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

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

Central Asian Countries Initiative for Sustainable Land Management - Multicountry Capacity Building (CACILM - MCB) - Kyrgyzstan

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

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (GIZ) - Germany

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

15/09/2010

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

Yes

1.4 Reference(s) to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Technologies

2.1 Short description of the Approach

Reforestation of deserted state forest plots through a financial incentive system for the labour intensive first years of forest establishment, after which harvests of forest products from the plot provide income opportunities for the forest tenants and the State Forestry Agency (in the frame of CACILM).

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Aims / objectives: The main objective of the approach is the reforestation of a completely deserted former forest area in collaboration with the local population. However, as reforestation is highly labour intensive especially in the initial phases, this approach was developed as an incentive system to overcome this high-labour/low-income phase.

Methods: The underlying method is the implementation of Joint Forestry Management (JFM) on severely degraded forest plots (For JFM see approach TAJ015). In order to enable reforestation on such plots, an incentive system has been developed to bridge the gap when the initial workload is high, but no forest resources can yet be harvested. Therefore, selected forest tenants receive a savings book with a total amount of money to be obtained for forest rehabilitation work within the next six years. Every year clear planting and rehabilitation goals are formulated, which have to be completed by an agreed deadline. All tenants who completed their annual tasks will get access to a share of the total amount in the savings book. The annual shares gradually decreases over a period of six years, after which access to forest resources on the rehabilitated plot will be substantial enough to provide income opportunities and forest resources for their own consumption. According to the JFM contract, forest tenants hold a plot for a period of 20 years. This also applies for the savings book tenants, who act as regular JFM tenants after the subsidised reforestation period of six years is over.

Stages of implementation: The savings book approach is designed to cover a period of six years, and includes the following; (1) Before implementation; the willingness of the local population to participate needs to be assessed, the feasibility of reforestation, costs for irrigation, possibilities and the need for fencing and possible conflicts and challenges that might occur. (2) In the first year a living fence (seabuckthorn) has to be established, and the irrigation system has to be fully rehabilitated. (3) During the first three years of the approach implementation tenants will reforest one third of their plot each year (1-2 ha per household), introducing a rotation system that will be used for harvesting. (4) During years 4-6, mainly maintenance work will be conducted (pruning, fence and irrigation maintenance).

Role of stakeholders: The JFM rental contract is valid for 20 years and defines the rights and duties of the forest tenants and the State Forestry Agency. While the tenant is responsible for the agreed annual reforestation tasks, the Forestry Agency provides the required planting material, technical support and monitoring. The Micro Loan Organisation MADINA, facilitates the financial transactions required for the implementation and management of the savings books.

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 Approach focused mainly on SLM with other activities (Income generation, income diversification, reforestation of severely degraded forest areas, improved access to forest resources)

Reforestation and protection of severely degraded state forest plots in cooperation with the local forest users. At the same time, providing an incentive system for the initial reforestation phase, when a high workload is required but no forest products can be harvested. The main objective is therefore to combine forest rehabilitation with livelihood improvement (increased income generation and forest resource accessibility) and to directly involve the local population in the management and rehabilitation of the State forest resources close to their village. The approach will be implemented within the framework of Joint Forestry Management (see approach TAJ015).

The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: The forest area close to the village was completely destroyed during the civil war to meet urgent fuelwood needs. At the same time the State Forestry Agency does not have the necessary financial, management and control capacities to reforest degraded areas. Despite the presence of a forested area close to the village, local inhabitants do not have the labour force and the financial resources to rehabilitate the plot and the irrigation infrastructure on their own. These highly degraded or deserted forest plots aim to be re-established through the savings book approach, by combining long-term rental contracts for individual plots, financial incentives for the initial reforestation efforts, and user rights to the resources growing on the plot in future.

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	Initial field visits, information seminars, discussions, involvement of the whole community.
planning	interactive	The technical planning of the approach was mainly conducted by forestry specialists, whereas the local villagers were consulted in an interactive way in order to adapt the approach to the specific conditions on site (e.g. solution of irrigation problem, planting techniques etc.).
implementation	external support	After the initial reforestation phase the tenants will be involved in the participatory JFM system.
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive	Progress and results are monitored in close cooperation between the State Forestry Agency, the plot tenants and project staff. Successes and challenges are documented and discussed, which if needed lead to an adaptation in the approach design.
Research	passive	Research is currently being conducted at a the local level, involving the local population as well as Forestry Agency staff for interviews and field visits.

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 SLM specialists, following consultation with land users

Explain:

The savings book approach was initially developed and tested in Vietnam. The idea to implement such an approach in GBAO came from a GIZ project. Nevertheless, the local population was involved in several discussions about the adaptation of the approach to the local conditions.

Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by mainly by SLM specialists with consultation of land users

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users
• field staff/ advisers

If relevant, specify gender, age, status, ethnicity, etc.

As for JFM (see approach TAJ015), in the first step 'mobilisers' and Forestry Agency staff were trained as field staff. In the second step, they provided training, information and advice for the forest tenants.

