha of additiona irrigation potentia. Keeping in view the success of the piot scheme for RRR of water bodies and the need for a comprehensive programme to upscae the gains from water bodies, the Ministry has aunched the scheme of RRR of Water Bodies as a State Sector scheme with domestic budgetary support, across the country. The State may take up an RRR project for an individua or for a group of water bodies with sub-basin approach, having origina irrigation cuturabe command area up to 2 ha or ess, for drinking water, irrigation, piscicuture, tourism, ground water recharge or any other purposes. A pubic and community-owned water bodies may be covered under the project. Scope of Work De-siting in terms of quantum of sit to be removed, Repair of conveyance system, Strengthening of bund(s), Repair of weirs and suices, Catchment treatment, command area deveopment, Soi erosion prevention works Capacity buiding of impementing agencies aimed at sensitization of stakehoders, identification and seection of water bodies, preparation of Detaied Project Reports, monitoring and evauation etc. 46 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

49 Objectives: Comprehensive improvement of seected tank systems incuding restoration. Improvement of catchment areas of tanks. Community participation and sef-supporting system for sustainabe management for water bodies covered by the programme. Ground water recharge. Capacity buiding of communities, user groups standing committee for Panchayats and State Government/ Centra Government Agencies concerned with the panning, impementation and monitoring of the project. Increase in storage capacity of water bodies. Improvement in agricuture/ horticuture productivity and increase in recharge of ground water in downstream areas of water bodies. Environmenta benefits through improved water use efficiency, irrigation benefits through restoration of water bodies, suppementation of the groundwater use and promotion of conjunctive use of surface and ground water. Deveopment of tourism, cutura activities, etc. Increased avaiabiity of drinking water. Convergence with other schemes The project encourages convergence of the activities being undertaken with the efforts made under other programmes such as MGNREGS, watershed deveopment programme, scheme of rura drinking water suppy using common convergence guideines or with the schemes of agricuture department aimed at generating additiona irrigation potentia and increasing water use efficiency; with schemes of ground water department and Centra Ground Water Board aimed at ground water recharge, and with schemes of Drinking Water Suppy Department of the State aimed at sustainabiity of drinking water sources. Impementation features: The project ays high emphasis on oca communities' participation at a stages: identification, panning, impementation and monitoring of RRR projects. Impementation of RRR projects is either by the oca Panchayat or a Water Users' Association or a government agency identified by the District Leve Impementing Agency. Project area, beneficiaries and capacity buiding components is decided by District Leve Impementing Agency in consutation with concerned stakehoders incuding Panchayats at appropriate eve. The Competion Pan is paced before the Gram Sabha and the Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) concerned. The Standing/Sub-Committee of Gram Panchayat associated for the seection of works/site of the project and impementation of the project. Socia audit of the project carried out by the Gram Sabha. Achievements: The project with externa assistance wi cover about 23, water bodies across the country with a cuturabe command area of 1.68 miion ha. During 29-1 the physica work for restoration has been competed in 1,54 water bodies in 15 states so far. The irrigation potentia created subsequent to piot project is approximatey.173 miion ha. The project of RRR of water bodies with domestic support envisages convergence with the Mahatma Gandhi Nationa Rura Empoyment Guarantee Scheme of Ministry of Rura Deveopment for which joint guideines have been issued. Under the project of RRR of water bodies with externa assistance, a Word Bank Loan Agreement has been signed with Tami Nadu for ` biion to restore 5,763 water bodies having a Cuturabe Command Area (CCA) of.4 miion ha. Under the project of RRR of water bodies with C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

50 Photo: VIKSAT, Ahmadabad Restoration of water bodies in Banaskantha district, Gujarat. externa assistance, a Word Bank Loan Agreement has been signed with Andhra Pradesh for INR 835 miion for restoration of 3, water bodies with a CCA of.25 miion ha. Under the project of RRR of water bodies with externa assistance, a Word Bank Loan Agreement has been signed with Karnataka for ` miion for restoration of 1,224 water bodies with CCA of 52, ha. Under the project of RRR of water bodies with externa assistance, a Word Bank Loan Agreement has been signed with Orissa for ` 448 miion for restoration of 9 water bodies having CCA of.12 miion ha. Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Ministry of Water Resources, State Governments of States of Andhra Pradesh, Tami Nadu, Orissa, West Benga, Karnataka 2 Target group Farmers, oca communities 3 Project period and status Ongoing 4 Financing pattern 25% centra assistance and 75% state share. For North East states 9% centra assistance and 1% states' share 5 Funding Ministry of Water Resources ` 1834 Miion Approx. (USD Miion Approx.) Word Bank Group (Loan) ` Miion Approx. (USD Miion Approx.) 48 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1 Tota: ` Miion (USD Miion) For more information:

51 9 The Mahatma Gandhi Nationa Rura Empoyment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) Summary: Ø The Nationa Rura Empoyment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), notified on September 7, 25 is impemented by Ministry of Rura Deveopment. Ø It is the first of its kind in the word where the Government is providing an economic safety net to 2/3 of the country's popuation, or 71.9 per cent India's rura poor with a ega guarantee to give work. Faiing this, the person wi be provided with a daiy unempoyment aowance (one third to one haf of the minimum wage). If empoyment or compensation is not given, the concerned person has the right to seek judicia intervention to ensure his/her rights. Ø It is a demand-driven scheme where oca community can take charge of deciding the kind of ecoregeneration activities that they woud ike to take up in their viages, which woud aso provide empoyment for themseves. Ø The choice of works suggested in the scheme addresses causes of chronic poverty ike drought, deforestation, soi erosion etc so that the process of empoyment generation is on a sustainabe basis. MGNREGS aims at enhancing the iveihood security of peope in rura areas by guaranteeing hundred days of wage-empoyment in a financia year to a rura househod whose adut members vounteer to do unskied manua work. The Act aso seeks to create durabe assets and strengthen the iveihood resource base of the rura poor. The MGNREGS is a radica step that is expected to significanty reduce rura poverty and hunger. It guarantees one hundred days of empoyment at a certain minimum wage as a matter of right rather than as a priviege. This makes it much different from a previous empoyment generation programmes. The MGNREGS requires every state government to formuate an empoyment guarantee scheme (EGS). The Act ensures that there is decentraized panning. A perspective pan is to be prepared for the whoe district, which woud provide a shef of projects to be maintained by the Programme Officer, based on proposas from Gram Panchayats/ Intermediate Panchayats/ District Panchayats. Each Gram Panchayat proposa shoud have recommendation of the Gram Sabha. A ist of permissibe works is given in Schedue I of the Act. The Act incudes various provisions for transparency and accountabiity, such as reguar socia audits by the Gram Sabhas, mandatory discosure of muster ros, pubic accessibiity of a EGS documents, reguar maintenance of job cards, etc. Roe of MGNREGS in combating desertification: MGNREGS possesses tremendous potentia to initiate deveopmenta works across various sectors. It aso provides an opportunity to create durabe assets and regenerate degraded ecoogica resources to enhance iveihood security within their own viages. The fied eve experiences from arid/semi-arid tracts in the C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

52 Type of works permitted 1. Water Conservation and Water harvesting; 2. Drought proofing (incuding afforestation and tree pantation); 3. Irrigation canas incuding micro and minor irrigation works; 4. Provision of irrigation faciity, horticuture pantation and and deveopment faciities; 5. Renovation of traditiona water bodies incuding desiting of tanks; 6. Land deveopment; 7. Food contro and protection works incuding drainage in waterogged areas; 8. Rura connectivity to provide a weather access; and 9. Any other work which may be notified by the centra Government in consutation with the State government. country reinforce the view that ecoogica restoration is the key to iveihood improvement in these regions. Thus MGNREGS breaks the vicious nexus between poverty-pressure on natura resources and desertification. Exampes are seen across India, especiay in the triba bet of centra India, where earthen dams on common and have recharged wes of those poor farmers who earier worked as abourers to buid these dams. Looking at the inter-sectoraity of the Act, convergence guideines have been deveoped for MGNREGS and various programmes/projects on sustainabe forest management, sustainabe and management, sustainabe agricuture etc aimed to combat desertification, by concerned ministries ike Ministry of Environment and Forests, Ministry of Agricuture, Photo: VIKSAT, Ahmedabad Wage empoyment through community asset buiding, Khedbrama bock, Sabarkantha district, Gujarat. 5 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

53 Ministry of Rura Deveopment, Ministry of Water Resources. Achievements: MGNREGS has aided in enhancement of agricutura productivity (through water harvesting, check dams, ground water recharging, improved moisture content, and deveopment, checking soi erosion and micro irrigation). MGNREGS has aided in the stopping of distress migration, increased access to markets and services through rura connectivity works, suppementing househod income, increase in women workforce participation ratios, and the regeneration of natura resources. 1,882, water conservation works taken up during Photo: VIKSAT, Ahmedabad Water harvesting structure under MGNREGS, Khedbrama bock, Sabarkantha district, Gujarat. Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Ministry of Rura Deveopment 2 Target group Individuas - the unempoyed person, rura poor Gram Pachayats (viage oca government) 3. No of beneficiaries 64,249, 4 Programme period and status Ongoing 5 Funding Ministry of Rura Deveopment - ` Miion Approx. (USD Miion Approx.) Ÿ A the State Governments ` Miion Approx. (USD Miion Approx.) Tota: ` Miion (USD Miion) For more information: C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

54 1 Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojagar Yojna (SGSY) / Nationa Rura Liveihood Mission (NRLM) Summary: Ø Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojagar Yojna (SGSY) (Rura Sef-empoyment Scheme) of Ministry of Rura Deveopment aims to create sef-empoyment through organizing the poor into Sef Hep Groups (SHGs). To bridge the gaps and buid on the earning and best practices in SGSY has approved restructuring of SGSY as Nationa Rura Liveihood Mission (NRLM) to be impemented across the country in a mission mode. Ø NRLM endeavours, through its dedicated sensitive support structures and organizations at various eves, to reach out to a the rura poor househods and take them out of poverty by buiding their capacities, financia musce and access, and sef-managed sef-reiant institutions through pacement in jobs, and/or nurturing them into remunerative sef-empoyment and enterprises. Ø NRLM aso ays great emphasis on convergence with other programmes such as Mahatma Gandhi Nationa Rura Empoyment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) or Integrated Watershed Management where the institutions of the poor buit through NRLM woud be faciitated towards their participation in those programmes and getting rightfu entitements. The core beief of NRLM is that the poor have a strong desire and innate capabiities to come out of poverty. The programmes directy target poor famiies for creation of assets and sef empoyment started with Integrated Rura Deveopment Programme (IRDP) in 198, which was transformed into Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) in Through SGSY, out of 7 miion rura househods 25 miion have been inked through SHGs, but sti 45 miion remain uninked. Aso, existing SHGs need further strengthening and more financia support. To achieve this SGSY has been restructured as Nationa Rura Liveihood Mission (NRLM) in a mission mode: To reduce poverty by enabing the poor househods to access gainfu sef-empoyment and skied wage empoyment opportunities, resuting in appreciabe improvement in their iveihoods on a sustainabe basis, through buiding strong grassroots institutions of the poor. The mission mode enabes a shift from the present aocation-based strategy to a demand-driven strategy, enabing the states to formuate their own iveihoods-based poverty reduction action pans with a focus on targets, outcomes and time-bound deivery. It works on three piars Enhancing and expanding existing iveihoods options of the poor; Buiding skis for the job market outside; Nurturing sef-empoyed and entrepreneurs (for micro-enterprises). Achievements: Since inception 14.6 miion beneficiaries of the programme. Since inception 3.8 miion Sef Hep Groups (SHGs) supported. During 27-1 year, 1,259,477 Sef Hep Groups were formed and 4,36,515 Sef Hep Groups were assisted. 52 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

55 Guiding Principes: Socia mobiization and buiding strong institutions of the poor is critica for uneashing the innate capabiities of the poor. An externa dedicated and sensitive support structure is required to induce socia mobiization, institution buiding and empowerment process. Faciitating knowedge dissemination, ski buiding, access to credit, access to marketing, and access to other iveihoods services underpins this upward mobiity. Approach NRLM e v i i h o o d s e r v i c e L Dedicated Support Institutions (Professionas, Learning Patform, M & E Systems) Institutiona Patforms of Poor (SHGs, Federations and Liveihoods Coectives: Aggregating and Federating Poor, Women, Sma & Margina Farmers, SCs, STs and other Marginaized and vunerabe) s Human and Socia Capita (Leaders, CRPs, Community Para-Professionas) Buiding Enabing Environment Partnerships and Convergence Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Ministry of Rura Deveopment 2 Target group Individua rura poor 3 Programme period and status Ongoing 4 Funding Government of India Consoidated Fund ` 6379 Miion approx. (USD Miion Approx.) State Governments ` Miion Approx. (USD Miion Approx.) Tota: ` Miion (USD Miion) For more information: C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

56 11 Nationa Biogas and Manure Management Programme Summary: Ø The Nationa Biogas and Manure Programme is impemented by the Ministry of New and Renewabe Energy. Ø Originay in 1981 Nationa Project on Biogas Deveopment was initiated to satisfy the rura energy demand for cean fue, which has been restructured as the current project. Ø This programme ays specia emphasis on meeting rura energy needs aong with providing quaity manure, by investing in setting up arge scae and househod scae biogas pants with possibe Cean Deveopment Mechanism (CDM) benefits. It seeks to invove mutipe agencies such as Biogas-Fertiizer Companies/ Entrepreneurs, Banks, Indian Renewabe Energy Deveopment Agency (IREDA), financia institutions, Sef-Hep Groups, Cooperatives and NGOs in addition to State Government Noda Departments/ Impementing Agencies and Khadi and Viage Industries Commission. Diminishing forests and a burgeoning, mainy rura biomass-dependent popuation necessitates a coordinated effort of rura India to suppy itsef with a dependabe and sustained source of energy. Biogas, the gas created as a product of anaerobic digestion of organic materias, is one such sustainabe cean energy suppy, especiay for rura popuation dependent on agricuture and anima husbandry. The programme aso has provision for financia support towards maintenance of od biogas pants, and supporting Biogas Deveopment and Training Centres for providing technica training, monitoring and evauation, and preparation of technica bookets/ guideines/ materia support for quaity impementation of biogas programme in addition to technoogy deveopment. The programme strongy emphasizes on community participation in need identification for the pants and reies on biogasfertiizer companies, entrepreneurs and turn-key workers for actua instaation of pants, minimizing the roe of state and noda agencies to communication, raising awareness, quaity contro and training. Some of the important benefits of biogas incude: Energy for cooking and ighting substituting fue wood, dung, eectricity or diese. Used to power engines, in a dua fue mix with petro and diese. Residua surry has superior nutrient quaities over the catte dung. Human waste can aso be utiized to produce biogas, which can be an economicay and environmentay safe decentraized human waste disposa system. By providing an aternative to fue wood biomass it can hep in reducing pressure on degrading forest ands and viage commons. In many rura communities, fue wood coection makes up a considerabe part of women's daiy 54 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

57 workoad, which can be reduced through biogas. A cean and particuate-free source of energy aso reduces chronic diseases such as respiratory infections, aiments of the ungs, bronchitis, asthma, ung cancer etc. Significant reductions in emissions associated with the combustion of bio-fues, such as suphur dioxide (SO 2), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2), carbon monoxide (CO), Methane (CH 4) etc. Objectives: Provide cean fue mainy for cooking purposes and aso for other appications for reducing the use of LPG and other conventiona fues. Meet 'ifeine energy' needs for cooking as envisaged in 'Integrated Energy Poicy'. Provide bio-fertiizer / organic manure to reduce use of chemica fertiizers. Mitigate drudgery of rura women, reduce pressure on forests and accentuate socia benefits. Improve sanitation in viages by inking sanitary toiets with biogas pants. Mitigate Cimate Change by preventing carbon and methane emissions. Photo: CEE Photo Bank Househod eve mode of biogas pant, Ramgadh bock, Awar district, Rajasthan Achievements: Up to June 21, over 4.3 miion biogas pants have been set up since inception. The Ministry took up a new initiative for botting of biogas to demonstrate an integrated technoogy package in an entrepreneuria mode on medium size (2-1 cum/day) mixed feed biogas-fertiizer pants for generation, purification/enrichment, botting and piped distribution of biogas. Eight mixed feed biogas-fertiizer pants (BGFP) projects with aggregate capacity of 5,7 cum/day have been sanctioned in the States of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Punjab. 317, biogas pants instaed during 27-1 Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Ministry of New and Renewabe Energy 2 Target group Rura communities and particuary rura women 3 Programme period and status Ongoing 4 Funding Ministry of New and Renewabe Energy - ` Miion Approx. (USD Miion) For more information: C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

58 12 Biomass Energy and Cogeneration (Non-bagasse) in Industry Summary: Ø The Ministry of New and Renewabe Energy is impementing a programme on Biomass Energy and Cogeneration (non-bagasse) in Industries for expoiting the vast potentia of therma energy and power for captive use in industry and captive eectricity requirement of institutions. Ø Simutaneous production of power and therma energy from a singe fue source is termed as cogeneration. The power generated from such cogeneration pants can be used for meeting the captive requirements, and the surpus power produced can be exported to the grid. The programme encourage the depoyment of biomass co-generation (nonbagasse) systems in industry for meeting therma and eectrica energy requirements and create awareness about the potentias and benefits of aternative modes of energy generation in industry. The industria sector today consumes approximatey 35% of tota eectricity generated in the country. In the absence of good quaity and reiabe power from the State Eectricity Boards, they are increasingy generating their own power, argey through diese generators or are meeting their therma energy requirements through captive means utiizing fossi fues such as coa, oi or natura gas. As fossi fues are imited and have adverse environmenta impacts the use of non-conventiona energy sources incuding biomass resources from energy pantations or crop residues and agro-industria wastes for generation of energy in industries is being encouraged for meeting their partia / tota requirements for both eectrica and therma energy. Severa industries require eectrica as we as therma energy for their operations. These requirements can either be met through different energy sources, or from a singe source which is capabe of generating eectricity as we as producing therma energy. It has been estimated that there is a potentia for generation of about 15, MW through cogeneration in various core industries in the country, incuding sugar industry. In particuar, there is a significant potentia in breweries, caustic soda pants, textie mis, distieries, fertiizer pants, paper and pup industry, sovent extraction units, sugar mis, rice mis, petrochemica pants, etc. Simiary, there is a good potentia for depoyment of gasifier systems for the generation of eectricity / heat in various industries such as bakeries, food processing, siica / ceramics, rice mis, stee re-roing / scrap, refractories, cod storages, etc. for meeting their captive energy requirement of both heat and power. The gasifiers can aso be instaed for meeting their captive eectricity requirement. The Ministry continued impementation of the programme on Biomass Energy and Cogeneration (non-bagasse) in India for expoiting the potentia of therma energy and power for captive use in industry and institutions by providing capita subsidy on reimbursement basis after commissioning of the projects ranging from `.2 miion to ` 1.5 Miion per 1 KW project based on biomass gasifier systems, 56 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

