Abordagens

Kalpavalli conservation approach: community-centred conservation of the commons [Índia]

Kalpavalli

approaches_6931 - Índia

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1. Informação geral

1.2 Detalhes do contato das pessoas capacitadas e instituições envolvidas na avaliação e documentação da abordagem

Pessoa(s) capacitada(s)

Especialista em GST:
Especialista em GST:

Ganguly Choitresh

bablu@timbaktu.org

Timbaktu Collective

Índia

Especialista em GST:

Vattamattam Mary

mary@timbaktu.org

Timbaktu Collective

Índia

co-compilador/a:

Rao Siddharth

sidsrao@gmail.com

Adavi Trust

Índia

Nome do projeto que facilitou a documentação/avaliação da Abordagem (se relevante)
G20 Global Land Initiative (GLI) Course (GLI Course)
Nome da(s) instituição(ões) que facilitou(ram) a documentação/avaliação da Abordagem (se relevante)
G20 Global Land Initiative (GLI)
Nome da(s) instituição(ões) que facilitou(ram) a documentação/avaliação da Abordagem (se relevante)
Arugu (Arugu) - Índia
Nome da(s) instituição(ões) que facilitou(ram) a documentação/avaliação da Abordagem (se relevante)
Adavi Trust (Adavi Trust) - Índia

1.3 Condições em relação ao uso da informação documentada através de WOCAT

Quando os dados foram compilados (no campo)?

06/09/2023

O/a compilador/a e a(s) pessoa(s) capacitada(s) aceitam as condições relativas ao uso de dados documentados através da WOCAT:

Sim

2. Descrição da abordagem de GST

2.1 Descrição curta da abordagem

The Kalpavalli Community Conservation Area (KCCA) is a 6,500-acre (2,630 hectare) expanse of community-regenerated arid land located in the state of Andhra Pradesh in southern India. Over thirty years, participatory efforts have protected and restored this savannah ecosystem, with direct and indirect benefits to the community. This community-centred conservation of the commons is termed the Kalpavalli conservation approach.

2.2 Descrição detalhada da abordagem

Descrição detalhada da abordagem:

The Kalpavalli conservation approach is renowned for its focus on restoring common lands through the efforts of a cooperative society based on a federation of village forest committees. Community members are the beneficiaries. Through this approach, 6,500-acres (2,630 hectare) of arid and severely degraded common lands, have been successfully rejuvenated over the past 33 years. An NGO, Timbaktu Collective, has facilitated the conceptualisation and implementation of the approach.

The primary stakeholders are marginalized community members, including Dalits (the socially disadvantaged lowest castes), who have traditionally been landless labourers and pastoralists. Timbaktu Collective has played a critical role in community mobilization, capacity-building, training, and documentation. The approach empowered the lower castes to participate actively in the decision-making process and enabled them to advocate for benefits from government programmes. However, the lack of absolute ownership of the common lands and the potential influence of private parties with vested interests remain challenges.

The programme offers social and technical support. Details of the approach and its key focusses are as follows:

1. Social

Livelihoods: The Kalpavalli area is officially designated by the government as "wastelands", a contentious term which is applied to lands which the government does not consider economically productive. These lands are technically administrated by the State Government, but in most cases are either ignored or given to companies to establish factories or industrial estates. However, the Kalpavalli conservation approach ensures that traditional grazing and usage rights by communities are recognised. This facilitates sustainable land use centred on grazing, harvesting of non-timber forest produce, and more. The approach further promotes community management of common resources, joint responsibility for land protection, access to income generation from minor forest produce – all based on sustainable resource management.

Ownership and rights to resources: Grazing lands are largely under the technical ownership of the government, where traditional usage rights are permitted but not awarded legal status. The main challenge here is uncertainty about long-term ownership and rights to access. The approach therefore aims to secure usage, control, and ownership rights for the local community users. This is enabled through the creation of a community cooperative. The NGO and the cooperative have together been exploring various legal options to secure community ownership of the land.

Participation: The approach relies on social and technical methods, emphasizing community engagement. Social techniques include street theatre, community outings, participatory discussions, and voluntary service (“Shramadhanam”) to educate and mobilize the largely illiterate population.

Membership and monitoring: Members contribute an annual fee to access grazing and fuelwood collection. The approach includes policies for both protecting and monitoring common resources.

Organization development: Capacity-building, conflict resolution and organization management are facilitated through training and workshops.
Enterprise development: The community cooperative has launched eco-tourism initiatives to generate income, reinvesting profits into conservation efforts.

