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Approaches
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Pasture and Livestock Management Plan [Tajikistan]

Накшаи Идоракунии Чорво ва Чарогох

approaches_3459 - Tajikistan

Completeness: 94%

1. General information

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

Key resource person(s)

SLM specialist:
Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)
Environmental Land Management and Rural Livelihoods (ELMAR)
Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)
Aga Khan Foundation (Aga Khan Foundation) - Switzerland

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

15/07/2014

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. Description of the SLM Approach

2.1 Short description of the Approach

"Pasture and Livestock Management Plan" is a participatory approach which is guiding pasture users, members of Pasture User Unions and Pasture User Groups to develop their action plan on pasture and livestock management. The approach brings together stakeholders, who are involved at any stage in pasture management or can contribute to or impede the implementation of the pasture livestock management plan.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Pasture and Livestock Management Plan (PLMP) Approach is a participatory approach towards the development of a pasture plan with communities to ensure a sustainable use of pasture resources. It was especially designed for the needs of the Pasture User Union, a new structure allowed to establish at community level to implement better management of their pasture resources. Though a step-by-step analysis of the current situation a community will come up with detailed action plan for the following three years. The PLMP involves, but is not limited to, the establishment of a committee involved in preparation of the PLMP, as well as a stakeholder analysis and the determination of the carrying capacity of pasture resources by comparing the existing fodder resources and requirements for the fodder. Based on that analysis, an action plan will be developed with involvement of all stakeholders to reach an agreement on approaches and technologies to implement the interventions. The PLMP will lead to the development of the Action Plan based on the discussion between different stakeholders. In the process of the plan development with consideration of an expert a clear roles and responsibilities of all involved actors/stakeholder in a defined timeframe will be identified.
The main objectives is to support land users with development of actions, which contribute to the sustainable development of pasture resource and livestock development. The central focus is given to balance the need of the livestock owners to improve livestock productivity with compromising the environmental conditions for the next generations and ecosystem services. The planning process should contribute to better management of pasture lands, rehabilitation of degraded pastures, resolving any existing conflict over pasture use, awareness raising on the role of pasture land for ecosystem services and overall trends in development with regards to use and management of pasture resources.

The process is based on participatory methods with involvement of different stakeholders capturing main principles for land use planning. The process includes pasture users/livestock owners who are involved in day to day management of pasture lands, local government with related department to pasture use, land owners, different departments of local government such as forestry, land use committee, environmental protection etc.
The approach is conducted in three main stages: In the firs stage consultation with pasture users will be held to identify the need for development of a pasture plan. Then an inventory of all land resources, including pasture land and livestock numbers will be conducted. In the third stage a workshop will be conducted with involvement of all stakeholders, where the pasture plan will be developed. In the final stage of the pasture plan development an action plan with defined clear activities in a given frame and assigned responsible persons will be developed.
Land users, who also own livestock appreciate their involvement in the pasture development planning. They also like when their voice is taken into consideration in making any decision with regards to the pasture use.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

General remarks regarding photos:

Participants reflecting on the overall process of the PLMP approach with all steps involved starting with setting up objectives and principles, analysis of stakeholders up to development of action plan.

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

Country:

Tajikistan

Region/ State/ Province:

Rasht Valley/Lakhsh District

Further specification of location:

PUUs established in Rasht Valley under ELMARLP

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date when the Approach was initiated:

less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Type of Approach

  • project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The main objective is to support land users with the development of actions, that contribute to the sustainable development of pasture resource and livestock development. The central focus is to balance the need of the livestock owners to improve livestock productivity without compromising the environmental conditions for next generations and ecosystem services. The planning process should contribute to better management of pasture lands, rehabilitation of degraded pastures, resolving any existing conflicts over pasture use, raise awareness on the role of pasture land for ecosystem services and overall trends in development with regards to use and management of pasture resources.

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

social/ cultural/ religious norms and values
  • hindering

Communities are used to an ad hoc use of natural resources and therefore sometime not willing to structured planning processes in terms of use of pasture resources.

availability/ access to financial resources and services
  • hindering

In the case that funding is not available from project side, it may hinder further implementation of the actions planned under the PLMP approach.

institutional setting
  • enabling

The PLMP approach is specifically designed for the PUU, which are legally registered institutes under the governmental law. This enables the process to run continously.

collaboration/ coordination of actors
  • enabling

Depending on the leadership of the institutional structure, if well managed, it can enable collaboration among different stakeholders

  • hindering

The newly established PUUs do not have enough power to influence the institutes in which stakeholders who are not interested in the sustainable use of pasture resources work hinder the planning process.

legal framework (land tenure, land and water use rights)
  • enabling

mainly used by the PUUs, which are are functioning in the framework of state law

policies
  • enabling

The plan is developed for the Pasture User Unions, which are legal structure responsible for pasture management at community level.

land governance (decision-making, implementation and enforcement)
  • enabling

The approach will enable community members (PUUs) to become legal owners of the pasture resources according to the Pasture Law of the Republic of Tajikistan.

knowledge about SLM, access to technical support
  • enabling

Experts in the field are supported technically by project consultants, several trainings on the process and approach are conducted for them.

