Estate line community will take part in many activities. Mainly they take active participation in ecological restoration and also implementing conversion of the lands in the line room area from conventional farming to ecological farming and analog forestry.
Increased income from enhanced crop diversity. Value addition from the inclusion of tree crops in their landscape design to provide for food, fuelwood, timber, medicine etc.
Gender Focus
No special gender considerations, but however a great deal of emphasize will be given for the women of the community to take part in the activities.
Capacity - Building Component
Women of the community will participate in training on the processing of fruit, cordials, jam, jelly, etc. Training will be provided on ecological farming and analog forestry. Few participants selected from the community will be given training to carry out the operational work.
Project Results
1) Collaborative watershed restoration using the Landcare programmatic guidelines
Phase 1: Two Estate youth were recruited and trained as staff. Discussions were held with the Management of Thotulagalla Estate followed by meetings with the Thalaivars (leaders) of the Estate Union. NSRC presented the rationale and activities planned to obtain their agreement. Meetings were also held with vegetable farmers who cultivated on Estate land in order to identify those interested in engaging in regenerative agriculture. 6 farm gardens were selected and after training, farmers initiated work.
Phase 2: The number of stakeholders increased in Phase 2 to include the Management of Pitarathmalie Estate, the Pradeshiya Sabha Diyatalawa, Thotulagalla Tamil Vidyalam and Estate communities who lived in the downstream areas of 7b and lower Pitarathmalie Division. Discussions were held with all stakeholders independently as well as with the Thalaivars of Pitarathmalie Estate. Subsequently a meeting was conducted with the Divisional Secretary's office, Haputale, DS, PS, Range Forest Officer, Haputale, Public Health Officers, Management of both Pitarathmalie and Thotulagalla Estates, Principal, Thotulagalla Tamil Vidyalam and farmers who are members of Estate communities. NSRC presented the Project and the activities planned and invited farmers to participate in the Programme in regenerative agriculture; 90 farmers responded and formed 3 Landcare groups. NSRC then invited representatives of all stakeholders to form a Landcare Committee that will review all activities, engage in trouble shooting and ensure the smooth functioning of the Project. With the farmers who joined the Project, a socio economic survey was completed and discussions held on their proposed transition to regenerative agriculture. Members engaged in participatory mapping exercises that identified the location of their garden in the watershed and drainage pathways so they could understand how their management could influence water quality and availability. Health issues were discussed and plans of action drawn up for each group. Parents, teachers and students of the Thotulagalla Vidyalam were invited to meet with representatives from the Zonal Department of Education, Bandarawela, Central Environmental Authority (CEA), PS, DS and the School Welfare Society. NSRC presented their plan for the Nature Park around Lake Richmond and requested permission for the children to implement it. Subsequently meetings have been held with the school children where three Environmental Cadet Groups have been formed under the guidance of the CEA. The children drew up a work programme that includes the establishment of plant nursery and organic agriculture demonstration models. NSRC was responsible for the training of the children. An International workshop was held in Haputale in collaboration with the Secretariat for International Landcare that included representatives of the Uva Provincial Government and the Governor. Many resource people presented information about the watershed.
