DISSEMINATION OF RESEARCH FINDINGS AND RESULTS OF FORESTRY COMPONENT (A Training Manual For Rural Communities) AKRSP-NLH Collaborative Research On High Altitude Natural Resource Management Basho Watershed, District Baltistan, Pakistan (1997-2001) Wazir Shabir Hussain Muhammad Akbar Raza April 2002
1 INTRODUCTION The Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) Baltistan and the Norwegian Agriculture University (NLH) As Norway entered in to an agreement for carrying out collabortive research on High Altitude Natural Resource Management in 1997. After a series of field visits and discussion Basho watershed in the administrative District Skardu was selected as research area. Following were the major components of this project: - Institutions and organisations in pasture and forestry management - Pasture, livestock and biodiversity - Farm forestry and natural forest assessment - Gender in natural resource management - Information and documentation - Socio-economic survey in Basho A team of researchers from NLH along with counterparts from AKRSP initiated research work in Basho, during the year 1998. This project was funded by NORAD as part of their regular assistance to AKRSP Baltistan, NRM programme. The project completed its first phase in 2001 and came up with certain findings and results of different research components. It was felt necessary that these findings and results are disseminated to various stake holders and partners in the process e.g. Donors, government officials, communities, NLH and AKRSP etc. Various means were discussed for dissemination of information at different levels. For this purpose following means were suggested: a. Specially designed training programme/ or information package for different levels of stake holders b. Printing of posters, brochures and leaflets for transmission of information generated through this research.. c. Organizing seminars and workshops at different levels. d. Using electronic media such as radio, e-mail etc e. Awareness raising among school children through environmental education f. Mobilization meetings with women g. Training programme for different levels As part of the above suggestion, the forestry component has decided to develop a package for information dissemination. This includes preparation of a combined training manual for the trainers and communities, printing of promotional posters, brochures and holding of mobilization meetings with different tiers of the rural societies. In the pages to follow details of the suggested training manual for trainers and communities and other material are presented. 2 AIMS The training will provides the trainer and communities with an awareness about the degrading situation of the natural forest so that thy are able to prevent the natural forest from further deterioration and conserve the same for coming generation. 3 OBJECTIVES It is expected that this training programme will enable the trainers and communities:
To realize the importance of preserving their natural resources To tell about the existing situation of natural growth of forest and extraction of wood there from. Explain the factors inhibiting survival of regenerating seedlings. Adopt proper measures to help the forest regeneration Develop, formulate and implement local rules and regulations for protection of their natural resources. 4 METHODOLOGY The following approach will be adopted in conducting the training: 4.1 The training will be organized on the basic principles of adult learning. The target group will be fully involved in the learning process. This will be ensured by encouraging the participants in keeping their antennae alert and identify themselves the issues and possible solutions. 4.2 The course will be divided into appropriate sessions as per objectives set for training. 4.3 The groups will be facilitated by the trainers in smooth running of the process by providing proper feed back where necessary. 4.4 Proper training aids (flips charts, hand-outs etc) will be used for proper transfer of information. 4.5 Where possible the participants will be taken on exposure trips to see by themselves, what is happening in other areas in this regards. 4.6 Training sessions will comprise of the following main topics: 4.6.1 Importance of natural forests in our lives. 4.6.2 Factors inhibiting survival of regenerating seedlings. 4.6.3 Encouraging newly emerged seedlings to become a tree. 4.6.4 Stopping illegal / unauthorised felling in natural forests. 5 SESSION DELIVERY For the above topics the trainers will use flip-charts, and actual photographs, illustrating the situation. Beside these, brainstorming and small group activities will be carried out for bringing up participants perception about various aspects. 6 SESSION DELIVERY AND FLIP CHARTS PLAN Following is a brief description of various sessions for the training programme: 6.1 Session I In this session the facilitator will introduce him/her self to the participants and explain to them the purpose of the training. Further the facilitator will explain about the research project and its objectives. 6.2 Session II The participants will be asked to brain storm on the benefits of natural forests. The facilitator will provide feed back by using a set of flip charts, illustrating following points: 6.2..1 Beauty of area and environment 6.2.2 Wildlife habitat
6.2.3 Forage for livestock 6.2.4 Fuel wood 6.2.5 Timber 6.2.6 Shade for animals 6.2.7 Erosion/ Flood control 6.2.8 Non wood Forest Products 6.3 Session III Facilitator will divide the participants into smaller groups. Each group will write down the common factors which restrict growth of seedlings and present to others. Facilitator will give feed back with the help of a set of 6 flip charts. These charts will illustrate the following messages: 6.3.1 Uncontrolled grazing is harmful for young seedlings. Similarly trampling has adverse effects on seedlings. 6.3.2 Improper extraction damages young seedlings. 6.3.3 Dragging of felled trees in the forests destroys seedling. 6.3.4 Fire due to irresponsible attitude destroys both young seedlings and older trees. 6.3.5 Avalanches destroy the young seedlings. 6.3.6 Climatic severity and / absence of vegetation hinders seedlings survival. 6.4 Session IV The facilitator links back to the previous session on factors affecting survival of seedlings. Further links to the research recommendations, using a set of 7 charts, with following messages: 6.4.1 Area with young seedlings should be protected from grazing animals. 6.4.2 Small children going to forests for wood collection cause considerable damage to seedlings. Elder people should go for that. 6.4.3 Rotational grazing can help in regeneration and survival of young seedlings.(two illustrations.) 6.4.4 Removal of trees from denser areas in the forest help in regeneration and survival of seedlings. 6.4.5 FOREST IS OURS.(Slogan). 6.5 Session V The facilitator presents a pictorial case study on degradation of natural forests. Asks the participants for their comments. Tells about Astore, where communities have made certain local arrangements for the protection of their natural forest.(use of charts for explaining the story.) Asks the participants to suggest such actions which can be helpful for their area 7. POSTERS All individual sets of flip charts will be reproduced on separate posters and distributed among the rural households. In all 4 such posters will be prepared on following topics;
Importance of natural forest in our lives Factors inhabiting survivals of seedlings Helping a seedling to grow into a tree Stopping illegal/unauthorised felling in the natural forest 8 BROCHURES Brochures will be published in simple to understand language, for those who can read. All the posters and brochures will be made in simple Urdu. These aids will be presented in an attractive and colourful way, so that villagers can put them on their walls. To make the posters more useful for the villagers, calendars can be printed on them.
