Environmental policy and administrative management

1.0 PROJECT RATIONALE Environmental degradation is increasingly becoming a major threat to human life in the semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe. This has been due to lack of sound environmental management systems at community level and unsustainable agricultural farming practices and the ever-increasing population density in most communal areas of Zimbabwe where 60% of the country`s population resides. This has resulted in between 50 - 80 tonnes of of soil per hectare being lost and deposited in the country`s water courses(Draft National Environment Policy, 2003) resulting in the siltation of major intranational rivers. Save is one of the international rivers affected by this problem of siltation and Nyanyadzi and Changazi wards lie within the catchment of Save river. In these wards stream bank cultivation is prevalent and combined with poor soil and water management, this has led to development of ills and gullies. In addition, the other area of concern is lack of knowledge on sustainable land use management and control systems resulting in weak or unco-ordinated environmental utilization. As a result it has been difficult to implement some of the policies. 2.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT AREA The proposed project area is Dziwande village of Nyanyadzi ward 8.This village has been chosen in response to some identified gaps in the GEF/SGP supported previous work.The area falls in natural region V and is situated in the save river catchment area.The Dziwande village is bordered by the Nyanyadzi river on its north and the Odzi river on the west.While the nyanyadzi rives is a major tributary of Odzi, the latter delivers directly into the Save river.The village is characterised by heavily degraded patches of land as evidenced by huge gullies which are threatening adjacent households, livestock and the irrigation scheme.Rehabilitation so far has tended to deal with the gully head using brushwood and stones, rather than dealing with the gully catchment, as a result it has become a recurrent activity.Silting up of irrigation canals has also resulted in the reduction of irrigation water supply thereby threatening the comminunity food security.Poor farming practices have been blamed for the extensive degradation currently experienced in the village.The extensive use of wood for fencing, construction and as alternative household fuel option has led to increased deforestation and the advent of gullies.Crafting is also a livelihood alternative that has resulted in the extinction of some local tree species. It is against this background that a consensus has now been reached by the communities and support organizations in Nyanyadzi to consolidate and strengthen the existing environmental initiatives in a more integrated environmental approach. 3.0 PROJECT GOAL The project goal is to enhance intergrated soil, water and forestry management practices for biodiversity conservation, mitigation of land degredation and protection of Save international river in Nyanyadzi ward. 4.0 OBJECTIVES -To increase and entrench awareness , commitment and participation in environmental management and sustainable livelihood initiatives in Dziiwande -To reduce land degradation in part of the save river catchment area through an integrated catchment and livelihood approach. -To empower local institutions and local leadership to fully embrace community based environmental monitoring and catchment management practices -To document and disseminate community lessons and experiences at ward , district and national levels. 5.0 OUTPUTS -At least 80 community representatives including all traditional leaders trained and at least 75%of them fully aware of the degredation causatives , processses and possible courses of remedial action. -At least 2 gullies rehabilitated by end of year 2 -At least 10 community based trainers are actively involved in training other community members in gully reclamation technologies with support from AREX. -Community based M established and operational -Project experiences documented and disseminated 6.0 ACTIVITIES -Conduct awareness raising and consensus building workshops with the whole village -Conduct baseline survey of the village and present findings to the community -Conduct workshop on gully formation and possible ways of land rehabilitation -Develop gully catchment rehabilitation action plan for at least two gullies threatening the irrigation scheme and homesteads and train farmers on A-frame in soil and water conservation. -Mobilize materials for gully reclamation for distribution -Conduct farmer to farmer extension, document and share experiences -Develop a monitoring and evaluation plan of action -develop a community M plan of action -distribute at least two thematic papers to all key stakeholders.

Zimbabwe