2) Sustainable land management
Phase 1: An biodiversity inventory on flora and fauna was carried out in the forest patch on Pitarathmalie Estate and the immediate vicinity. 75 floral species were identified where Myrtaceae (Syzigium sp.), Lauraceae (Neolitsea sp.), Clusiaceae (Callophyllum sp.), Elaeocarpaceae (Elaeocapus sp.), Rubiaceae (Psychotria sp.) and Acanthaceae (Strobilanthes sp.) dominate. Species of ferns and epiphytes observed include the Wooly Tree Fern (Cyathea crinita), Eria sp., Oberonia sp. and ground orchid, Lipparis sp.respectively. The Faunal inventory revealed: Birds - 71 species of which 15 are endemic; Mammals - 12 species; Amphibians - 11 species of which 10 are endemic and 4 rare; Butterflies - 31 species of which 2 are endemic; Dragon and damselflies - 9 species, 5 families of dragonflies and damselflies including 2 unidentified. All species are endemic; Reptiles ? 7 species recorded of which 2 are serpentoid and 5 tetrapod; Fish - 5 species recorded in Lake Richmond of which 2 are endemic. Staff initiated mapping using GPS recorders. Thus far maps on land use, hydrology and the plantings established are completed. A macro level landscape design was drawn up for Thotulagalla Estate that included the conversion of home gardens to forest gardens, replanting of the riparian zone of all gullies and marshlands, restoration of montane forest cover on ridges, diversification of abandoned tea areas within tea fields and landscaping of the ecotourism centre. Two nurseries were set up to generate planting material and over 100,000 trees and shrubs in over 100 species have been generated. 6 farm gardens were selected for conversion to forest gardens. Farmers were taught the essentials of regenerative agriculture that include the construction of biomass enriched, vegetable beds, making pile and basket compost, liquid bio fertilizers, bio pesticides, mulching and waste management. Baseline maps of each garden were drawn and landscape design carried out with farmer participation. Vegetable seeds were distributed and cultivation was initiated. 4 cycles of production have ensued since. Soil conservation was carried out by planting hedgerows using Lemon grass, Vetiver and Pavetta. Farmers were given utility trees like avacado, orange, mandarin, cloves, coffee, durian and goraka (Garcinia cambogia) that were planted in their gardens. Planting began with the onset of the north east monsoon rains in November,2009 where restoration of the riparian vegetation of gullies and marshlands in Fields 3, 4, 5, 5a, 6 and 6a was carried out using Strobilanthes sp.,Zingiberaceae sp,, Clerodendron, Costus sp. and numerous species of forest trees. Montane forest cover was restored on the ridge in Fields 4, 5, and 6 using forest species of plants and abandoned areas within tea fields 5 and 6 were planted with avacado, goraka, cinnamon and cloves. The area around the tourist centre was landscaped. Over 20,000 plants in 30+ species of plants have been established.
Phase 2: The Landscape design of the area designated for restoration includes the areas around, above and below the Lake Richmond that includes Colonies 7b and Lower Pitarathmalie Division. Work is currently underway around the Lake since the Thotulagalla Tamil Vidyalam is located in its micro watershed. This area has been transformed into a 'Nature Park' where Members of the Cadet groups have established a plant nursery that houses over 100,000 plants in over 55 species. The children have also established a demonstration model in regenerative agriculture that includes both annual and tree crops. The gully running through the demonstration model has been planted with riparian vegetation. While NSRC staff engage in field level training related to regenerative agriculture, staff from the CEA and other naturalists assists in raising awareness on environmental issues like climate change and biodiversity conservation. The micro watershed of the Lake is located in the high hazard landslide zone where planting around the Lake will be executed with the rains. The 7b area and Lower Pitarathmalie Division are home to gardens of 33 farmers who have actively initiated regenerative agriculture. Similar activities as those carried out in Thotulagalla have been initiated here as well as training in organic farming and analog forestry. The area above the Lake comes under the purview of both Thotulagalla and Pitarathmalie Estates and involved the replanting of gullies and the mountain ridge. Planting in downstream areas include the riparian zones of two main gullies, marsh and grasslands. All planting has been carried out and the activities that remain to be executed include beekeeping, training in alternative livelihoods, enrichment of Pathanas and the diversification of Eucalyptus plantations with native species. NSRC has established another plant nursery in the downstream 7b Colony area to generate adequate planting material. It presently has 35,000+ plants in over 50 species.
3) Improve Health and sanitation in the Estate communities
Phases 1 & 2: The Project has already established a waste management programme for degradable waste that is composted in baskets constructed in each of the 39 gardens. Training on the management of non degradable solid waste that included the separation of plastic, glass and metal was initiated and farmers have been given polypropylene bags to store the waste. Training programmes both on a group and individual basis have been carried out specifically for women. The Project will construct 6 toilets in the near future.
