Management Practices for Rehabilitation of Degraded Dryland Ranges, Lal Sohanra Biosphere Reserve, Pakistan Progress Report of SUMAMAD Activities

Transcription

1 Management Practices for Rehabilitation of Degraded Dryland Ranges, Lal Sohanra Biosphere Reserve, Pakistan Progress Report of SUMAMAD Activities 2011 Image Thomas Schaaf

2 Progress Report of SUMAMAD Activities, Project Site Information: a. Name of project site (location, country): Lal Sohanra Biosphere Reserve, Pakistan b. Name of project: Management Practices for Rehabilitation of Degraded Dryland Ranges, Lal Sohanra Biosphere Reserve, Pakistan c. Partner Institution: Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), Regional Office, Bahawalpur, Pakistan d. Team leader and deputy team leader (and updated contact information, if relevant) Team Leader: Mr Muhammad Akram Director General (Desertification Control) PCRWR Head Quarter Khayaban -e- Johar, H-8/1 Beside Eidhi Homes Islamabad Pakistan Phone Cell # chiefdesert@gmail.com Deputy Team Leader: Engr. Zamir Ahmed Soomro Regional Director Regional Office PCRWR Main Raiwind Road Lahore, Pakistan Phone (office): Cell: engrsaz@gmail.com e. Project team members: 1. Mr. Muhammad Tahir Saleem Research Officer Regional Office, PCRWR Bahawalpur Phone Cell: , ropcrwrbwp@gmail.com 2. Mr Muhammad Akram Research Officer Regional Office, PCRWR Bahawalpur Phone Cell:

3 2. Executive Summary The Pakistan drylands extend over 11 million hectares. These drylands are barren due to low rainfall and water scarcity, whereas groundwater is mostly saline. There are four main economic activities in the drylands of Lal Sohanra Biosphere Reserve: livestock rearing, labouring, handicrafts and agriculture on the periphery of the desert land. The condition of the rangelands is poor because they are not maintained properly. Overgrazing, due to uncontrolled grazing system, has caused degradation. The result is an urgent need to manage the rangelands based on scientific knowledge, so as to provide fodder for livestock throughout the year and to support more livestock per unit area. With financial assistance from the SUMAMAD project, a natural grazing rangeland site was selected for rehabilitation at Hyderwali in the Cholistan desert, in vicinity of the Lal Sohanra Biosphere Reserve. Project activities began in early 2009 and focus on improving the carrying capacity of rangelands. The management strategies adapted include: A rotational grazing system: The area has been fenced and divided into compartments. One compartment is allowed for grazing while the other is left for sprouting. Adapting to this strategy ensures that rangelands will have a sustainable output. Application of irrigation: The rainfall in the area is too low to obtain potential yield from the rangelands, thus an irrigation supplement could not be avoided. Sprinklers were used to apply two irrigations (each of 30 mm) in 2009, four in 2010 and four in Reseeding of local grasses and bushes: Due to prolonged drought spells, palatable species of grasses in the Cholistan desert have almost vanished. To affect their rehabilitation seeds of palatable grasses were spread during the monsoon season for both years (2009/10). The first two years of the SUMAMAD project focused on rangelands and grazing system management. In the current year (2011), an experiment was conducted to grow fodder crops at the study site. Mixed cluster bean (Guar) and millet (Bajra) crops were grown in the month of July 2011 on a total area of about 2 hectares. An irrigation supplement of 75 mm was applied through a sprinkler system in addition to the 132 mm of rainfall that occurred during the crop season. A fodder yield of ton/ha was obtained, which is 13% more than the yield obtained from the flood irrigation system. The preliminary results of the study have shown that the carrying capacity of the rangelands is increasing progressively and by the end of the third year of the study, an increase of more than 700% was recorded. The availability of grasses has led to a reduction in migration from the project vicinity. Alternate livelihood activities have been enhanced and an exhibition at the SUMAMAD national seminar encouraged people to take up and increase handicrafts. As a result of the interventions made by SUMAMAD, the Cholistan Development Authority has submitted a mega-project to the provincial government of Punjab. A core group has been organized to prepare guidelines for a policy draft on the sustainability of drylands. Primary conclusions and recommendations of the study reveal the following:

