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)

Central Asian Countries Initiative for Land Management (CACILM I)

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

CAMP - Central Asian Mountain Partnership (CAMP - Central Asian Mountain Partnership) - 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)?

11/01/2013

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

The budget for pasture management constitutes a necessary amount of funds for the implementation of pasture management activities planned for the year. These activities include the seasonal monitoring of pasture areas, the development of the grazing plan and monitoring of its implementation, activities to restore pasture infrastructure, measures to improve pasture condition, and the maintenance of the Pasture Committee. The means of income for the budget for pasture management are payments made for the use of pastures (in the frame of CACILM).

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Aims / objectives: Provision of financial sustainability to the Pasture Committees and implementation of Pasture Management Plans to reduce / prevent the degradation of pastures. For the realisation of the planned activities for pasture management it is necessary to have an annual budget plan managing the financial resources. The amounts of payment for the seasonal use of pastures is calculated based on this budget.
The budget for pasture management allows Pasture Committees to plan their activities based on their own financial resources, which,. Iin turn this, ensures the stability of Pasture Committees as independent institutions, and the implementation of measures to improve the condition of pastures and pasture infrastructure.

Stages of implementation: While developing the plan for pasture management the Pasture Committees identify the needs for rehabilitation of infrastructure (roads, bridges, watering points and others) and for improvement of pasture condition, as well as activities to promote the production of winter feed and measures for herd management. Identified needs are ranked by priority based on their relevance for the implementation of the plan for the use of pastures. The cost of the most relevant measures is calculated and the resulting amount of expenditures is included into the annual budget of the Pasture Committee. In addition, the budget includes the costs associated with the development of the plan for the use of pastures (development or purchase of pasture areas maps, determination of the numbers of livestock by type), the seasonal monitoring of pasture conditions to determine the capacity of each pasture area, the monitoring of the implementation of the plan for the use and management of pastures, as well as administrative costs of the Pasture Committee. The developed budget is being discussed at a general meeting of pasture users of the aiyl okrug. If pasture users feel that the budget is not feasible, the Pasture Committee must review the budget and reduce both the cost of measures to improve the condition of pastures and pasture infrastructure, as well as the administrative costs of the Pasture Committee. The corrected version of the budget is to be discussed and approved by the aiyl kenesh. Once the budget is approved, the value of the 'pasture ticket' is determined by dividing the total annual budget by the total livestock units of the aiyl okrug. Then, each owner of livestock must pay the costs for pasture use, in accordance with the number of cattle converted into equivalent units.

Role of stakeholders: Pasture Committees agree upon the developed budget with pasture users and aiyl kenesh (local parliament).

Other important information: This approach has been developed, tested, adapted and implemented by CAMP Alatoo PF in the framework of the project 'Sustainable Pasture Management in the Jergetal and Onarcha River Basins in Naryn District, Kyrgyzstan' 2008-2011 funded by the GIZ regional program “Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in Central Asia'.

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

• recent local initiative/ innovative

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The Approach focused mainly on other activities than SLM (to identify the needs for rehabilitation of pasture infrastructure and for improvement of pastures, to discuss the budget publicly, to approve the budget of Pasture Committee, pasture ticket)

Provision of financial sustainability to Pasture Committees and implementation of the pasture management plan.

The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: According to the Law 'On Pastures' of the KR the Pasture Committees hold the power to develop a budget for pasture management, to determine the amount of and collect the payment for the use of pastures (referred to as pasture ticket). The price for the right to use pasture areas is determined annually for each type of used pastures. Thereby, the price for a pasture ticket must not be lower than the basic rate of tax for the use of pastures. In determining the cost of pasture tickets, it is necessary to take into account the optimal load of pastures. The cost of the pasture ticket needs to be approved by the local kenesh and the pasture tickets have to be issued in accordance with the annual pasture use plan. The cost of a pasture ticket is determined on the basis of the Pasture Committee’s Budget for the planned year. It is calculated by the Pasture Committee in accordance with the pasture management plan. The needs of different Pasture Committees and respectively the amount of investment required may vary. Therefore, the costs of pasture tickets of different pasture committees differ. These funds are mainly directed to the improvement of pastures and pasture infrastructure.

