Donor:
UNDP/Small Grant Program
Natural Resource Management and Livelihood Improvement Program was initiated in Dolpa district from April 1, 2005. The program, supported by Small Grant Program (SGP) of Global Environment Facility (UNDP, GEF) was of one year duration. This program aimed at facilitating GEF/SGP in its initiation of environment conservation and raising the income level of rural population by promoting and properly handling natural resources. More specifically, the following were the objectives of this program.
- Develop, empower and strengthen groups, and motivating them for preserving/balancing natural resources as well as eco-system.
- Improve the environment and livelihood conditions of the participating communities,
- Promotion of renewable energy in the process of reducing the vulnerability for climate change,
- Improve local people’s access and their capacity to actively manage resources through social mobilization, training and technology transfer.
The program covered five VDCs in Dolpa district namely, Tripurakot, Raha, Dunai, Jufal and Sunhoo.
Activities and Achievement of the Project
The program had mainly four different types of funds
- Seed grant
- Human Resource Development and Capacity Building
- Community Environment Trust Fund (CET fund) and
- Operations fund
Seed grant:
Seed grant was used to support and strengthen 18 user groups that were formed or reactivated during the project period. These 18 user groups were the vehicle for conducting various activities related to environment conservation, protection and propagation of indigenous Non-timber forest products species, conducting campaigns etc.
Human Resource Development and Capacity Building:
This fund was mainly utilized for training and capacity building of the user group members as well as staff members of DEPROSC-Nepal. The trainings were of different types ranging from business literacy classes to user groups to NTFPs harvesting and Management training.
Community Environment Trust Fund (CET Fund):
This fund was managed as endowment fund by 13 out of the 18 groups. This fund was mainly utilized for initiating activities that help to enhance the livelihoods of the poor people at the same time will help to make the rural environment clean and green. The activities that were mainly done by the users from the burrowed money from the CET fund are:
Installation of solar panels
Construction of toilets
Commercial fruits and vegetable cultivation etc
The fund was managed jointly by the chairperson and treasurer of the user groups with the decision from the community.
Operations fund:
Operation fund was used to support the staff cost and other operation cost of DEPROSC-Nepal to implement this project.
Achievement of the project:
- 18 User’s/right groups were formed in buffer zone and in the community
- Norms for sustainable utilization of natural resources were developed by 18 groups.
- Survey and documentation of indigenous species of NTFP, timber and fodder was completed
- 3 sites were identified and protected for the indigenous species
- 8 different fresh water source were protected
- In 10 different locations along the Bheri river, local level structures were constructed for runoff water control and planted with trees
- 18 different events of street rallies, dramas and essay competition were organized to create community awareness on environment conservation.
- 3 irrigation schemes were constructed
- 10 agro processing centers (water mills) were improved.
- Different trainings related to sustainable harvesting of NTFPs, Household waste disposal and management, terrace improvement and land management were provided to the villagers.