Environmental policy and administrative management

1.0 Problem Rural communities in Honde valley, Zimbabwe rely mainly on rain fed agriculture for livelihoods. Yields are poor due to the poor soils, erratic rainfall and lack of access to seed and other inputs. Honde Valley is unique in that it is endowed with rich soils along the perennial river beds that can support a range of other crops such as bananas, sugarcane, avocado pears and yams. Although these have potential to complement household incomes from dryland cropping, their potential economic household contribution is limited by a number of factors including, poor transport systems, low economies of scale, low market prices even in the cities, bulkiness of the goods and perishability especially of the bananas and avocados. Prolonged dry spells are also reported to be impacting negatively on production. Over the years valley communities have adopted and developed honey production and masengere weaving as a livelihood. Traditionally, the Honde Valley community has successfully harnessed the bamboo, masengere, to produce farm implements used for ferrying and processing harvested crops. However the three major forms of livelihood mentioned namely agriculture, craft production and tourism are under severe threats from a number of existing and impending problems. These include (i) increase in environmental degradation; (ii) increase in stream bank cultivation in the Honde river catchment due to water scarcity (iii) uncontrolled harvesting of strategic resources such as masengere, (iv) poor development of the business that has potential to provide social and economic benefits to many households (v) the marginal involvement of women in weaving. This project seeks to adress some of these negative effects by working with the community. 2.0 Project Goal To contribute towards the reduction of land degradation and livelihood improvement of rural communities in Honde through the development of a viable masengere craft sector. 3.0 Objectives 1. To promote environmental awareness and active environment protection interventions in selected wards 2. To facilitate the development and adoption of effective techniques for masengere harvesting and utilization 3. To facilitate the development of a viable masengere craft sector in Honde Valley emphasizing on the participation of women in the business 4.0 Project activities 1.1. 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 Make use of hats, tshirts to demonstraite awareness. 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 Samanga ward 1.8. Facilitate access to alternative energy sources e.g. firewood from neighboring forest plantation 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. Assess current levels of utilization of masengere 2.4. Develop guidelines for effective harvesting 2.5. Train users in effective harvesting techniques and promote awareness of the techniques 2.6. Conduct an assessment of institutional mechanisms in place for control of access and benefit sharing 2.7. Facilitate the development of by laws that govern effective management, control of access of masengere in the valley 3.1. Conduct an assessment to establish current economic value of masengere in Honde Valley, existing market and products 3.2. Selection of entrepreneurial weavers 3.3. Skills assessment and skills development plan 3.4. Collect and show case possible products and facilitate new products development weaving workshops 3.5. Facilitate design collaboration with basketry experts 3.6. Facilitate exchange visits between the Honde Valley weaving community and other successful craft producer groups in the country 3.7. Conduct training in weaving as a business including pricing and negotiation skills 3.8. Facilitate market linkages 3.9. Facilitate the establish a weavers marketing association (registration of members, developing constitution, and conducting meetings meeting) 5.0 Project Results Communities are clear on environment management priorities, roles and responsibilities/obligation 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 Communities desist from stream bank gardening activities and move to homestead gardens households have access to alternative source of firewood Shared knowledge on resource status and levels of utilisation Sustainable harvesting techniques adopted in all participating wards ensuring a more secure resource base Effective mechanism for control of access and benefit sharing are adopted and actively implemented by all stakeholders Improved appreciation of the potential of masengere as a productive asset Relevant weaving and business skills developed and entrepreneurs capacity to establish and operate a viable weaving enterprise improved Increased product diversity and marketability S

Zimbabwe