59 Objectives: Encourage the depoyment of biomass cogeneration (non-bagasse) systems in industry for meeting therma and eectrica energy requirements. Promote decentraized / distributed power generation through suppy of surpus power to the grid. Conserve the use of fossi fues for captive requirements in industry. Bring about reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in industry. Create awareness about the potentia and benefits of aternative modes of energy generation in industry. and ` 2 miion per MW for biomass, co-generation projects (non-bagasse), depending upon the type of project. There is a huge potentia of cogeneration in bigger rice mis producing parboied rice, and of repacing diese by gasifiers using rice husk in sma rice mis. These are in hundreds. A rice mi of one ton per hour capacity can save about 25, itres of diese in a year. The Ministry is trying to take this up in a mission mode in Bihar, Orissa, eastern Uttar Pradesh and West Benga. In addition to the above, eeven projects aggregating up to 5 MW capacity project are under instaation in Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and West Benga. Achievements: A tota of 1,411 MW biomass cogeneration (nonbagasse) projects have been set up in the country. 16 MW generation capacity based on biomass was instaed during 27-1 Biomass Gasifier Photo: Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Ministry of New and Renewabe Energy 2 Programme period and status Ongoing 3 Funding Ministry of New and Renewabe Energy ` Miion Approx. (USD 1.59 Miion Approx.) For more information: C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

60 13 Biomass Gasifier Programme Summary: Ø Biomass Gasifier Programme is impemented by the Ministry of New and Renewabe Energy for w w off-grid power projects for meeting un-met demand of eectricity in eectrified viages; and grid interactive MW eve power project with 1% producer gas engine. Ø Biomass gasification is the process of conversion; through partia combustion of soid biomass feed materia, into combustibe gas. The technoogy may be regarded as fue-switching to convert soid fue to gaseous fue. Ø Gasification is achieved in the presence of heat and a imited suppy of oxygen, resuting in incompete combustion of the soid biomass materia. The resuting combustibe gas mixture can be burnt directy in an oven/burner for therma appications or cooed, ceaned and fed into a diese engine to generate eectricity. Programme aims to promote biomass gasifier systems for meeting un-met demand of eectricity in viages In India, reaching a arge number of scattered rura popuation, especiay in the remote hiy areas, through conventiona power grid is economicay and environmentay expensive. At the same time maintenance and repair work is aso difficut in such circumstances. Biomass gasifier can provide an economicay viabe and environmentay safe, community-driven decentraized option for eectrification of those areas. Some of the major benefits of the programme incude: Off-grid power for meeting un-met demand of eectricity in eectrified viages; and Grid interactive MW eve power project with 1% producer gas engine with ocay avaiabe woody and non-woody biomass resources. Meeting eectricity needs for water pumping and other eectrica appications on decentraized basis from various types of woody and non-woody biomass avaiabe in viages. The programme is impemented through State Noda Agencies with the invovement of Energy Service Companies, Co-operatives, Panchayats, NGOs, manufactures or entrepreneurs etc. Centra financia assistance is routed through State Noda Agencies. Achievements: 125 MW capacity biomass gasifiers have been instaed in various industries such as bakeries, die-casting and food processing units and aso in the viages mega watt of instaed capacity was achieved during 27-1 Objectives: Depoy biomass gasifier systems for meeting un-met demand of eectricity in viages. Take up demonstration projects for 1% producer gas engine, couped with gasifier for off grid and grid power operation. Support and enarge activities, through awareness creation, pubicity measures, seminars/workshops/ business meets/ training programme etc. 58 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

61 Photo: Biomass Gasifier Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Ministry of New and Renewabe Energy 2 Target group Individua househods and viage community, Cottage industries, sma scae industries, pubic utiity etc. 3 Programmet period and status Ongoing 4 Funding Ministry of New and Renewabe Energy - ` Miion Approx. (USD 8.72 Miion Approx.) For more information: mnre.gov.in/press-reeases/press-reease pdf C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

62 14 Soar Photovotaic (SPV) Programme Summary: Ø The Soar Photovotaic (SPV) Programme of the Ministry supports deveopment of SPV technoogy in the country and heps in countrywide demonstration of various photovotaic appications Ø Soar Photovoataic technoogy converts soar energy to eectricity which can then be utiized to meet eectricity requirements of community or industry as the case may be. Ø The Indian SPV programme is one of the eading programmes in the word for decentraized appications of photovotaic technoogy. It aims to promote the use of SPV systems for ighting and various other appications in the country, create awareness and demonstrate effective and innovative use of SPV systems for individua/ community/ institutiona appications. India receives soar energy equivaent to over 5, triion kwh per year. The daiy average soar energy incident varies from 4-7 kwh per square meter depending upon the ocation. There are about 3 cear sunny days in most parts of the country. Soar energy can be harnessed through two routes, namey soar photovotaic and soar therma, by direct conversion to eectricity and heat energy respectivey. SPV technoogy converts sunight into DC eectricity without any moving parts and has been providing power for various appications incuding ighting, water pumping, computers, teecommunications, etc. Stand-aone SPV power pants in rura and other areas are providing power for eectrification and running eectrica equipments, which require reiabe uninterrupted power suppy. Grid connected SPV power-generating systems are being instaed for augmenting the grid. SPV power pants have aso been set up at the tai end of grid in rura areas to strengthen the rura grid. SPV roof top power pants are aso being used for diese savings in urban areas. During the ast three decades, the country has deveoped a strong research base as we as indigenous production capabiities for the manufacture of soar ces, modues and a wide range of SPV systems. The Programme provides Centra Financia Assistance to Impementing Agencies for depoyment of SPV systems and reated activities. Emerging SPV appications and new appications of SPV technoogy and specific joint projects with other Ministries/Departments, autonomous Government bodies and other organizations supported on case-tocase basis. The Ministry depending upon their utiity aso support SPV systems for community use in areas affected by natura caamities. Specific decentraized systems/ appications supported under the programme incude, Soar Home Lighting Systems Soar Street Lighting Systems Traffic Signas SPV Binkers SPV Iuminating Hoardings/Bi boards SPV Power Packs Stand-aone SPV Power Pants SPV Rooftop Systems for Diese saving in Urban Areas 6 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

63 Objectives: Promote the use of SPV systems for ighting and various other appications in the country. Create awareness and demonstrate effective and innovative use of SPV systems for individua/ community/ institutiona appications. Save diese for power generation in institutions and other commercia organizations. Support SPV promotiona activities such as seminars, symposia, training, awareness campaigns, human resource deveopment, etc. Achievements: Over 14 akh SPV ighting systems, mosty in rura areas have been set up numbers soar photovotaic systems were estabished during 27-1 Photo: CEE Photo Bank Water ifting by soar photovotaic system, Kakshaa, Dang district, Gujarat. Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Ministry of New and Renewabe Energy 2 Area Covered Entire nation 3 Target group Individuas, Institutes, Civic bodies and Communities 4 Programme period and status Ongoing 5 Funding Ministry of New and Renewabe Energy ` Miion Approx. (USD 3.86 Miion Approx.) For more information: : C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

64 15 Desertification Monitoring and Assessment: Desertification Status Mapping Summary: Ø To deveop an action pan and for further micro-eve panning to combat desertification, it is of critica importance to first understand the extent of desertification and monitor its rate across the country. Ø Thematic Programme Network 1 (TPN-1), on 'Desertification Monitoring and Assessment', is one of the six thematic programme areas identified as part of Asian Regiona Action Programme (RAC) under UNCCD. Space Appications Centre (SAC), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Ahmedabad has been the nationa foca organization to coordinate TPN-1 activities in the country. Ø One of the mandatory tasks under TPN-1 was to prepare Desertification Status Mapping (DSM) at nationa and regiona eves, which coud be integrated to generate the desertification status map of the word. This is the first spatia inventory on desertification/and degradation carried out at nationa eve for entire country giving information on various and degradation processes and their severity. It serves as a baseine data for future monitoring, incuding the impact of UNCCD impementation. The first piot project on Desertification Status Mapping (DSM) at 1:5, scae funded by Ministry of Environment and Forests was carried out mainy to standardize the methodoogy, indication and cassification system for the entire country, invoving 15 different agencies. This second project foowed with a nation-wide inventory of desertification status at 1:5, scae, using sateite data. It was funded by Department of Space, Ministry of Science and Technoogy. This nationa task has been executed by Space Appications Centre in coaboration with severa Science and Technoogy Institutions isted in foowing page. Methodoogy The nationa cassification system for DSM was evoved and standardized through a piot project and adopted for fina work. IRS-P6 (Resourcesat) AWiFS geo-coded Fase Coour Composite data were anaysed using visua interpretation techniques to generate DSM on 1:5, scae. Detais of the methodoogy are described in the fow diagram (Figure 1). Base maps prepared using the Survey of India topographica maps on 1:25, scae and the sateite images were used whie anaysing sateite data. Base features ike road, rai, habitation and drainage were taken from sateite imagery whereas forest boundaries were taken from topographica maps for preparing base maps. Ground truth data coected from various paces spread throughout the country were used to finaize the maps. The fina DSM myars were vectorized and put on a nationa spatia frame work. The seams were removed from adjacent map sheets to prepare seamess map for states and finay for the country. DSM prepared for India has been incuded in chapter 62 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

65 1 of this report. The map shows spatia distribution of and degradation aong with and use/and cover casses for the entire country. T h i s s t u d y p r o v i d e d b a s e i n e d a t a o n desertification/and degradation for the country and wi be usefu for future monitoring of desertification. State wise digita data base has been prepared and is avaiabe for the desertification and and degradation status map for the entire India at MoEF website, and through Nationa Resource Data Base, ISRO. Through the execution of these projects a arge number of scientists/research feows/students have been trained on mapping and assessment of desertification. The ski deveoped by these peope through the training and experiences received from the DSM project can be utiized for further mapping and monitoring desertification and and degradation in future. Indicators Mutidate sateite data Preiminary desertification/ and degradation status map Fina desertification/ and degradation status map Methodoogy for preparation of desertification status map Anciary data and maps Base map Ground truth Estabishing the end-to-end method of Desertification Status Mapping using sateite data, this can be foowed by other countries to assess the state of desertification/and degradation in their respective states/provinces/country. This map wi be used for future monitoring and determining the status of desertification as we as impact of impementation of the strategic objectives of UNCCD. Coaborating Agency Centra Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur; Nationa Bureau of Soi Survey and Land Use Panning (NBSSLUP), Bangaore; A India Soi and Land Use Survey, Dehi; Remote Sensing Appications Centre of states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Arunacha Pradesh, Maharashtra andd Bihar; Bira Institute of Technoogy, Mesra, Ranchi; Jammu University, Jammu; Jawahara Nehru University, New Dehi; University of Rajasthan, Jaipur; Institute of Remote Sensing, Anna University, Chennai; Directorate of Environment and Remote Sensing, Srinagar; Earth Observations System, ISRO, Bangaore, Nationa Remote Sensing Agency, Department of Space; and Regiona Remote Sending Centre, Department of Space. Achievements: Desertification & Land Degradation Map of India and an Atas pubished. The Atas provides state wise information and is the baseine information on the whoe country C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

66 Photo: Seva Mandir, Udaipur A vast patch of degraded forest and, Udaipur district, Rajasthan. Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Space Appications Centre (SAC) - Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) 2 Area covered Entire nation 3 Target group State eve Space Appications Centres; Universities and Research (invoved in process) Institutes; State Govt. departments; Impementation agencies responsibe for arresting and degradation and combating desertification 4 Project period and status 1 Apri March 28 5 Funding Ministry of Environment and Forests ` 13.8 Miion Approx. (USD.31 Miion Approx.) 64 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1 Department of Space ` 2.6 Miion Approx. (USD.6 Miion Approx.) Tota: ` 16.4 Miion (USD.36 Miion) For more information: Space Appications Centre (SAC), Jodhpur Tekra, Ahmedabad 38 15, Gujarat, India, Emai: pro@sac.isro.gov.in, Website-

67 16 Arid Zone Research Summary: Ø To arrest degradation process and for scientific and sustainabe management of the resources in the arid zone, a Desert Afforestation Station was estabished in 1952 at Jodhpur. It was upgraded to Centra Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI) in 1959 under the Indian Counci of Agricutura Research (ICAR), Ministry of Agricuture. Ø CAZRI operates through seven Divisions, ocated at the headquarters in Jodhpur. There are four Regiona Research Stations ocated in different agro-cimatic zones to work on ocation-specific probems. Ø There are severa technoogies reeased for adoption. Some of the exampes incude sand dune stabiization, sheterbet pantation, soi and water conservation, improved agro-forestry systems, management of cropand, pasture and range areas, management of saine-sodic sois, rehabiitation of mine spois, wind erosion contro, water harvesting, dryand farming, arid horticuture, other aternative and use strategies, pest management, ivestock management and energy management, and disseminating the deveoped technoogies to the stakehoders. Arid zone research contributes to the deveopment of sustainabe farming systems in arid ecosystems, with CAZRI being the repository of information on the state of natura resources and desertification process and its contro, in the form of digita database and as a centre of earning for arid and management technoogies. CAZRI is a unique muti-discipinary institute that evoves soutions/ technoogies to address the probems of arid region, demonstrates their viabiity through on-station as we as on-farm research, and trains/advises stakehoders for their arge-scae adoption in the region. CAZRI was the coaborating institute in Thematic Programme Network 1 (TPN-1), on 'Desertification, Monitoring and Assessment', which is one of the six thematic programme areas identified as part of the Asian regiona action programme under UNCCD. CAZRI is the noda institution for impementation of TPN-2 and its Director is currenty functioning as the Task Manager for faciitating estabishment and functioning of TPN-2 Agroforestry Management and Soi Conservation in Arid, Semi-arid and Dry Subhumid areas in coaboration with four other institutions. It aso provides reguar training and demonstration to farmers, state officias, NGOs and other stakehoders, for which it has a sma Extension Wing and two Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK). The institute aso hosts the Arid Ecosystem Directorate for a major network project of the country, caed Nationa Agricutura Technoogy Project, as we as the A India Coordinated Projects on rodents, arid egumes, etc., in which severa institutes and agricutura universities of the hot and cod arid regions are effectivey participating. The various divisions of CAZRI are Natura Resources and Environment Integrated Land Use Management and Farming Systems C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

68 Agricutura Engineering for Arid Production Systems Pant Improvement, Propagation and Pest Management Livestock Production Systems and Range Management Transfer of Technoogy, Training and Production Economics Regiona Research Stations 1. Regiona Research Station, Bikaner, was estabished during 1957 with the aim to act as a centre for demonstration, experimenta afforestation, and soi conservation. The station was aso given the responsibiity of sand dune stabiization. 2. Regiona Research Station, Kukma, Bhuj, was estabished in the year Regiona Research Station, Jaisamer focusing on Lasiurus sindicus (Sewan grass)-based sivipastora system, Khadin water harvesting system, water management (ground water and cana), Environmenta Impact Assessment (EIA) and biodiversity conservation, and seed production of trees and grasses. 4. Regiona Research Station, Pai focuses on management of saine/sodic water, R&D for ocation specific farming systems and seed production of grasses and trees. CAZRI is aso an ENVIS (Environmenta Information System) Centre on 'desertification' by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India, New Dehi, in The main objectives are to buid up a repository of information on desertification, estabish inkages with a information agencies concerning desertification within and outside the country, disseminate information, respond to users' queries, especiay of poicy makers and panners, scientists, researchers and community members. Achievements: Research resuts of CAZRI in understanding desertification processes and deveoping mitigation technoogies incude mapping and monitoring of desertification in the arid ands of western India, notaby for the first UNEP Conference on Desertification in 1977, and aso to coincide with the Earth Summit in The 26 mapping for the first nationa map on and degradation shows that out of the 28.5 mha area in Rajasthan and Gujarat 87% area is degraded, mainy by wind (57%) and water (13%) erosion. CAZRI's technoogy on sand dune stabiization through vegetative means has been used by the State of Rajasthan to stabiize more than 4, ha area of menacing sand dunes. Technoogies have aso been deveoped for sheterbets, border row pantation, and tree/shrub bets aternating with crop/grass rows to utiize oca resources for food, fue, fodder, fruits, and minor forest products ike gum, etc. A number of diversified farming systems have been evoved for ow-rainfa areas, which incude agroforestry, agri-horticuture and agri-sivi-pasture, to sustain iveihood during crop faiure and to maintain ivestock during droughts. Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK): The idea of estabishment of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (Farm Science Centre) was evoved in 1973 by ICAR. The first KVK, on a piot basis, was estabished in 1974 at Pondicherry under the administrative contro of the Tami Nadu Agricutura University, Coimbatore. With the growing demand for more such KVKs were approved by ICRA. Currenty there is a big network of KVKs managed by State Agricutura Universities, Centra Agricutura University, ICAR Institutes, NGOs, State Governments, Pubic Sector Undertakings and other educationa institutions. At present there are 571 KVKs estabished in the Country. The mandate of KVK is Technoogy assessment, refinement and demonstration of technoogy /products. This is an exceent network for technooy exchange and empowerment of farmers to enhance productivity and profitabiity. Source: 66 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

69 Photo: CEE Photo Bank Improved variety of forage crop, Indian Grassand and Forage Research Institute, Jhansi, Uttar pradesh. Improved practices for pasture and rangeand management, especiay through sivi-hortipastora systems and rotationa grazing, and rehabiitation of mine spois through vegetative means have been deveoped and are being propagated by R&D institutions and State departments. For water erosion contro on arabe ands, contour cutivation, graded bunding and bench terracing are adopted in conjunction with minimum tiage, cover crops, inter-cropping, strip cropping, contour vegetative barriers, etc. Check dam construction, guy pugging and stabiization of guy heads are advocated for nonarabe ands, and appropriate and uses are integrated on catchment basis according to and capabiity. Rain water harvesting and efficient utiization are in-buit in the watershed management programmes. Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Centra Arid Zone Research Institute 2 Area covered 49.5 Miion ha 3 Target group Farming communities, State Govt. agencies for agricutura deveopment and NGOs. 4 Programme period and status Ongoing 5 Funding ICAR, Ministry of Agricuture ` 78.5 Miion approx. (USD 1.74 Miion Approx.) For more information: Centra Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur , Rajasthan, INDIA, Emai-director@cazri.res.in, Website- C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