4 Research results indicate that the protection of natural grazing lands from the free grazing of livestock and irrigation with sprinklers during dry periods, contribute towards increasing vegetation canopy cover, vegetation species and vegetation biomass production. The ranges should be protected from free grazing, and a rotational grazing system should be adopted in order to obtain greater biomass production and higher carrying capacity per unit area. The desert land may be allotted to local people for promotion of dryland agriculture. 3. Project activities in Fostering scientific drylands research The chosen study site for activities of phase II of the SUMAMAD project is Hyderwali, which lies in the vicinity of the Lal Sohanra Biosphere Reserve, in the Cholistan desert. During the last two years of the project (2009 and 2010), activities focused on the restoration and rehabilitation of degraded rangelands, whereas in study of the current year (2011), introduction of dryland agriculture has been added to the activities Restoration and rehabilitation of degraded rangelands: The Cholistani people are dependent on the rangelands for their livelihood; however, the potential biomass of the rangelands has not been realized due to low intensity of rainfall. During the year 2011, a total rainfall of 145 mm (Table 2) occurred at the study site, which is not sufficient to sustain livestock without irrigation. This rainfall occurred during the monsoon season (July-September). In a scenario without irrigation supplement it would be impossible to achieve rangeland development. The rainwater harvesting facility and tubewells for groundwater exploitation are available at the study site. Rainwater-harvesting facility: During the year 2011, about 72,000 m 3 of rainwater was harvested in the vicinity of the study site. With financial assistance from the SUMAMAD project, a pipeline was installed to convey rainwater from the reservoir to the rangeland study site. Groundwater: Groundwater quality in most of the parts of Cholistan is poor. In certain places, levels of total dissolved solids (TDS) are as high as seawater. However, the water quality in the abundant bed of the old Hakra River is within safe limits. The selected site lies in the vicinity of the old riverbed. PCRWR has installed a tube well at the site, and the groundwater quality in terms of TDS is within safe limits; however, its residual sodium carbonate (RSC) is on higher side (the maximum permissible limit is 1.25 epm). Thus, caution is required when using high RSC water, which can have adverse effects on the soil. In the current year, little variation in groundwater was noted as compared to the previous year. Year-on-year results of water quality parameters from the different water sources are presented in Table 1.

5 Figure 1: Tubewell Installed by PCRWR at the research station Zamir Ahmed Soomro During 2011, two irrigation supplements (each 30 mm) of groundwater were applied in the months of February and March when rainwater was not available in the storage ponds. From July to September, there was rainfall in the area, and so irrigation was not used. Following rainfall, there was sufficient water stored in the reservoirs, and so the two irrigation supplements in October and November were applied from stored rainwater. The principle behind irrigation is to adapt it to fill the rainfall gap during the sprouting

6 season of grasses. The months of April, May, June, December and January do not fall into the sprouting season and therefore irrigation was not used, even when there was no rainfall during these months. The purpose of these research activities is to develop strategies and guidelines that can be used by the common farmer. The uncontrolled experimental area (site 3) was solely dependent on rainfall, which could then be used for the purposes of comparison. The rainfall and irrigation schedule for 2010 and 2011 is presented in Table 2. Vegetation species and cover: In 2009, an area of 10 ha was fenced. This area was increased to 20 ha in The dominant natural vegetation species in the area include Lasiarus sindicus (Gorkha), Calligonum polygonoides (Phog), Haloxylon salicornnicum (Lana), Aristida depressa (Lumb), Diptergium glacum (Phail), Eleusine compressa (Chimber) and Aerva javanica (Bui). Due to long spells of drought and overgrazing practices, palatable grasses almost disappeared from the rangelands. Thanks to financial assistance provided by the SUMAMAD project, the reseeding of grasses was carried out in the controlled grazing plots together with irrigation. Table 3 shows that total vegetation canopy cover in February 2009 (before the start of SUMAMAD activities) was 16% 19%. With the start of management activities (controlled grazing, reseeding and irrigation), the vegetation cover is progressively increasing. By the end of 2011, it had reached 62%. Similarly, palatable biomass production has increased by more than 700% compared to uncontrolled plots (Table 4).

