Environmental policy and administrative management

1.0 BACKGROUND Towe Development Association is a community based organisation aimed at improving the livelihoods of communities living in Zindi ward 13 of Honde Valley under Mutasa District. Zindi ward is located in the catchment area of Pungwe river that stems from Inyangani mountains. Honde valley is popular for its rich palins and forests with indigenous trees and fruit that includes bananas, litchi, mango and guava trees that grow naturally in the wild. The project seeks to protect Pungwe river basin from biodiversity loss through unsustainable land management practices that have contributed to degraded of the area. 2.0 PROJECT GOAL The goal of the project is to conserve and utilize land and other natural resources within upper Pungwe Catchment Area in a sustainable manner to reduce land degradation whilst improving livelihoods of communities. 3.0 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES i) To minimize land degradation by practicing forest conservation, reforestation and agro-forestry ii) To promote sustainable soil conservation practices and improved land husbandry so as to improve soil fertility as well as reducing levels of siltation in the Pungwe river iii) To reduce the demand for arable land and dependence on agriculture for food security and economic sustenance by introducing beekeeping and agro-forestry initiatives 4.0 OUTPUTS a) Outputs relating to objective 1: - Community acquires knowledge on sustainable natural resource management - Well functioning insitutional mechanisms for natuar resource management in place - Community has knowledge to plant and care for trees - Community teams engage in systematic removal of lantana camara - Reduced incidence of illegal tree cutting and veld fires in the Matora Forest -Project members intensify agro-forestry activities and reduce the demand for arable land b) Outputs relating to objective 2: i) Adequate supply of cassava cuttings and vertiva grass plantings to meet community needs ii) Improved soil conservation and land husbandry practices iii) Fields stabilised against run-off 5.0 OUTCOMES i) Community has capacity and skills to reduce land degradation ii) A sustainable supply of tree seedlings to project members and community is assured iii) Increase in growth of indigenous shrubs along the road network after removal of lanatana camara iv) Demand for arable farming reduced and hence potential for land degradation minimized and demand for chemical fertilizers reduced v) Cassava and vertiva adopted as viable soil stabilization agents vi) A critical mass of business enterprenuers established at community level. c) Outputs relating to objective 3: i) Community is exposed to relevant skills for expanding livelihood base ii) Project members have knowledge to process honey and make candles from wax residue iii) Improved nutritional standards at household level.

Zimbabwe