70 17 Identification and Demarcation of Degraded Watersheds in the Catchment Area for Macro Leve Panning Summary: Ø Identification and demarcation of degraded watershed in the catchment area is being carried out by the Soi and Land Use Survey of India (SLUSI), estabished in 1958 under Department of Agricuture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agricuture. Ø SLUSI conducts various types of soi and and resource surveys and provides a soi-reated database for the panning and impementation of programmes reating to soi and water conservation for the deveopment of degraded ands. Ø Deveopment of degraded ands cas for their recamation and proper management with specific information about their nature, extent, spatia distribution and magnitude of the probem. A detaied data base on degraded ands is crucia for panning purpose that necessitates scientific mapping. Sound and reaistic data base on degraded ands being provided by this project is crucia for macro eve panning purposes. Soi and Land Use Survey of India, has been estabished to deveop detaied maps to create soi and and use database that can serve as a critica macro eve and micro eve panning too for various programmes. SLUSI with its seven centres ocated at Noida (Uttar Pradesh), Kokatta (West Benga), Bangaore (Karnataka), Nagpur (Maharashtra), Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh), Ahmedabad (Gujarat) and Ranchi (Jharkhand) perform activities reated to watershed surveys, soi mapping, training etc. The mapping has been conceptuaized as a four tier system consisting of deineation of major and use boundaries from topographica map and subsequent updating using remote sensing data foowed by mapping of different kinds of degraded ands and severity of degradation. The egend of and degradation mapping has been deveoped considering the causative factors of and degradation viz., wind and water erosion, sat affiction, water ogging, shifting cutivation, mining, etc Four components considered for systematic mapping are: Kinds of Degradation Severity of Degradation Major Landform Major Land Use During 29-1, Rapid Reconnaissance Surveys of 15.6 mha, Detaied Soi Surveys (DSS) of.16 mha, and Soi Resource Mapping (SRM) of mha were targeted. Against these targets, RRS of 8.61 miion hectares, DSS of.4 miion hectares and SRM of 3.75 miion hectares were competed up to December 29. Achievements: Database on priority watersheds with soi and and information wi enabe scientific panning to check soi erosion in the catchment area. Soi erosion contro foowing a watershed approach is vita to maintain natura eco-systems. The data base wi provide a patform to monitor and evauate the watershed deveopment programmes undertaken by various departments 68 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

71 Photo: CEE Photo Bank PRA exercise in the Thandavarayan Sozhgan Pettai (T.S.Pettai) of Pichavaram area in Cuddaore district, Tami Nadu. About SLUSI: Estabished in 1958, Soi and Land Use Survey of India has seven centres. Its main activities are: Rapid Reconnaissance Surveys of watersheds of the catchments of river vaey projects and food prone rivers; Detaied Soi Surveys of seected very high and high priority watersheds to provide a sound database for the execution of soi conservation measures, as we as for scientific and use panning; Soi Resource Mapping; Deveopment of a GIS-based web server; Organising short training courses on soi surveys and data use for the panning of watershed management; and Consutancy projects on soi mapping. and ministries. It wi hep to deveop Watershed Deveopment Information System to avoid dupication of the watershed deveopment programmes in the country. Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Soi and Land Use Survey of India (SLUSI), Department of Agricuture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agricuture 2 Area covered ha Approx. 3 Target groups State Government departments such as Agricuture, Forest and Soi Conservation. 4 Project period and status Ongoing 5 Funding Ministry of Agricuture ` Miion Approx. (USD Miion Approx.) For more information: Soi and Land Use Survey of India (Headquarter) IARI Buidings, PUSA, DELHI , Emai- csso-susi@nic.in, Website- C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

72 18 Efficacy and Economics of Water Harvesting Devices in Controing Run-off Losses and Enhancing Biomass Productivity in Aravai Ranges Summary: Ø Rajasthan is one of the driest states in India with annua average rainfa ranging from 1 mm in the western desert to 65 mm annuay in the southeastern part of the state, ocated in arid and semi-arid region of India. Ø Its 56 miion peope intermittenty suffer moderate to severe water crises. Water harvesting structures can have a reviving impact on the overa ecoogy of the region and therefore can transform the economy of the peope iving there. Ø The current project is impemented by Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI), Jodhpur, India, State Forest Department, Rajasthan and Viage Forest Protection and Management Committee, Guapada, Banswara District Rajasthan. It aims to scientificay study the impact of various water harvesting structures over 2 about 7 m area cassified in 75 pots in sopes of -1%, 1-2% and >2% with a contro pot, contour trench, gradonie, box trench and V-ditch rainwater harvesting treatment. The Aravai his count among the odest mountain ranges of the word and run across the State of Rajasthan from southwest to northeast. These his cover about 3% of the state's area. Desertification and consequent and degradation is a common threat word over. The probem in this region is severe with extremes of weather condition, ow and erratic rainfa (1-4 mm) and high evapotranspiration. Sois are immature, structureess, and very coarse in texture with ow water hoding capacity and poor nutrient status. Scarcity of water and poor nutrient status are refected in the form of poor vegetation cover and ow productivity in the area. It is further aggravated by high popuation pressure. The average human and ivestock popuation densities in Indian arid zone are 18 and 137 per square kiometre, respectivey. This eads to crop intensification and changes in and use pattern. Over-expoitation of existing vegetation and overirrigation / use of saine ground water for irrigation have resuted in and degradation as evidenced by the menace of sand drift and secondary sainization. The Division of Forest Ecoogy and Desert Deveopment are mandated to work on some of the important aspects to combat desertification and increase productivity in the region. Rajasthan has a rich tradition of water harvesting, which is diminishing with socio-economic changes that are taking pace. Reviva of this water harvesting structures or deveoping a proper system of water harvesting can actuay hep revive the compete ecoogy and therefore the economy of the peope iving in the region. A number of projects by Civi Society Organisations (CSOs) and some Government-aided projects in this area are aimed at this. The current project scientificay studied the impact of various water harvesting structures. A hiy site was seected in Banswara forest division 7 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

73 Observations based on Growth Data of various species Pants were taer and thicker in <1% sope area and decreased with increase in sope, Hoopteia integrifoia indicated highest growth. Dendrcaamus strictus and Acacia catechu owest growth in 1-2% sope area. In V-Ditch area growth of Dendocaamus strictus, Azadirachta indica and Zyziphus mauritiana was the best.in contour trench areas Embica officinais and Hoopteia integrifoia performed best. In box trench areas Gmeina arborea and Acacia catechu performed better. In terms of panting methods seed sown seeding of Acacia catechu outperformed the panted seedings of Embica officinais, Syzigium comini, Zyziphus mauritiana. There were 8 herbs and grass species recorded in October 28. The number of species increased downward from >2% sope (5.33 m-2) to <1% sope (6.25 m-2). In microsites, number of herbage species was highest down sope and owest at mid sope position. covering sopes of -1%, 1-2% and >2%. Rainwater harvesting devices are Contour Trench (CT), Gradonie (G), Box Trench (BT), V-ditches (V) aong with a contro pot. Seventy five pots (three 2 sopes x five treatments x five repicates) of 7 m area in competey randomised bock design were aid. Seventy five run-off measuring devices aong with fow contro wa fitted with pipes were constructed to contro water fow and coect run-off. This project yieded some important observations in terms of impacts of different RWH devices on 1. Overa growth of different species 2. Nutrient concentration 3. Species diversity and herbage yied 4. Dry matter production. Impacts on the overa growth of different species have been discussed in the adjoining box whie some other observations are given beow Soi Water Content (SWC) increased downward but Soi Organic Carbon (SOC), NH4-N and NO3-N were highest at mid position in a pot. SWC and SOC were highest in <1%, whereas, NO3-N and NH4-N concentrations were highest in >2% sopes. In RWH treated area, SOC and PO -P were highest 4 in CT pots; SWC and NO -N were highest in G 3 pots, whereas NH -N concentration was highest 4 in VD pots. Lowest avaiabiity of soi nutrients indicated greater diversity. Species diversity, richness and herbage yied increased downward, but species evenness was highest at mid position in a pot. Among different sopes, species diversity and species richness were highest in <1%, dry matter yied was highest in 1-2%, and species dominance and vegetation height were greatest in >2% sopes. In RWH treated area, species diversity and herbage yied were highest in CT pots; whereas, evenness, richness and vegetation height were greatest in VD pots. Lowest avaiabiity of soi nutrients indicated greater diversity. Dry matter production increased downward being highest at down sope position (567.8 g m- 2). Dry matter production was 478.5g m-2 in 1-2% to g m-2 in <1% sope. Among the treatment, dry matter production was g m-2 in contour trench pots as compared to g m-2 in contro pots. It was significanty greater (458.8 g m-2) in treated area than untreated (244.9 gm-2) area of the site. Achievements: Rain water harvesting and conservation techniques and tree pantation on degraded his has significanty reduced the runoff, improved soi moisture, biodiversity and carbon stock in the area. C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

74 Grass and herbs species increased from 39 to 92 in the experimenta pots within a period of 4 yrs. Increased water avaiabiity in wes onger period. Fodder and fue wood avaiabiity increased. Photo: CEE Photo Bank Water harvesting structure in Bhindr bock, Udaipur district, Rajasthan. Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI), Jodhpur 2 Area covered 17 Hectors 3 Target groups Viage forest management Committees, adjacent viages around the Project Areas 4 Project period and status 1Apri March Funding State Forest Department, Rajasthan- ` 1.6 Miion (USD.4 Miion Approx.) For more information: Arid Forest Research Institute, P.O. Krishi Upaj Mandi, Basni, New Pai Road, Jodhpur-3425 (Rajasthan) INDIA, Emai- dir_afri@icfre.org, Website- 72 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

75 19 Generation of Detaied Database on Soi and Land Characteristics for Degraded Watersheds Summary: Ø Degradation of watershed and its rehabiitation are some of the most urgent natura resources management chaenges. Ø Comprehensive information on soi resources in terms of types of sois, their spatia distribution, and degradation is critica for addressing the processes of degradation and various issues reating to soi conservation such as rainfed farming, soi conservation in catchment areas, command area deveopment, watershed management etc. Ø Soi and Land Use Survey of India (SLUSI), Department of Agricuture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agricuture conducts surveys to generate Detaied Database on Soi and Land Characteristics for Degraded Watershed as one of its major activities. The necessary data on soi survey and assessment of and resources is generated by Soi and Land Use Survey of India (SLUSI) for preparation and impementation of projects concerning the deveopment of degraded ands to faciitate panning of soi and water conservation in a seective mode and phased manner. The Soi and Land Use Survey of India (SLUSI) under Department of Agricuture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agricuture, is basicay to provide necessary data on soi survey and assessment of and resources for preparation and impementation of projects concerning the deveopment of degraded ands. It deas with mapping of degraded ands on district basis using remote sensing technique on 1:5, scae. It comprises pre-fied interpretation of Fase Coor Composite (Band 2,3,4) derived from IRS LISS II data based on spectra signatures, fied work for ground verification and post fied interpretation foowed by random fied checking and map finaization. Detaied Soi Surveys deas with systematic detaied study of sois comprising morphoogica examination of sois in the fied and mapping using 1:15, scae or arger aeria photograph or cadastra map foowed by anaysis of soi sampes in the soi aboratory and processing maps in the cartographic aboratory. Seected very high and high priority subwatersheds are taken up for detaied soi survey to generate detaied data base on sois which are prerequisites for formuation of viage eve pans. The data generated out of soi survey interpreted to derive base information on the use potentia of and or various utiitarian purposes. It provides the foowing information which is essentia for any and deveopment programme. Proper diagnosis of sois Scientific and use panning Soi amendments for judicious use of chemica fertiizer Soi, and, water, crop and nutrient management Generation of soi heath cards for dissemination of soi information to farming community C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

76 Deveopment of Soi Information System Optima utiization of soi resources SLUSI deveoped a methodoogy for prioritization of sub-watersheds in the catchment areas to faciitate panning of soi and water conservation in a seective mode and phased manner. The output of the survey is utiized both by Centra and State Governments towards formuation of soi and water conservation working pan. Partner Organisations: 1. Soi and Land Survey of India, New Dehi. 2. Nationa Bureau of Soi Survey and Land Use Panning (NBSS&LUP), Nagpur 3. Centra Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI)(Arid Zone Mapping), Jodhpur 4. Nationa Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Hyderabad 5. Regiona Remote Sensing Service Centers, Bengauru, Jodhpur, Kharagpur, Dehradun, Nagpur 6. Space Appications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad 7. Nationa Atas and Thematic Mapping Organisation (NATMO), Kokata Economic Utiity of Soi Survey Data to Farming Community The detaied soi database avaiabe with the organization has many economic and ecoogica benefits for farming community, such as: Proper diagnosis of soi for optima utiization of soi resources; Judicious appication of chemica fertiizer and irrigation water; Adoption of and use as per and capabiity cass; Reduction of oss of top soi; Harvesting of rainwater as per soi hydroogic grouping; Soi and and recamation prior to agricuture and other practices; Crop suitabiity based on soi potentia; Nutrient management as per soi quaity; Soi quaity assessment; Maintenance and monitoring of soi heath; Dissemination of soi information to the farming community in the form of soi. Achievements: Sustainabe soi and water conservation in degraded watersheds at micro eve with scientific database. The database wi aow effective panning of soi erosion contro measure, rainwater harvesting, diagnostic measures to maintain soi heath, diversification in and use practice, etc. State wise database of and degradation has been prepared. Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Soi and Land Use Survey of India. Department of Agricuture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agricuture 2 Area covered Miion ha. (Approx.) 3 Target groups State Government Departments such as Agricuture, Forest and Soi Conservation 4 Project period and status Ongoing 5 Funding Ministry of Agricuture ` 27 Miion (USD 4.6 Miion Approx) For more information: Soi and Land Use Survey of India (Headquarter) IARI Buidings, PUSA, DELHI , Emai- csso-susi@nic.in, Website C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

77 2 Addressing the Issue of Land Degradation is a Component in some of the R&D Projects of the Institute Summary: Ø Govind Baabh Pant Institute of Himaayan Environment and Deveopment (GBPIHED) is identified as a foca agency to advance scientific knowedge, to evove integrated management strategies, demonstrate their efficacy for conservation of natura resources and to ensure environmentay sound deveopment in the entire Indian Himaayan Region. Ø The Institute was estabished in August 1988, at Kosi-Katarma, Amora district of Uttarakhand, as an autonomous institute of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Ø The Institute has been recognized as a noda agency for Research and Deveopment (R&D) programmes in the Indian Himaayan region by the Panning Commission, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, and many internationa organizations. A R&D activities are essentiay muti-dscipinary in nature and based on a conscious effort to interink natura and socia sciences to promote sustainabe deveopment. In this effort, particuar attention is given to the preservation of fragie mountain ecosystems, indigenous knowedge systems and sustainabe use of natura resources. A R&D activities of the Institute are essentiay muti-discipinary in nature, and based on a conscious effort to interink natura and socia sciences to promote sustainabe deveopment. In this effort, particuar attention is given to the preservation of fragie mountain ecosystems, indigenous knowedge systems and sustainabe use of natura resources. Apart from undertaking research and technoogy deveopment and/or demonstration on its own, the Institute has estabished inkages with Nationa and Internationa Organizations committed to environment and deveopment inked issues in the mountain regions. The R &D programmes are in the area of -Socio Economic Deveopment -Environmenta Assessment & Management -Watershed Process and Management -Knowedge Product & Capacity Buiding -Biodiversity Conservation and Management -Biotechnoogy Appications Mandates: Undertake in-depth research and deveopment studies on environmenta probems of the Indian Himaayan Region. Identify and strengthen the oca knowedge of the environment and contribute towards strengthening researches of regiona reevance in the scientific Institutions, Universities/NGOs and Vountary agencies working in the Himaayan region, through interactive networking. Evove a n d d e m o n stra te s u i ta b e technoogica packages and deivery systems for sustainabe deveopment of the region in harmony with oca perceptions. C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

78 Important area of work Deveopment and demonstration of Soping Watershed Environmenta Engineering Technoogy package for rehabiitation of degraded ands in Himaaya. Demonstration of Integrated Watershed Management in Centra and Eastern Himaaya focusing on agro-forestry modes and ow cost technoogies. Land use changes and its environmenta impacts in Cod Desert Environment. Data base of Gacier retreat, fow and suspended sediment pattern in Centra Himaaya and anaysis of cimate variabiity. Impact of Anthropogenic Activities on Bioresources in Cod Desert of the Lahau Studies on Diversity and Conservation Status of pants in a Proposed Cod Desert Biosphere Reserve of Trans and North West Himaaya. Studies on the Diversity and Conservation Status of Forest Vegetation in a Proposed Cod Desert Biosphere Reserve of Himacha Pradesh in North Western Himaaya Action Pan for Conservation of Bioogica Diversity of Indian Himaayan Region; and, Strategy and Action pan for Wid Pant Diversity of Indian. Capacity buiding of oca inhabitants through promotion of ecotourism in Sikkim, estabishment of Rura Technoogy Compex at HQs, trainings on hi-specific ow cost technoogies in NE region. D e v e o p m e n t o f c o n v e n t i o n a a n d / o r biotechnoogica methods for propagation of high vaue pants (e.g., mutipurpose trees, endemic medica pants, bamboos, pantation crops) of IHR. Achievements: During Apri 28 March 21 over 125 ha and brought under pantation of fodder, fuewood, medicina pants and other usefu species (over 1 akh sapings) across Indian Himaayan region. Soi and water conservation and soi fertiity improvement measures are empoyed through participatory approach. Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency G B Pant Institute of Himaayan Environment and Deveopment (GBPIHED), and Gram Panchayats, Regiona Universities in the Indian Himaayn Region, Research Institutions, Indian Counci for Agricutura Research, Forest Department 2 Area covered 125 ha 3 Target groups Viage Panchayats, Women Sef Hep Groups, Viagers-Individuas, Government Departments 4 Project period and status 1 Apri March Funding Ministry of Environment and Forests ` 3 Miion (USD.7 Miion Approx.) 76 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1 Lake Deveopment Authority, Govt of Uttarakhand- ` 1 Miion (USD.22 Miion Approx.) Word Bank Group - ` 15 Miion (USD.33 Miion Approx.) Katarma Viage (Wasteand Restoration) `.15 Miion (USD 3333 Aprrox.) Tota: ` Miion (USD.63 Miion) For more information: G B Pant Institute of Himaayan Environment and Deveopment (GBPIHED), Kosi-Katarma, Amora , uttarakhand, India, Emai-director@gbpihed.nic.in, Website-

