Environmental research

Serejeka is sub-region within Maekel Regional Administration. It is located 22 km north west of Asmara, the capital, on the main road to Keren Town. Serejeka landscape is on the highland plateau and lies within the range of 2,300 2,400 meters above sea level with average annual rainfall of 600mm. People s livelihood depends on crops and livestock. The inhabitants of the sub-region have major land degradation challenges. Soil erosion during the rainy season is tremendous and thus flash floods form gullies in their farmlands. This reduces the size of existing farmland. Soil fertility is totally depleted and crop harvest is very poor. Total area of sub region Serejeka is 21,877.4 ha. The land use plan of the sub-region is categorized in a way that 768.6 ha of land is high potential area for agricultural production. 4,069.13 ha is less potential area for agriculture, 2940.16 ha is moderate potential area and 10,259.95ha area is for afforestation. Total area of the project site is 2,660 ha of land, of which 15 % is for forestry, 20 % for grazing and 65% for agriculture. This project, Serejeka land Degradation rehabilitation through a forestation, SWC activities and introducing the use of compost is envisaged to address land degradation problem by engaging local actors in environmental conservation through building their capacities to act and create better livelihood options through ameliorating soil conditions. Compost as the result of managed transformation of raw organic materials into biologically stable and sterile organic substance sustainably ameliorates degraded soil structure and texture. Likewise, nutrients decomposed in the process are easily taken by the roots of plants. In addition, the heat produced during composting process (110-160oF) destroys pathogens, diseases and undesirable weed seeds. The project is one year project starting from January 2013 to December 2013 targeting a total population of 1,400 households or 6,300 people in awareness raising and afforestation activities. In addition to that, capacity building on Soil & Water Conservation practices and construction of demonstrative silos for composting of organic matter is targeted to selected exemplary farmers of 56 people and 38 extension servers of the branch ministry of agriculture in the sub region. The major components of the project are: Building the capacities of 94 local environmental actors on compost processing & construction of silos for composting, Construction of 96 m3 silos in the project site of Shimanugus Laelay of Serejeka Sub-region for composting and training to environmental actors and selected community members for better livelihood options, Constructing of community based soil and water conservation activities i.e 15,750 m3 check-dam constructions; construction of 90 Km of terraces and planting of 70,000 tree seedlings, Protecting of communal land and planting of 5,000 tree seedlings in compounds of individual households premises. The project needs a total of Nakfa 4,454,865.00 or USD 296,991.00 Contribution of GEF/ SGP is USD 50, 000.00 Serejeka Development Committee s contribution is USD 182,896.00 Community contribution including the local government, Branch Ministry of Agriculture and Branch Ministry of Land, Water and Environment is in-kind and is estimated at USD 64,095.00 The local government, Branch Ministry of Land, Water, and Environment and Branch Ministry of Agriculture includes labor, provision of seedlings, administrative support and technical backstopping. In implementing the project, Serejeka Development Committee will take the lead and its executive members are composed of 5 people. At the very beginning of the project, the community forms 3 groups that undertake the actual planned activities, where all executive members of the Serejeka Development Committee play a lead role. Members of committees cited above, soil and water conservation experts from the Branch Ministry of Agriculture and Branch Ministry of Land, Water and Environment, SGP personnel are represented in project monitoring and evaluation process and follow result based monitoring. The knowledge gained from the project is also carefully documented and communicated to concerned organizations and offices. The sustainability of the project results is seriously taken into account by focusing on building the capacity of stakeholders and creating benefit sharing mechanism.

Eritrea