The project aims at ?Strengthening community action for ex-situ conservation of Gugal species for ravine reclamation in Ater block of Bhind?. The Location of the project is in 2 core villages (6 hamlets, 462 HHs in an area of 1600 Hac.) and 10 Dissemination villages (877 HHs in 5600 Hac). The project is working in a very caste based society, where the poor, OBCs and SC are Oppressed by the Thakurs - upper castes and OBC and SC are (Scheduled Caste) not mainstreamed. The main castes are Malla, Khushwaha, as OBCs (Other Backward Caste) and Jatavs as SC community. Promotion of sustainable use of the guggal and mainstreaming it to the Government actions in the area; Testing and introduction of alternate energy to the communities for better protection of the forests as more than 95 % people are fully dependent on Forests woods.
The idea behind the project is to Create sensitivity and sustainable harvesting and management of Guggal which is becoming endangered medicinal ingredients by the local communities in the Ravines of Chambal Eco-region and encourage the locals to respect these species.The local forest department is going to be the key strategic partner for project implementation providing technical support and also for market linkage for the guggle seed and gum.
The project through the women SHGs and the Guggal PMG (Product Marketing Group) and JFMCs (Joint Forest Management Committee) will be able to have a collective voice for the local communities to conserve, protect the plantations; also share costs in the related activities. The institutionalized approach will also help to link the communities with better market prices for Guggal. The project will be linked with the Forest Deptt to ensure the purchase of Guggal at the Rs 900 per tonne for the people (Whereas the community were getting Rs. 500-600/-). Thus Investing in the SWC measures and working with the District Collector and the other deptts specially local forest department for technical support will help to showcase the project and mainstream the investments of funds by the communities and the local Governments. Moreover the project is Linked with Grassland Institute of grass management, ICCF-IIFM (Indian Institute of Forest Management), MPSBB (Madhya Pradesh State Biodiversity Board) for marketing-Linkage.
In the due course, the project will create the Community ownership model for institutional sustainability of conservation and development action in the local area and will therefore provide critical inputs for replication, advocacy and policy innovations. The project will Strengthen the people's institution that later anchors all the project interventions as the communities are central to the process of project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the project.
Project Activities:
? Base line survey in 6 villages; formation of 16 Women SHGs.
? Treatment and safety plans for the private lands in 6 villages; Dor bandi in 1000 metres.
? Soil and water conservation works, plantations in 250 hac.
? Pre-planting works; village agreements in the areas in 6 villages;
? Guggal Plantation in 550 hac of land (200,000 plants) including replacement planting in 32 hac and 300 hac in the private lands (220,000 plants and not a mono cropping systems)
? Project Management Committee (PMC) formed for Guggal conservation & management in villages
? 2/3 Exposure visit of JFMC members, communities to learn best practices of participatory management in Guggal to Sujagrati (SGP Grantee Partner).
? Development of linkages with MP Agro-Industries Development Cooperation/ Non-Conventional energy deptt. for 25 Bio-gas plants (ferro-cement Model) to reduce pressure on forests.
? Introduce 450 smokeless chulhas; fuel efficient in the area.
? Linkage with Grassland Institute for grass management; with ICCF-IIFM (Indian Institute of Forest Management) for sustainable harvest, value addition and marketing.
? Training of community members 60 participant on sustainable harvest of Guggal and Satwar 1000 people.
? Linkage with MPSBB (Madhya Pradesh State Biodiversity Board) for implementation of BMCs (Biodiversity Management Committee).
Project Outcome:
? Strengthened conservation of Guggal in 250 hac in around the protected forest areas and 300 hac. in the private lands.
? Strengthened Guggal Committee for management and sustained conservation and livelihood action.
? Create and ensure that all the Guggal Collectors get the minimum support price (MSP) from the Forest Deptt.
? Learn systemic approach of Google conservation (from Sujagrati - Other SGP partner).
? Ensure alternate systems of energy adopted (Biogas units and smokeless Stoves) thereby reducing the dependency on the forest areas by the locals.