APFED Booklet on Good Practices and Innovative Activities 2005 ...

Award
Nepal
etc.
2008
*etc.=Alternative livelihoods
Mitigation of the Effects of the Carbon Dioxide and other
Greenhouse Gases by Controlling Slash and Burn Practices
2009
2006 2007 2008
Project Site Location
Manahari, Handikhola, Kankada and Raksirang VDCs, Makawanpur District
Background - Problems Addressed and Policy Responses
Shifting cultivation in increasingly shorter cycles on the steep slopes of
the project areas is associated with deforestation, loss of biodiversity,
threat of forest fires, emissions of greenhouse gases, and serious soil
erosion, leading to a significant decline in land productivity. In addition,
local indigenous minority communities lack know-how and make little
use of agricultural inputs.
Project Outline - Objectives and Activities
The specific objectives were: 1) development of appropriate land
use practices for sustainable production as an alternative to shifting
The successfully introduced
cultivation; 2) introduction of several incentive schemes to motivate agroforestry, banana planting
the farmers to adopt energy-saving technologies; 3) development of
community-based organisations to implement activities; 4) development of skilled human resources.
Main activities were: a) institutional development; b) introduction of agroforestry in slash and burn
areas; c) promotion of energy-efficient technologies; d) livelihood promotion; e) capacity development.
Impacts and Achievements
The project successfully introduced agroforestry, mainly based on banana planting (also pineapple,
cinnamon, broom grass, etc.), while integrating horticulture development, livestock farming and
vermicomposting. The most important achievement of the agroforestry component was to improve the
livelihoods of local farmers by offering a number of income opportunities. In total, 1,089 households
participated in agroforestry over 438 hectares of land during the project period. Most households
also benefited from at least one energy-saving technology. Informal and formal local community
organisations created by the project have taken the initiative in continuation of project activities.
Future Challenges
Remaining challenges include: 1) extension of the successful activities; 2) linkage of the agricultural
cooperatives and the savings and credit groups with existing community-based organisations; 3)
addressing unresolved tenure rights in shifting cultivation land; 4) consideration of monitoring of
emission reductions on representative test plots; 5) ensuring all poor ethnic groups are involved
in accordance with the proportion of the different ethnic communities within the group of shifting
cultivators; 6) promotion of a more active role for women in the formal community organisations.
General Information
Name of the Implementing Organisation: Manahari Development Institute (MDI-Nepal)
Type of Organisation: NGO/CBO
Contact: Khop Narayan Shrestha
New Manakamana Road, Hetaunda Municipality-2, Makawanpur, Nepal
Tel: 977-57-521133 Fax: 977-57-520655 E-mail: mdi@ntc.net.np Website: http://mdi-nepal.org/
Project Reviewer (NetRes / Collaborators) that monitors the project:
Federico Lopez-Casero, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) E-mail: lopezcasero@iges.or.jp
Remarks: Mr. Ukesh Raj Bhuju E-mail: ukeshbhuju@hotmail.com
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