79 21 Enhancing Productivity of Saine Wasteands in Kachchh- through Improved Tree Panting Techniques and Sivipastora Study Summary: Ø The project on Enhancing Productivity of Saine Wasteands in Kachchh through improved tree panting techniques and sivipastora study was initiated in Juy, 26 by Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI), Jodhpur. Ø The experimenta area is ocated in Kordha, Sami Range in Patan of Gujarat state. Ø Tree panting techniques of Acacia bivenosa, A. ampiceps with various treatments ike Farm Yard Manure and Wheat Husk and its surviva percentage, mean increment in height and crown diameter compared to other treatments for both the pant species was conducted. Ø Research tria on change in ph vaues during winter and summer months was aso carried out. The project aims to study the reationship between surviva rates of different tree and grass species and pantation techniques with reference to highy saine areas. Forests have a major roe to pay in reversing desertification trends. Forests in these areas provide extremey critica ecoogica services such as soi and water conservation, providing fodder for ivestock rearing, and heping to mitigate cimate change impacts. In arid zones agro-forestry practices hep mitigate the consequences of irreguar and unforeseen rainfa and of economic fuctuations through the reguar and reiabe suppy of substitute products for man and ivestock, reducing pressure on oca resources and encouraging sustainabe production. But afforestation/tree pantation in this area is extremey difficut due to high sainity and extreme weather conditions. Growth is sower; surviva rates are ower, and pant protection presents great difficuty. Therefore, hoistic scientific knowedge on forest ecoogy in arid and semi-arid zones is necessary for combating desertification and mitigation of cimate change impact in these areas. The Project: Research tria for green weed-mass of haophytes and other sat toerant species was conducted. Research trias with four tree species (namey Cordia gharaf, Prosopis cineraria, Ziziphus mauritiana, Coophospermum mopane) and three grass species, (namey, Cenchus ciiaris, C. cetigerus and Dicanthium annuatum) were conducted in Randomized Bock Design in three repications at Mochirai, Bhuj. Surviva: Pant species maintained more than 9% surviva in both the experiments. Overa periodic percent surviva recorded after 3 months of age was in simiar range for Cenchrus setigerus 95.6%, and Cenchrus ciiaris 95.4% (amost no change between 24 and 3 months of growth period). However, surviva of grass was higher in case of C. ciiaris (98.1%) compared to C. setigerus (92.%). Species wise maximum surviva was with Prosopis cineraria 94.9%, Cordia gharaf 99.5%, and Zizyphus mauritiana 93.5%. Height and Crown Diameter: At the age of 26 months, tree species (C. ciiaris and C. setigerus) recorded 15.2 to 17.5 % and 12.2 to 28.7% mean height increment under contro and with grass treatment, respectivey, compared to their height at 14 months. The mean height and crown diameter of contro trees were significanty more than trees grown with grass in case C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

80 Kachchh district of Gujarat state is spread over an immense, saine wasteand of 45,255 sq. km, constituting 24 percent of the and area of Gujarat. Bounded by desert to the north and the Arabian Sea to the south, Kachchh has an average annua rainfa of about 335 mm. However, rapid desertification and recurrent droughts have ed to saine intrusion which has, in turn, affected the quaity of and, soi and agricutura production. The rura economy is maintained principay on rainfed agricuture and ivestock rearing. of C. setigerus. However, the difference was insignificant for C. ciiaris. Within species, the height difference was highy significant, due to ess height growth of P. cineraria compared to Z. mauritiana and C. gharaf which amost attained simiar height with C. setigerus and C. ciiaris. The incrementa growth for crown diameter was 7.7 to 5.7 and 11.9 to 25.7 % respectivey for various tree species with C. ciiaris and C. setigerus, respectivey, between the growth periods months. Low rainfa (287 mm) is the reason for ess growth. The effect of grass growth significanty infuenced the overa crown diameter ony with C. setigerus at 14 and 26 months whereas it was 39 and 37.4 % more in contro. Grass yied: The year 28 received very scarce rain, and the yied was one third of the year 27. It was.66 and.17 kg/ha and.47 and.16 kg/ha as green and dry grass yied for C. ciiaris and C. setigerus. The reduction in mean green grass yied was 2.9 fod for C. ciaris and 3.2 fod for C. setigerus. The concusions so far are that C. ciiaris is the best grass species very cosey foowed by C. setigerus. Estabishment of D. annuatum was poor. Cordia gharaf maintained Photo: 78 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

81 neary 1 % surviva and appreciabe growth foowed by Z. mauritiana among a the grass species. Weed Biomass: Green weed mass was dominated by haophytes and other sat toerant species. Choris virgata was the most dominant species foowed by 2 Sueada fruticosa. Overa, 431 gm yied was recorded. However, species wise variation was 2 observed and it was 693. gm for A. bivenosa, gm for S. persica and gm for A. ampiceps. Achievements: Savadora persica proved to be the most hardy pant surviving the extremey harsh conditions of high sainity, heat stress and drought conditions suffering ess casuaties with mean surviva of 92.8% after 2.5 years of panting foowed by Acacia bivenosa (surviva 77.3%) and Acacia ampiceps (surviva 44.1%) at Sami Range in Patan, Gujarat. A the pant species dispayed shrubby nature recording more crown diameter than height after two years of growth. A. ampiceps attained very high initia growth (161 cm height and 17 cm crown diameter). The pants fowered and produced viabe seed within a year but after heat shock the growth reduced. Sivipastora trias with Cenchrus ciiaris and C. setigerus as grass species in combination with four tree species, namey Cordia gharaf, Prosopis cineraria, Ziziphus mauritiana and Coophospermum mopane, were conducted in Bhuj in Juy 26. The surviva rate was more than 9%. Grasses of wasteands, Jasdan bock, Rajkot district, Gujarat. Biomass yied : With C. setigerus the mean biomass yied for C. gharaf was 6.15 kg/tree and for Z. mauritiana 2.8 kg/tree; with C. ciiaris ( at ow seed rate) the biomass yied was 4.9 kg/tree for Z. mauritiana and 8.3 kg/tree for C. gharaf, respectivey: at ow seed rate grass sowing promotes tree growth. C. gharaf : C. ciiaris is the best sivipastora system so far, cosey foowed by Z. mauritiana : C. ciiaris on sandy degraded soi Photo: CEE Photo Bank Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI), Jodhpur 2 Area covered 7 ha 3 Target groups State Forest Department, Farmers, NGOs, Research Organizations 4 Project period and status 1 Juy Juy Funding Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI), Jodhpur `.77 Miion Approx (USD.2 Miion Approx.) For more information: Arid Forest Research Institute, P.O. Krishi Upaj Mandi, Basni, New Pai Road, Jodhpur-3425 (Rajasthan) INDIA, Emai- dir_afri@icfre.org, Website- C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

82 22 Study of Characteristic Features Pertaining to Bio-drainage Potentia of some Seected Tree Species Summary: Ø The project is impemented by Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI), Jodhpur. The Indian Nationa Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (INCID) is aso invoved in the project. Ø Bio-drainage is being considered as one of the economicay effective and ecoogicay benign soutions to the twin probems of water ogging and sainity in irrigated command area. Ø Various drainage or traditiona recamation measures such as controing the intensity of irrigation, providing drainage system, ining, improving natura drainage, preventing seepage or adopting modern technoogy for appication of water are, more often than not, expensive. Therefore, the method of bio-drainage, which is an agronomic soution that provides natura means of drainage for excess water of the area through trees and pant, is considered very effective. The project aims to study characteristic features pertaining to bio-drainage potentia of some seected tree species. This project is funded by the Ministry of Water Resources. It was initiated in 24 with two fied experiments in the Indira Gandhi Nahar Pariyojana (IGNP) and one in in-fied non-weighing type of ysimeters (2 x 2 x 2 m3) at Jodhpur. The experiment was to study bio-drainage potentia of some seected tree species. Bio-drainage potentia depends on various characteristics of the trees, e.g. a high degree of evapotranspiration from the canopy crown is appropriate for combating the probem consideraby. The experiment studied tree characteristics such as crown spread and girth, transpiration and photosynthesis rate, overa surviva and growth rate etc. Soi sampes were aso coected and anaysed for ph, Eectrica Conductivity (EC) and organic carbon to study the impact on soi sainity and fertiity. Among the tree species (Eucayptus camaduensis, E. fastigata, E. rudis, and Corymbia tessearis) tried in the fied, the performance of E. rudis has been found to be the best with respect to growth, biomass, transpiration rate and overa bio-drainage potentia. Soi working at the site resuted in heavy regeneration of Eucayptus camaduensis. The regenerated pants were mosty concentrated between 6 and 1 m from the tree trunk of the mother trees situated at the edge of the experimenta site. The number of seedings varied from 13 to 36 per sq. m area. Ground water tabe has receded from 25 cm to 145 cm depth as recorded in the observation pit resuting from the transpiration pu (bio-draining) of the growing vegetation. Apart from the panted ones, some species ike Prosopis juifora, Tamarix dioca, Saccharum munja and Arundo donax aso have come up in the area. The number of A. donax has reduced graduay with recession of ground water tabe in the experimenta pot. With the owering of ground water eve, other species started growing in the area as natura succession. Popuation of S. munja was highest foowed by P. juifora and T. dioca. The tota biomass per tree in P. juifora was recorded as 11 kg. The contribution of the roots to the tota biomass was 8 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

83 Photo: Demonstration of bio-drainage. 25%. S. munja and T. dioca accumuated a tota biomass of 76.5 kg and kg per tree, respectivey. In the ysimeter experiment, water use by E. camaduensis, Acacia niotica and Tamarix aphya and their growth have been affected by water ogging and sainity treatments. The height and coar girth were the greatest in E. camaduensis, whereas the crown growth was highest in A. niotica. Tree growth has been higher in treated waterogged areas than the contro where surface irrigation was appied - trees were taer. Water ogging ranged from m soi depth in comparison to cm. Water ogging at shaow depth may have restricted root growth resuting in ower growth. Water use per day per tree was significanty affected by sainity eve and depth of water ogging. Water use of E. camaduensis was 32 tr/day/tree in the month of October and November; however, it was at par with A. nootica (29 tr/day/tree) and T. aphya (28 tr/day/tree). Achievements: Eucayptus rudis performed best with respect to growth and overa bio-drainage potentia where ground water eve receded by 145 cm within a period of 54 months. Tamarix dioca and Saccharum munja with recession of ground water tabe as natura succession contributed significanty to further owering of the ground water tabe and to an increase in productivity. Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI), Jodhpur 2 Area covered 3 ha Indian Nationa Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (INCID) 3 Target groups Farmers of cana command area in Indira Gandhi Nahar Project 4 Project period and status 1 Apri March 21 5 Funding Ministry of Water Resources - ` 4.5 Miion (USD.1 Miion Approx.) For more information: Arid Forest Research Institute, P.O. Krishi Upaj Mandi, Basni, New Pai Road, Jodhpur-3425 (Rajasthan) INDIA, Emai- dir_afri@icfre.org, Website- C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

84 23 Poicy and Institutiona Reform for Mainstreaming and Upscaing Sustainabe Land and Ecosystem Management (SLEM) in India Summary The Sustainabe Land and Ecosystem Management (SLEM) Programme is a joint initiative between the Government of India (GOI) and the Goba Environmenta Faciity (GEF), under the atter's Country Partnership Programme (CPP). Under the SLEM Programmatic Approach, seven projects have been formuated, and are under various stages of impementation. One of the project, entited Poicy and Institutiona Reform for Mainstreaming and Scaing-up of the Sustainabe Land and Ecosystem Management, ed to the setting up of a Technica Faciitation Organisation (TFO), at the Indian Counci for Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun to coordinate among the impementing agencies, draw earning experiences from the projects and mainstream the same into the poicy environment in the country. This project is designed to strengthen the institutiona and management functions of the Indian institutions responsibe for the SLEM CPP. The project wi enhance the institutiona and poicy framework for harmonization, coordination and monitoring of interventions in agricutura and natura resources management strategies. The aim is to promote sustainabe and management and enhance agricutura productivity whie minimizing environmenta impacts. The overa objective of the SLEM partnership is to contribute to poverty aeviation in India by promoting enhanced efficiency of natura resource use, improved and and ecosystem productivity, and reduced vunerabiity to extreme weather events, incuding the effects of cimate change. To ensure a smooth functioning across the SLEM Programme, a Nationa Steering Committee (NSC) has been constituted The NSC has due representation of a key stakehoders under the Chairpersonship of Add. Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Government of India to provide poicy guidance. The committee is schedued to meet ateast once every year to guide and advise the Technica Faciitation Organisation (TFO) and various Projects in their activities. Technica Coordination Under the project Poicy and Institutiona Reform for Mainstreaming and Up-scaing Sustainabe Land and Ecosystem Management in India, at ICFRE, a robust impementation, monitoring and oversight framework for the programme has been instituted, which is caed Technica Faciitation Organization (TFO). Various divisions of the ICFRE Headquarters and Regiona Forest Research Institutes provide the requisite technica support as and when required to SLEM projects ocated in different parts of the country. The activities to be undertaken by the TFO incude coordination, panning, cooperation, outreach, and impementation and monitoring and evauation (M&E) functions of the program (each project under the program wi have its own dedicated M&E function). The proposed impementation arrangements are designed to ensure that the essons earnt from these projects are mainstreamed into institutiona strategies and scaed up into and management poicy. TFO woud coate information on knowedge system, best practice and that wi enabe to formuate 82 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

85 Reporting ines in the SLEM Partnership Programme Ministry of Environment and Forests (Lead Agency) SLEM CPP Nationa Steering Committee (NSC) ICFRE Technica Faciitation Organisation (MSP with Word Bank as Lead Agency) Word Bank ed projects Uttarakhand (GEF/AF) NAIP (GEF/AF) * NSC chaired by AS, MoEF FAO ed Project UNDP ed projects WB ed projects FAO ed Project Adaptation to Cimate Change in South India UNDP ed Projects SLEM in shifting cutivation in Nagaand SLEM in dryands in Madhya Pradesh SLEM in Thar Desert recommendations for poicy, strategy and approaches for sustainabe and and ecosystem management. The TFO wi incorporate these into the programmes and disseminate to CSOs and others at arge. Major activities: 1. Poicy and Institutiona Mainstreaming: This incudes deveopment of the anaytica baseines for harmonization of SLEM poicy, and technica instruments to monitor the progress of mainstreaming SLEM into the existing poicy environment and find a common niche in intersectora panning systems. This component woud aso support an inter-institutiona mechanism for SLEM poicy coordination with the Ministry of Agricuture, Ministry of Rura Deveopment, Ministry of Environment and Forests and other key Government of India agencies. 2. Monitoring and Evauation: The sharing of essons earned and emerging resuts tracked by monitoring and evauation (M&E) form an integra part of each constituent project as we as of the programme as a whoe to hep the mainstreaming and up-scaing of project resuts. The M&E function of the programme wi be buit on the basis of the resuts from anaytica processes. The M&E parameters wi incude GEF-specific aspects and draw upon GEF guideines with regard to seecting M&E parameters. Monitoring at programme eve woud aso contribute to the outreach, knowedge base, mainstreaming and up-scaing of successfu poicy initiatives and SLEM actions on the ground. 3. Up-Scaing of SLEM: This incudes inventorying of technica soutions and appicabe practices for SLEM and estabishing a database which wi be accessibe to sectora organisations and the pubic at arge. The technica base wi be used for training and outreach activities. C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

86 Learning and experiences in the socia dimensions of sustainabe and degradation wi aso be gathered and appied to the deveopment of state and nationa poicy, strategy and approaches. Outreach activities wi be conducted to incude NGOs and mutiatera agencies to participate in the program. Achievements: It is expected that there wi be an inter-institutiona mechanism for Sustainabe Land and Ecosystem Management poicy coordination with participation of Ministry of Agricuture, Ministry of Rura Deveopment, Ministry of Environment and Forests and other key Government of India agencies. SLEM Programme : Seven projects have been formuated under the SLEM-CPP. These incude three projects each being executed by the Word Bank and the UNDP and one project by the FAO. Currenty a the seven projects are in various stages of impementation under the SLEM-CPP. Word Bank supported projects 1. Sustainabe Land Water and Biodiversity Conservation and Management for Improved Liveihoods in Uttarakhand Decentraised Watershed Management. The project is being impemented by the Watershed Deveopment Department, Uttarakhand. 2. Sustainabe Rura Liveihood Security through Innovations in Land and Ecosystem Management. The project is being impemented by the Indian Counci of Agricutura Research, Ministry of Agricuture, and the Ministry of Environment and Forests. 3. Poicy and Institutiona Reform for Mainstreaming and Up-scaing Sustainabe Land and Ecosystem Management in India. This project is being impemented by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, through the TFO anchored at the ICFRE. UNDP supported projects 4. Sustainabe Land Management in Shifting Cutivation Areas of Nagaand for Ecoogica and Liveihood Security. The project is being impemented by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the State Department of Soi and Water Conservation, Government of Nagaand and Viage Counci and Viage Deveopment Boards.* 5. Integrated Land and Ecosystem Management to Combat Land Degradation and Deforestation in Madhya Pradesh. The project is being impemented by the Government of Madhya Pradesh. 6. Sustainabe Participatory Management of Natura Resources to Contro Land Degradation in the Thar Desert Ecosystem. The project is being impemented by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Ministry of Rura Deveopment, Government of Rajasthan and the Ja Bhagirathi Foundation (JBF). FAO supported project 7. Reversing Environmenta Degradation and Rura Poverty through Adaptation to Cimate Change in Drought Stricken Areas in Southern India. The project is being impemented by Bharti Integrated Rura Deveopment Society (BIRDS).* * Projects are not reported in the Nationa report as these were not in the impementation phase at time of reporting. Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Indian Counci of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) 2 Target groups Government of India State Governments and Poicy Makers 3 Project period and status 1 August 29-9 August Funding Ministry of Environment and Forests, Indian Counci of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) ` Miion (USD 1 Miion) For more information: and 84 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