2. Technical

Restoration: The initial focus was on land protection, as common lands were degraded. In the initial years a key focus was on planting but then restoration work was modified as the land responded. Efforts have included protection from logging, creating firebreak lines, seed collection of native species, stream clearing, rotational grazing management, constructing rock-filled dams - and other watershed development work.

Protection of the commons: Stones were used to demarcate the land, and volunteer groups ("Vana Samrakshana Samithi") were established to prevent overgrazing and protect the area from uncontrolled fires.

Earthworks: Soil and water conservation measures such as rock-filled dams and earth bunds were introduced to reduce soil erosion and enhance groundwater recharge.

Research and management plans: Researchers helped map and share understanding of biodiversity. Biodiversity conservation, including both flora and fauna became a focus, with savannah ecology management plans developed.

Trees and vegetation: Initial attempts at using nurseries for propagation met with little success - and were replaced by seed broadcasting and propagation of local wild species. Seed huts were built to store seeds gather from this indigenous vegetation.

2.3 Fotos da abordagem

2.4 Vídeos da abordagem

Comentários, breve descrição:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-VtU46p9KA
short video on the Kalpavalli Project

Nome do cinegrafista:

Black Ticket Films

Comentários, breve descrição:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZse_6PrGKg

About the conservation education work by the Timabktu Collective at the Kalpavalli Conservation Area

Nome do cinegrafista:

Timbaktu Collective

Comentários, breve descrição:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7s4VIqtpLA

A short video on the wildlife conservation work at the Kalpavalli Conservation Area

2.5 País/região/locais onde a abordagem foi aplicada

País:

Índia

Região/Estado/Província:

Andhra Pradesh

Especificação adicional de localização:

Anatapuram District

2.6 Datas de início e término da abordagem

Indique o ano de início:

1992

Comentários:

Ongoing

2.7 Tipo de abordagem

  • Mixed using all three of the above

2.8 Principais metas/objetivos da abordagem

Water and Soil Conservation
Community-Led Conservation
Common Land Protection
Wildlife Conservation
Livelihood Generation
Empowerment of Local Communities

2.9 Condição que propiciam ou inibem a implementação de tecnologia/tecnologias aplicada(s) segundo a abordagem

Normas e valores sociais/culturais/religiosos
  • Propício

Cultural practises such as sramadhanam (volunteering physical labour for a common goal), vanabhojanam (feasts in the forest), Sacred Groves, Kattubaatu (group decisions and social agreements that everyone decides to honour)

  • Inibitivo

Lack of agency for women, caste system

Disponibilidade/acesso a recursos e serviços financeiros
  • Propício

The most important factor to note, especially as a resource, was the Timbaktu campus serving as an active ecology lab. A lot of knowledge was transferred from this site to the hills of Kalpavalli. All the technologies implemented were done with locally available skills, labour and materials. Therefore, the costs were minimal.

  • Inibitivo

Initially it was difficult for the members to raise capital/ group savings by themselves. In light of this, the NGO fundraised small amounts to help the works undertaken, especially for wages and salaries of members. Additionally, being a low priority landscape, (these swathes of land are even called ‘wastelands’) it was difficult to raise large amounts for restoration works as it did not at that time capture the imagination of the population nor the Government.

Quadro institucional
  • Propício

The different technologies of the watershed concept such as gully plugs, greening, conservation, rock filled dams water flow delay and absorption were modified and adapted to this particular landscape thanks to having an institutional setting and back up. It served as an interface to acquire the knowledge and then systematically implement it on the field.
Having the institutional setting also allowed for the technological interventions to be suggested to the Government bodies for watershed works. It also worked in the favour of the approach that institutionally as well, these were not only ideas or concepts shared but were also actively being worked on in the field, which added to its credibility.

Colaboração/coordenção de atores
  • Propício

The Community members (Forest Protection Committee) , the NGO, the Village level Panchayat, local Universities and the Government were all involved in these processes. If any of these actors did not cooperate then this approach would not have been possible. The larger goal of communities working towards ‘ greening’ was what largely aided this collaboration between various actors to occur

Quadro jurídico (posse de terra, direitos de uso da terra e da água)
  • Propício

The concept of ‘land use for the commons’, village common lands.