3. Participation and roles of stakeholders involved

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

  • local land users/ local communities

livestock owners and PUU members

involved in direct process development and implementation of the approach

  • community-based organizations

village organizations, pasture user unions

also registered in the framework of the state law and are represented in the PUU. mainly involved in mobilization of the community to participate in the development and implementation of the plan

  • SLM specialists/ agricultural advisers

project consultants and technical staff

facilitate the process of developing the PLMP approach, capacity building on the approach for the members of PUU

  • NGO

locally registered public organizations which are directly involved in the natural resource and environmental management

provide technical support to the community and land users; can also support with fundraising

  • private sector

entrepreneurs at local level

co-funding of the implementation of some of the practices from the PLMP

  • local government

local level government (sub-district authority), land use committee, committee of environmental protection, agriculture department etc.,

as one of the main stakeholders responsible for management of natural resource; can also provide overall supervision of the approach development; PUUs for which the PLMP is developed: legal structure under the Pasture Law of the Republic of Tajikistan.

If several stakeholders were involved, indicate lead agency:

Land Commttee

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 external support livestock owners, PUU members; consultation with livestock owners, facilitation the process of establishment of PUUs
planning interactive land users, PUU members, pasture experts
implementation interactive PUU members and expert from project; consultation with stakeholders, conduct workshop and development of the plan
monitoring/ evaluation external support from project team and management of PUU

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:

Mainly as a new approach, best practices from the WOCAT database were used by the SLM specialists to introduce to land users and traditional practices were also applied based on the knowledge of land users.

Specify on what basis decisions were made:
  • evaluation of well-documented SLM knowledge (evidence-based decision-making)
  • personal experience and opinions (undocumented)

4. Technical support, capacity building, and knowledge management

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:
  • land users
  • field staff/ advisers
Form of training:
  • on-the-job
  • public meetings
Subjects covered:

"Pasture and Livestock Management Plan" methodology, proposal development for fund raising, Environmental Land Management

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:

During the project period continuos visits were organized to the project site to review the progress and provide advisory service. The project implmentation team consisting of different experts, including pasture, environmental specialists and monitoring and evaluation experts.

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?
  • yes, greatly
Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:
  • local
Describe institution, roles and responsibilities, members, etc.

Pasture User Union was established at sub-district level.

Specify type of support:
  • financial
  • capacity building/ training
Give further details:

Different technical and administrative trainings were provided and the PUU was funded with certain amount for implementation of the PLMP approach.

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

The final section of the PLMP is monitoring and evaluation. At each stage a responsible person among the stakeholders is assigned to conduct the plan implementation. In addition, the project team also conducts monitoring of the approach.

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

Yes

Comments:

The implementing agency has a monitoring methodology, which will be used by the project team to conduct monitoring.

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

No

5. Financing and external material support

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:
  • 2,000-10,000
Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

World Bank in the framework of ELMARL - Environmental Land Management and Rural Livelihood project

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

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

No

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

  • none
 
If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:
  • voluntary
Comments:

This is traditional now and any project fund should be accompanied by contributions from communities, which is mainly labour on a voluntary basis

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. Impact analysis and concluding statements

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

Did the Approach empower local land users, improve stakeholder participation?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

It directly helped them to identify their status and understand their right to land use.

Did the Approach help land users to implement and maintain SLM Technologies?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

All technologies planned under the approach as part of their action plan were later financed by projects to implement.

after development of the pasture and livestock management plan the PUUs were supported financial from the ELMARL project to implement the plan

the plan is developed through conducted workshop with participation of all stakeholders, including land users, where they get opportunity to learn experiences of other stakeholders.

All stakeholders involved in the process including women and youth had an opportunity to make decisions in line with other stakeholders.

Did the Approach mitigate conflicts?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Roles and responsibilities identified all stakeholder and one of the objective to mitigate conflict brought under discussion conflict over pasture use and tried to solve it to some extent.

Did the Approach empower socially and economically disadvantaged groups?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Women's role in livestock management was identified and empowered.

All stakeholders involved in the process including women and youth had an opportunity to make decisions in line with other stakeholders.

the approach give the land users/PUU members rights to become owner of the pasture under the Pasture Law of the Republic of Tajikistan

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

  • increased production
  • reduced land degradation

The rotation plan for rehabilitation of degraded pasture is applied.

  • reduced risk of disasters

Watershed approach was applied to ban grazing in some areas to prevent land slide and mudflow as a result of degradation.

  • rules and regulations (fines)/ enforcement

The plan does not set certain rules at this stage to enforce the regulation, but the community is planning to negotiate and set certain rules in case of not following the regulations to implement the plan.

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:

depends on the availability of funding, leadership and support from other stakeholders, especially local government

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
active participation in the development of the plan
better understanding of the current situation with regards to pasture use and importance of pasture plan development
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
involvement of all stakeholders, especially land users and taking their knowledge and voice into consideration in decision making
building of the knowledge and opening a platform for collaboration between different stakeholders interested in sustainable management of pasture resources

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?
time consuming, requires resource in the short term should be understand as a means of livelihoods and spend more time, improve understanding of better gain in a long term
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view How can they be overcome?
financial resources should design longer term project to attract funding before the approach becomes self sustained
low capacity of the stakeholders, more trainings, sharing of experiences
human resources More focus should be given to younger generation to build their capacity and involve them in the approach development

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

  • field visits, field surveys

6

  • interviews with land users

more than 50

  • interviews with SLM specialists/ experts

5

  • compilation from reports and other existing documentation

3

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Pasture and Livestock Management Plan Manual

Available from where? Costs?

Available upon request

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Pasture Management Networking Platform (PMNP)

URL:

https://pasture.klink.asia/dms/documents/groups/796?page=2

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