Environmental policy and administrative management

1.1 Project Summary Introduction This proposal is being submitted under the consolidation phase of the project that was implemented between January 2010 and September 2011 and was supported by the GEF/SGP with funding amounting to US$27,000. STEP also contributed matching funds. The project was entitled Benefit Driven Land Rehabilitation and Biodiversity Conservation through Sustainable utilization of Masengere in Honde Valley. The main objective of the project was to contribute towards the reduction of land degradation and livelihood improvement of rural communities in Honde Valley through the development of a viable masengere craft sector. The project had 3 main objectives namely: (i)To promote environmental awareness and active environment protection interventions in selected wards; (ii)To facilitate the development and adoption of effective techniques for sustainable utilization of Masengere; and (iii) To facilitate the development of a viable masengere craft sector in Honde Valley emphasizing on the participation of women in the business and the development of markets for this and other ago based products. It was implemented in 4 wards i.e. 1, 3, 4 and 5 targeting weaving households in these areas. The project worked with a total of 140 weaving households of which 52 were female headed households. This first phase achieved increased environmental awareness, created new opportunities for agro and bamboo crafts entrepreneurship. These positive gains can only be sustained if project management committees are strong, women are fully involved and when the Pungwe catchment areas are actively re-forested. This proposed consolidation phase is expected to address these areas to ensure lasting effects. The next section presents the achievements of Phase I. OBJECTIVE 1: To promote environmental awareness and active environment protection interventions in selected wards1. 1. Facilitate the development of community catchment management plans 1.2. Identify existing institutions for natural resources management and conduct a capacity assessment 1.3. Conduct training workshop for environment management committees 1.4. Define the roles and responsibilities of ward management committees 1.5. Demonstrate rehabilitation techniques 1.6. Facilitate the implementation of relevant environmental rehabilitation projects (gulley reclamation, indigenous trees planting, 1.7.Purchase water diversion pipes for a communal water harvesting project in 1 ward 1.8.Facilitate access to alternative energy sources e.g. firewood from neighboring forest plantation Outputs 4 community catchment management plans developed Participatory institutional assessment conducted, Role players in each ward identified, 4 Ward natural resources management committees established but two of the committees are functional 4 Rehabilitation techniques demonstrated in all wards emphasizing on use of local resources masengere gabions, bananas and vertiver, 540 sand bags. 3 sites showing signs of recovery Propagation of 12 indigenous trees in 4 nurseries with 940 seedlings and 160 bamboo in pots enough to be planted over estimated 5 hac of catchment area Commemorated national Fire week and Tree planting day. 2 gardens supporting 56 households. 12 rolls covering a distance of 2900m to one group of 25 women in gardening Not achieved: distances too long and not cost effective for private sector forestry company y in two wards Distributed 8 wheel burrows, 8 shovels and 800 sand bags Outcomes Communities now are clear on environment management priorities, roles and responsibilities/obligations Environmental management committees aware of roles and responsibilities and effectiveness improved Rehabilitation techniques adopted and ecologically sensitive areas such as stream banks and slopes actively protected An estimated 16 ha. of land area is under active rehabilitation through tree planting, gulley reclamation and control of runoff along the roads.Communities desist from stream bank gardening activities and move to homestead gardens Gardening group has realized income from the sale of horticulture products i.e. Zindi-Chiteme Women Group. In their first season, they managed to plant onions and tomatoes and realized an income of $300 OBJECTIVE 2: To identify and facilitate the adoption of effective techniques for sustainable utilization of masengere Activities relating to objective 2 2.1Conduct participatory resource assessment to establish stock levels and current threats 2.2 Conduct study on effective harvesting techniques of masengere including traditional techniques 2.3.Train users in effective harvesting techniques and promote awareness of the techniques 2.4.Conduct an assessment of institutional mechanisms in place for monitoring application of sustainable harvesting techniques, control of access and benefit sharing 2.5.Facilitate the development of by laws that govern effective management, control of access of masengere in the valley Outputs Bamboo participatory resource mapping conducted in 4 wards Detailed assessments conducted in assessments completed in 2 wards and 1 Technical guide of all techniques for sustainable harvesting of masengere produced and distributed to all weavers Techniques demonstrated in each ward to 74 male weavers and 56 women, Report produced on institutional assessments for monitoring, control of access and benefit sharing produced By laws for effective management and control of access developed in each ward By laws not consolida

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