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

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Under the leadership of the Pastoralist Women Land Management Committee at village level, 100 acers of village wasteland were transformed into a rich pastures to be used by village livestock herds and, in this way providing food and livelihood security to local communities and restoring biodiversity within native grasses and indigenous livestock breeds.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Overview
The initial project focused on 10 villages within Kutch District, Gujarat, Western India. Each of these villages developed 10 acres of associated common pastureland. In total, 100 acres were developed. The project offered local solutions to develop village wastelands (common term in India for degraded lands) into ecologically regenerated pasturelands. Village pastureland, developed in such manner was used for open and free grazing for livestock. This enhanced milk production thus generating income for village women and their families.

Process
MARAG formed a WPLMC (Women’s Pastureland Management Committee) in each village consisting of 10 members. Each WPLMC managed 10 acres of these common pasturelands in their respective villages. WPLMCs were trained and engaged in land mapping and demarcation through GPS, soil testing, land cleaning and land levelling, selection of native grass seeds, sowing of such grasses, and general maintenance and management of the land.
The rules and regulations for land management were determined by the WPLMCs. WPLMCs jointly decided to use 5 of 10 acres of each village gaucher (local term for pasture) to develop traditional grasses for small ruminants. Out of this, 2.5 acres were developed as fodder for large livestock and 2.5 acres were developed for drought tolerant species. Finally, the WPLMCs documented the regulation and use of pastureland and the responsibility of the management.

The following processes were employed for pastureland regeneration:

1.Silvipasture practice
2.Land treatment and afforestation
3.Reintroduction of traditional grass seeds.
4.Tapping of indigenous pastoral knowledge for grass development and breed conservation.
5.Forming and strengthening Women Pastureland Management Committees (WPLMC) at village level for project sustainability.
6.Using technology and capacity building of the WPLMC (e.g. GPS tools for land measuring, mobile app use for determining land fertility and water catchment etc.)

Livestock rearing can be a tool for the sustainable management of land, especially in arid and semiarid areas, by improving soil health, mitigating desertification and protecting the local ecosystem against invasive species. Sustanable livestock grazing breaks soil crust, increasing rain water absorpstion and converts grass into organic waste, increasing soil health and regenarating grasses by spreading seed.

Project Impact
1.Developed women leadership and management capacities as well as decision making throughout the project process.
2.Ownership of the pastureland development taken by pastoralist women.
3.Pastoralist women learning and using the smartphone for land mapping. Such knowledge is easily copied by other women in the village.
4.Traditional knowledge on pasture grasses women to deepen their knowledge on pasture management.
5.Biodiversity conservation through traditional knowledge.
6.Secured livelihood security and food sovereignty.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

India

Region/ State/ Province:

Gujarat

Further specification of location:

Dhabda village of Kutch District

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area

Is/are the technology site(s) located in a permanently protected area?

No

Map

×

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2022

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• as part of a traditional system (> 50 years)

Comments (type of project, etc.):

It is rooted in traditional practices but now incorporates technology. Pastoralists use smartphones to map grazing lands, identify water catchment areas, and determine more fertile land.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• create beneficial economic impact
• create beneficial social impact

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Yes

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):

• Silvo-pastoralism

Grazing land

Extensive grazing:

• Semi-nomadic pastoralism

Intensive grazing/ fodder production:

• Improved pastures

Animal type:

• buffalo
• cattle - dairy
• goats
• sheep

Is integrated crop-livestock management practiced?

No

Products and services:

• economic security, investment prestige
• milk
• whool

Species:

buffalo

Species:

cattle - dairy

Species:

goats

Species:

sheep

Unproductive land

Specify:

Village wasteland

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• No (Continue with question 3.4)

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• rainfed

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• pastoralism and grazing land management
• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• ground water management

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

management measures

• M2: Change of management/ intensity level
• M3: Layout according to natural and human environment
• M5: Control/ change of species composition

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by wind

• Et: loss of topsoil

biological degradation

• Bc: reduction of vegetation cover
• Bh: loss of habitats
• Bq: quantity/ biomass decline
• Bs: quality and species composition/ diversity decline

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation
• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

INR

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

84.35

4.3 Establishment activities

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

Project and other volunteers

Comments:

In some cases where women contributed 100%, such amount was often contributed by in-kind work or by labourforce.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

The management committee covered the remaining costs using earnings from the previous year's fodder cultivation thus ensuring sustainability for the next cycle.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Climate uncertainty, availability of land under the Revenue Office, irregular rains.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

Yes

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Before 40 years, the region was rich in biodiversity. Yet, considering modern challenges like industrialisation, migration, land encroachment, climate change and desertification, this biodiversity is in danger.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• state

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Specify assessment of off-site impacts (measurements):

Restored pastureland cater to livestock from the site as well as off site community. Helps the migrating pastoralist as well.

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

Climatological disasters

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• > 50%

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

Almost 70% of the households constitute pastoralist communities and are included in the process implementation.

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 0-10%

Comments:

As the process required technical and legal support other than technology support and payments.

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Meri Mitti report by Marag, 2022

Available from where? Costs?

MARAG NGO (see website)

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Innovative and effective women-led solutions for drought resilience and adaptation

URL:

https://www.unccd.int/sites/default/files/2024-10/20241005_women-led-DRAFT_V6.pdf

7.4 General comments

The questionnaire is well-designed, covering comprehensive information and effectively addressing all key aspects of Sustainable Land Management (SLM). It touches on each relevant area, ensuring thorough data collection.