  • Inibitivo

Technically the land belongs to the Government. So even if the community actively works and restores it, even for 3 decades, the ownership will not rest with them. Here are a few examples in how this has proved to a hindrance so far:
Land grab by private windmill companies
Green tribunal windmill case, though won, did not get payment to the community
Government granted sections of land to the Forest Department in the conservation area.
Electricity Department granted area to lay high power cables through wolf and blackbuck habitat

Políticas
  • Propício

That the Common lands were for use by the village and came under the Revenue Department which grants usage rights. This enabled all the works to be undertaken without any backlash from upper castes in the village.
That the Sacred Groves come under the Endowment Lands, which also aided the protection of the wild lands surrounding them.
The Village Panchayat in tandem with the BMC (Biodiversity Management Committees) are a newer body that by policy of the regional and national Government follows an International agreement on Local bodies having the onus of maintaining and protecting their local biodiversity.
NREGA – employment guarantee scheme
FFW – Food for Work scheme
Watershed Scheme by the regional Government.

  • Inibitivo

Lack of understanding about the delicate nature of Grassland ecosystems and lesser known/ low priority landscapes

Lack of information of how these landscapes actually impact and enable livelihoods for many sections of the lower castes in the community

Demarcation of these lands as ‘waste lands’

Governança da terra (tomada de decisões, implementação e aplicação)
  • Propício

Institution of the Forest Protection Committee as a Cooperative, creation of Community Management Plans with the help of experts, social norms such as ‘Ummadi Bhoomi’ – common land maintenance, clear roles and responsibilities of the various members of the committees.

  • Inibitivo

Lack of legal ownership. Although the India state has a progressive Forest Rights Act, which can enable indigenous communities to gain access to traditional lands this does not apply to this region as the village members are not classified as "Tribals" as per Indian law.
Very difficult to deal with encroachments or to get the external parties to comply with the conservation area’s protection protocols.
Legitimacy of ownership is always questioned due to this factor.

Conhecimento sobre GST, acesso a suporte técnico
  • Propício

Having the NGO to play the role of facilitator and to interface with universities and donors allowed for the knowledge systems to be more easily shared and disseminated in field.

  • Inibitivo

Distance of the Kalpavalli area, which is very rural. Until 2011, there were no roads as well and so anyone willing to do this work and share knowledge had to be able to hike and walk large distances to see the work being done.

Mercados (para comprar entradas, vender produtos) e preços
  • Propício

Very low market dependence and very low market orientation as well. Local markets were easy to approach for sale of seasonal produce.

Carga de trabalho, disponibilidade de força de trabalho
  • Propício

Definitely enabling as for the earthworks taken up by the members of the community, they received wages from various government schemes and grants raised by the NGO Timbaktu Collective. Hardly any machines were used so the large majority of the works done served as a livelihood for the members.

Outro
  • Propício

Repetition of the various technologies, such as trenches, rock filled dams, fire lines, seed collection and dibbling and so forth allowed for these methods to become part of the inhouse knowledge. Developing these packages of practises by the community members and team have perfected these technologies and can easily implement the process on field.

3. Participação e papel das partes interessadas envolvidas

3.1 Partes interessadas envolvidas na abordagem e seus papéis

  • Usuários de terra/comunidades locais

10 local village groups all from marginalised lower castes.

Watch and ward, land management and participatory processes.

  • Organizações comunitárias

The Kalpavalli Tree Growers Cooperative (registered name) comprising over 250 members. Also referred to as the 'Cooperative or community Cooperative' in various places in this document.

Mobilisation, management and participatory processes.

  • Especialistas em GST/ consultor agrícola

Researchers, academics and university groups.

SLM technologies, trainings, data collection.

  • Pesquisadores

inhouse and external ecologists and social scientists

documentation and SLM

  • Organização não governamental

The timbaktu collective

ideation, catalyst, implementation, technical, administrative, financial and logistical support.

  • Governo local

Local Panchyath, District Collector, Block Education officer

legal owners of land, facilitate education and help with conflict management.

  • Organização internacional

Interntional donor agencies

funding, monitoring and evaluation.

3.2 Envolvimento do usuários de terra/comunidades locais nas diferentes fases da abordagem
Envolvimento do usuários de terra/comunidades locais Especifique quem estava envolvido e descreva as atividades
Iniciação/motivação Participativo Village community members as well as the NGO team came together to understand land degradation and its impacts on the community. They started working on the watershed to conserve water.
Planejamento Participativo The community and NGO planned activities such as tree planting, grass seed dibbling, fire management. They collectively mobilised volunteers for this.
Implementação Participativo The community members and NGO partnered to implement all restoration work from the beginning of the project. They created a cooperative dedicated to the restoration of the selected common lands, hired the required labor as well as contributed voluntarily to the restoration activities. These are ongoing till date, including planting, protection, critical watering, fire and grazing management.
Monitoramento/avaliação Participativo Daily monitoring of the commons is undertaken by the community watchers and community members work alongside any researchers who are monitoring or collecting data.
Research Participativo All research is discussed in advance with the community directors and community watchers are part of the data collection process. research results are shared with the community.

