Environmental policy and administrative management

The project seeks to introduce an integrated agricultural and ecosystem management programme in order to save the Honde Valley catchment area from further degradation. The overall project goal is to implement an integrated programme that focusses on combating land degradation, conservation of biodiversity together with the protection of the catchment of Pungwe for the betterment of the natural ecosystem and livelihoods of Sahumani people.The project is after addressing the problems of uncontrolled grazing which has resulted in soil erosion and siltation , cutting down of trees for firewood and stream bank cultivation.The project will benefit a population of 5000 people. The specific objectives include the following: 1)To build the capacity of Sahumani community to engage in sustainable farming practices and integrated ecosystems management programme 2) To reduce the rate of tree cutting through provision of chingwa stoves , construction of pilot biogas digesters and woodlot establishment 3. to fight stream bank cultivation and land degradation 4. to improve the community`s income levels and livelihoods through the implementation of a variety of income generating projects such as diary farming,fruit production and epiculture. 5. to document the programme`s best practices, processes, and procedures in both print and video format for knowledge generation and sharing amongst communities. outputs - management board for Sahumani (MBESA) formed , constituted and fully trained to manage the integrated programme of agriculture and biodiversity related to it. -the local community educated on the need to conserve natural resources -75 chingwa stoves provided to the community of 15 villages -biogas digesters constructed -five thousand indigenous trees planted on bare ground -ten thousand exotic trees planted -planting of vertiva grass as well as introduction of zero grazing -all known gullies reclaimed -75 ha of land put under irrigation farming supporting 300 families 30 water pumps erected, irrigating 30 water gardens serving 120 families -30 heifers to be distributed among the 15 villages -2500 fruit trees planted -30 honey producing projects operational in Sahumani -documentation of events project activities -community mobilization and awareness raising -capacity building -construction of 75 chingwa stoves and of boigas digesters -plantng of 5000 indigenous trees and 10000 exotic trees -sinking and constructing the water pumps -planting vertiva grass and introduction of zero grazing -reclamation of gullies -workshops on diary management -construction of cattle pens using locally available materials -plantng 2500 various fruit trees and the initiation of 30 honey production in Sahumai Ward 8. -produce documents and video illustrating the activities implemented.

Zimbabwe