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	Seminars to raise awareness of pasture users, round tables, meetings with experts.
planning	interactive	Planning of the approach was carried out with the active participation of members of the Pasture Committee and the community.
implementation	interactive	Pasture committees develop budget.
monitoring/ evaluation	self-mobilization	Pasture users have the right to control the use of the budget funds by the Pasture Committee. The Pasture Committee reports on the use of the funds at the annual meeting of the Association of pasture users.
Research	none

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

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

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

• SLM specialists alone

Explain:

The approach has been developed, tested and adapted by the experts with the involvement of pasture users and adopted by a separate resolution of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by by politicians / leaders. This approach was developed at the local level, reviewed and approved by Pasture Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Melioration, then submitted to the Government for consideration and adopted by it and then directed to relevant bodies to perform.

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.

Данный подход был включен в программу обучения Пастбищных комитетов по всей республике. Обучающиеся получают навыки по разработке бюджета Пастбищного комитета и расчета стоимости пастбищного билета.

Form of training:

• farmer-to-farmer
• public meetings

Form of training:

• Seminars

Subjects covered:

This approach has been included into the training program for Pasture Committees throughout the country. Trainees learn the skills to develop the budget of the Pasture Committee and to calculate the cost of the pasture ticket.

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: Budget for Pasture Management.; Key elements: Define the needs of the Pasture Committee., Develop the budget of the Pasture Committee. , Calculate the cost of the pasture ticket.; The pasture ticket is the economic lever to stimulate the reduction of the seasonal load on pastures, and it motivates the use of remote and unattractive pastures unused for various reasons.

Advisory service is quite adequate to ensure the continuation of land conservation activities; The extension system is quite adequate to ensure continuation of activities. The approach has been adopted by a government resolution and is being used by Pasture Committees throughout the country. The National Pasture Department and its regional offices are interested in and supports the collection of payment for pasture tickets across the country; they promote the out-scaling of best practices.

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, a little

• technical support

Give further details:

All meetings and seminars were funded by the project.

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

Technical aspects were regular monitored by project staff through measurements; indicators: % of implementation of the Pasture Committee budget
Socio-cultural aspects were regular monitored by land users through measurements; indicators: % of pasture tickets paid by pasture users.
Economic / production aspects were regular monitored by government, land users through observations; indicators: The total amount of funds raised.
Economic / production aspects were regular monitored by project staff through measurements; indicators: Across the country - all Pasture Committees.
Area treated aspects were regular monitored by project staff through measurements; indicators: % of pasture users who paid for their pasture ticket
No. of land users involved aspects were None monitored by project staff through measurements
There were no changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation
There were no changes in the Technology as a result of monitoring and evaluation

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):

Approach costs were met by the following donors: international (The approach is implemented by means of GIZ projects.): 100.0%

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)

• other

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

• rewarded with other material support

Comments:

Labour of Pasture Committee members is paid out of the own budget.

Training and counseling was part of GIZ projects. Further introduction and out-scaling of the approach is carried out by pasture committees.

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

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)?

• yes

If yes, describe how:

Pasture Committees exist in the Kyrgyz Republic since 2009. They are designed to improve the condition of pastures and pasture infrastructure through the payments of pasture users. The implementation of these payments is based on the development of the budget for pasture management.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
A steady funding source for the activities for improving pasture condition and infrastructure becomes available. The budget is independent from the state subsidies (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Possibility for further development of financial mechanisms of payment for the use of pasture resources by other users, such as hunters, gatherers of herbs, travel agencies, etc.)

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view

Participation of local communities in decision-making on the budget of the Pasture Committee, as well as in the calculation of the cost of the pasture ticket for each aiyl okrug based on the number of livestock and the area of all types of pastures and their productivity (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Increasing awareness of pasture users about the need to pay for the pasture ticket, to develop a budget for the Pasture Committee, as well as about their rights and responsibilities to control the development and execution of the budget. Dissemination of best practices and exchange of experiences will contribute to a successful and meaningful implementation of this approach)

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?
The local population is not used to pay for the use of natural resources.	Raise awareness of the local population. It takes time for pasture users to get used to this type of payment

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Pasture Committees use a standard cost for the pasture ticket, regardless of the seasonal features.	Raise awareness among the pasture users and increase the potential of the Pasture Committees

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Busler S. «Community Pasture Management in Kyrgyzstan», Bishkek, 2011

Available from where? Costs?

САМР Alatoo PF

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Annual reports of САМР Alatoo for 2009, 2010, 2011

Available from where? Costs?

САМР Alatoo PF

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Law of the Kyrgyz Republic «On Pastures» dated 26 January 2009 No.30

URL:

www.toktom.kg