3.3 Fluxograma (se disponível)

Descrição:

Overview of the facilitation and information flow in the Kalpavalli Programme, excerpt from the Kalpavalli Management Plan

Autor:

Sreenivasan & Rao

3.4 Decisão sobre a seleção de tecnologia/tecnologias de GST

Especifique quem decidiu sobre a seleção de tecnologia/tecnologias a serem implementadas:
  • todos os atores relevantes, como parte de uma abordagem participativa
Especifique em que base foram tomadas as decisões:
  • Experiência pessoal e opiniões (não documentado)

4. Suporte técnico, reforço das capacidades e gestão do conhecimento

4.1 Reforço das capacidades/ formação

Foi oferecida formação aos usuários da terra/outras partes interessadas?

Sim

Especifique quem foi capacitado:
  • Usuários de terra
  • Equipe de campo/consultores
Tipo de formação:
  • Em exercício
  • Agricultor para agricultor
  • Áreas de demonstração
  • Reuniões públicas
  • Cursos
Assuntos abordados:

Seed preservation and collection, grassland and rangeland management and ecology, wildlife conservation, bird watching, aquatic ecology, human-wildlife conflict, GIS basics, ecotourism, gender training, evolutionary biology.

4.2 Serviço de consultoria

Os usuários de terra têm acesso a um serviço de consultoria?

Sim

Especifique se foi oferecido serviço de consultoria:
  • nas áreas dos usuários da terra
  • Em centros permanentes
Descreva/comentários:

The NGO Timbaktu Collective makes coordinates and links the land users to specific expertise and advisor services as and when requested or required. this includes universities, other NGOS, researchers and government officials.

4.3 Fortalecimento da instituição (desenvolvimento organizacional)

As instituições foram fortalecidas ou estabelecidas através da abordagem?
  • Sim, significativamente
Especifique a que nível (níveis) as instituições foram fortalecidas ou estabelecidas:
  • Local
Descreva instituição, papéis e responsabilidades, membros, etc.

The Kalpavalli area is managed by the Kalpavalli Tree Grower’s Cooperative Society which is a federation of 10 Vana Samrakshana (Forest Protection) Committees. Their primary role is the decentralized management of their common lands.

The VSCs and the Cooperative were established by the Timbaktu Collective, under the Andhra Pradesh State "Mutually Aided-Cooperative Act" to create participatory decision making processes in the villages for the common lands. The VSCs partner with the Timbaktu Collective for technical, administrative, financial and logistical requirements while they continue to function independently and in parallel to the local Biodiversity Management Committees (BMC). The BMC's are in essence the same members as the VSC, the difference is that the BMC are legal entities under the Biological Diversity Act of the central government. This was an act passed only in 2002. The NGO Timbaktu Collective has been finding different strategies to strengthen village institutions based on available laws. The Cooperative monitors the use of the Kalpavalli forests through its Watch and Ward policy. This encompasses field level forest watchers appointed by the VSCs and entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing a specific area. The forest Watchers undertake patrolling, monitor forest activities, seasonal NTFP collection and collaborate extensively with the NGO team members.

Especifique o tipo de apoio:
  • Financeiro
  • Reforço das capacidades/ formação
  • Equipamento

4.4 Monitoramento e avaliação

Monitoramento e avaliação são partes da abordagem?

Sim

Comentários:

There are internal and external processes to monitor and evaluate the project. The internal ones are, weekly, monthly and yearly team reviews by the Timbaktu Collective. The Coopertive Directors Meet every month to review progress and strategies. The timbaktu collective also organises for periodic monitoring and evaluation from external consultants on a case-by-case basis. External mentoring and evaluation is largely done by funding agencies on a yearly basis.

Caso afirmativo, esta documentação é destinada a ser utilizada para monitoramento e avaliação?

Sim

Comentários:

This document will serve as a reference for the NGO and the cooperative as well as help document their work.

4.5 Pesquisa

A pesquisa foi parte da abordagem?

