1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Environmental Land Management and Rural Livelihood Project

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

20/09/2017

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

2.1 Short description of the Approach

In the mountainous conditions of Tajikistan the main source of fodder for livestock is accumulated in remote pastures, which are located high in the mountains and are classified as summer pastures. Improving access with building infrastructure (roads and bridges) to these remote pastures as a main source of fodder for livestock during summer period will decrease burden on pastures close to the village and will help rehabilitation of degraded pastures and improvement of other environmental services provided by pasture lands.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

The main feature in this approach is to balance the use of the pasture land in different seasons thorugh development of access to this resources. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and break down of the kolkhozes and Sovkhozes in the mountainous area of Tajikistan, utilization of pasture lands were suffering because of poor infrastructure, such as roads and bridges. Through community mobilization and sharing of funding costs such as labour force, roads and bridges providing access to remote pastures are build. This approach motivated communities to put in place rotation plans of patures. The main objective of promoting this approach is to organize the whole potential of existing fodder from the pasture and decrease burden on the close pasture lands to communities.
In this approach participatory methods was used, where community shared labour force and the local government support with formal documentation to allow contraction of new roads and bridges. Funding was mobilized from different sources, such as donor funds, governments and sometimes from the community itself.
Communities as members of PUUs were mobilized to serve as labour with some funding from project to access materials and means for implementation. The plan was negotiated and coordinated with the local level governmental authorities for legal permission both on improving infrastructure and use of pastures remote from villages.
Communities were excited to have access to additional pasture lands, as source of fodder for livestock development. Under this approach communities were motivated to plan pasture use in a sustainable way. Since the approach involves construction of roads and bridges, it involved a lot of manpower, especially during the agriculture season, where land users were also busy in their fields.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The main purpose of the approach is to support communities with improving access to the existing pasture resources and organize sustainable use of natural resources by providing also other ecosystem services such as recreational for people to go for hiking and mountaineering.

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	interactive	Community members such as livestock owners are involved in the process of identifying the potential for pasture development.
planning	interactive	Community members, who graze their livestock in the remote pastures together with community based organizations/structures jointly develop their plan and priorities they need. In their planning process a representative from the local government usually participates.
implementation	self-mobilization	In the implementation phase usually, if external funding is not available, community with support of their local structures organize themselves and share contribution to build or rehabilitate infrastructure to the pasture lands.
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive	If the project is funded from external resources joint monitoring is conducted with involvement of government representatives, funders and community members.

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• mainly land users, supported by SLM specialists

Explain:

In their community planning process, either specific on pasture management or overall community planning, community members identify their needs and prioritise for implementation during a certain period. In this planning process a government representative usually participates aswell. Sometimes with support of I/NGOs specific planning tools or methodologies are developed and introduced at community level.

Specify on what basis decisions were made:

• personal experience and opinions (undocumented)

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

No

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

No

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, a little

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local

Describe institution, roles and responsibilities, members, etc.

Usually the community initiative is mobilized through community based organizations (village organization), which exist in all communities. In some cases specific structures, such as Pasture User Unions as separate entities or pasture user groups such as CBO sub-groups are established for proper management of pasture resources. In this case a pasture group with a specific working group (or brigade) consisting of specialized masters is organized to carry out the construction process and report to the official structure in the communities.

Specify type of support:

• financial
• equipment

Give further details:

for procurement of construction materials and fuel for tractor for road construction, fee for technical staff like engineer, masters

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

compliance with sustainability plan and maintenance mechanism is monitored by the project staff and engineering work by technical staff was checked and readjusted

If yes, is this documentation intended to be used for monitoring and evaluation?

Yes

Comments:

internal documentation from the implementing agency is used t

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

No

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 10,000-100,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

sharing contribution by donors and communities and also sometime by government

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Yes

If yes, specify type(s) of support, conditions, and provider(s):

construction materials and technical supervision with preparing of the design and implementation of the approach

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• equipment

• construction

• infrastructure

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• voluntary

Comments:

labour usually in construction project is considered as community contribution, which is organized by the community based organization and agreed on the pre-planning session of the project selection process

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

No

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• uncertain

If no or uncertain, specify and comment:

If the approach is applied properly and the rotation grazing is followed, the infrastructure is maintained, then it contributes to the sustainability of the project. Usually communities collect money when rehabilitation is required.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
provide them with additional pasture areas, give them opportunity to improve their pasture resource conditions.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The approach motivates community to share resources for the community work and contribute voluntary lobour.

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
It is difficult to fund big projects, because infrastructure development to access new pasture areas is always associated with big funding.	establish special fund for maintenance of this approach

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Community structures are new and are not well empowered to maintain all the innovative approaches.	empower PUU and pasture users to become the real owner of the resource and build their capacity in management of their structure and sustainability

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Pasture and Livestock Management Plan, Zevarshoev Askarsho, 2015

Available from where? Costs?

available upon request