Bio-diversity

Project objectives: 1. To establish an Community Based Umbrella Training Station conserving the Biodiversity through training of the projects managed by the community 1.1 To establish natural rain water harvesting depression (Tarai) at Training station, because there is the need of such water conserving body. 1.2 To establish local backyard poultry farm and make a supply mechanism to extend the local backyard poultry units to female farmers. 1.3 To harvest rain water for eco- agriculture practices and promoting drip irrigation. Project objectives: 2. To conduct survey and document plants/hurbs/shurbs, wild- life, wild-food, and animal density in four clusters of one union council in first three months of the project implementation. 2.1 CONDUCT SURVEY ON ENDANGERED SPECIES OF PLANTS, HERBS, WILD LIFE (ANIMALS AND BIRD) AND SHRUBS AND TO FIND OUT CAUSES AND ACTIONS FOR THEIR CONSERVATION OR REHABILITATION. Project objectives: 3. To implement the models of household farming through conservation of rainwater in 20 villages of Union council Jhirmirio in two years. 3.1 Promote pitcher and drip irrigation systems 3.2 Promote 20 farmers farms through conservation of rainwater harvesting. 3.4 Construct 100 rainwater harvesting tanks at household level and 20 farmers tank at farm fields. 3.5 Project inception workshop 3.6 Training of local councillor on eco-agriculture practices. 3.7 Community conferences on biodiversity issues Project objectives: 4. To motivate and get registered CBOs/VDOs as CCBs and facilitate them in getting funds from the local government in 20 villages. 4.1 Formation of CCBs 4.2 Registration with Community Development Department 4.3 Obtaining funds from local Government Project objectives: 5. Motivate and facilitate the CBOs/VDOs for the conservation and protection of their Gauchers in 20 villages. 5.1 Formation of wild life and tree protection committees. 5.2 Conservation of local species of plants and animals of the area. 5.3 Adopt the practice of animal flushing 5.3 Promotion and projection of the theme Gaucher protection at local council through informative sessions Justification for Support - Linkages with GEF Themes and Operational Programmes Globally, species are becoming extinct at an accelerating rate and biodiversity is being lost as human activities disrupt fragile ecosystems. The loss of global biodiversity means lost sources of new foods and medicines, and lost productivity and adaptability of ecosystems. The main threat to Tharparkar s biodiversity is unsustainable development. Within Tharparkar urban development, habitat degradation and the unsustainable management of renewable resources threaten habitat and species. Protecting one species at a time is providing a limited strategy. The only realistic solution is an integrated one that protects biodiversity while addressing the underlying determinants of its loss. Biodiversity in Thar refers to the change that has happened in the natural resources including wild life and variations of all life in Thar. The diversity in natural resources did not sustain due to varied condition, some people have witnessed traits that help them to memorize the changes and reductions in the population of flora and fauna. The trends of uprooting shrubs, cutting trees for fuel wood and overgrazing due to over stocking and population pressures are increasing. If this continues the already exhausted range lands will not be in a position to support the existing level of livestock population of Thar. As a result of continuous and uninterrupted degradation of natural resources, the population will have little choice but to migrate to the urban centers for their livelihood. This trend is already gaining ground rapidly. The future of the Thari community depends on present and future stewardship of available resources. Growing populations have stretched the capacities to limits. TRDP, thus, aims to motivate the communities for better care of the desert natural resources to combat drought and food insecurity situation, improve animal husbandry and promote rainwater harvesting. Based on this theme one of the major thrusts of the TRDP has been for sustainable land use. The problem is being addressed by TRDP with the involvement of the community and aims to reduce the land degradation trends, control desertification for increased regeneration of forest/ranges and improve tree cover and natural vegetation. TRDP believes this all very well fits in the overall GEF Country Programme Strategy for GEF Pakistan. Context/Baseline Thardeep s Project on Natural Resources Management (NRM) and Promoting Eco-Agriculture Practices in four clusters in one Union Council of Tahsil Diplo in Tharparkar aims to re-introduce the indigenous eco-agriculture practices and improve livestock management practices by using strategies which are rarely in practice now and less focused upon. The project will also consolidate the institutional base in four clusters in one union council in order to measure the tangible impact in Two years period. The project is the continuation of the extended and improved version of the activities that had been carried to improve eco-agriculture and natural resource management practices in District Tharparkar in partnership with UNDP GEF. In the last phase of project implementation, TRDP was endeavoring to consolidate the consequences of recurring droughts in Tharparkar in general and prevention of losses specifically while involving communities to real

Pakistan