Sim

Especifique os tópicos:
  • Sociologia
  • Economia/Marketing
  • Ecologia
Dê mais detalhes e indique quem realizou a pesquisa:

From the year 2008, several formal research projects were taken up in the Kalpavalli area. One of the first was to do a physical walk along with marked locations along the BURUJULU (boundary markings) in order to make a GPS map. Post that, in 2013 there was a Biodiversity assessment done for both flora and fauna. Soon after a Wolf and Vulture questionnaire was carried out among land users and other community members to understand villager’s mindsets towards these two threatened species. The findings, along with other smaller questionnaires were compiled into another research study and report that outlined a Management Plan for the Kalpavalli Cooperative. Fauna specific research with camera trapping and field notes allowed Researchers to establish Kalpavalli as a critical habitat and corridor, especially for the vulnerable Indian Grey Wolf.

Most of the research over the years was carried out by Independent Ecologists and Wildlife Biologists. Mr. Siddharth Rao, Naren Sreenivasan, Gautham Gollapalli and Joseph Vattakaaven are among the researchers who have done extensive work on the Kalpavalli approach.

5. Financiamento e apoio material externo

5.1 Orçamento anual para o componente de GST da abordagem

Caso o orçamento exato seja desconhecido, indique a faixa:
  • 10.000-100.000
Comentários (p. ex. principais fontes de recursos/principais doadores):

The NGO was and is funded by various donor agencies (international and national) a well as philanthropists. All funding information is published annually on www.timbuktu.org. With respect to Nrega and FFW the NGO served as the implementing agency chosen by the government. This was completed in the 2000s.

5.2 Apoio financeiro/material concedido aos usuários da terra

Os usuários da terra receberam apoio financeiro/material para a implementação de tecnologia/tecnologias?

Sim

Caso afirmativo, especifique tipo(s) de apoio, condições e fornecedor(es):

The NGO Timbaktu Collective has raised grants to support salaries for watch and ward, holding meetings, purchasing equipment and other logistical support.

5.3 Subsídios para entradas específicas (incluindo mão-de-obra)

  • Mão-de-obra
Em que medida Especifique os subsídios
Parcialmente financiado NREGA and Food For Work Programmes
Se a mão-de-obra pelos usuários da terra foi uma entrada substancial, isso foi:
  • Voluntário
Comentários:

In the intial years most labour was volluntary, which then moved to paid labour and some voluntary commitments from the community.

5.4 Crédito

Foi concedido crédito segundo a abordagem para atividades de GST?

Não

5.5 Outros incentivos ou instrumentos

Foram utilizados outros incentivos ou instrumentos para promover a implementação das tecnologias de GST?

Sim

Caso afirmativo, especifique:

The NREGA Act and The Food for work Government programme

6. Análise de impactos e declarações finais

6.1 Impactos da abordagem

A abordagem concedeu autonomia aos usuários locais de terra, melhorou a participação das partes interessadas?
  • Não
  • Sim, pouco
  • Sim, moderadamente
  • Sim, significativamente

Prior to the approach, these specific communities and castes were not involved in discussions or decisions based in and around their villages. Over the years, the land users feel all decisions regarding their common resources such as fodder, thatch grass, streams and waterways were all made in a participatory fashion, and led by the lower caste members.

A abordagem propiciou a tomada de decisão baseada em evidências?
  • Não
  • Sim, pouco
  • Sim, moderadamente
  • Sim, significativamente

Yes. This was because of seeing the effects of various technologies taking shape on the landscape and then slowly increasing the area of the Commons that were added to be protected and nurtured. Photo documentation helped monitor and share results to make it easier to implement more evidence based decision making possible, especially for the illiterate community members. Researchers documenting and collecting data has helped this process.

A abordagem auxiliou os usuários da terra a implementar e manter as tecnologias de GST?
  • Não
  • Sim, pouco
  • Sim, moderadamente
  • Sim, significativamente

Yes. Having the support of the NGO team members to help oversee and propagate technologies allowed for more village groups to get involved in healing the lands closest to their area. This had various impacts such as mobilizing the community as well maintaining all records for any incentive-based work to be immediately reimbursed. This built trust as well to maintain the SLM technologies once implemented.

