A separate team has assigned to fulfill the knowledge
management (KM team) and capacity building requirements
of the project. The KM team will facilitate the project
throughout the implementation and will assist the grantee to
develop a best suitable strategy to capture and promote the
primary results of the project .They will also support to
produce high quality knowledge products, relevant with the
work.
Knowledge product of the Project:
The archeological and ecological importance of Bambaragala-
Mukalaana forest, which is a temple based forest unit covered
under this project will be documented and disseminated
among the public
Alternative livelihood sources will be introduced to the
community substitute the currently practiced income
generation methods that are destructive of the forest. Home
gardens and systematic animal husbandry units will be
established under the project to enhance the livelihood of the
beneficiary households.
Capacity - Building Component
Capacity Needs of the grantee:
Certain skills in project management should be improved,
such as systematic documentation of progress and activities,
maintaining an adequately elaborative pictorial data base, etc.
Also development of digital maps, training of handling of
technical tools, software?s and equipment must be improved.
The grantee has also requested some scientific training on the
quantification of REDD+ indicators such as forest
mensuration techniques.
How to address:
All these identified capacity needs will be addressed via
workshops, seminars, trainings and by providing on site
assistance and guidance either through the KM team or
identified technical personnel. Where needed, the KM team
will facilitate the widening of the stakeholder network to
address knowledge needs. Subsequently, the effectiveness of
the capacity building process will be verified via field visits,
discussions and other suitable means of verification
Linkages gef projects
N/A
Planning gef grant
N/A
Planning non gef grant
N/A
Replication of project activities
N/A
Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples
Not identified
Policy Impact
Not identified
Gender Focus
Participatory Community protection actions to conserve West
border of Udawalawe National Park and Bambaragala
Mukalana forest will be executed under the project, while
enhancing their knowledge on REDD+ CBR+ programme
and the importance of forest conservation.
Carbon efficient stove will be distributed among the women
and they will be educated of the importance of protecting
forests and will be trained on domestic practices that will
encourage forest conservation.
Notable Community Participation
Six active CBOs consisted of majority of youth will be
formed among the community to form a strong network for
the conservation of the focal area.
A task force consisted of 20 young community leaders
representing eight peripheral villages will be formed to
enhance the community participation. These groups will assist
to reduce the utilization of forest by free ranging cows and
will actively participate in other protective action
Project sustainability
The introduction of 75 fuel efficient stoves has reduced the average fuel-wood consumption of households by 80% and has reduced the cooking time by 1/3 to the great satisfaction of the female beneficiaries. Such immediate benefits have had a catalytic effect in promoting this concept among other members of the community.
60% of the plants originally planted have survived in this plot; the large well provides water to animals and nourishes the water table, with visibly observable effects of increased water level in wells in the peripheral area.
Policy Influence
The pastures within the village and the introduction pf dairy farming illegal releasing of the cattle in to the national park.
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
The project will conduct a publicity campaign and public
awareness workshops for the project which will increase the
knowledge of the public on mitigation of some drivers of
deforestation and forest degradation.
Project Results
The pastures grown within the village and the introduction of dairy farming have reduced illegal releasing of the cattle into the national park. 180 cattle that were earlier released into the park are now kept within home premises. Through awareness raising and replacing the existing cattle with good breeds of high dairy productivity, the community became aware of benefits of dairy farming. The average household income which was LKR 13, 000.00 before the project has increased by LKR 10,350.00 per month through project activities. An agreement was made with the beneficiaries who received good breed cows to donate first born calves to other beneficiaries. Newly acquired knowledge on animal health care further sustained their interest in cattle farming. The sustainability of such project activities are monitored by the established CBOs.
In addition to awareness creation and enhancing knowledge on drivers of forest destruction, the project facilitated the establishment of five CBOs and an Environmental Task Force consisting of 20 community leaders representing the eight villages. Members of the Environmental Task Force were trained in legal aspects of forest conservation and conflict resolutions.
Project activities to minimize cattle grazing and other forest destruction activities by villagers, were implemented mainly through women. Twenty households were supported to establish sustainable dairy farming units. The project supported to purchase 20 high milk-yielding varieties of cattle and build cattle sheds. Twenty home pasture lands were established by planting with a hybrid CO3 grass variety containing high levels of nutrient that helps to increase the yield of cow milk. Veterinary training provided to 35 beneficiaries allowed them to identify common diseases and provide basic health care to cattle.
In compliance with the REDD+ concept of reducing Carbon emissions, the project provided fuel efficient stoves to 75 households.The introduction of 75 fuel efficient stoves has reduced the average fuel-wood consumption of households by 80% and has reduced the cooking time by 1/3 to the great satisfaction of the female beneficiaries. Such immediate benefits have had a catalytic effect in promoting this concept among other members of the community.
The project also established 2.3 hectares of a model agro forest plantation with fruit trees and a large well for continuous supply of water.
