Environmental research

A VRA assessment found a more prolonged drought along with forest degradation a big challenge that has caused damage of crop such as corn, beans, and rice. Droughts caused water shortage for traditional chicken raising in the dry season, as many farmers do not have access to reliable source of water supply. The project aims to raise awareness among local villagers of CC, the role forest plays in mitigating impacts of CC, provide new knowledge on chicken raising and suitable crops, chicks and seeds of selected crops for farming. Local villagers are expected to share their contribution both in cash and kind. The project will be incorporated in the commune plan, and subsequent findings in the VRA will be used to make recommendations for local authority. Villagers knowledge management will be illustrated at the end of the 15 months project duration. The organization will be looking for what projects will be proposed by the three commune authorities for 2013 and will continue to look for additional funding to support the proposals raised as a result of this project. 1.2 Goal The project aims to reduce vulnerability of the six community protected landscapes - 1) Trapaing Thlork, 2) Tamaing Mean Chey, 3) Phnom Dang Rek, 4) Ta Ying, 5) Phoum Thmei, and 6) Boeng Tasrei - through awareness raising on effective adaptation to CC, improvement of technical capacity for integrated livestock-crop farming and education on safe water. Specific objectives: Objective 1: To enhance capacity of 480 beneficiaries to respond to CC events in a Community Protected Area (CPA) through mitigating their vulnerability to droughts and forest degradation; Objective 2: To increase income among 150 beneficiaries through the provision of knowledge on chicken and crops farming, and support to women saving groups in 6 CPAs; Objective 3: To Increase access by 150 beneficiaries in the 6 CPA to drinking water through the provision of large water tanks, training and awareness raising on sanitation, and how to treat turbid water; and Objective 4: To ensure that the project comply with the five assessment criteria in the context and global environmental framework on VRA. 1.3 Project outcome Outcome 1.1: - Capacity of 480 beneficiaries (260 female) in the 6 CPAs improved by at least 65% on their response to CC events through reduction of their vulnerability and their contribution to reduction of forest degradation. Six CC issues and programs incorporated in annual development plans by 3 communes, Thmar Puork district. Outcome 2.1: - Livelihood of at least 65% of 150 households (90 women) improved through their additional income from chicken raising and home gardening; - 150 households provide loans for 750 chicks to other 150 households, 90 female, in the 6 CPAs; and - Successful lessons from chicken raising, loans, and integrated home gardening documented as knowledge management in the 6 CPAs. Outcome 3.1: - Better access to safe water and health is secured for 150 households through provision of large water tanks to hold water for use in the dry season and education on hygiene and sanitation; and - Community trained on water treatment and knowledge management manual on pond maintenance is developed. 1.4 Expected outputs and main activities Output 1.1.1 (Outcome 1.1, Objective 1): Awareness built among 480 households of the threats from CC, impacts on forest, biodiversity, and the role forest plays in mitigating community vulnerability to CC; Understandings gained by 780 beneficiaries, 440 female, on integration of CC in CPAs and the project is incorporated in the annual development plan for 3 communes, Thmar Puork district, Banteay Mean Chey province. Activities: - Organize workshops on the role of forest and forestry law with 160 beneficiaries (90 female); - Organize the environmental day including tree ordination, query and award to role-model farmers; - Forum on roles of forest in mitigating impacts of droughts and forest rehabilitation for 600 junior high school students and their instructors with 500 IEC materials produced and distributed; and - Discuss with the commune councils to mainstream the need for adaptation to CC in the development plans of the 3 communes. Output 2.1.1 (Outcome 2.1, Objective 2): Knowledge gained by 150 beneficiaries (90 women), on chicken raising and appropriate home gardening; Capacity of 30 community committees and local animal health workers built; Community members apply chicken farming and home gardening knowledge gained from the training; and Study visits and learning on knowledge documentation and management; Second phase involve additional 150 beneficiaries (90 female). Activities: - Provide 2 days training on chicken raising and home gardening for 25 beneficiaries selected from each of the 6 CPAs; - Strengthen the village animal health committee on chicken raising in coordination with local authority and provincial DoA; - Strengthen the capacity of 25 SHG members (15 female), selected from each of the 6 CPAs; - Review and update the existing by-laws and internal rules of the self-help groups and their management committees; - Provide training on administration, report writing, financial management and loan process for CPA management committees; - Convene meetings with SHGs to disseminate by-laws, internal regulations and SHG s loan process; - Provide chicks and seeds in the first half year to 150 households in the 6 CPAs through loans from SHGs; - Provide training on knowledge documentation and mana

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