EE/ESD Program

Title of EE/ESD project

COMPREHENSIVE MODEL OF BIO-DIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT IN ARAVALI RANGE

Created : Oct 18 2007 / Modified : Oct 18 2007

Organization Name: Sahyog Sansthan, Udaipur (Rajasthan) India

Type of the Project

National / Community Level: Community
Main contents and field: Agriculture / Community Development / Conservation / Ecology Biodiversity / Poverty Alleviation / Training / Water

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Financial resources (Granted, sponsored by or partnership with)

Organization/Institution

Center for Environment Education, Ahemadabad & UNDP, New Delhi

Name of Grant

Comprehensive Model of Bio-Diversity Conservation and Management in Aravali Range

Amount

1,531,000 INR per year
(37,282 US Dollar)

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Target area and people: Sahyog's area of operations is predominantly inhabited by the Rawat ? Meena tribal community together with other peasant communities such as Dangis, /Gayaris, Rajputs etc. Agriculture and allied activities are the mainstay of the economy but securing a livelihood is a major challenge for the people of the region. The region receives poor rainfall and land holdings are small and fragmented. Being rainfed farming is highly vulnerable and generally oriented to meeting subsistence needs of the family. Returns from agriculture being so low and other employment opportunities being absent, the people have had to turn to city, mines and industrial centres elsewhere for earning wage labour to supplement family incomes. Education levels are very low particularly among women and major parts of the area suffers neglect from public services and infrastructure.

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Background/Problems of the project: The project area is located in the Aravali mountain ranges that is well known for its rich biodiversity. There is a large stretch of about 21 villages throughout which the topography is typically undulating. Once the area had rich forest but over a period of time it got degraded because of high rate of dependence of people from the adjacent plains. Part of this area also comes under the catchment area of Jaisamand lack.
The area is full of small and medium size hillocks. Not more than 25% area could be classified as moderately sloppy. Rest of the area are characterized by steep slopes and are uncultivable. Water scarcity is there, but there is enough scope for water conservation. The Khajoor trees along streams shows that once upon a time the streams were perennial or used to flow most of the time during a year. But now the ground water level is as deep as 100 feet and at present scarcity of water is an acute problem being faced by the people of this region.
At present the hillocks are almost denuded. Sparsely distributed trees of babool, Khejra, Khair etc. are seen. Remnants of vegetation shows that grass is there but due to pressure of grazing it has not been able to grow profusely.
Runoff is high and soil erosion is clearly visible. Rock surface is visible in most of the places. Rill formation along slopes is a common phenomenon. In a few places gully formation has started.
In terms of biodiversity, the area is very rich. A survey conducted by Sahyog five years ago came out with 156 species of trees, shrubs and herbs in the area. There is ample rootstocks present. However, the density of these species has been decreasing. E.g. Khair (Acacia catechu) was profusely available a few years ago. Now only a handful number of trees exist.
People have been concerned of these degradations. But continuous drought in last five years have kept them limited to fulfilling their individual needs. There is a need to boost their morale. Support at this moment will internalize their concern for conservation.

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Objectives/Significance of the project: 1. Develop a comprehensive physical model of biodiversity conservation
2. Strengthen people's institutions that will promote and sustain the conservation efforts.

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Description of the project: A comprehensive plan was made for four villages for appropriate conservation, effective development/management and judicious utilization of natural resources in all the four villages with their active participation. Main activities were ? Development of common and private pastureland, construction of water harvesting structures, Renovation of old wells, horticulture and vermiculture promotion, promotion of self help groups, dairy promotion and livestock development.

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Materials/equipments used in the project:: Mostly we used local material for water harvesting, soil and water conservation and allied activities. This enabled the people at one hand to improve their assets and on other people earned wage labouring while developing the assets.

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Pictures and maps

Time span/Timeline: From January 2004 to September 2006

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Result/Self evaluation (success or failure) including its reasons: The project is completed and results are encouraging. The develop pastureland and water harvesting structures are being maintained by villagers without outside support. We have also recorded increased water availability for drinking and irrigation. More fodder for animals and more food production is recorded. The good monsoon rain has enabled people to have all the three crops in a year.

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Other learning from the project: These are the resource deficit areas with resource deficit communities and to improve the livelihood system with ecological restoration need more time for development and improving sustainable management/maintenance systems. Also the process should be cost effective and people's friendly.

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EE/ESD Program

Title of EE/ESD project

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