Bio-diversity

1.0 Problem The problem in the Dora community is water pollution and the prevalence of the invasive lantana camara spice. The water pollution is caused by poor quality effluent discharged by industries and Mutare City sewerage works which are upstream. The pollution has eroded the socio-economic livelihood of the Dora community. The community can no longer use the river water for irrigating their vegetable garden because of the risk of contamination. This has resulted in the deterioration of the food security in the community due to reduced vegetable production. The pollution has also resulted in diarrhea diseases and bilharzias amongst the children who get in contact with the river water as they cross the river or as they swim in the river. The diseases further erode the already reduced earning as they have to seek medical attention and medication at the local clinic or Doctors in Mutare. The pollution results in the exploitation socially vulnerable groups like the children and the women who are tasked to ensure the transportation of water from alternative water supplies that are distant. As this happens, the women no longer have adequate time to focus on other family responsibilities and the children have less time for study as they will be exhausted. The infestation of the project area with lantana camara has reduced the biodiversity of the area in that the indigenous spices have been beclouded and their growth has been extensively reduced. The rapid proliferation has also resulted in reduced availability and quality of land for grazing and inhibits free movement of people and animals in the area. 2.0 Project Goal The Goal of the project is to restore the natural water quality and biodiversity of the Dora River System (a pollution channel to the Save River). 3.0 Objectives 1. To establish and capacitate an effective Dora River protection community work group to spearhead advocacy at local level. 2. Creation of 2 community environmental orchards. 3. Eradicate the lantana camara on 10 hectares in the project area and plant indigenous trees. 4.0 Project Activities 1.1 Prepare 3 hectares of land for orchards & install the flood irrigation system as required by public health regulation. 1.2 Procure seedlings of plants with high water uptake and purification potential (citrus or banana or cane or pasture). 1.3. Plant, irrigate, maintain orchards 2.1 Identify and clear 10 hectares of lantana camara invasive spice 2.2 Procure the indigenous spices 2.3 Plant and maintain indigenous trees 3.1Register and train Trust members on environmental legislation 3.2 Training members on managing the environmental orchards 3.3Conduct active environment advocacy to upstream polluters. 5.0 Project Results -Effluent directly discharged to the Dora River reduced. -Fruits harvested from the orchards. -Community self-employed in the orchards. - 10 hectares of indigenous trees. -Registered and operational Community Environment Trust

Zimbabwe