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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 Wastelands Development Programme | ||
| Location | Madhya Pradesh, Jhabua district, 350 km west of Bhopal, India | |
| Responsible organization(s) | UNEP | |
| Description | Jhabua district is an upland countryside with 85% tribal population. The area under wastelands is increasing at a rapid rate due to deforestation, overgrazing and wrong land-use practices. The climate is changing from dry sub-humid to semi-arid type. The land productivity has substantially decreased due to combined pressure of anthropogenic pressure and the area is threatened by desertification. Increase in population is forcing the people to convert forest and grazing land into agricultural land while the size of land-holdings is decreasing. Community lands are rapidly vanishing. The land is now unable to sustain human and livestock population and therefore people are migrating to other places in search of employment. By employing sustainable land-use patterns, according to land capability classes and involving local community (population involved: 3084, 558 households; 6 villages) in formulation and management of the programmes, 310 ha (hectares) of degraded community and private lands have been so far treated through soil and water conservation measures like contour-trench, gully plugging, gabion structures etc. | |
| Issues addressed | * Waste management * Land and water management. |
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| Objectives | Increase land productivity adopting integrated watershed approach. | |
| Results achieved | Land productivity is improved, eliminating the need to
purchase grasses from outside. Local people participate actively in the
formulation, site selection, implementation and management activities of
the programme while the village committees decide the modus operandi of
harvesting and distribution of grasses. Large quantity of fuelwood was
saved due to the distribution of about 600 smokeless and portable fuel-efficient
stoves. The rainwater stored in stop-dam for domestic purpose was used
by the people and helped in recharging groundwater. A much greater awareness
observed among the people to reclaim degraded lands, manage common property
resources and protect their environment. They contributed about one-third of the labour component as their "free labour" and established "village common-funds" for social security and other common activities. |
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| Lessons learned | The use of low-cost simple technology and local materials to reclaim degraded land resources showed to be successful. Active involvement of the local people in planning development and management activities ensured sustainable development. This technology can be replicated in the areas of similar situation. | |
| Financing | Government of India (Approx. US$ 129,710). | |
| 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 |
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Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Comments and suggestions: esa@un.org
Last updated 1 November 1997