A abordagem melhorou a coordenação e a implementação economicamente eficiente da GST?
  • Não
  • Sim, pouco
  • Sim, moderadamente
  • Sim, significativamente

Definitely. Having a strategic approach to the technologies meant that existing social norms and cultures were used in a participatory way. Examples are shramadaanam (voluntary work for a specific goal such as making making fire lines), desilting waterbodies in the dry season, putting out fires using existing techniques such as green palm fronds etc. If these methodologies were not used in a resourceful manner, all the technologies would have proved much more expensive to implement in field.

A abordagem mobilizou/melhorou o acesso aos recursos financeiros para implementação da GST?
  • Não
  • Sim, pouco
  • Sim, moderadamente
  • Sim, significativamente

Prior to the approach, this land area was degraded and unmanaged for any returns, tangible and intangible. By starting the initial village groups, members put together small savings to carry out certain activities while the NGO also raised funds for the same. This process greatly helped to initiate and then continue to mobilize financial resources. Currently, the Eco tourism model also follows the same ideology of mobilizing funds for SLM in the area.

A abordagem aprimorou o conhecimento e as capacidades dos usuários da terra para implementar a GST?
  • Não
  • Sim, pouco
  • Sim, moderadamente
  • Sim, significativamente

Yes definitely. Building on a few existing technologies, the SLMs introduced were simple, practical and enabled community members to easily join in the process.

A abordagem aprimorou o conhecimento e as capacidades de outras partes interessadas?
  • Não
  • Sim, pouco
  • Sim, moderadamente
  • Sim, significativamente

Village members who are not part of these committees were also impacted by these activities as awareness grew about restoration practises and methods to aid the process.

A abordagem construiu/fortaleceu instituições, colaboração entre partes interessadas?
  • Não
  • Sim, pouco
  • Sim, moderadamente
  • Sim, significativamente

Yes definitely. The Cooperative approach intrinsically is a people led structure that is open to sharing knowledge and involving others in processes. The community, NGO, Government as well as other stakeholders such as migratory pastoralists, research organizations, farmer cooperatives, Cooperative of People with disabilities and local Government school children are all stakeholders with whom collaboration has been initiated and strengthened.

A abordagem atenuou conflitos?
  • Não
  • Sim, pouco
  • Sim, moderadamente
  • Sim, significativamente

Significantly. In the initial years conflicts arose between villages over shared resources such as fodder and thatch grass. These were resolved by interventions from the NGO members. In later years, conflicts with windmill owners, private quarry owners, political parties looking to grab land were all dealt with in a peaceful manner with dialogue and exerting land use rights at the fore.

A abordagem concedeu autonomia aos grupos social e economicamente desfavorecidos?
  • Não
  • Sim, pouco
  • Sim, moderadamente
  • Sim, significativamente

Yes significantly. Kalpavalli works in 10 villages and in these villages with the most socially and economically marginalized communities. The Village members as well as traditional migratory pastoralists make regular income as well as livelihood supports thanks to this approach. The land users feel that this approach has had both immediate as well as long term benefits for socially and economically backward groups.

A abordagem melhorou a igualdade de gêneros e concedeu autonomia a mulheres e meninas?
  • Não
  • Sim, pouco
  • Sim, moderadamente
  • Sim, significativamente

In the initial years, men were reluctant to have women join the discussions in the ‘male dominated’ areas of the village where meetings usually took place. Women too were hesitant to participate in these gatherings. However, they were encouraged to join in, especially as they were the ones doing rounds to collect firewood and fodder for the homestead. Slowly, they got involved and today play an important role in the leadership. However, daily patrol, watch and ward work is not undertaken by them due to safety concerns. School girls were encouraged to join day long SLM activities such as seed broadcasting and collection which was absolutely not common before. Some members pointed out that gender equality trainings by the NGO opened their eyes to shared leadership and responsibility of the commons.

A abordagem encorajou os jovens/as próximas gerações de usuários de terra a se envolverem na GST?
  • Não
  • Sim, pouco
  • Sim, moderadamente
  • Sim, significativamente

Many members encourage their children to attend the camps and awareness workshops that the Ngo organize. The focus of these is on grassland biodiversity and ecosystems along with fun games, activities and cultural dances and songs that celebrate nature. These training camps has had several hundred children and youth attend and has fostered a strong connection with their wild and common lands

A abordagem melhorou as questões de posse de terra/diretos do usuário que inibiam a implementação das tecnologias de GST?
  • Não
  • Sim, pouco
  • Sim, moderadamente
  • Sim, significativamente

Land tenure was not impacted but user rights were strongly bolstered. Community members never undertook measures to heal the land while it was just listed as the Commons. Since this approach, the fact that the land was restored and proved to become a massive resource for the community definitely improved user rights. As for tenure, it still comes under the Government.

