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)

MoA (MoA) - Bhutan

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

National Soil Services Centre (National Soil Services Centre) - Bhutan

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

23/03/2011

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

Natural Resource Management Group consisting of village representatives to advocate, plan and implement SLM activities at geog level

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Aims / objectives: The Natural Resource Management (NRM) Group was formally established in Radhi geog in 2000 with representatives from all 20 chiogs of the geog. The main tasks of the group are to :1)mobilise local communities in rehabilitating and protecting natural resources from further degradation and 2) to support geog administration, RNR staff and other agencies in planning, implementing and monitoring sustainable natural resource management activities. Radhi geog in Trashigang Dzongkhag, East-Bhutan, has been confronted with severe land degradation as a result of unsustainable land management practices, such as deforestation, overgrazing and poor irrigation water management. The land degradation processes are related to high population pressure and a series of conflicts between chiogs and with neighbouring geogs about use and access to natural resources. Various stakeholders, engaged with reduction and mitigation of land degradation in Radhi, felt the need for a local institution, which should play a pivotal role in advocacy of sustainable management of natural resources. The group was also intended to assist in implementing remedial and preventive measures at village level.



Methods: The NRM group fulfilled a key role in the afforestation program for the Radhi wa-tershed, in particular the very active Chongdiri ravine, which has caused wide-spread loss of arable land and forced resettlement of households, because of a very active landslide area. The chiog representatives, united in the NRM group, mobilized villagers to actively participate in the afforestation and fencing of the buffer zone. This zone was created to arrest the critical land degradation and change unsustainable land management practices, such as free grazing cattle and irrigated paddy cultivation in an active mass movement area.

Seed money was provided to establish a group fund to provide small-scale loans to households for agricultural inputs in order to overcome existing credit access constraints. The intention was to enhance the viability and sustainability of the NRM Group.

Stages of implementation: Over the last 5 years approximately 250 loans have been disbursed of about US$60 each. The NRM group has a loose umbrella function at geog level over a number of sub-groups at chiog level, related to private forestry, community forestry, bamboo and rice marketing, water user associations and land man-agement. The present group structure needs to be reviewed to adapt to the large number of emerging sub-groups.

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 (cash-income generation, NRM fund for SLM loans/credit facility)

- The main tasks of the group are to: 1) mobilise local communities in rehabilitating and protecting natural resources from further degradation and 2) to support municipality administration, RNR staff and other agencies in planning, implementing and monitoring sustainable natural resource management activities. A series of government programmes and projects initi-ated activities in Radhi geog and it was decided to create a local institution focused at building capacity in NR management, awareness raising and sensitization.

The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: - Widespread severe land degradation in densely populated area, related to forest degradation, overgrazing, poor irrigation water management, unfavourable geological conditions and NR management conflicts between chiogs and between geogs

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	Group formation process guided and supported by RNR Research Centres
planning	interactive	Since 2006 through participatory SLM action planning in all 20 Radhi villages with support of NRM group representatives
implementation	interactive	Group members are actively involved with range of NRM/SLM activities, ranging from irrigation channel renovation, orchard development to bamboo plantation, afforestation and buffer zone creation
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive	Combined effort of RNR extension staff, geog administration and NRM group members through participatory M&E meetings to get feedback from villagers and provide a platform for technical guidance to the communities
Research	interactive	Initial phase from 2000 to 2006 RNR Research Centres were actively involved in group formation process and capacity building (e.g. bookkeeping training etc.)

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:

• mainly land users, supported by SLM specialists

Explain:

Annual SLM Action Planning in all chiogs, supported by NRM group members at chiog level.

Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by mainly by land users supported by SLM specialists. Consultation process in context of annual SLM action planning and participatory M&E meetings.

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
• farmer-to-farmer
• public meetings
• courses

Form of training:

• study tours

Subjects covered:

NRM group members were actively involved in all NRM/SLM training activities at chiog level, but also took part in training courses aimed at improving their capabilities, such as bookkeeping and fund management. NRM group members took part in national and international study tours on SLM and watershed management and shared their experiences on group formation with other NRM groups. Extension staff received targeted training on NRM conflict 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:

Name of method used for advisory service: Regular guidance and monitoring for the NRM group; Key elements: Fund management and bookkeeping, Key SLM interventions; Regular guidance and monitoring for the NRM group on group dynamics, group fund management, bookkeeping and training programmes on key SLM interventions.