Session Plan 1 Duration minutes Date Why this workshop? To give the participants basic understanding about the purpose of this workshop, so that they are able to extract maximum benefit from it. Objectives By the end of this session the participants will be able to clearly describe the basic purpose of holding this workshop and properly communicate it to others. Introduction The facilitator introduces himself and asks for a brief 5 introduction of the participants. Contents The facilitator asks the participants for expressing their expectations about the workshop. 20 35 Facilitator introduces what will follow in the coming sessions. Review Facilitator reviews that session using QPN Hands out given Training News print. Markers. Hand outs. Session Plan 2 Duration minutes Date Importance of natural forests in our lives To provide the participants with an understanding of importance of natural forest so that they are able to further disseminate this message for the benefit of communities Objectives By the end of this session the participants will be able to tell at least 6 benefits of natural forest Introduction The Facilitator links discussion to research in Basho Explains about current session 5 Contents - Facilitator asks participants to brainstorm on natural forest 15 - Participants brain storm and facilitator notes down 20 - Facilitator provides feed back 35 - Facilitator uses flip charts to explain the topics Review Facilitator reviews that session using QPN Hands out given Training Flip charts, hand outs,
Session Plan 3 Duration minutes Date Factors inhibiting regeneration To provide the participants with knowledge about factors preventing regeneration in natural forest, so that they are able to avoid these factors and are helpful in regeneration process. Objectives By the end of this session, the participants will be able to list at least four main factors that effect the regeneration in a natural forest Introduction Facilitator links back to previous session,using QPN Explains purpose of current session 5 Contents - Facilitator divides the participants into smaller groups using Jungle energiser 15 - Facilitator asks the groups to note down the causes that inhibit regeneration in natural forest 25 - Small groups present to others. Facilitator provides feed back - Facilitator explains with the help of flip charts Review Facilitator uses QPN Gives out hand out Links to next session 45 Training Flip charts, hand outs, newsprint, markers. Session Plan 4 Duration 45 minutes Date Helping the seedling become a tree To provide the participants with knowledge about the ways of helping in natural forest regeneration. so that they can take the message forward and help in rehabilitation of natural forest Objectives By the end of the session, the participants will be able to explain at least 4 ways of allowing regeneration in the natural forest Introduction Facilitator uses QPN to link the session with previous one Explains present session 5 Contents - Facilitator briefly describes the results of research in Basho 15 - Asks participants to tell about possible solutions to the problems 25 - Notes down participants response - Explains with the help flipcharts, the recommendations of research. Review Review through QPN Slogan Forest Is Ours, We Will Protect It. Gives hand outs 45 Training Flip charts, hand outs
Session Plan 5 Duration 45 minutes Date Local rules and regulations for conservation of natural forests To provide the participants with an awareness about their being able to design and formulate local rules and regulations of conservation so that they can implement the same for effective conservation of natural forest resource. Objectives By the end of the session the participants will be able to properly come up with solid suggestions on conservation rules and regulations at village level Introduction Facilitator links to the previous session using QPN Explains significance of conservation 5 Contents - Facilitator displays case study from Astore, asks for - participants views. - Gives feed back and explains - Asks participants for bringing up their suggestions about how to develop rules for conservation of forest - Participants display and present their designed rules and regulations to others - Facilitator provides feed back - Review Facilitator emphases need for local rules and regulations. Training Say good bye Case study, hand out 20 45 50
TRAINERS GUIDE: The purpose behind this guide is to help the trainers in proper delivery of their session. Facilitating a session/ training becomes much easier if the basic principles of adult learning are kept in mind. These can be memorised through a simple memonic,promoting, which stands for: Primacy and recency. Reward learning. Over learning Multi sense learning Opportunity for feed back Involving the participants in the process. Nibble learning. Going from known to unknown. Mind it that your participants are mostly grown up people. They need not holding their fingers but only need some facilitation. Try to bring out what they are holding in their minds. This can be done effectively by involving them actively in the learning process.