Stop deforestation and restore community lands

“This field visit clearly demonstrated that KRAPAVIS’ project increases villagers’ involvement in conservation, a better approach to human-wildlife coexistence than removal & relocation. Also, empowering and supporting communities to assert traditional resource management rights and techniques (water, grazing, Oran*) ----- Pastoralists and their herds (of buffalos, goats, camels) were seen in the immediate surroundings of villages, women were collecting dead wood for cooking fuel; demonstrating that natural resources management is effective---”, reports Ms. AUDIBERT-PESTEL Expert and Founder of the a French NGO, who visited the project, during 12-19 February 2018.

Under the project, biodiversity conservation measures were taken, native and endemic trees were planted during the last rainy season to improve the food supply for the wildlife, especially for tree-dependent species; to improve water catchment in that area; and to sink carbon. The trees nursery is based at the KRAPAVIS Center Native trees for domestic cattle and wild ungulates and cervids are replanted during the rainy season. Thus the project re-introduced the concept of traditional knowledge and coexistence, Oran means human & wildlife living together. Community resources maps were drawn with landmarks. Cattle are kept in surroundings of villages. Communities are all vegetarian, the diet is milk-based.

Links:

• A article 'Reviving Millet, reconnecting culture' on KRAPAVIS

On 30th Oct 2017, community leaders from the project villages met in an annual meeting, to discuss the importance of the restoration work on the community lands. They concluded that about 30-40 % of their yearly income was produced with directly or indirect contribution from the village common land. Apart from grazing our livestock on this land, we receive other various services from the community land are;

 Provisioning services

• Sources of MFP (minor forest products, such as; medicinal plants, fruits, fuel wood, fodder etc.)
• Soil and water conservation, ensure water supply for drinking and irrigation

Regulating services

• Maintenance of forest and MFPs resources
• Mitigation of natural hazards

Supporting services

• Carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation
• Pollination and seed dispersal
• Amelioration of microclimate for flora and fauna

Cultural & amenity services

• Religious, cultural tradition and ethnic identity
• Landscape aesthetics, research and education

 Bholaram (55 years), a tribal leader shares, “lagbhag 40 pratishat aay hame shamalat jamin ke utpadan se hate hia, jo jayadtar charai tatha laghu van upaj ” (means around 40% of their annual income is from the CPRs (common property resources-land) and mainly through grazing and the MFPs).

Links:

• Aman Singh, Team Leader receive PKF Award for Orans' restoration