Pangcom is the winter grazing area of nomadic yak herders of Sakteng. It is situated at an altitude of between 2500 masl. The cattle arrive the winter grazing area in November and leave for the summer pasture by April of the following year. It falls under the upper catchment of Gamri watershed, above the villages of Phongmey and Radhi. The rangeland/grazing area is roughly 18000 acres and used by about 185 heads of cattle. As per the scientific calculations, grazing area required to support 185 heads of cattle is 4625 acres. As such the area has exceeded its actual carrying capacity by many folds and has come under immense pressure.
The rangeland was at various stages of degradation due to over grazing, poor management and extraction of resources for fuel wood. The area was infested with number of landslides, ravines and gullies destroying about 150 acres of rangeland. Further its location at the upper catchment of Gamri watershed, posed serious threats to downstream villages of Phongmey and Radhi.
Through the GEF-SGP, UNDP project intervention, the following were achieved:
1. Sustainable management of degraded rangeland
A buffer was created for 150 acres of the degraded area to avoid further degradation. The degraded area is protected and planted over three thousand fast growing trees (willow and local species). The fencing and plantation is regularly monitored and maintained.
250 meters of retaining wall is also constructed along the landslide area and base of the degraded area to stabilize halt further landslides and erosion.
2. Reduction of fuel wood consumption through supply and use of fuel efficient stoves and solar energy.
Previously in a week the yak herders used on average 4-5 man loads of fuel wood for cooking, heating, churning milk, and lighting. The project has supplied bukharis (fuel efficient heating stove) and portable solar lamp for lighting and charging of mobile phones.
These have resulted in reduction of use of fuel wood for cooking and heating; and kerosene and dried bamboo for lighting. Now the herders use only on average 2-4 man loads of fire wood in a week. This is about 50% reduction in fuel wood consumption and environment pollution. They also save money from not having to buy kerosene for home lighting in the evenings by using solar lamps.
Further, the herders have replaced use of bamboo mats for roofing their semi-permanent houses with CGI sheets supplied from the project. This will immensely improve the food availability for wild animals and in particular red pandas.
3. Fodder development to overcome the winter fodder shortage and reduce pressure on the rangeland.
The herders have developed 60 acres of improved pasture mainly to cover come winter fodder shortage and reduce pressure on the rangeland. Considering the high productivity of improved pastures, there will be about 15% reduction on grazing pressure on the rangeland. Fodder nursery is also developed for sustainable supply of fodder trees, and reduce dependency on natural trees for fodder in the near future.
4. Improved access to drinking water and hygiene of rangeland
The herders previously used to fetch drinking water from a stream which is a half hour walk and also used to wash their clothes and utensils. Besides difficulty of fetching water, the stream was polluted from multiple uses ? making unhealthy for downstream users. The project has provided individual water supply to each herder. Further they have constructed a water trough for cattle and wild animals.
Toilets and waste bins are also constructed and improved the hygiene of the herders and that of the rangeland. In the past the herders used to practise open toilet and lacked proper waste management.
5. Capacity development
Feed and fodder training was provided to 8 farmers by resource persons from National Feed and Fodder Centre, Bumthang and district feed and fodder focal person. They were trained on conserving and managing fodder shortage during lean season (winters), nursery raising and dairy production and marketing. Farmers were also trained on sustainable land management and plantations.