Form of training:

• on-the-job
• demonstration areas
• public meetings
• courses

Subjects covered:

Sustainable natural resource management, technical forest management (cutting and planting of trees, maintenance of a forest area, building of living seabuckthorn fences), elaboration of management plans and annual plans for a sustainable and joint management of the forest plot between forest tenants and the State Forestry Agency.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields

Describe/ comments:

Name of method used for advisory service: Forestry training for tenants; Key elements: Sustainable natural resource management and use, Technical training in forestry management (planting and harvesting, fencing etc.)

Advisory service is quite adequate to ensure the continuation of land conservation activities; Strong interest from tenants as well as State Forestry Agency to continue with this approach. However, due to the short time the approach is being implemented, still more training and practice will be needed to ensure an experienced, effective and reliable advisory service by Forestry Agency staff.

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, moderately

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

• local

Specify type of support:

• financial
• capacity building/ training

Give further details:

The State Forestry Agency is being trained and supported to implement and monitor the approach on their own, and to offer advisory services. Additionally the forest tenants are encouraged and supported to act as a group and to advocate their needs and problems as a local civil society organisation

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

technical aspects were ad hoc monitored by project staff, government through observations; indicators: condition of the irrigation and fencing infrastructure

socio-cultural aspects were ad hoc monitored by project staff, land users through observations; indicators: discussion of problems and challenges

economic / production aspects were regular monitored by project staff, government through observations; indicators: control of planting process, technical advice

economic / production aspects were regular monitored by project staff, government through measurements; indicators: control of seedlings planted (first 4 years), amount of harvested forest products (from 5th year on)

area treated aspects were regular monitored by project staff, government through measurements; indicators: monitoring of area planted at the end of planting period, enable withdrawal of money if satisfactory

management of Approach aspects were ad hoc monitored by project staff through observations; indicators: monitoring of successes and challenges, adaptation of approach if needed

management of Approach aspects were regular monitored by project staff through measurements; indicators: allocated funds to forest tenants, overall performance of approach: reforestation achieved

There were several changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation: As the Saving Book Approach is implemented as a pilot project, results from monitoring and evaluation were mainly collected as lessons learnt, which will be highly helpful to adapt and perfectionnate the approach for further implementation sites.

There were no changes in the Technology as a result of monitoring and evaluation: None

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

• socio-economic, on-site situation analysis

Give further details and indicate who did the research:

A Tajik Masters student enrolled at the university of Bayreuth is currently conducting transdisciplinary field research on the perception, willingness to participate and opportunities for further distribution of the approach in GBAO. The results will help to develop a model for further evaluation of potential sites for the approach and to identify areas of difficulty.

Research was carried out both on station and on-farm

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):

Approach costs were met by the following donors: local community / land user(s) (Local forest plot tenants): 10.0%; international (Deutsche Geselschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ)): 80.0%; private sector (Micro-loan organisation MADINA): 5.0%; local government (district, county, municipality, village etc) (State Forestry Agency of GBAO and Shugnan District): 5.0%

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):

As the approach aims to reforest strongly degraded forest areas, the forest tenants are rewarded with financial compensation for the initial years without direct income opportunities from the plot.

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• equipment

• agricultural

• infrastructure

• other

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

• paid in cash

Comments:

Labour was carried out voluntarily as well

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?

Yes

If yes, specify:

The State Forestry Agency is being trained and supported to implement and monitor the approach on their own, and to offer advisory services. Additionally the forest tenants are encouraged and supported to act as a group and to advocate their needs and problems as a local civil society organisation

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:

Currently the approach is still in its testing phase. However, the savings book approach has been designed in a way to ensure sustainability, as after the work-intensive initial phase, the forest tenants will be able to generate income from the forest resources.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
A financial incentive system bridges the period where a lot of work input is required, but the plot still doesn't provide any benefit. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Provide advisory and regular monitoring in order to allow the tenants to achieve the fixed annual goals and get access to their annual share of money.)
In the long run, forest tenants have a benefit from the reforested plot in the form of legal access to forest products (firewood, timber, hay, fruits and berries etc.). (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Support the creation of marketing opportunities for forest products.)

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Completely deforested former forest plots can be reforested and livelihoods sustained at the same time. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Foster trust between the State Forestry Agency and the local forest tenants.)
Sustainable management of the plot in future is enabled through JFM. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Support ownership creation for the reforested area among tenants and the Forestry Agency.)

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?
Benefits from the forest plot will be possible only after 5 to 6 years.	Bridge the initial phase with income from the savings book, build up marketing opportunities for the forest products to be harvested in future.
The plot will no longer be freely accessible for other land use types such as grazing of livestock.	Provide platforms to discuss arising conflicts, show and support opportunities for winter fodder production on the forest plot.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Through the high initial labour input the costs for the implementation of this approach are rather high.	Document and promote experiences of the pilot project, enable dissemination, as the establishment of larger areas reduce the costs per ha.
The approach is designed for a time period of a minimum of six years, at the end of which there might be less external technical support.	Continue and improve training of Forestry Agency staff to enable a sustainable continuation.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information