United Nations Earth Summit+5 Success Stories - Integrated Management of Natural Resources on Watershed basis to Combat of Desertification

EARTH SUMMIT+5
Special Session of the General Assembly to Review and Appraise
the Implementation of Agenda 21
New York, 23-27 June 1997

SUCCESS STORIES FROM INDIA

Integrated Management of Natural Resources on Watershed basis to Combat of Desertification

Location India, Arid Western Rajasthan -25 km South west of Jodhpur.

Description Low erratic summer precipitation 250-300 mm with high coefficient variation, scarce poor quality ground water, wind sorted sandy soils poor in fertility and moisture storage. High evapo-transpiration, subsistence dryland farming and its extension to marginal lands. Fragile arid ecosystem continue to degrade under dictators of over increasing human and livestock activities. Frequent drought and immigration of population. Illiteracy and poverty of masses

Issues addressed Poverty eradication and creation of alternative livelihoods

Objectives Participatory approach to arrive at cost-effective and appropriate land use for the rehabilitation of degraded environments.

Results achieved Improved 200 hectares (ha) of CRP's and 70 ha gulled land with suitable soil and water conservation measures and establishment of sylva pastoral system.
Banks of empheral checkdams constructed on main streams to regulate runoff, avoiding soil erosion downstream and ground water recharge.
Additional water potential created by developing 10 farm ponds (cap. 100-300 mł) for sustenance of human/animal vegetation during drought.
Sustainable land use system of Farm Agroforestry popularized on more than 200 ha.
Demonstrations of solar cooker save forests.
Diverted available cowdung to drylands and provided animal health cover.
Human resource development through farmers' training
Rehabilitated waste/grazing lands increasing their biomass productivity (0.15 to 3t/ha) and carrying capacity (>10 folds).
Reduction wind erosion and 30-40% increase of farm land productivity.
Every year tons of grass seed produced is used for turning thousands of waste lands to green pastures.

Lessons learned Encouraged by the success of this project a national watershed development programme to cover few million hectares is underway.

Financing Government of India under DPAP/Desert Development Programme.
Cost Rs. 1.7 million.

Contact UNEP, Dryland Ecosystems and Desertification Control Programme Activity Centre
P.o.Box 30552
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel (254 2) 623285
Fax (254 2) 623284
E-mail: dcpacinf@unep.no

Copyright Š United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Comments and suggestions: esa@un.org
1 November 1997

	Integrated Management of Natural Resources on Watershed basis to Combat of Desertification
	Location	India, Arid Western Rajasthan -25 km South west of Jodhpur.
	Description	Low erratic summer precipitation 250-300 mm with high coefficient variation, scarce poor quality ground water, wind sorted sandy soils poor in fertility and moisture storage. High evapo-transpiration, subsistence dryland farming and its extension to marginal lands. Fragile arid ecosystem continue to degrade under dictators of over increasing human and livestock activities. Frequent drought and immigration of population. Illiteracy and poverty of masses
	Issues addressed	Poverty eradication and creation of alternative livelihoods
	Objectives	Participatory approach to arrive at cost-effective and appropriate land use for the rehabilitation of degraded environments.
	Results achieved	Improved 200 hectares (ha) of CRP's and 70 ha gulled land with suitable soil and water conservation measures and establishment of sylva pastoral system. Banks of empheral checkdams constructed on main streams to regulate runoff, avoiding soil erosion downstream and ground water recharge. Additional water potential created by developing 10 farm ponds (cap. 100-300 mł) for sustenance of human/animal vegetation during drought. Sustainable land use system of Farm Agroforestry popularized on more than 200 ha. Demonstrations of solar cooker save forests. Diverted available cowdung to drylands and provided animal health cover. Human resource development through farmers' training Rehabilitated waste/grazing lands increasing their biomass productivity (0.15 to 3t/ha) and carrying capacity (>10 folds). Reduction wind erosion and 30-40% increase of farm land productivity. Every year tons of grass seed produced is used for turning thousands of waste lands to green pastures.
	Lessons learned	Encouraged by the success of this project a national watershed development programme to cover few million hectares is underway.
	Financing	Government of India under DPAP/Desert Development Programme. Cost Rs. 1.7 million.
	Contact	UNEP, Dryland Ecosystems and Desertification Control Programme Activity Centre P.o.Box 30552 Nairobi, Kenya Tel (254 2) 623285 Fax (254 2) 623284 E-mail: dcpacinf@unep.no