Environmental research

The project is proposed as a continuation of the community forestry (CF) project in Phnom Rei, Soung 1, and Kandal villages, Ta Toak and Soung communes, Samlot district, Battambang province. The communities in the three villages have already implemented the following activities: 1) Organizing CF, 2) management structure of the CF, 3) development of internal rule, 4) demarcation of CF areas, and 5) development of CF by-law. However the communities need to implement other 3 major activities including securing agreements, management plan development and M The VRA results by The Saving Vulnerable Children conclude that the 3 communities are particularly vulnerable to CC impacts such as wind storms, prolonged droughts, erratic rainfalls, compounded by significant deforestation, and some major problems such as pest infestation on crops, inappropriate application of pesticides, outbreak of domestic animal diseases, lack of access and knowledge by the communities on modern technologies and lack of capitals and seeds. To improve natural resource management and facilitate communities to adapt their livelihood to CC (CC), the project provides skills on animal husbandry, and seed management to improve income and plans trees on 50 ha of land. The communities and commune councils facilitated by The Saving Vulnerable Children propose that the project focus its effort on three major components: 1) strengthening CF management; 2) improvement of livelihood through household animal husbandry and home gardening; and 3) enhancing local capacity to adapt to CC impacts. 1.2 Project Goal The project aims to strengthen capacity of 23 members of CF committee and reduce vulnerability to CC and deforestation by improving the livelihood of 760 households in 3 villages in 2 communes of Samlot district. The project s specific objectives are: Objective 1: To reduce vulnerability of the communities from CC through strengthening management capacity of local CF and tree planting over 775 ha of land within the 3 villages, by engaging 3,000 local villagers, 1,500 women; Objective 2: To improve livelihood of 3,311 people, 1,285 women, from 760 households, an increase by 30% through the provision of climate resistant seeds and farming technique, and animals for animal husbandry; and Objective 3: To promote community awareness about livelihood impacts from CC and incorporate adaptation actions as priority into commune investment plans (CDP). 1.3 Project outcome Outcome 1.1 (Objective 1): The 3 CFs, participated by 1,000 women, better managed with the use of knowledge to manage forests in a sustainable manner; Outcome 1.2 (Objective 1): 50 ha of community forest land planted with trees to increase forest density within the communities; Outcome 2.1 (Objective 2): Income of 365 households (2,490 people, 1,239 women) increased by 30 per cents through appropriate application of knowledge on home based animal husbandry, crop faming and use of quality seeds; Outcome 3.1 (Objective 3): Actions on adaptation to CC mainstreamed into the commune investment plan as one of the priorities. 1.4 Expected outputs and main activities Output 1.1.1 (Outcome 1.1, Objective 1): Agreements secured for the three CFs with their 775 ha of community forest land registered with FA. Activities - Conduct boundary demarcation and development of map to include additional 115 ha in Kanthor village; - Finalize maps with 3 CFs and FA, with the participation of 560 women; - Development of CF agreements in coordination with the FA; - Organize a signing event for the 3 CFs with FA; and - Disseminate CF agreements to 1,800 people, 1,000 women, including CF members and relevant agencies. Output 1.1.2 (Outcome 1.1, Objective 1): Members of the 3 CF committees, 40% women, have their management capacity developed and are accountable before CFs and relevant sectoral agencies; Activities - Provide 3 training sessions (9 days) for 20 participants, 7 women, in the 3 CFs, on leadership, project management, report writing, meeting facilitation, and proposal writing; - Organize a 4 day field visit by 29 participants including CF committees and members, and livestock raising group, 50% women, to similar projects in Kampot; Output 1.2.1 (Outcome 1.2, Objective 1): Management plans of the 3 CFs developed with FA s engagement throughout the process; Activities - Facilitate CF committee s monthly meetings to plan for follow-on activities and to develop monthly report; - Hold quarterly meetings with CF committees, CF and staff of SVC to develop quarterly workplan and seek solutions to emerging issues in the communities; - Conduct 3 M & E by the commune councils on how CF management plans are implemented, at 3rd, 8th month and end of the project); - Conduct an VRA; and - Organize for an external evaluation. Output 1.2.2 (Outcome 1.2, Objective 1): 30,000 saplings planted on 50 ha of community forest and effectively protected by the CFs for the benefit of 3,000 CF members, 1,500 women. Activities - Develop sapling production station at Kandal village with the capacity to produce 26,000 saplings; - Buy 3,000 community-produced saplings which encourages communities to produce saplings; - Coordinate with FA to obtain 1,000 saplings for the communities; - Organize a tree planting event at the district level to plant 30,000 trees on 50 ha of land; and - Develop firebreaks in the 3 CFs areas to protect exiting forest and newly planted trees. Output 2.1.1 (Outcome 2.1, Objective 2): Knowledge gained

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