87 24 Sustainabe Rura Liveihoods Security through Innovations in Land and Ecosystem Management Summary: Ø The project 'Sustainabe Rura Liveihood Security through Innovations in Land and Ecosystem Management' is being executed by Indian Counci for Agricutura Research (ICAR), Ministry of Agricuture. Ø It focuses on promoting approaches and techniques for sustainabe management of degraded coasta and and water, on conserving and sustainaby using oca biodiversity for agricutura intensification and iveihood security, and on enhancing community capacity to respond to cimate change and variabiity in drought and food prone areas. The project strives for sustained improvement in the incomes and we-being of farm famiies in the mainy rain-fed, hiy and mountain, dry and, tribadominated and coasta areas which have so far been eft behind in the deveopment process. This project is one of the seven 'Sustainabe Land and Ecosystem Management (SLEM)' being impemented across the country. It is compementary to; 'Nationa Agricutura Innovation Project (NAIP)' the parent project of ICAR. ICAR is the apex body for coordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agricuture incuding horticuture, fisheries and anima sciences in the entire country. With 97 ICAR institutes and 45 agricutura universities spread across the country, it is one of word's argest nationa agricutura systems in the word. The NAIP is to faciitate acceerated and sustainabe transformation of Indian agricuture in support of poverty aeviation and income generation by coaborative deveopment and appication of agricutura innovation by the pubic research organizations in partnership with farmers groups, the private sector, the civi society organizations and other stakehoders. NAIP- Components 1. The ICAR as the Catayzing Agent for the Management of Change in the Indian Nationa Agricutura Research System (NARS) This component aims at bringing in organizationa changes in the NARS so that it becomes a dynamic innovation system capabe of responding to the present as we as future needs of Indian agricuture research and deveopment. This component is supported as sponsored projects because the component needs to address identified probems for identified stakehoders i.e., the ICAR and the agricutura universities. 2: Research on Production to Consumption Systems A Production to Consumption System (PCS) (a vaue chain system in popuar parance) is a system which invoves the entire set of actors, materias, activities, technoogies, services, and institutions invoved from the stage of suppy of inputs to harvesting of a particuar commodity and transforming it into a usabe product, and C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

88 storing /marketing the fina product. Rura income augmentation and empoyment generation through post harvest processing and vaue addition, buiding of rura agro-industries, export promotion and import substitution and expoiting the market is given adequate emphasis. 3: Research on Sustainabe Rura Liveihood Security This component emphasis on research on farm for improving and deveoping the most suitabe farming systems and aied off-farm activities in the ess favorabe environments, regions and groups so that the iveihood of the rura poor improves through assured food, nutrition, empoyment and income. Particuar attention had given to the rainfed, hi and mountain, and, coasta and isand ecoregions. Partnerships among a the stakehoders such as farm men and women, farm abourers, input suppiers, rura industry entrepreneurs or researchers, who wi share their resources and knowedge and own the changes brought in. 4: Basic and Strategic Research in the Frontier Areas of Agricutura Sciences A sustained fow of knowedge and innovations is essentia to keep the technoogy deveopment process responsive to the ever-changing needs of agricuture. This component aims at making investments in frontier science areas of agricutura research that are strategicay important for Indian agricuture. The broad theme areas identified are Genetic Enhancement of Pants and Animas Natura Resource Management and Integrated Pest Management Nove vaue addition, processing and storage methods for agricutura products and byproducts Deveopment of state of the art anima disease surveiance and contro systems. Photo: SGP CEE Innovative micro irrigation system in the viages of Jath bock, Sangi district Maharashtra. 86 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

89 Objectives: S u p p o r t t h e d e v e o p m e n t a n d impementation of innovations in agricuture in India through coaboration among farmers, private sector, civi society, and pubic sector organizations. Strengthen institutiona and community capacity for sustainabe and and ecosystem management through approaches and techniques that combine innovative and indigenous techniques for restoring and sustaining the natura resource base, incuding its biodiversity, whie taking account of cimate variabiity and change. Assist in strengthening the agricutura research and extension system, with efforts to promote demand-driven, decentraized pubic agricutura research and extension systems, greater pubic-private partnerships, and coser inkages with various domestic and internationa sources of technoogies and knowedge. Achievements: Over 1, ha of agricutura and under sustainabe and management practices; 2,5 farmers adopted coping mechanism for cimate variabiity and change. Improved and and water management practices appied on 5 ha degraded coasta and; productivity in 9 ha of saine and enhanced through and shaping; innovative SLEM approaches and techniques in agricuture and aquacuture demonstrated on 65 ha; increased crop intensity by 2-3%, productivity 3-35%. Enhanced knowedge of crop andraces, anima breeds, fish species through characterization of avaiabe cutivated gene poo; improved genetic stock of farm animas; 3 and hoders using sustainabe and management practices for optimizing biodiversity. Best practice notes, operationa guideines and other teaching and capacity buiding toos reated to coping mechanism for cimate change variabiity. At east 3 pubic and private organizations appying SLEM practices and poicies to combat and degradation, increase utiization of indigenous biodiversity and adapt to cimate variabiity and change. Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Indian Counci of Agricutura Research (ICAR) 2 Area covered 1, Ha 3 Target groups Farmers, pubic and private sector organizations 4 Project period and status 1 Juy 21-3 June Funding Word Bank Group ` 1125 Miion (USD 25 Miion) Goba Environment Faciity ` 33.3 Miion (USD 7.34 Miion) Indian Centra Government ` 27 Miion (USD 6 Miion) Indian Counci For Agricutura Research ` 135 Miion (USD 3 Miion) Tota: ` Miion (USD Miion) For more information: C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

90 25 Sustainabe Land, Water and Biodiversity Conservation and Management for Improved Liveihoods in Uttarakhand Watershed Sector Summary: Ø The project is impemented by Watershed Management Directorate, Government of Uttarakhand, India. Ø Based on the positive experiences from the Integrated Watershed Deveopment, in September, 24 Uttarakhand Decentraized Watershed Deveopment Project (UDWDP) was initiated, which yieded exceptionay good resuts. The current project aims at scaing up and mainstreaming the outcome of the activities under UDWDP and enhancing their sustainabiity by restoring and sustaining ecosystem functions and biodiversity whie simutaneousy enhancing income and iveihood opportunities. Ø At the State Government eve, a 'Secretary, Watershed' is in pace to ead watershed deveopments in the state. A dedicated Watershed Management Directorate (WMD) is functioning as the noda agency. Under the eadership of a Chief Project Director it is responsibe for the overa impementation of the project incuding activities funded by Goba Environment Faciity (GEF), through the SLEM programme. The main objective of this project is to improve the productive potentia of the natura resources and increase incomes of the rura inhabitants in seected watersheds through sociay incusive, institutionay and environmentay sustainabe approaches. Uttarakhand is a mountainous Himaayan state in northern India known for its diverse eco-systems, rich fauna and fora diversity. The state is osing fertie soi at the rate of up to 1 times the nationa average each year. Growing human popuation and ivestock popuation is resuting into increased demand for food, fue wood, and fodder for ivestock. Athough agricuture is one of the core economic activities for over 8% of popuation the roe of forest in sustaining the agricuture is immense. In order to abate soi erosion and oss of forest biomass that both ead to a decine in agricutura production and an expansion of the cutivated area accompanied by oss of biodiversity, it is necessary to increase agricutura productivity in the his. From the parent UDWDP which is spread over an area of 2,348 sq km, ranging from 7 mtr to 2 mtr atitude in 76 seected micro watersheds and covering a popuation of 254, in the midde Himaayas, the current project wi focus on the treatment in 2 microwatersheds (MWS) The project encompasses three themes: (i) Community participation in watershed deveopment and management aimed at integrating and-water use with the objectives of moisture retention and biomass production, whie simutaneousy enhancing incomes and iveihood options; (ii) Strengthening administrative capacity of Gram Panchayats to manage project financia resources, impement sub-projects, deiver egay mandated service, and to sustain those services beyond the duration of the project; (iii) Ensuring equitabe participation by a groups, especiay the andess and women who rey disproportionatey on common resources for fodder, fue, and other forest products. 88 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

91 Objectives: Sustainabe watershed management mainstreamed into oca governance pans incuding parts of watershed for which two or more Gram Panchayats have shared governance responsibiity. Impementation of aternative technoogies and approaches for enhancing water avaiabiity for agricuture and other domestic use. Reduction in community dependence on forest for fue wood. Marketing opportunities for medicina and aromatic pants. Improved knowedge of the impact of cimate change on mountain ecosystems transated into coping strategies. New and innovative techniques and approaches for sustainabe and and ecosystem management up-scaed within the Uttarakhand state. Activities: 1. Watershed panning through community participation: This component invoves integration of Gram Panchayat eve watershed pans at the micro-watershed eve. 2. Controing and degradation through the SLEM approach at watershed eve: The component invoves impementation of 2 MWS pans. Activities prioritized by the community incuding soi conservation works on arabe and non arabe and, forest regeneration, pasture deveopment, sivi-pasture deveopment, soi erosion bunds, vegetative barriers, fire management, and water augmentation activities woud be taken up. 3. Reduce pressure and dependence on the natura resource base through fostering markets for NTFPs: Under this component, up-scaing of the piot introduction of Chir pine briquette making. The utiization and conversion of chir pine neede biomass into briquettes can produce fue for meeting househod and other energy requirements of the community. In addition, pine briquette making is a viabe income generating activity by vunerabe groups or SHGs functioning in the project area. 4. Enhance biodiversity conservation and management through watershed panning and community participation: Under this component, domestication and cutivation of at east 5 oca medicina and aromatic pants by communities in 2 micro watersheds woud be undertaken. A custer approach wi be adopted so as to be abe to produce marketabe quantum with viabe inkages. 5. Improve adaptation to cimate change in natura resource-based production systems: Under this component, a study for enhancing understanding of the impacts of cimate change on natura resource-based mountain economies and preparation of adaptation strategy is carried out. 6. Documentation of best practices to share them within the state as we as through the SLEM partnership- Documentation of innovative practices is being carried out aso being disseminated through a number of different media (print as we as audio-visua). 7. Project management, monitoring and capacity buiding: Project management incudes operating cost and the monitoring and evauation of the project. Achievements: Twenty MWS management pans competed; 1% increase in iveihood opportunities in treated areas; S u s t a i n a b e w a t e r s h e d m a n a g e m e n t mainstreamed into 2 Gram Panchayat (GP) pans incuding parts of watersheds for which two or more GPs have shared governance responsibiity; Twenty per cent of the area in seected MWS under improved SLEM techniques; increase in avaiabiity of water in the dry season by 5% in the treated MWS; 1% increase in tree and other vegetative cover in the 2 MWS; Impementation of 5 to 1 aternative technoogies and approaches for enhancing water avaiabiity for agricuture and other domestic use; C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

92 Goba Environment Faciity (GEF) area Uttarkashi Dehradun Tehri Rudraprayag Chamoi Pithoragarh Haridwar Bageshwar Amora N Nanita Chamawat Project area for GEF UDWDP Area Districts Udham Singh Nagar Udham Singh Nagar Scae 1:15,, Reduction in dependence of 2, househods on forest for fue wood; at east 2% of the targeted househods enter market with pine briquettes; 1% increase in opportunities for sustainabe aternative iveihoods; Increase in direct and indirect evidence of the presence of key species of fora and fauna in 2 MWS; 5% reduction in incidence of fire in treated MWS; cutivation of at east 5 oca medicina and aromatic pants by communities in 2 MWS; Improved knowedge of the impact of cimate change on mountain ecosystems documented and transated into coping strategy; at east 5 to 1 new and innovative techniques and approaches documented, disseminated and up-scaed within Uttarkhand state. Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Watershed Management Directorate, Govt. of Uttarakhand, India 2 Area covered 2 micro-watersheds in Uttarakhand 3 Target groups Farmers and viage eve institutions 4 Project period and status 15 Apri 29-3 June Funding Indian State Institutions ` 9 Miion (USD 2 Miion) 9 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1 Word Bank Group- ` 315 Miion (USD 7 Miion) Goba Environment Faciity: ` Miion (USD 7.49 Miion) Tota: ` Miion (USD Miion) For more information: &theSitePK=4941&menuPK=228424&Projectid=P11261

93 26 Integrated Land and Ecosystem Management to Combat Land Degradation and Deforestation in Madhya Pradesh Summary: Ø The project is being impemented by Ministry of Environment and Forests and Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, Minor Forest Produce Federation, Rajiv Gandhi Mission for Watershed Management (RGMWM), Agricuture Department, and Anima Husbandry Department, as part of Sustainabe Land and Ecosystem Management (SLEM) programme. Ø The project strategy is to focus on removing barriers such as institutiona, economic and financia; knowedge and technoogica barriers in promoting sustainabe rura iveihoods that are ecoogicay sustainabe and to provide a broader range of iveihood options for the triba/rura poor. Ø Activities reated to forest management, farm management, watershed management, support of natura resource-based sma and medium enterprises, afforestation initiatives to essen the pressure on forests for fue wood and fodder, and reated capacity buiding in support of a these wi be promoted as an integrated package in the four districts. The project aims to promote community-driven sustainabe and and ecosystem management at the andscape eve through integration of watershed management, joint forest management, and sustainabe iveihoods deveopment so as to baance ecoogica and iveihood needs. Madhya Pradesh (MP), a state in centra India has about 24.4 % of its and area covered with diverse types of forest. The project area is primariy ocated in dry deciduous zones with rich biodiversity. Two Nationa Parks, three Sanctuaries and Panchmarhi Biosphere Reserve are part of the project area. These forests are aso basic source of iveihood for about 5.5 miion peope iving in 4 project districts of which 7% is cassified as poor and 9% of popuation iving in triba rura areas The rura andscape is highy susceptibe to soi erosion, surface soi run-off, and seasona foods. Thus restoring this eco-system and its sustainabe management is key to provide sustainabe iveihood sources for rura and triba popuation of the state. It provides ecosystem services beyond its borders such as water and cimate reguation, and provides some of the ast remaining habitats for India's threatened biodiversity. Project activities focus around three main themes: 1. Creation of an enabing environment for SLEM in Madhya Pradesh 2. Demonstration and up-scaing of innovative approaches for sustainabe and and ecosystem management 3. Deveoping adaptive capacity C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

94 Strategy and objectives : Address the reguatory and institutiona constraints to mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation into agricutura activities surrounding protected areas and integration of biodiversity and and degradation concerns into nationa eve poicies and reguatory. Contribute to enhanced resiience of and and forest ecosystems and reduced vunerabiity of oca communities to cimate variabiity and change. Strengthen triba and rura residents, viage eadership and communities to take community-based initiatives for the use of their oca natura resources, and demonstrate the income-generating potentia of sustainabe and, forest, and agricutura practices. Demonstrate and up-scae innovative community-based and cimate resiient approaches to SLEM, such as bamboo regeneration, water harvesting, adjustment of timing of agricutura operations and tiage practices, crop and ivestock breed improvement to enhance drought resistance, and the promotion of aternative sources of fue wood. Afforestation site, Forest Department, Madhaya pradesh Achievements: Sustainabe and and ecosystem management demonstrated on 3, hectares of forest and and 14,5 hectares of degraded bamboo area within forest and 1% increase in Net Primary Productivity and and productivity over baseine at project demonstration site 3-5% improvement in forest cover on the project districts Cimate-resiient, biodiversity-friendy, SLEM guideines integrated into state's agricuture, anima husbandry, forest, watershed, and triba wefare poicies within 5 years. 2, government staff, CBO representatives trained in cimate-resiient SLEM Photo: CEE Photo Bank Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Ministry of Environment and Forests, Madhya Pradesh Forest Agency Department, Minor Forest Produce Federation, Rajiv Gandhi Mission for Watershed Management (RGMWM), Agricuture Department, and Anima Husbandry Department 2 Area covered 17,5 ha in 4 districts of Madhya Pradesh 3 Target groups Forest dweers, viage communities, Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFP)-based sma and medium enterprise owners 3 Project period and status 1 Juy 28-3 June Funding Goba Environment Faciity- ` Miion (USD 5.76 Miion) 92 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1 Madhya Pradesh Forest Department- ` Miion (USD Miion) Minor Forest Produce Federation- ` Miion (USD 4.5 Miion) Tota: ` Miion (USD Miion) For more information:

95 27 Sustainabe Participatory Management of Natura Resources to Contro Land Degradation in Thar Desert Ecosystem Summary: Ø The project is part of the Sustainabe Land and Ecosystem Management (SLEM) programme being impemented by Rajasthan State Government, UNDP and Ja Bhagirathi Foundation (JBF), Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Ø In recognition of the need to address the poverty-and degradation-biodiversity-cimate change nexus, the government has deveoped the India SLEM Programme. Ø This project focusing on the Thar Desert region contributes towards meeting the objective of the SLEM to reaize sustainabe and and ecosystem management. The programme supports the poor and vunerabe communities, iving in rura areas of the Thar Desert and depending on and for their surviva, through integrated conservation and management of common property and, water and ivestock resources. The project seeks to overcome critica barriers, thus heping current and future baseine actions achieve their intended benefits. The Thar, word's seventh argest and one of the most densey popuated deserts, covers 12 districts of Rajasthan. The cimate is extreme -temperatures ranging o from near-zero in the winter to more than 5 C in the summer with a mere 1-5 mm precipitation. High density of human and ivestock popuation is eading to degradation of and and water resources. Biodiversity is threatened as a resut of over grazing of pastures, encroachment and over-harvesting of forests. Traditiona natura resource management in Rajasthan is characterized by community managed ands, consisting of Agors (A) which is areas that traditionay served as catchments for water bodies; Gouchars (G) are areas that served as community grazing ands; and Orans (O) that are areas that served as community forests. Community managed AGO ands are repositories of biodiversity and the source of mutipe products such as grass, fodder, fue wood, timber and non-timber tree products. Protection and management of AGOs are fundamenta to the surviva of agro-ecosystems in desert areas, as we as maintenance of ecosystem stabiity, integrity, functions and services in the face of cimate change. In three project districts, community managed AGOs which constitute a traditiona system of Natura Resource Management cover 5% of the geographica area. Over the years, the tota and area under community managed AGO ands has decined and the eve of degradation of remaining AGOs has greaty intensified. The project aims to support an aternative approach to the management and use of and resources. On the ground, interventions for cimate-resiient SLEM C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