A abordagem resultou em segurança alimentar aprimorada/nutrição melhorada?
  • Não
  • Sim, pouco
  • Sim, moderadamente
  • Sim, significativamente

Community members interviewed for this case study pointed out two distinct ways in which the approach has led to food security. One is that the protection and management of the streams and the check-dams has ensured that the watershed works well every monsoon with sufficient water collection in the big lakes downstream. The water from here is used by the farming community to grow a variety of greens and vegetables that are then mostly sold locally in the village itself. The other factor they pointed out was that abundance of fodder for small ruminants has ensured that meat consumption, especially of free-range goat and sheep mutton has been possible thanks to this approach. In other villages, pooer sections of the community have no other protein source than to buy cheaper farmed ‘broiler chicken’ meat, which is weak in nutrition and pumped with a lot of steroids and antibiotics.

A abordagem melhorou o acesso aos mercados?
  • Não
  • Sim, pouco
  • Sim, moderadamente
  • Sim, significativamente

In this regards, the traditional market access for NTFP was strengthened. Livelihoods from seasonal broom grass collection, thatch grass, palm fronds for mats and basket weaving, wild berries and various flora for ethno- veterinary preparations have all been helped. The collection and sale of these have certainly increased the access to markets for these sections of the community, especially women from the lower castes. Additionally, market-based solutions such as an eco-tourism venture withing the conservation area is up and running. This provides revenue to the Coopertive from tourist who visit the restoration site. All this work in relation to markets has been led by the Timbaktu Collective.

A abordagem resultou em acesso melhorado à água e ao saneamento?
  • Não
  • Sim, pouco
  • Sim, moderadamente
  • Sim, significativamente

Access to water yes. Sanitation not necessarily as that comes under the management of the Municipality of the local government bodies. The SLMs in the approach have had a massive impact on consistent water levels in the entire watershed as well as recharging the underground aquifers.

A abordagem resultou em uso/fontes de energia mais sustentável?
  • Não
  • Sim, pouco
  • Sim, moderadamente
  • Sim, significativamente

As a lot of the SLMs were taken from the Timbaktu handbook, solar powered spaces were a big take away. All infrastructure in the Kalpavalli area is solar powered

From the second year onwards, the community could depend on the Kalpavalli restoration for fodder for the huge populations of small ruminants in the area as well as cattle. Extreme heat and drought years have seen this area still have fodder grass and perennial streams that are a life saver for pastoralists. Community members engaged with hands on work in the grasslands are definitely better equipped to deal with weather extremes and changes as their tactics to deal with them are in house solutions, usually very low cost and easy to maintain

Community members who work in the conservation area as Watchers, Guards, Ethno vet produce collectors and Eco tourism staff have all gained employment through this approach. There are also numerous village members who have seasonal income from NTFPs as mentioned in the earlier sections. Since its inception and over the years, the approach made use of several policies as well as funding opportunities to create ‘labour days’ for community members. For the lower caste members, especially the manual labourers who do not own land, this was a win-win situation as it generated monetary security while systematically improving their common lands.

6.2 Principal motivação dos usuários da terra para implementar a GST

  • Produção aumentada
  • Lucro (lucrabilidade) aumentado, melhora da relação custo-benefício
  • Degradação do solo reduzida
  • Riscos de desastre reduzido
  • Pagamentos/subsídios
  • Prestígio, pressão social/coesão social
  • Afiliação a movimento/projeto/grupo/rede
  • Consciência ambiental
  • Costumes e crenças, moral
  • melhoria dos conhecimentos e aptidões de GST
  • Melhoria estética
  • Atenuação de conflitos

6.3 Atividades de sustentabilidade de abordagem

Os usuários da terra podem manter o que foi implementado através da abordagem (sem apoio externo)?
  • Incerto
Caso negativo ou incerto, especifique e comente:

If no or uncertain, specify and comment: The initiation of the Kalpavalli approach was through the NGO Timbaktu Collective. Though the Forest Cooperative has developed very strong social fibre and management of the Commons, this work and its longevity remains uncertain mainly due to the fact that the ownerships aspect rest with the Government. Policy might dictate changes in land usage rights or perhaps move the conservation area under the Forest Department which has a whole other set of fines, regulations as opposed to the ease of use of the Commons.