7 Zamir Ahmed Soomro Introduction of dryland crops The first two years of the SUMAMAD project focused on rangelands and grazing system management. Agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan s economy, but its production is not increasing proportionally to the human population for several reasons. Demand for food, milk, meat, fodder and fuel is increasing day by day. To cope with these food problems, it is essential to convert waste desert lands for crop production through the sustainable use of natural resources. Under the financial assistance of the SUMAMAD project, an experiment was conducted to grow fodder crops at the study site. Cluster bean (Guar) and millet (Bajra) crops were grown in the month of July 2011 on a total area of about 2 ha. An irrigation supplement of 75 mm was applied through a sprinkler system in addition to 132 mm of rainfall, which occurred during the crop season. The fodder yield was weighed at five randomly selected sites (each of 4 m 2 ) in the month of October The weight of green fodder for both crops was made separately for each site and recorded (Table 5). The average yields of millet and guar obtained from 1 ha were and 4.13 tons, respectively (assuming half the area for each crop, the average yield of mixed fodder from both crops was ton/ha). The yield results were compared with a survey conducted by an expert team from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in some areas of Pakistan, during the months of October to November 1999, to observe fodder production at various research institutes as well as local farms. According to the survey report, which was submitted to the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), average yields of millet and guar in

8 isolation were 23.5 ton/ha and 9.5 ton/ha respectively. If this yield of millet and guar is mixed, this amounts to 33 tons per 2 ha, which is about 16.5 tons/ha. The yield obtained from virgin desert land using a sprinkler system is 13% more than yield obtained from the flood irrigation system. Zamir Ahmed Soomro 3.2. Preparation of policy-relevant guidelines for decision-makers in drylands On the occasion of the SUMAMAD national seminar in 2009, a core group was set up to prepare guidelines for decision-makers in drylands. The group was composed of the following dryland stakeholders. Cholistan Development Authority (CDA) Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) Cholistan Institute of Desert Studies (CIDS), the Islamia University of Bahawalpur Forest Department, Provincial Government of Punjab Three representatives of the local Cholistani people The leading role was given to CDA, while PCRWR was given an organizational role. During the meeting the group identified the following major areas to be highlighted in the context of sustainable management of drylands. a) Introduction of Resource Conservation Technology, including the use of high efficiency irrigation for rangelands development. b) Public awareness on adopting the controlled grazing system.

9 c) Constitution of a rangelands decision-making forum to ensure the welfare and rational use of rangelands, including representatives from the departments concerned (Cholistan Development Authority, PCRWR, Forest Department), as well as end users. By adapting the above concept, the Cholistan Development Authority submitted a project for funding to the provincial government of Punjab. Thus, strategies identified in the SUMAMAD project will be scaled up Review of core group meeting 2011 After concluding the national seminar on 29 November 2011, a meeting of the core group was held at the same venue to review policy-related issues, achievements and further targets. Representatives of the Cholistan Development Authority, PCRWR, the Forest Department, the Cholistan Institute of Desert Studies (CIDS) and local people attended the meeting. Representatives of the local persons stated that, in the light of the previous year s meeting, they had become aware that rangeland conservation was not only the responsibility of governmental organizations, but also equally their own responsibility. They then detailed some of the actions and measures they had undertaken: They prepared local groups in different villages (locally called tobas ) to communicate rangeland conservation measures learned from the SUMAMAD team. During the last year, local people encountered forest-cutters in fifteen separate incidents,.otherwise nobody was taking pain for such activities. They have drawn up boundary lines for grazing land for different tribes in order to limit overgrazing. They mutually agreed to avoid grazing immediately after rainfall, for a period of at least fifteen days, to allow the grasses to grow. The core group appreciated the efforts taken by local people. Furthermore, a decision was taken to call a mid-term meeting in the near future and to invite political representatives to take this matter to the National and Provincial Assemblies to propose legislation. It was also decided that agricultural activities shall be promoted in dryland areas beside the livestock. In this regard, the SUMAMAD team will provide the technical guidelines for cropping pattern and management strategies. The SUMAMAD team leader shared the results of the experiments on rangeland management and the growing of fodder crops. The people thanked the SUMAMAD project for establishing valuable guidelines to promote livelihood activities in dryland Promoting sustainable livelihoods in drylands Four economic activities in the drylands of Lal Sohanra Biosphere Reserve have been identified: (i) livestock rearing, (ii) labouring, (iii) handicrafts and (iv) agriculture on the periphery of desert land. The major livelihood of the drylands people is livestock rearing. Forage is also a basic requirement in the area. The SUMAMAD project has provided the technology to enhance forage production in the project vicinity. Three points were identified for the sustainable livelihood of the Cholistani people, to be promoted with SUMAMAD financial support.