Advisory service is quite adequate to ensure the continuation of land conservation activities; Good level of awareness and knwoledge of NRM/SLM, proven capacity to manage NRM group fund

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

Specify type of support:

• financial
• capacity building/ training
• equipment

Give further details:

Seed capital for the NRM fund was provided at the start of the NRM group and later provided by SLMP to enable fund growth and provision of more loans. Interest rate charged by the NRM group fund per loan is 12% per annum (to be repaid in one year, otherwise penalty of 3% applies), equal to market rate.

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

bio-physical aspects were regular monitored by project staff, land users through observations; indicators: Regular observations by project staff, group members and land users of stability of degraded areas (size, growth, state)

technical aspects were regular monitored by project staff, land users through observations; indicators: Regular observations by project staff, group members and land users of mortality rate of plantations, area of improved dryland, area of orchard development, state and progress of irrigation channel renovation

socio-cultural aspects were regular monitored by project staff, land users through observations; indicators: Regular observations by project staff, group members and land users of inter-chiog and inter-geog conflicts and progress in conflict mitigation

economic / production aspects were regular monitored by project staff, land users through observations; indicators: Regular measurements by project staff, group members and land users in cash income increase and yield change

economic / production aspects were regular monitored by project staff, land users through measurements; indicators: Regular measurement by project staff, group members and land users of area converted to SLM practice

area treated aspects were regular monitored by project staff, land users through measurements; indicators: Regular observations by project staff, group members and land users of households participating in NRM/SLM activities and making use of NRM group fund loans

no. of land users involved aspects were regular monitored by project staff, land users through observations; indicators: Regular observations by project staff, group members and land users of performance of NRM group, amongst others in municipality council meetings for transparency

management of Approach aspects were monitored by project staff, land users through observations

There were few changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation: Changes were made to the NRM group composition and structure and the task and responsibilities with arrival of new government programmes and projects in the geog. By-laws were drafted and updated after involvement of SLMP project in 2006 and NRM group fund expanded, with additional seed money for the group fund.

There were no changes in the Technology as a result of monitoring and evaluation

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

Specify topics:

• sociology

Give further details and indicate who did the research:

Research was actively involved in the initial stages of the NRM group establishment, with special attention to the conflicts between Radhi and Merakgeogs on grazing land (double grazing as result of winter grazing for semi-nomadic yak herders and summer grazing for cattle from lower altitudes, resulting in severe land degradation).

Research was carried out on-farm

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):

Approach costs were met by the following donors: international (Seed funding, SLMP contributions): 80.0%; local government (district, county, municipality, village etc) (local community and geog administration (including RNR extension staff)): 15.0%; local community / land user(s) (membership contributions): 5.0%

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

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

Yes

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• equipment

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

• voluntary

Comments:

Most of the labour was provided voluntary by group members and the related communities they represent. Especially the buffer zone creation around the severely degraded Chongdiri ravine and related afforestation and fencing activities required substantial labour inputs. Some other afforestation labour was partly subsidized.

The NRM group was supported with office equipment and computer/printer to enable proper administration and bookkeeping.

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

Yes

Specify conditions (interest rate, payback, etc.):

Interest rate charged: 12.0%; repayment conditions: Within one year repayment, otherwise penalty with 3%.

Interest was equal to market rate.

Specify credit receivers:

BDFC

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:

Determination of NRM group to continue is based on almost 10 years of experience and perceived benefits of the NRM group structure. The proven management capabilities of the NRM group fund are a mechanism to support NRM/SLM activities of local households and will facilitate the financial sustainability of the NRM group itself.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Increased awareness of budgets related to SLM Better dealing with community through specific trainings Improved planning capacity Better knwoledge of specific SLM interventions (how, where, what, when) Exposure to study tours as NRM group member (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Continued support to NRM group idem idem idem idem)

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

Strengthened local institution focused on NRM/SLM eases advocacy, planning and implementation of field-level activities Facilitates access to local credit through NRM group fund for agricultural inputs linked to NRM/SLM Enhances sustainability of SLM activities and local capacity in the municipality after project period ends (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Continued support to NRM group Continued support to NRM group in group fund management/auditing/transparency Continued support to NRM group)

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?
Lack of understanding by community members of role and objectives of NRM group and its members Time-consuming for NRM group members, especially in peak agricultural season as many NRM/SLM activities need to be supported Some difficulties in targeting vulnerable households (lack of understanding, feeling of enforcement/being compelled)	Better communication and support by municipality administration Provide adequate support by local RNR extension team Provide adequate support by local RNR extension team

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Relation to many other village groups related to NRM/SLM need to be improved/simplified to create a more transparent structure	Review of representation of key sub-groups in NRM group

7.1 Methods/ sources of information