96 Photo: httptrave4awareness.bogspot.com219bikanre-day-1-we-spent-chasing-cames.htm Thar Desert Ecosystem, Bikaner, Rajasthan. practices is demonstrated in seected custers of viages in four ecosystem bocks of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan covering approximatey 2,488 sq. km. in three districts: Agoai and Luni in Jodhpur district, Panchapadra in Barmer district, and Rohat in Pai district. These 3 districts cover approximatey 249, hectares, and the project target 75 viages within these districts spanning 6, hectares. Rain fed agricuture aong with ivestock rearing is the dominant iveihood activity in this region. Some key eements of the project are A decentraized approach to natura resource management, that ensures capture of and integration of cimate change variabes into natura resource management; Integrated and-water-ivestock panning and management with specia attention to cimate risks; Deveopment and adoption of sustainabe use / harvesting / management practices of pastures 94 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

97 Objectives: Hep arrest and degradation that is compromising the functions and service of the Thar Desert ecosystem and the iveihoods of its inhabitants. Decrease the trend and severity of degradation in AGO ands, improve the condition of biodiversity, improve resiience to cimate change incuding variabiity, and enhance the carbon stored at aboveground and beow-ground eves. Provide oca benefits to the community in the form of enhanced water storage capacity of and, enhanced grass productivity, and indirecty enhance the cash economy of the otherwise subsistence economy. Address cimate change adaptation strategies for enhancing water avaiabiity in the AGO ands through structura interventions that are mosty grounded in community participation and screened in accordance with cimate change resiience. To achieve this, the project wi work towards removing the barriers - custered under poicy and reguatory; institutiona capacities; and capacities at the community eve. and forests that are cimate resiient; Empowerment and participation of oca communities, particuary women; Promotion of iveihoods and equitabe sharing of benefits, particuary focusing on women; Empower peope through the creation and strengthening of viage eve institutions. Achievements: Participatory cimate resiient SLEM demonstration C o m m u n i t y a n d i n st i t u t i o n a capacity deveopment for cimate resiient SLEM Enhanced knowedge management system for repicating good practices in integrated and cimate resiient management of community and resources. Creation of an enabing environment for cimate resiient, sustainabe and and ecosystem management (SLEM) Facts and Figures (27-21) 1 Noda/Impementing Agency Government of Rajasthan and UNDP 2 Area covered 75 viages in three districts of Rajasthan State 3 Target groups Viage communities 4 Project period and status October 29 - October Funding United Nations Deveopment Programme ` 31.5 Miion(USD.7 Miion) Government of Rajasthan- ` 63 Miion (USD 14 Miion) Goba Environment Faciity- ` 4.91 Miion (USD.91 Miion) Tota: ` Miion (USD Miion) For more information: C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

98 Best Practices Photo: MASS (Orrisa), Michae MARAG (Ahmadabad), Seva Mandir (Udaipur), FES (Anand) 94 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

99 Best Practices In the context of the UNCCD, best practices are measures, methods or activities that are considered successfu in terms of achieving desired outcomes (good performance) and contributing to expected impacts formuated in the 1-year strategic pan and framework to enhance the impementation of the Convention (The Strategy). In this segment, there are 11 Best Practices, incuding the work undertaken by both, UNCCD accredited CSOs and aso non- accredited CSOs. There are other Best practices emerging from the various programmes of ministries and departments impemented at the oca eve, that coudn't be incorporated due to paucity of time and resources. Soi & Water Conservation 1. Sand drift contro and sand dune stabiization 2. Ravine recamation 3. Reviva of Naa (stream)/river Land-use Panning 4. Sustainabe and-use panning at viage eve for management of natura resources and iveihoods enhancement Securing Liveihoods: Muti-foca approach 5. Comprehensive environmenta management through hoistic deveopment 6. Drought Proofing in perenniay drought prone viages 7. Restoring viage common and for sustainabe iveihoods 8. Organic Wadi Deveopment an integrated approach for the iveihood enhancement of triba community Knowedge Management 9. Prosopis cineraria based agroforestry 1. Community Forest Rights 11. Rura Knowedge Centre C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

100 1 Sand drift contro and sand dune stabiization Arid Forest Research Institute, (AFRI) situated at Jodhpur in Rajasthan (India), is one of the institutes of the Indian Counci of Forestry Research & Education ( ICFRE ) working under the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India. The objective of the Institute is to carry out scientific research in forestry in order to provide technoogies to increase the vegetative cover and to conserve the biodiversity in the hot arid and semi arid region of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Dadara & Nagar Havei union territory. Summary: Objective: Sand drift contro and sand dune stabiization by using Caigonum poygonoides with Cassia angustifoia. Location & Area: shifting dune, semistabiized dune and inter dune pane in Gadwaa Forest Bock, Bikaner Division, Rajasthan, 3 ha. Project Area information: Land is arid, major occupations are agricuture and anima husbandry in this region Probem: Sand drift due to overgrazing, fauty agricutura practices and destruction of natura vegetation. Moving sand encroach agricutura fied, human habitation, cana, road and raiway tracks. Best Practice: C. poygonoides with C. angustifoia is the most suitabe option which provides better microenvironment and hepfu in deveoping effective surface vegetation to contro sand drift. Introduction of under shrubs and grasses (eguminous and/or non eguminous effects positivey in controing sand reactivation and drift as we as improve soi organic matter particuary nitrogen. Organizations invoved: AFRI, State Forest Department of Rajasthan, and Ministry of Rura Deveopment Government of India. Technica Detais of the experiment: The experiment was aid out in a spit pot design with three repications. Three pant species viz. Acacia trotiis, Prosopis juifora, and C. poygonoides of about about 2 cm, 4 cm and 15 cm in height were panted in September 1996 at a spacing of 5 m X 5 m. 75 species per tree were panted. Conditions/Approaches that ed to success: Introduction of surface vegetation does not eave soi. Surface bare hence contro sand drift effectivey. C. angustifoia remains green even during summer when maximum sand drifts takes pace and most of the vegetation dries out. Thus this practice is hepfu in deveoping effective surface vegetation to contro sand drift in addition to improve biodiversity and ecoogy of the arid areas. Lessons earnt: Invovement of under shrubs and grasses as the surface vegetation aong with the panted tree species provided beneficia effects in controing sand reactivation and drift, particuary, at the time when panted seedings attain the size of a tree. Dactyoctenium sindicum grass competes with and 98 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

101 Photo: CEE Photo Bank Efforts for sand dune stabiization, Badmer district, Rajsthan. Connection to the UNCCD theme DLDD and SLM monitoring and assessment/research. Knowedge management and decision support. affects the growth and biomass of panted seedings that requires management in the form of weeding and/ or soi working to reduce competition and enhanced the growth in fat and. Harvesting of eaves of C. angustifoia and fodder from Cenchrus ciiaris grass can increase income. Benefits of the practice Environmenta Increase in carbon stock ike 3.72 tones C/ha with A. tortiis, 5.24 tones C/ha with P. juifora and 5.66 tones C/ha with C. poygonoides. Increase in diversity and and productivity. Adut neighbouring pants are hepfu in deveoping effective surface vegetation to contro sand drift. They are aso hepfu to improve biodiversity and ecoogy of the arid areas by enhancing soi fertiity. Economic C. poygonoides produced the highest biomass in form of fue wood utiizing minimum amount of soi water. C. poygonoides was sod with market cost of ` 12/kg. From C. angustifoia eaves a farmer can get ` 1672 ha/year as compared to ` 912 ha/year from A. tortiis based system. Socia Reduced time in fodder coection and diversion of chidren towards education. Increased socia status. For more information: Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI), Rajasthan, India, Emai: dir_afri@icfre.org, Website: C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

102 2 Ravine recamation Foundation for Ecoogica Security (FES) is a Gujarat based NGO working towards ecoogica restoration and conservation of and and water resources, in the upands and other eco-fragie, degraded and marginaized zones in the country. This project describes its work under GEF, UNDP SGP program, for recamation of ravine areas in the common ands of the viage Khorwad situated on the banks of river Mahi in the state of Gujarat. Summary: Objective: Restoration and stabiization of ravines aong the banks of Mahi River through appropriate soi and water conservation measures and improve the vegetative cover to aid ravine recamation and provide ong term soution. Location & Area: Viage Khorwad, Bock Umareth, Dist Anand, Gujarat; 55ha common ands and repicated in over 1 acres areas. Duration: Project Area information: Tota popuation 3,94 mosty beow poverty ine, major occupations are Anima Husbandry, Agricuture, Farm and other daiy abor works. Probem: Ravine and guies formation due to severe soi erosion in viage common ands which can extend to cuturabe and resuting in oss of productivity and iveihood. Best Practice: A comprehensive treatment pan prepared with community participation. The pan was overaid on cadastra map on the viage map; ravines were marked on the digitized map and based on this soi and moisture works were panned for the marked area. Organizations invoved: FES, Soi and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Vasad, unit of ICAR & Khorwad Tree Growers Cooperative Society (TGCS). Activities: Soi and moisture work was panned according to ridge to vaey approach starting with the farmands on the pains above the riverbank and proceeding to the common ands on the banks of the river. Some of the technoogica measures taken incude, Regeneration of the native species and the succession patterns were worked out; Grass seeding and pitching were done on arge scae; To contro soi erosion ower order streams identified and treated using earthen check dams; Soi bag check dams inter spread to reduce the head ward expansion of the ravines in to the farmand. Viage eve TGCS was formed and common and was eased to it for tree growing and ravine recamation. Specific bye aws were evoved to decide about the process and participation in different activities, benefits sharing and protection mechanism for the common and deveoped. 1 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

103 Conditions/Approaches that ed to success: Ecoogica Panning and Restoration matching/ supporting iveihood requirements. Strengthening and crafting viage eve institutiona mechanisms based on democratic principes and securing ega tenure arrangements for the communities over the common and. Networking with other organisations to share and faciitate discussions and action on issues of governance and sustainabe management of natura resources and for such intervention at a arger scae. Lessons earnt Viage institutes earnt the importance and methods of maintaining accountabiity and transparency. To treat sma guy the best option was construction of hybrid guy pugs (ocay known as bori bandh). It is very effective to treat guy aternativey by hybrid guy pugs and vegetative guy pugs. Natura regeneration from existing rootstock shoud be promoted. Enrichment shoud be done through seeding and pantation of native species. Difficut-togrow species raised in the decentraized nurseries for enrichment in the ravines ands. Connection to the UNCCD theme Capacity-buiding and awareness-raising. Knowedge management and decision support. Poicy, egisative, institutiona framework. Participation, coaboration and networking. Benefits of the practice Environmenta 1, 11,39 sapings panted. Patch budding of improved variety of wid and oca varieties of jujube produced good resuts. Species ike sandawood (endangered in Gujarat), came up naturay. Enhanced vegetative cover marked by presence of about 72 diverse species increase in the green weight by 183 Mt/Ha. CO sequestration increased by 2 55 Mt/Ha. The soi fertiity and nutrition has aso gone up. Economic Approximatey 59 metric tones of fodder distributed in the ast few years. Viagers aso coect other minor tree produce ike pods of Acacia species and eaves and twigs of Neem during the summer months when there is tremendous shortage. Contribution to the iveihood efforts of entire communities by increasing access of marginaized groups to grazing and and water hoes for catte and other ivestock. Socia Formation of a viage institution for managing the commons has ed to increase in coective feeing of the viage and has proved to them that common property can be managed together for the benefit of a. Rues deveoped for the protection of natura resources, distribution of fodder and fue and other minor tree produce from the common and. Empoyment opportunities and income to the community from this is instrumenta in reducing migration. For more information: Foundation for Ecoogica Security (FES), Anand, Gujarat, India; Emai: ed@fes.org.in; Website: C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

104 3 Reviva of Naa (stream)/river Kamanayan Jamnaa Bajaj Foundation (KJBF) is a non government organization initiated in 29. The major emphasis of its work is on integrated water resource deveopment and management, agricuture deveopment, ivestock deveopment, women empowerment and training and capacity buiding through participatory approaches. Summary: Objective: Restoration or reviva of sited naa/river in Deoi bock of Wardha district, Maharashtra. Location & Area: Bock Deoi, Dist. Wardha, Region Vidarbh, Maharashtra; 1,25ha of area. Project Area information: Tota popuation 2,9 with argest schedued caste popuation in the district, major occupation is agricuture. Probem: Encroachment and sit deposition in the river catchment area has reduced water hoding capacity. This ed to fooding of the agricutura fieds and in absence of natura drainage cutivabe and is rendered faow. Best Practice: The sited naa/river was widened & deepened with the hep of JCB machine and the banks were raised to certain eve to pass runoff safey as suggested by the community. Organizations invoved: Kamanayan Jamnaa Bajaj Foundation aong with CBO, Viage Deveopment Committee and user groups. Activities: Participatory Rura Appraisa, sma group discussions, viage meetings were used to assess needs and arrive at a soution, decide community contributions and deveop an appropriate pan. Viage Deveopment Committee (VDC) representing vounteers from different sections of community was formed who payed a crucia roe in motivating farmers, buiding consensus, coecting community contribution and taking the overa impementation process further. As suggested by community the sited river was widened and deepened and the banks were raised to certain eve to pass runoff safey km stream has been widened and revived. Check dams constructed over revived river. Conditions/Approaches that ed to success: Highy motivated and active participation of oca eaders (Gram Panchayat). Farmers organized themseves in a structure to work (VCD). This practice has transparent execution, monitoring and financia management system. Lessons earnt: The activity costs reduced due to peope's participation and ong term sustainabiity created through peope's institutes. Water harvesting structure can be constructed 12 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

105 Connection to the UNCCD theme DLDD and SLM monitoring and assessment/research. after one year of competion of reviva of river. For better resuts this activity shoud be executed from the origin of river towards the end. Simpe ow cost measures panned strengthening capacities and knowedge base of communities. The activity is suitabe to be adopted under governmenta programmes such as MGNREGS. Benefits of the practice Boribandh treatment for ravine recamation, Dungripura, Savi bock, Baroda district, Gujarat Photo: FES, Anand Environmenta Remova of sit from the river ed to exposure of hard murrum eve which heps recharging water fast. Construction of check dams ed to increased water eve in near wes and aso supported irrigation. Soi degradation was reduced resuting in conservation of top fertie ayer of soi. 21 acres of agricutura and was saved from fooding and water ogging. 145 acres of faow and brought under cutivation. Economic 75 acres of cropand near river was protected from food which in turn increased crop yied. This improved iving condition of the peope. Income eve of the farmers can be increased due to increased and avaiabiity for cutivation and and water hoes for catte and other ivestock. Socia Increased income of the farmers improved the condition of their famiies. Provided community with penty of water which they can use for various purposes. This practice gave an opportunity to the margina community to take part in panning process. Reduced drudgery for women as ess time needs to be spent on fue wood coection. For more information: Kamanayan Jamnaa Bajaj Foundation (KJBF), Wardha, Maharashtra, India, Website: Ph: C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

106 4 Sustainabe and-use panning at viage eve for management of natura resources and iveihoods enhancement Society for Promotion of Wasteand Deveopment (SPWD) is a non governmenta organization which assists oca grassroot NGOs and community to improve their environmenta regeneration initiatives, reverse and prevent degradation. It heps them panning, formuation and impementation of fied studies reated to watersheds, and use management and natura resource preservation. Summary: Objectives: To assess degradation of resources by maping current status of and, water and forest resources; identify opportunities for sustainabe iveihoods and Formuate a pan for sustainabe management of oca resources. Location & Area: Jaisamand catchment, Dist. Udaipur, Rajasthan; 185,787ha. Project area information: Tota popuation 1,183,369; major occupations are Anima Husbandry, Agricuture, Agricuture abor works; 5% househods are beow poverty ine and 2/3 of the househods are triba. Probem: Steady drought spe resuted in decine of water tabe, increased dependency on anima husbandry and increased migration. Overexpoitation of resources ed to decine in forest or vegetative cover and increase in wasteands. Best Practice: SPWD aong with the oca community by mapping and, water and biotic resources ecoogicay characterized Jaisamand catchment and identified the major ecoogica issues associated with each major iveihood system in the area. After anayzing the caring capacity of the community, a sustainabe management pan with various deveopmenta programmes was prepared by identifying and prioritizing actions for deveopment of resources. Organizations invoved: SPWD, oca NGOs ike Prayatna Samiti, Bambora; Hanuman Van Vikas Samiti, Sakroda and Jagran Jan Vikas Samiti, Vai. Activities: L o c a g o v e r n m e n t w a s r e s p o n s i b e fo r impementation of the sustainabe management pan deveoped. Various government departments, NGOs and technica institutes pooed in their resources and expertise for this whoe process. Some of the activities and initiatives are, Mapping of and water and biotic resources, ownership/use and access pattern anaysis of the resources and estimating carrying capacity of the viage resources. Compiation of pans and various programmes. Scoping exercises for optima uses of resources and deveoping intervention pans for restoration and deveopment of viage resources. bringing synergy in Severa sef hep groups formed and arranged themseves in custers. Estabishment of resource centers which performs the function of design and deivery of services. 14 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

107 Conditions/Approaches that ed to success: Connection to the UNCCD theme Capacity-buiding and awareness-raising D L D D a n d S L M m o n i t o r i n g a n d assessment/research Funding or resource mobiization Integration of the government scheme ike Nationa Rura Empoyment Guarantee Programme proved hepfu to impement the pan. Roe of oca governance institutions is very important to reaize the pans and impement them propery. Organisation of oca communities and their participation in assessment, visioning, panning, impementation and management of interventions are crucia. Lessons earnt: Communities require faciitation for understanding current situations, opportunities and pan accordingy. They may organize for common concerns if they reaize significance of the same. Use of modern science can reduce panning cost significanty. Communities can use modern technoogies when exposed and trained. Use of GIS and remote sensing can hep in understanding spatia and tempora patterns of degradation restoration of resources. Impact assessment of deveopmenta interventions can be done more accuratey with its hep. A separate provision for panning shoud be made under any deveopmenta programme. Panning with technica back stopping can hep in prioritizing interventions based on socia, financia and ecoogica considerations. Benefits of the practice Environmenta Degraded areas recaimed and Ecoogicay fragie areas were restored through deveopmenta programmes. Production from common and private and improved. Various pans deveoped have the component of enhancing vegetative cover and biomass in the viage to sustain iveihoods of communities and eco restoration. Increased vegetation cover wi contribute in carbon sequestration. Economic The river basin eve assessment cost around ` 6/- per hectare, whie viage eve assessment, perspective buiding and panning exercise cost around ` 35/- per hectare. Thus owing to oca initiatives, community participation and networking the process becomes cost effective. Margina groups got opportunities to improve their iveihoods by creation of durabe assets. Socia Participation of margina groups ensured at a the eves. Heped bridging the gap between oca communities and government by articuating the common aims and objectives of both the stakehoders. Promoted use of modern science and technoogy knowedge among oca communities and brought synergy between modern sciences and indigenous knowedge at grass root eve. For more information: Society for Promotion of wasteand deveopment (SPWD), Udaipur, Rajasthan, India; Emai: spwdudpr@yahoo.com, Website: C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