10 I. Enhancement of forage for sustainable livestock growth and production: Fodder is a basic requirement for livestock rearing. For the first time in the desert area, successful trials for growing fodder crops (guar and millet) on sprinkler irrigation were conducted with the financial assistance of SUMAMAD. The results were encouraging. Multiplication of this technology can bring a revolution to the desert by increasing livestock products and the livelihoods of dryland people. II. Improvement in agriculture activities. There is no water source to support agriculture, so the land is utilized only for grazing. PCRWR has installed some tubewells in the bed of the old Hakra River. Under the financial assistance of SUMAMAD, people are being encouraged to grow low delta crops to enhance their income. Initially, ten farmers have agreed to grow mustard crops near their toba. The number of farmers and the areas under cultivation extent will be increased in coming year. III. Promotion/proper marketing of local handicrafts and livestock by-products: The women of Cholistan make excellent handicrafts, but their access to market is limited. As a result they do not realize the proper value of their products. PCRWR, under the assistance of the SUMAMAD project, arranged an exhibition of their handicrafts. Many products were sold on this occasion, a number of which realized attractive prices. Moreover, arrangements were made for handicraft dealers to visit the Cholistan desert in order to achieve better marketing of their products. Zamir Ahmed Soomro 3.4. National seminar A national seminar on Management Practices for Rehabilitation of Degraded Dryland Ranges, Lal Sohanra Biosphere Reserve-Pakistan was organized on 29 November 2011 at Bahawalpur with the financial assistance of SUMAMAD. About 200 participants (male and female) from the local community and private and public organizations attended. The event started with a recitation from the Holy Quran. This was followed by the introductory lecture, given by Engr. Zamir Ahmed Soomro, deputy team leader of the

11 SUMAMAD project who presented the aims and objectives, and achievements of the current year and the future plan of the SUMAMAD project. This was followed by presentations from representatives of the Cholistan Development Authority, the Forest department and the Cholistan Institute of Desert Studies, on the importance of rangeland and highlighting different livelihood options. SUMAMAD researchers presented the management strategies and options for rangeland development, improvement of dryland agriculture and the promotion of livelihoods. The local community showed a keen interest in rangeland development and technology developed for the growing of fodder crops. However, they requested that the government come forward to help to subsidize the sprinkler irrigation system. The chairperson and the local community showed their appreciation for the activities of SUMAMAD. Zamir Ahmed Soomro Results obtained and preliminary recommendations Following the SUMAMAD activities the carrying capacity of the rangelands has increased by up to 700%. The yield of mixed fodder crops (millet and guara) obtained was tons/ha. Water use with application of irrigation from the sprinkler system on fodder crops obtained kg/m 3 of green fodder. The use of the sprinkler irrigation system should be encouraged in desert area for fodder crops to increase livestock production to meet the milk and meat requirement of the country. Migration in the project vicinity has been reduced. People have been encouraged to increase handicrafts production, sales of which at the SUMAMAD exhibitions obtain a higher value. The Cholistan Development Authority has submitted a mega-project based on SUMAMAD activities. A core group was set up to prepare and submit guidelines/policy draft to the government Preliminary recommendations to decision-makers

12 The research results indicate that the protection of natural grazing lands from uncontrolled grazing by livestock, and irrigation by sprinkler during the dry period contributes towards increasing vegetation canopy cover, vegetation species and vegetation biomass production. The ranges should be protected from uncontrolled grazing, and a rotational grazing system should be adopted to increase more biomass production and obtain greater carrying capacity per unit area. The land of the Cholistan desert may be allotted to local people to promote dryland agriculture. A high-efficiency irrigation system (sprinkler and trickle) may be subsidized in the desert area Problems and challenges Extreme aridity: the predominantly sandy nature of the soil and topography prohibit arable use of the area. A rough levelling of hummocks was made to spread and mix the roots and shoots cuttings of the shrubs in soil. Consequently, vegetation growth was dense and mitigated the effects of aridity. High-speed wind storms (mostly during the day) prohibit the use of sprinklers, except at night. Due to a long spell of drought, most vegetation has disappeared and local grass seeds have become very rare. Under the financial assistance of SUMAMAD, seeds of grasses were procured from other areas List of publications and media coverage On the occasion of the National Seminar, a detailed presentation was given regarding activities carried out under the SUMAMAD project. A large number of electronic and print media representatives participated in the event. At least three TV channels highlighted the event in their bulletins and a number of newspapers, published on 1 December 2011, devoted space to SUMAMAD activities: Daily Khabrain, Multan Daily Wafa, Bahawalpur Daily Sultan, Multan Daily Qayadat, Bahawalpur Daily Express, Multan Daily Nawa e Waqat, Multan Daily Satlaj, Bahawalpur Daily Jang, Multan Daily Pakistan, Multan Objectives for 2012 (1 page maximum) The objectives and activities for 2012, established under the SUMAMAD project will be continued/carried out as follows:

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