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)

Strengthening national-level institutional and professional capacities of country Parties towards enhanced UNCCD monitoring and reporting – GEF 7 EA Umbrella II (GEF 7 UNCCD Enabling Activities_Umbrella II)

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

National Soil Services Centre, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock (NSSC) - Bhutan

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

07/07/2023

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

Community mobilization in implementing sustainable land management technologies is indispensable in engaging the community to identify their priorities, resources, needs and solutions. It ultimately promotes bottom-up participation and fosters accountability.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Community mobilization in implementing sustainable land management technologies involves active engagement of local communities in the planning, decision-making, implementation, and monitoring of land management. This approach recognizes the vital role of local communities in managing and conserving natural resources. By actively involving community members, SLM initiatives can be more effective and sustainable in the long-run.
With the objective of promoting a sense of unity and shared responsibility, SLM implementation in Pangserpo Chiwog of Drujeygang Gewog under Dagana Dzongkhag, has been executed through mobilization of a community group called ‘Thuenpa Puenzhi Sonam Detshen’. This group, consisting of 13 members, was initially instituted as a vegetable progressive group in 2018.
The need for SLM came to light when one of the members adopted stone bunds, inspiring the rest of the members. Subsequently, the community group members collectively initiated an SLM programme to address land degradation issues and enhance agriculture productivity. The proven SLM technologies implemented includes stone bunds, terracing, and hedgerows.
The community mobilization approach has built capacity within the community for effective land use and conservation, fostering ownership and securing the longevity of the SLM programme. The bylaws - for instance mandatory active participation of every member in community work - have been successful in upholding the integrity of the initiative, thereby ensuring effective implementation of SLM related activities.
This group mainly consists of women headed households who support each other through a self-help approach. When labour shortage is the major challenge, the self-mobilized group plays a vital role in scaling up SLM interventions and improving their own livelihoods. In most cases of SLM grouping, the groups remain intact until project support is withdrawn, but for the Thuenpa Puenzhi Sonam Detshen, the group is still functional.

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 central goal of this approach is to foster community interaction and collaboration towards better outreach and implementation of SLM practices

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	self-mobilization	One of the community members who is currently the chairperson adopted a SLM technology, and inspired other members. Subsequently, they further explored to implement SLM technologies in larger scales in the community.
planning	interactive	Both the government and the land users were involved during the planning process. The government provided technical inputs whereas the land users contributed traditional knowledge.
implementation	interactive	Both the government and the land users were involved during the implementation of the technologies. Where the government provided technical and financial support along with machineries. The land users contributed labour and farm tools.
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive	The community meets every month to engage in self-monitoring and evaluation of the technologies. It is followed by addressing the issues and concerns raised. The Gewog, Dzongkhag, and NSSC also conducts periodic monitoring and evaluation.

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:

• all relevant actors, as part of a participatory approach

Explain:

The community members were sensitized on SLM by NSSC, followed by bottom-up participatory SLM action planning and field based hands on training.

Specify on what basis decisions were made:

• personal experience and opinions (undocumented)

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.

All the members (both male and female) were trained.

Form of training:

• demonstration areas
• public meetings

Subjects covered:

What actually SLM is, why SLM is important and required, and the best proven SLM technologies that are being implemented in Bhutan.

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:

The advisory services on the technology and management were provided to farmers on land users' fields by Agriculture Extension Officers.

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

Describe institution, roles and responsibilities, members, etc.

The institution is known by the name "Thuenpa Puenzhi Sanam Detshen" in the surrounding community. There are 13 members including the chairperson of the group. The chairperson's responsibility is to coordinate and address all community-related activities and concerns. He also oversees the institution's financial planning. The member's job is to cooperate with the chairperson and encourage one another in difficult times.

Specify type of support:

• financial
• capacity building/ training
• equipment

• labour-sharing (Local name: Lagtshab)

Give further details:

The institution provides financial aid. Additionally, they engage in labour-sharing (lagtshab) where the land users rotate working on each other's fields to complete the work faster.

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

The monitoring and evaluation are part of the approach. The land users get together once a month to review the activities conducted and plan future activities preventing recurring issues to strengthen the effectiveness of the approach.

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

No

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:

• < 2,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

The government funded one time during the initial implementation of the technology. However, there is no annual budget allocated for the group now.

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):

They were provided with Nu. 200,000/- to implement the technology through GCF project.

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• equipment

• agricultural

• infrastructure

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

• voluntary

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

Yes

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

The credit was provided to the community members from the group fund of the group without any interest.

Specify credit providers:

Chairperson and assistant

Specify credit receivers:

Group members including the chairperson.

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

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:

The group is financially stable and has strong cooperation and interaction among the members

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
The land users are self-sufficient in vegetables, and improved health and well-being of their families.
The cooperation and interaction among the group members have been enhanced as the approach involves working in a group where they help each other to achieve a common goal.
The approach has made the land users financially stable due to the income generated from selling vegetables.
Due to bulk production in a community, the land users are able to access markets having demand for more quantities of vegetables such as school feeding programmes.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The community has a capable leader, which is important to guide the group in terms of difficulties and prevent failure of the approach.
The agricultural production has drastically increased, especially winter crops leading to reduced import.

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 potato production is higher than the market demand	Exploring markets beyond the community and local markets

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Limited market (Only two schools and few local markets)	Explore markets beyond local markets

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Wangdi, K. (2022). Promoting local farm produce in schools. BBS. Retrieved from http://www.bbs.bt/news/?p=165872

Available from where? Costs?

http://www.bbs.bt/news/?p=165872

Title, author, year, ISBN:

National Soil Service Center. (2011). Bhutan Catalogue of Soil and Water Conservation Approaches and Technologies: Best Practices and Guidelines from Bhutan for Sustainable Land Management on Steep to Very Steep Slopes. National Soil Services Centre (NSSC), Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Royal Government of Bhutan, Thimphu.

Available from where? Costs?

https://www.wocat.net/documents/140/Bhutan_catalogue_of_SLM_Technologies_and_Approaches.pdf

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Sustainable Land Managements in Bhutan

URL:

https://www.cif.org/sites/cif_enc/files/knowledge-documents/summary_brief_land_management_bhutan.pdf

Title/ description:

Community Participatory Sustainable Land Management Byelaw Formulation in the highland of central Ethiopia

URL:

https://www.ajol.info/index.php/acsj/article/view/101368/90558