6.4 Pontos fortes/vantagens da abordagem

Pontos fortes/vantagens/oportunidades na visão do usuário da terra
livelihood generation
participatory approaches
A sense of ownership and purpose in the community members towards the land
Hope and optimism - from seeing forest hand what collective actions on degraded lands can turn into
Pontos fortes/vantagens/oportunidades na visão do/a compilador/a ou de outra pessoa capacitada
Practical approaches with direct benefits
Low cost and highly reliable interventions
Ownership and community moblization by members playing an active role
A local NGO collaborating with the community for a globally relevant body of work.

6.5 Pontos fracos, desvantagens da tecnologia e formas de superá-los

Pontos fracos/desvantagens/riscos na visão do usuário da terra Como eles podem ser superados?
Legal ownership not in their favour Government granting special status for land management to the Community based organization
Not having a significant immediate economic return Further RnD and enterprise development
Pontos fracos/vantagens/riscos na visão do/a compilador/a ou de outra pessoa capacitada Como eles podem ser superados?
Land ownership and tenure not with community First and foremost would be a legal agreement granting Management Rights to the Federation by the Government which would help the community protect their commons from other private agencies, political parties and encroachment.
Not having a significant immediate economic return for the community members apart from the wages and now more recently the Eco tourism venture. There is a concern that the next generations would not be as enthusiastic without having significant economic returns. Establishing more revenue generating streams within the approach. There are steps being made to launch more enterprises such as a native flora nursery and products such as ethno-vet preparations.

7. Referências e links

7.1 Métodos/fontes de informação

  • visitas de campo, pesquisas de campo

Six field visits, 10 informants

  • entrevistas com usuários de terras

112 Land users interviewed

  • entrevistas com especialistas em GST

6 experts

  • compilação de relatórios e outra documentação existente

Kalpavalli Management plan, Timbaktu Collective Annual Reports, Kalpavalli Coopertive Annual Report, Kalpavalli Field guide

7.2 Referências às publicações disponíveis

Título, autor, ano, ISBN:

Timbaktu Collective annual Report

Disponível de onde? Custos?

Online on the NGO website, www.timbaktu.org

Título, autor, ano, ISBN:

Kalpavalli Management Plan, Rao, Sreenivasan 2018

Disponível de onde? Custos?

internal document

Título, autor, ano, ISBN:

Biodiversity Report, Rao, Sreenivasan 2014

Disponível de onde? Custos?

internal document

7.3 Links para informação relevante que está disponível online

Título/ descrição:

Making a pig’s ear of it - The Hindu BusinessLine

URL:

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/cover/Making-a-pig%E2%80%99s-ear-of-it/article20874649.ece

Título/ descrição:

Conservation And The Commons | Nature inFocus

URL:

https://www.natureinfocus.in/the-restoration-notebook/conservation-and-the-commons

Título/ descrição:

The soil has veins - Vikalp Sangam

URL:

https://vikalpsangam.org/article/the-soil-has-veins/

Título/ descrição:

The Kalpavalli programme and the Kalpavalli Conservation Area – Equator Initiative

URL:

https://www.equatorinitiative.org/2017/06/05/the-kalpavalli-programme-and-the-kalpavalli-conservation-area/

Título/ descrição:

Spotlight on Regeneration: The Timbaktu Collective bridging community and conservation (theecologist.org)

URL:

https://theecologist.org/2017/jul/12/spotlight-regeneration-timbaktu-collective-bridging-community-and-conservation

Título/ descrição:

mission to revive forgotten ecosystems.

URL:

https://www.edexlive.com/40-under-40/2019/jun/20/in-the-dry-grasslands-of-anantapur-in-andhra-pradesh-one-man-is-on-a-mission-to-set-the-record-stra-6561.html

Título/ descrição:

Villagers in rural India 'watch' forests grow

URL:

https://atlasofthefuture.org/project/timbaktucollective/

Título/ descrição:

Wind Farm CDM project in Kalpavalli Community Forest, Anantpur, AP, India

URL:

https://ejatlas.org/conflict/wind-farm-cdm-project-in-kalpavalli-community

Título/ descrição:

Frente al crecimiento verde. Visiones de "lo común" desde el Colectivo Timbaktu (Andhra Pradesh, India

URL:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336319154_Frente_al_crecimiento_verde_Visiones_de_lo_comun_desde_el_Colectivo_Timbaktu_Andhra_Pradesh_India

Título/ descrição:

Green energy takes toll on green cover

URL:

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/green-energy-takes-toll-on-green-cover-34164

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