Recognising the worsening environmental degradation resulting in the siltation of the save river , the buhera district council pushed for action to be taken so as to rehabilitate the river.this project seeks to provide training to community representatives on resource conservation and these will spearhead environment management and sustainable resource utilisation effectively.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES
-To promote sustainable development in the region by mobilizing grassroots organizations in the design and implementation of resource conservation strategies
- To establish, co-ordinate and upgrade activities towards the protection of the environment at district level including the adoption of conservation and land-use by-laws
-To facilitate the training of participants in biodiversity conservation, issues relating to global warming and siltation of Save International River.
-To provide training to influential conservation leaders sothat they can animate their communities to protectanmd rehabilitate the environment in the save catchment area.
-initiate a change in attitude and behaivour leading to sutainsble environmetal management on the part of rural communities
-initiate and facilitate a reduction in fuel wood consumption to put a halt to deforestation and greenhouse emissions

ACTIVITIES

1) TRAINING
A programme was planned for community animators to undergo an intansive 2 week course in:
a) Awareness education and Extension Practices
b) Land-Use planning
c) Food Production
d) Water Conservation and Harvesting
e) Energy Conservation
f) Environmental Management
After being trained the animators will be expected to motivate and train local communities towards the sustainable utilization and management of natural resources. In each district 8 candidates (4 women and 4 men) will be chosen to participate in the animator training and the people to be selected must be influential and capable of carrying out village based training and research tasks.

2) FOLLOW UP ACTIVITIES
In each district, the animators trained will need to be monitored and followed up. The responsibility for follow up lies with the SARAC Committe members and with the District Council Conservation Committees. At least once every year, a visit will be carried out to assess the work being done by the animators and the communities that they are working with.

3. PROGRAMME CO-ORDINATION
The Manicaland Development Association is responsible for co-ordinating the activities of the participating government and non-governmental agencies in order to implement the training programme. Their specific tasks include the development of the training syllabus for the two week workshops and arrange for the venues for the workshops.

EXPECTED OUTPUTS
-After being trained , the animators will be expected to motivate and train local communities towards the sustainable utilization and management of natural resources.