108 5 Comprehensive environmenta management through hoistic deveopment Watershed Organization Trust (WOTR) a NGO founded in 1993 beieves that and degradation and water scarcity are the most intense and commony fet needs of a viage community that can bring different groups of peope together to begin their deveopment process. Community restoration of the natura environment makes sustainabiity happen. Community-ed efforts hep combat and adapt to cimate change and mitigate the impacts. Summary: Objective: Empowering communities to take charge of their own deveopment through coective action for sustainabe natura resource management. Location & Area: Wankute viage ocated at the foothis of the Sahyadari ranges in Ahmednagar ; 1486 ha. Project Area information: Estimated popuation is approximatey 1,377 with about 7% popuation iving beow poverty ine. Agricuture, ivestock rearing and abor are the main occupations. Probem: Fue wood, fodder and water scarcity, ack of management of catchment, and degradation, & inequitabe resource distribution. Best Practice: Viage Deveopment Committee (VDC) invoving every section of community incuding 49-51% women representation was formed. WOTR heped the community to first form a vision for their viage. Issues were identified and various groups were formed to address issues. Inter-inkages were created with reevant government departments, financia institutes, SHGs, viage institutes and academic institutes to provide around support to the activities. Weath ranking was done to obtain contribution in equitabe manner and share benefits with the poorest. Organizations Invoved: Misereor, Community Action for Poverty Aeviation, Swiss agency for Deveopment and Cooperation, forest department, Internationa Livestock Research Institute, Agricutura Department and Minor Irrigation Department funded the ed initiative by WOTR aong with Jai Mahar Viage Watershed Committee, District Anima Husbandry, agricuture and forestry department, Mahatma Phue Agricutura University, District Centra Co-operative Bank. Activities: VDC conducts various activities with community participation incuding, Promote the mechanisms to negotiate improved fodder access in pubic (wasteands) and private grazing areas. Participatory Net Panning to study each pot of and and design its treatment together with the and owner/farmers. Pantation, construction of drinking water wes, farm bunds, continuous contours, horti-pasture, naa bunds, check dams etc. was done through 'shramdan' or vounteer abour. Organic farming, micro farming, Kitchen gardens and soak pits, drip irrigation, water budgeting. Work is in progress for agro-met stations which wi hep farmers pan their agricutura activities. 16 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

109 Connection to the UNCCD theme Capacity-buiding and awareness-raising. DLDD and SLM monitoring and assessment/research. Poicy, egisative, institutiona framework. Funding/resource mobiization. Participation, coaboration and networking. Training, exposure visits to the neighbouring viages, farmer to farmer extension, experience sharing workshops and gatherings are conducted. Linking up with DRDA for compimentary programmes. Approaches that ed to success: Wasundhara approach is a oca initiative which heped oca community members to take up the activities. Participatory approach of the project ensured the community's continuous support. Addressing the issue of equitabe distribution of benefits and invoving community to distribute benefits to the poorest of the poor. Viage envisioning heped viagers to see their future and design their own path for deveopment. Lessons earnt: For management of natura resources the whoe viage must come together and manage it together. A communities must be given their equitabe space and representation to voice their demands. Communities can create and manage funds transparenty when capacitated for the same. A systematic ridge to vaey approach and detaied Participatory Net Panning is important as peopes' participation is a must for success for watershed projects. Viage envisioning creates a sense of accountabiity, responsibiity and ownership. Benefits of the practice Environmenta Wasteand reduced from 3 ha pre-watershed to 55 ha post-watershed. As a resut of women's initiative, the viage now has 16 soar amps, 15 smokeess chuhas and 32 hot water chuhas, reducing use of biomass for fue. 11, sapings panted on wasteands and mountains heped increasing ground water eve. Convergence approach adopted for fodder management is being spread to other WOTR project areas in its Cimate Change Adaptation Project. Economic Increases and use area from 6 ha to 8 ha for Khariff crops, from 3 ha to 4 ha for Rabbi and from ha to 1 ha for summer crops. Increase in per acre production of rice from 1-12 bags to 2 bags (1 bag=1 kgs). Round the year fodder avaiabiity even with excess that is sod out to generate extra income. Reduction of wasteand heped in increased productivity, growth through innovative, sustainabe practices and knowedge. Increased revenue. Socia Wasundhara approach ed to incentives for the VDC, women sef hep groups and PRIs. This demonstrated a positive discrimination in the favour of the disadvantaged. Kitchen gardens and soak pits are being promoted to address the strategic needs of women. Viagers constructed individua atrines, anganwadi (chid care centre), high schoo, roads, pubic heath care centre. Women empowerment through training educationa programs, personaity deveopment, persona care advisories. For more information: Watershed Organization Trust (WOTR), Pune, Maharashtra, India; Emai: ahmednagar@wotr.org; Website: C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

110 6 Drought proofing in perenniay drought prone viages Manav Adhikar Seva Samiti (MASS) is a NGO which works with poor, triba and underprivieged sections of the society in the resource rich but economicay poor state of Orissa. MASS in partnership with GEF UNDP SGP, CEE and oca communities initiated its work in drought prone Paikma bock of Bargarh district. Summary: Objectives: To increase soi fertiity and water retention capacity of the viage; promote sustainabe agricuture and and management practices; create awareness and buid institutiona capacities. Location & Area: Paikma bock of Bargarh district in Western Orissa; 25 ha. The area is at the foothis of Gandhamardan hi ranges, one of the bioogica hot spots on the Eastern Ghats. Duration: 1 Juy December 23. Project Area Information: Popuation aprx. 4, Agricuture is the main source of income whie timber and non timber forest produce are aso important source of income. Probem: Drought vunerabiity eading to reduced yied, oss of iveihood, and migration; disruption of traditiona water harvesting system due to sheer negigence; disempowerment of peope, gender bias and expoitation; rapid oss of forest and vegetative cover eading to soi erosion and and degradation. Best Practice: Through PRA viage resource maps were prepared; Citizens' groups and forums were buit who then in partnership with other NGOs, and Government departments conduct capacity buiding programmes and sustainabe resource management activities with community participation. Organizations invoved: MASS, Lok Bikash Manch, Jay Nursingh Biparjay Mukabia Mahasangha, Pragati Mahasangha, Gandhamardan Mahia Sachaya Samiti Mahasangha (peope's federation), Farmers cubs (periphery viages of the operationa viage) and Migration Information Centre. Western Orissa Rura Liveihood Project (WORLP), Watershed and Agricuture Department of the bock. Activities: After series of community consutations, viagers came up with a pan addressing various issues and probems. Some of the activities conducted under the best practice incude, Netting irrigation systems, and eveing, bund strengthening, guy pugging. Water harvesting at crop fied eve, renovating different types of traditiona water bodies. Preparation of organic manure, seeds conservation and preservation, seed bank formation. Institutiona arrangements to manage and distribute water from common property resources. Women sef hep groups formed under this project saved some money and were successfu in carrying our sma scae business. Conditions/Approaches that ed to success: The continuous drought condition in an area where drought was not seen before had aready made 18 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

111 peope so much vunerabe that they were extremey receptive to soutions. Forest protection was traditionay we accepted concept hence it was easiy adapted to combat desertification. Traditiona water harvesting and management techniques have been a rich heritage of the community hence its reviva and inkages with other government programmes encouraged peope's morae and participation. Lessons earnt: Human resource, with appropriate knowedge, skis, abiities and aptitudes, is very crucia for effective impementation and sustainabiity of programmes. Thus peope and their institutes to represent every Connection to the UNCCD theme Capacity Buiding and awareness raising. Participation, coaboration and networking. section of community were invoved in the project. Promoting ow cost technoogies that the peope themseves can manage has been a good experience. Using oca technoogies bring back confidence eve in the poor farmers whie reviving traditiona modes of sustainabe deveopment. If such technoogies can be deveoped and promoted widey they coud successfuy integrate into oca technoogy to arrest the process of desertification and can hep mitigate cimate change. Benefits of the practice Environmenta Land based netting irrigation system in farming and ed to maximum rain water to fied. 4 ha of and restored and brought back to productive agricuture. Water retention capacity of traditiona water harvesting structures increased by at east 4 per cent. Some oca streams, which were on the verge of extinction have started fowing again. Wid ife species, especiay bird species have re-emerged in the area with increased forestry and water coverage. This practice forms cushioning impact through combination of different efforts coping with rising temperature and drought impacting directy on the forest and soi productivity due to cimate change. Economic By use of forest, improving and, human resource and skis, about 1 famiies have got aternative income avenues under farm and non-farm sectors. Decreased migration resuting in higher manpower ed to increased production in crop fieds by 5%. Increased empoyment opportunity for at east 2 unempoyed youth. 5 women sef hep groups have been abe to save six akh rupees and have been successfu in carrying out sma scae business. Access to various schemes ike NREGS, od age pension, Indira Awas Yojana, forest deveopment, water pubic distribution etc. Socia Decreased migration. 3 women benefited directy from the sef hep group. Periphera viages of the project area have taken simiar efforts in other parts of the bock and the mode has got widespread media coverage incuding a recent specia feature in nationa teevision programme. For more information: Manav Adhikar Seva Samiti (MASS), Sambapur, Orissa, India C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

112 7 Restoring viage common and for sustainabe iveihoods Paryatna Samiti (PS) is a civi society organization working on community deveopment and natura resource management. The current practice is being deveoped with support from Goba Environemnt Faciity (GEF), UNDP under Sma Grants Program (SGP). Summary: Objective: Restoration of degraded area and preparing community for sef management of resources. Location & Area: Bori, Viage Sagatadi, Bock Girwa, Dist Udaipur, Rajasthan; 79ha. Duration: The programme started in Project Area information: Tota popuation 356 more than 5% beow poverty ine, major occupations are anima husbandry, wage abour and agricuture. Probem: Uncontroed grazing, tree feing, resource access and use reated conficts, ack of any management system, reduction in vegetation cover, increased soi erosion contributed to degradation of viage common and particuary grazing ands. Best Practice: Viagers identified the and for work and set up management systems. The community was prepared for the sef management of the resources. Loca community was sensitized about common resources, their roes and responsibiities. Organizations invoved: Praytana Samiti, Forest Department, Society For Promotion of Wasteand Deveopment and Revenue Department. Activities: Viagers contacted the Forest Department to get their hep for the pans. The viagers were invoved with physica work, such as fencing, pit digging, trench, boundary wa and pantation of oca species. Deveoped pasture and in 79 ha and constructed water harvesting system. By using revenue records and cearing ownership issues community and inter-viage conficts ere resoved. Construction of a protection wa to address encroachment, participatory panning for soi & water conservation and regeneration of biomass. Conditions/Approaches that ed to success: Active participation of viagers and highy motivated stakehoders contributed towards success of this activity. Coectiveness of the viages and equa participation in execution and management aso payed crucia roe towards success of the project. Lessons earnt: Peope's institutions and participation enhance oca ownership. As the productivity of the and increases, stakehoder participation increases. Positive 11 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

113 Connection to the UNCCD theme DLDD and SLM monitoring and assessment/research. Capacity-buiding and awareness-raising. Knowedge management and decision support. Participation, coaboration and networking. association of stakehoders thus ensures sustainabiity. Peope's contribution in cash/kind is very essentia for sustainabiity. Measures and Norms need to be jointy agreed between stakehoders so as to buid the ong term vision, innovativeness and benefits. Photo: CEE Photo Bank Integrated water harvesting system, Gira river, Dang district, Gujarat. Benefits of the practice Environmenta 79 ha of degraded and converted in to pasture and which heped to reduce soi erosion. Reduced run off eading to protection of top soi ayer. Land productivity increased. Tree canopy area increased which provided habitat for birds. Due to enhanced vegetative cover heat refections from bare rocks reduced. Water conservation increased due to harvesting structures. Economic After one year 2 puas (bundes) of grass fodder produced which increased to 948 puas after 3 years and currenty the and produces 24, puas per annum. Community saved the money which they used to spend on fodder. Each famiy saved amost Rs. 1 per year. Increased interest in anima husbandry increased the mik productivity. Socia Prepared the community for the sef management of the resources. Resoved community and inter viage confict using revenue and records and cearing the right or ownership. For more information: Prayatna Samiti, At. Bhambora, Gudi, Udaipur-31376, Rajasthan, India Ph: C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

114 8 Organic Wadi (Orchard) deveopment an integrated approach for the iveihood enhancement of triba community Nationa Liveihood Resource Institute was estabished by Gramin Vikas Trust (GVT). GVT works to enhance sustainabe iveihood deveopment for poverty reduction and empowering communities to manage resources in rura and triba areas. Focus aong with and deveopment is on institutiona deveopment, women empowerment, abour support and micro enterprise deveopment. Summary: Objective: Effective utiization of avaiabe and, water and manpower resources and vaue chain deveopment under certified organic production system for perishabe crops ike seasona vegetabes and fruits, which heps in enhancing iveihoods of the under privieged triba community; to promote viage institutions for farmers' deveopment. Location & Area: Bock Bajna, Dist Ratam, Madhya Pradesh; 17, 21 ha of and. Project Area information: Popuation 435; Liveihood pattern of the community members can be cassified as sma and margina agricuture abour and migrants. Sma section of the community is engaged in anciary activities or sma businesses ike se of poutry birds, goats and non forest produce. Probem: Soi erosion, ack of invovement of triba, poor, schedued community in viage deveopment and panning process. Powing aong the sop, continuous mono cropping of maize causes soi erosion. This resuts in reduced productivity of the and. Hence it forms ack of assured source of iveihood. Best Practice: The participating houses spare one acre of and for pantation. Effective utiization of avaiabe and, water and manpower resources of seected triba famiies through participatory approach is done. Organizations invoved: Nationa Liveihood Resource Institute, Gram Vikas Trust (GVT), Nationa Bank for Agricuture and Rura Deveopment. Activities: Initiatives to conserve soi and water various activities ike fied bunding, guy pug, gabion etc and effective water management by use of water tank through gravity system were undertaken. Orchards were deveoped by use of cutivabe waste and. Mutipe cropping is done according to and cass. Various steps ike providing input of organic matter to the crops, vermi composting, use of organic manure/compost in the fied were taken. Soi testing is done to improve or maintain the quaity of soi. Conditions/Approaches that ed to success : GVT's rich experience in triba areas of community based natura resource management project heped impementing this project successfuy. GVT had good rapport in the project area due to successfu impementation of previous project in neighbouring area. 112 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

115 Connection to the UNCCD theme Capacity-buiding and awareness-raising. DLDD and SLM monitoring and assessment/research. Participation, coaboration and networking. Photo: CEE Photo Bank Preparation for composting, Rura Knowge Centre, Havad, Surendranagar district, Gujarat. Avaiabiity of consistent and sustained funding supported these initiatives. Lessons earnt: Community may organize for common concerns if they reaize significance/reevance of the same are invoved in the process of panning and impementation. In order to buid capacity of the community member from a viage as a para professiona and community organizer requires a series of efforts for ong term vision. Loca community eadership needs to be aways encouraged through meetings, exposure visits and skis enhancement for better impementation of program. Organic farming reduces the input cost of the farming system compared to conventiona farming and provides farmers with consistent source of income. WADI infact can provide aternate source of sustainabe iveihood. Peopes' institutions at viage eve and apex federation heps to resove the grassroot eve probems, marketing of produces, input suppy. Panning and technica backstopping can hep in prioritizing interventions based of socia, financia and ecoogica considerations. Benefits of the practice Environmenta It maintains and increases ong term fertiity and productivity of soi. It increases the micro nutrient in the soi, improves quaity of soi. Land and water poution reduced. Economic Improves the economic status of the farmer through vaue chain deveopment under certified organic production system for perishabe crops ike seasona vegetabes and fruits. It is perceived that in fifth year and ater on production and productivity wi increase significanty. Socia The sma and margina community got opportunities in panning of project and decision making. Better access to credit by women through bank enhances their status. Women get specia attention and got invoved in various activities that improved their iveihood by creation of durabe assets. For more information: Nationa Liveihood Resource Institute, Gram Vikas Trust (GVT), NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh, India; Emai: info@gvtindia.org; Website: C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

116 9 Prosopis cineraria based Agroforestry Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI) is one of the research institute under Indian Counci of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), with a mandate to increase the vegetative cover and to conserve the biodiversity in hot arid and semi arid regions of India. Summary: Objective: To promote agroforestry and study the impact of trees (specificay of P. cineraria) on soi quaity and overa crop production. Location & Area: Experimenta farm of AFRI, Jodhpur city, western part of Rajasthan; 5 ha common and. Project Area information: Major occupations are agricuture and anima husbandry. Probem: Scarcity of fodder and fue wood, and degradation, ow production & erosion. Best Practice: Crops are grown in the interspaces of P. cineraria. Faciitating effects are observed on the crop yied because of increased nutrient avaiabiity and a baanced resource sharing between the tree and associated crops. Activities: AFRI conducts research in its experimenta bock on its campus or forest ands as in the present practice. If the research is successfu then they it to disseminate the practice to the community facing the probems. Various government department incuding forest department hep to disseminate the practice. Dissemination process of AFRI is through fied trais and aying demonstration trias. AFRI's division on 'Agroforestry & Extension' has demonstration pots that invove community members. Training is provided to the beneficiaries. Prosopis cineraria is a hardy, eguminous desert tree grown on the farmers' fieds of the region since ages due to its mutipurpose uses food, fue wood, fodder, soi fertiity enhancing abiity and observed symbiotic impact on associated crop yied. The current project focused on studying its impact on oca agricuture. Conditions/Approaches that ed to success: Agroforestry system is prevaent in the region for the ecoogica and socio-economic benefits. P. cineraria is a mutipurpose tree. It provides food, fodder and medicine. P. cineraria does not compete with crops on the fied. Connection to the UNCCD theme Capacity-buiding and awareness-raising. DLDD and SLM monitoring and assessment/research. Knowedge management and decision support. 114 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

