Environmental policy and administrative management

The project will be managed by a community based NGO called Towe development association. the association is a brainchild of a local visionary leader Mr Timaremoyo who after receiving training in bee keeping and natural resource conservation from Zimbabwe farmers Development Trust (ZFDT), a local NGO, got inspired to improve the environmental and living conditions of his fellow community members. The project location is Zindi ward 3 of honde valley in Mutas district. Zindi ward is located in the upper cachment area of Pungwe river, an international river that stems from Inyangani Mountains( the Eastern highlands of Zimbabwe flowing through Mozambique toward the Indian ocean. the woodland ecosystem serves as a natural barrier to soil erosion but due to unsustainable land use practices such as deforestation and poor farming methods the flora and fauna in the area is under threat of extinction and the land suffers heavily from land degradation. Due to the fragile nature of the mountain slopes and favorable conditions for the growing of tea, the colonial Government tried successfully to remove people from this area and establish tea plantations at a grand scale. Over time the population has increased and given the limited arable land, the tendency has been to cultivate uplands on steep slops leading to alarming levels of soil erosion. The cultivation of slopes is preceded by tree clearance which results in the loss of biodiversity and limited resistance to water runoff, culminating in the formation of rills and gullies in these highlands. The soil that is washed away is ultimately being deposited into the pungwe river contributing to the siltation of the river. pressure for arable farming has driven some families to intensify stream bank cultivation along the pungwe river further threatening the riverine system. In addition like most rural communities in Zimbabwe ward 3 of Mutasa district suffers from high poverty levels, food shortages and low incomes. The project seeks to protect Pungwe river Basin from land degradation and biodiversity loss through sustainable land management and improved livelihoods options. The project is premised on the hypothesis that with better conservation and sustainable utilization of natural resources through reforestation, soil conservation and improved land husbandry, there will be a reduction in land degradtion and an increase in biodiversity. The introduction of beekeeping in he existing Matora Forest and forests areas along the banks of the pungwe is also seen as a deterrent to deforestation as communities begin to derive value from the conservation of riverine tree species. The project goal is to conserve and utilize land and other natural resources within the Upper Pungwe catchment area in a sustainable manner whilst improving the livelihoods of communities Specific objectives 1. To minimize land degradation by practicing forest conservation, reforestation and agroforestry 2. 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 3. To reduce the demand for arable land and dependence on agriculture for food security and economic sustenance by introducing bee keeping and agro forestry initiatives. Project activities 1. Mobilize and train community in agro forestry, woodland management, natural resource conservation and community project management. 2. Conduct Exchange visits to Sahumani and other relevant projects in mutas to promote learning and sharing 3. Establish a community nursery that will supply a diversity of indigenous and fruit trees to project members and for community needs. 4.Design and implement a community program to remove lantana camera growing alongside the road network and other undesirable places 5.Conserve Matora forest by introducing bee keeping, plant indigenous tress in heavily deforested areas of Zindi and along the banks of pngwe stretching across the ward. 6. Plant 40 trees at each homestead and or field 7.Establish a community nursery for vertiver and cassava cuttings (soil stabilizing agents) training in honey processing, candle making and fish farming 8. Entrepreneurship development and recording management. Project Outcomes 1. Community has capacity and skills to reduce levels if land degradation 2. A sustainable and free supply of tree seedlings to project members and community is assured 3. Increase in the growth of indigenous shrubs along the road network 4. Improved biodiversity and forest cover 5. Demand for arable farming reduced and hence potential for land degradation minimized 6. Cassava and vertiver grass are adopted by community as viable soil stabilization agents 6. Soil erosion reduced and land degradtion minimized 7. Improved food security at household level 8. A critical mass f business entrepreneurs established

Zimbabwe