117 Prosopis cineraria Benefits of the practice Environmenta Tota increase in production per unit. Increased and productivity in the form of improved soi status. Increase in carbon stock both in soi and vegetation. Thus there is an increase in concentrations of soi organic matter and NH4-N in -25 cm soi ayer. Tree integration improves the soi heath, nutrient and carbon dynamics which further conserves natura resources heps to and improve the biodiversity of the region. Increased production of fodder and fue wood as P. cineraria provides utiizabe biomass of tones/ha incuding eaf fodder of.85 tones/ha/year at 12 year age (28 tree/ha). Economic Increased andscape vaue. Increased fue wood suppy. Increased agricutura production. Increased income through fodder and fue wood. P. cineraria improves soi condition and heps increasing crop yied by 11.1%. Socia Reduced time in fue wood coection and diversion of chidren to education. Improvement in socia status. Improvement in education and heath. Increased income faciitate socia status and promote education. For more information: Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI), Rajasthan, India, Emai: Website: C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

118 1 Community forest rights Seva Mandir is a non government organization which does various activities ike afforestation on both private, common and forest ands; deveoping water resources for agricutura, ivestock and human needs; promoting sustainabe agricutura practices to improve crop productivity and diversity; and engaging in poicy advocacy and networking to share essons and insights with the rest of the deveopment sector. Summary: Objective: use the Forest Rights Act to get the viage their forest area's tenure rights and in the process capacitate stakehoders to ensure effective management and ecoogica restoration of the same. Location & Area: 75 Viages, District Udaipur, Rajasthan. Project Area information: Most of the popuation beow poverty ine, major occupations are agricuture, ivestock rearing and unskied abor. Probem: With itte or no contro of viage community over its forests and its produce, a section of the community is eft with no choice but too overuse the and produce. Overgrazing, and encroachment, and use and ownership conficts are some other issues. Best Practice: Seva Mandir aong with the oca community used the Forest Rights Act to get the viage their forest area's tenure rights. The tenure right wi give the community a too for management and protection of their respective forest areas over which they have ony rights and concessions. Seva Mandir buids their capacity for Joint Forest Management. Organizations invoved: Seva Mandir, Van Utthan Sansthan (VUS). Activities: Seva Mandir and Van Utthan Sansthan impart knowedge to the viager about Forest Rights Act and its provision. Hod capacity buiding and knowedge dissemination workshop with a stakehoders incuding forest department officias for operationaisation of the act. A these processes are directed towards getting peope to take interest in regeneration of the forest through Joint Forest Management (JFM). Seva Mandir foowed the procedure as given in the Forest Right Act to get the tenure right. This invoves hoding Gram Sabha in the viage pus verification of the site with patwari and Forest Department. The common ands are protected from encroachment and degradation. Regeneration of forest is done through pantation and protection. Conditions/Approaches that ed to success: Use of Forest Right Act for conservation of the restored areas. Highy motivated and active participation of oca communities ed to success of this practice. 116 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

119 Connection to the UNCCD theme Capacity-buiding and awareness-raising. DLDD and SLM monitoring and assessment/research. Poicy, egisative, institutiona framework. Participation, coaboration and networking. Photo: Seva Mandir, Udaipur A joint forest management site, hado bock, Udaipur district, Rajasthan. Benefits of the practice Lessons earnt: Buiding on experientia knowedge of the community and at the same time making communities aware regarding aws and poicies reated to their and resource is essentia. Aso it is equay important to buid capacity of community members to dea with governmenta matters. Seva Mandir provides financia assistance to the federation and in turn asks for accountabiity and transparency. This financia system aows both the parties to engage more with each others work. Seva Mandir provides technica support to VUS member. The systems are in pace to ensure its transparency. Environmenta Increased forest cover. Regeneration of forest through pantation and protection wi ead to carbon sequestration. Economic Provided community with sustainabe income. Long term green cover created with increased productivity and resources for institutions and peope. Socia Confict resoution. Fostering community cohesion as we as sensitization about the right to ownership. Learning towards constructive activism to stave off dangers that come when the responsibiities of the community are being ignored. For more information: Seva Mandir, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India; Emai: info@sevamandir.org; Website: C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

120 11 Rura Knowedge Centre (RKC) Centre for Environment Education (CEE) is a non government organization working towards environment education and sustainabe deveopment. After 21 earthquake, community from the Havad region approached CEE to hep them with rehabiitation. To rehabiitate community CEE initiated ong term sustainabe deveopment initiatives, through empowering communities, faciitating partnerships and creating oca decision-making structures directed towards buiding community assets. Summary: Objective: To share knowedge and information towards empowerment of community for sustainabe deveopment by being a networking and information hub; support deveoping symbiotic reationship between protected area of this desert fragie ecosystem and oca community, and support oca CBOs and governance structures. Location & Area: Havad, Surendranagar District, Gujarat. Duration: This practice was initiated in 26 - ongoing. Project Area information: Popuation 26; Main source of income are agricuture, anima husbandry and sat farming. Havad region is bordering to Litte Run of Kutchh. Probem: Increasing and degradation due to mono cuture, soi erosion, increasing desertification, ack of knowedge, ack of assured sources of iveihood and ack of invovement of poor community and women. Best Practice: Rura Knowedge Centre (RKC) provides training and demonstration on technoogies and practices to combat desertification and generate sustainabe iveihood; aows speciaized knowedge and provide assistance to make contact with government agencies, vountary bodies and individuas in the deveopment fied. Activities: Various groups ike Farmer Fied Schoos (FFS), Federation of Sef Hep Groups (FSHG) and viage eve community and teachers committees were formed to address various issues identified by stakehoders and promote ocay driven, need based sustainabe deveopment. FFS promotes advanced earning reated to agricutura areas and spread the knowedge. FSHG estabished saving credit systems and increased the member's oan worthiness. Demonstrations on desertification and cimate change adaptation. Generating aternative iveihood opportunities through micro enterprise with reference to the oca economy and biodiversity. RKC introduced time tested sustainabe NRM practices such as composting, use of bio pesticides, drip irrigation, reuse of agricuture waste, soi moisture conservation practices etc. 118 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

121 It supported mutipe methods to increase biomass and reuse of bio mass as farmyard manure. Conditions/Approaches that ed to success: Efforts of muti discipinary dedicated fied staff at grass root eve. 'Think gobay act ocay' approach trying to transate goba thinking in oca actions. Profound and sound understanding of the region. Lessons earnt: Deveoping a cadre of community entrepreneurs, with an understanding about adut earning principes is the most effective and sustainabe approach for human resource deveopment. Connection to the UNCCD theme Knowedge management and decision support. The team within the RKC needs to be muti discipinary to muti task and take on different approaches and arenas for best practice. Financia systems and procedures shoud be transparent. Cost Benefit anaysis on agricuture or other iveihood reated purchases shoud be done with thorough understanding and knowedge regarding the same. When the proposa for new technoogy is considered, oca socio- economic issues, cutura practices etc shoud aso be taken in account. Benefits of the practice Environmenta Encouraged mixed cropping ; increased crop diversity and biodiversity which heps tacking and degradation. Composting and soi moisture conservation practices heped in improving soi fertiity. Mutipe methods to increase biomass and reuse of bio mass as farmyard manure. Wiingness to use environmenta friendy soutions - certain Agarya community members agreed to use and insta wind generated energy pump instead of diese pumps in sat farming process. Economic Peope started cutivating other crops aong with cash crops. Increased productivity of the and ed to increased income. Credit saving system and micro enterprise has provided community with improved incomes and access to credits. Utiizing time tested practices ike drip irrigation, composting etc which heps in soi quaity, heps saving resources and money which in turn increases the productivity of the and. Socia Minority groups such as women, vunerabe and marginaized communities are invoved at various eves in a programmes. Agariya community (sat pan workers) of the region are now more aware of their rights as abour and are organizing towards earning fair wages and better work conditions. Increased resource iteracy of the oca community with regards to various issues ike water, sainity, desertification etc. Empowers and hep community to adapt to oca knowedge and unbiased information which heps them ead to sustainabe ifestye and iveihood. For more information: Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India; Emai:rpg@ceeindia.org; Website: C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

122 References Ajai, Arya A. S., Dhinwa P. S., Pathan S. K. and Ganesh Raj K. (29).Desertification/and degradation status mapping of India, Space Appications Centre, Indian Space Research Organization, Ahmedabad, India. Annua Report, 28-9, Centra Water Commission, Ministry of Water Resources, India. Desertification & Land Degradation Atas of India. 27. Space Appications Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Department of Space, Government of India. Indian State of Forest report 29, Forest Survey of India, Ministry of Environment and Forest, India. India's 4th Nationa Report to UNCCD Secretariat: Performance Review and Assessment of Impementation System. 21. Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. Nation Action Programme (NAP) to Combat Desertification in the context of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). (21) Ministry of Environment & Forests Government of India, New Dehi. Rainfed iveihoods progressive paradigms. Nationa Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA), Ministry of Agricuture, India. ( Seventeenth Indian Livestock Census, A India Summary Report, Department of Anima Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Agricuture, New Dehi, January 25. Sinha R.K., Bhatia S., and Vishnoi R. (1997). Desertification contro and rangeand management in the Thar desert of India, RALA REPORT NO. 2. Indira Gandhi Centre for Human Ecoogy, Environment and Popuation Studies, Rajasthan University, Jaipur, India. 12 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

123 Annexures Annexure-1: State-wise statistics of the processes of desertification/ and degradation (ha). Processes State Andhra Pradesh Arunacha Pradesh Assam Bihar Chhatisgarh Goa Gujarat Haryana/Dehi Himacha Pradesh Jammu & Kashmir Jharkhand Karnataka Keraa Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra Manipur Meghaaya Mizoram Nagaand Orissa Punjab Sikkim Rajasthan Tami Nadu Tripura Uttar Pradesh Uttarancha West Benga Tota Water Erosion Vegeta Degradation Eoian Frost Shattering Sainity/ Akanity Mass Movement Water Logging Rocky/ Barren Others Tota Source: Desertification & Land Degradation Atas of India. 27. Space Appications Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Department of Space, Government of India. C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

124 122 Combat Desertification 21 Annexure-2: Financia outay tabe

125 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

126 124 Combat Desertification 21

127 Annexure-3: UNCCD Strategy (eafet) UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION The 1-year strategic pan and framework To enhance the impementation of the Convention (28 218). THE VISION To forge a goba partnership to reverse and prevent desertification/and degradation and to mitigate the effects of drought in affected areas in order to support poverty reduction and environmenta sustainabiity. UNCCD Deveoped as a resut of the Rio Summit, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is a unique instrument that has brought attention to and degradation in the dryands where exist some of the most vunerabe ecosystems and peope in the word. Ten years after its coming into force, the UNCCD benefits from universa membership (193 Parties) and is increasingy recognized as an instrument which can make a asting contribution to the achievement of sustainabe deveopment and poverty reduction gobay. As the Convention enters its second decade, the Parties unanimousy adopted the 1-year strategic pan and framework to enhance the impementation of the Convention for (The Strategy) at COP8, hed in Madrid in September 27. The Strategy provides a unique opportunity to address some of the Convention's key chaenges, to capitaize on its strengths, to seize opportunities provided by the new poicy and financing environment, and to create a new, revitaized common ground for a UNCCD stakehoders. The Strategy contains the strategic objectives to be achieved over the 1 years, and the operationa objectives that guide the actions of short and medium-term effects STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED IMPACTS: 1. To improve the iving conditions of affected popuations Expected impact 1.1. Peope iving in areas affected by desertification/and degradation and drought to have an improved and more diversified iveihood base and to benefit from income generated from sustainabe and management. Expected impact 1.2. Affected popuations' socio-economic and environmenta vunerabiity to cimate change, cimate variabiity and drought is reduced. 2. To improve the condition of affected ecosystems Expected impact 2.1. Land productivity and other ecosystem goods and services in affected areas are enhanced in a sustainabe manner contributing to improved iveihoods. Expected impact 2.2. The vunerabiity of affected ecosystems to cimate change, cimate variabiity and drought is reduced. 3. To generate goba benefits through effective impementation of the UNCCD Expected impact 3.1. Sustainabe and management and combating desertification/and degradation contribute to the conservation and sustainabe use of biodiversity and the mitigation of cimate change. 4. To mobiize resources to support impementation of the Convention through buiding effective partnerships between nationa and internationa actors Expected impact 4.1. Increased financia, technica and technoogica resources are made avaiabe to affected deveoping country Parties, and where appropriate Centra and Eastern European countries, to impement the Convention. C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

128 Expected impact 4.2. Enabing poicy environments are improved for UNCCD impementation at a eves. OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES: 1. Advocacy, awareness raising and education To activey infuence reevant internationa, nationa and oca processes and actors in adequatey addressing desertification/and degradation and drought-reated issues. Outcome 1.1: Desertification/and degradation and drought issues and the synergies with cimate change adaptation/mitigation and biodiversity conservation are effectivey communicated among key constituencies at the internationa, nationa and oca eves. Outcome 1.2: Desertification/and degradation and drought issues are addressed in reevant internationa forums, incuding those pertaining to agricutura trade, cimate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation and sustainabe use, rura deveopment, sustainabe deveopment and poverty reduction. Outcome 1.3: Civi society organizations (CSOs) and the scientific community in the North and the South are increasingy engaged as stakehoders in the Convention processes and desertification/and degradation and drought are addressed in their advocacy, awareness- raising and education initiatives. 2. Poicy framework To support the creation of enabing environments for promoting soutions to combat desertification/and degradation and mitigate the effects of drought Outcome 2.1: Poicy, institutiona, financia and socio-economic drivers of desertification/and degradation and barriers to sustainabe and management are assessed, and appropriate measures to remove these barriers are recommended. Outcome 2.2: Affected country Parties revise their nationa action programmes (NAPs) into strategic documents supported by biophysica and socio-economic baseine information and incude them in integrated investment frameworks. Outcome 2.3: Affected country Parties integrate their NAPs and sustainabe and management and and degradation issues into deveopment panning and reevant sectora and investment pans and poicies. Outcome 2.4: Deveoped country Parties mainstream UNCCD objectives and sustainabe and management interventions into their deveopment cooperation programmes/projects in ine with their support to nationa sectora and investment pans. Outcome 2.5: Mutuay reinforcing measures among desertification/ and degradation action programmes and biodiversity and cimate change mitigation and adaptation are introduced or strengthened so as to enhance the impact of interventions. 3. Science, technoogy and knowedge To become a goba authority on scientific and technica knowedge pertaining to desertification/and degradation and mitigation of the effects of drought. Outcome 3.1: Nationa monitoring and vunerabiity assessment on biophysica and socio-economic trends in affected countries are supported. Outcome 3.2: A baseine based on the most robust data avaiabe on biophysica and socio-economic trends is deveoped and reevant scientific approaches are graduay harmonized. Outcome 3.3: Knowedge on biophysica and socio-economic factors and on their interactions in affected areas is improved to enabe better decision-making. Outcome 3.4: Knowedge of the interactions between cimate change adaptation, drought mitigation and restoration of degraded and in affected areas is improved to deveop toos to assist decision-making. 126 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

129 Outcome 3.5: Effective knowedge-sharing systems, incuding traditiona knowedge, are in pace at the goba, regiona, sub regiona and nationa eves to support poicymakers and end users, incuding through the identification and sharing of best practices and success stories. Outcome 3.6: Science and technoogy networks and institutions reevant to desertification/and degradation and drought are engaged to support UNCCD impementation. 4. Capacity-buiding To identify and address capacity-buiding needs to prevent and reverse desertification/and degradation and mitigate the effects of drought. Outcome 4.1: Countries which have carried out the nationa capacity sef assessment (NCSA) impement the resuting action pans to deveop the necessary capacity at the individua, institutiona and systemic eves2 to tacke desertification/and degradation and drought issues at the nationa and oca eves. Outcome 4.2: Those countries which have not previousy undertaken capacity needs assessments engage in reevant assessments processes to identify capacity needs for tacking desertification/and degradation and drought at the nationa and oca eves. 5. Financing and technoogy transfer To mobiize and improve the targeting and coordination of nationa, biatera and mutiatera financia and technoogica resources in order to increase their impact and effectiveness. Outcome 5.1: Affected country Parties deveop integrated investment frameworks for everaging nationa, biatera and mutiatera resources with a view to increasing the effectiveness and impact of interventions. Outcome 5.2: Deveoped country Parties provide substantia, adequate, timey and predictabe financia resources to support domestic initiatives to reverse and prevent desertification/and degradation and mitigate the effects of drought. Outcome 5.3: Parties increase their efforts to mobiize financia resources from internationa financia institutions, faciities and funds, incuding the GEF, by promoting the UNCCD/Sustainabe and management (SLM) agenda within the governing bodies of these institutions. Outcome 5.4: Innovative sources of finance and financing mechanisms are identified to combat desertification/and degradation and mitigate the effects of drought, incuding from the private sector, marketbased mechanisms, trade, foundations and CSOs, and other financing mechanisms for cimate change adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity conservation and sustainabe use and for hunger and poverty reduction. Outcome 5.5: Access to technoogy by affected country Parties is faciitated through adequate financing, effective economic and poicy incentives and technica support, notaby within the framework of South-South and North-South cooperation. THE MISSION To provide a goba framework to support the deveopment and impementation of nationa and regiona poicies, programmes and measures to prevent, contro and reverse desertification/and degradation and mitigate the effects of drought through scientific and technoogica exceence, raising pubic awareness, standard setting, advocacy and resource mobiization, thereby contributing to poverty reduction. Desertification is and degradation in arid and semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resuting from various factors, incuding cimatic variations and human activates. C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n

130 128 C o m b a t D e s e r t i f i c a t i o n 2 1

131 Report preparation team: Dr. Rajneesh Dube Joint Secretary & Nationa Foca Point UNCCD Government of India Emai: Mr. Vivek Saxena Director & Science & Technoogy Correspondent- UNCCD Government of India Desertification Ce Emai: Dr. Swayamprabha Das Coordinator, Desertification Ce Emai: Ms. Ritu Singh Consutant, Desertification Ce Emai:

132 Ministry of Environment and Forests Government of India Paryavaran Bhavan, CGO Compex, Lodhi Road, New Dehi 11 3 (INDIA) Teephone: , Fax: Emai: r.dube@nic.in Website: