Deforestation and land degradation are the major environmental challenges facing the local communities in Bale area in Traditional Authority Mwankhunikira in Rumphi district along the shores of Lake Malawi where this project will be implemented. Bale is mainly situated along the borders of South Rukuru River that drains in Lake Malawi. Meanwhile, the area is seriously degraded due to massive deforestation by the surrounding communities that deliberately cut down trees for charcoal production, firewood and timber for income without any replanting. Approximately 70 percent of the area is totally bare, resulting in serious loss of biodiversity, soil erosion and land degradation in farming areas, and many large gullies have been created. There is also a marked decline in agriculture production, with a corresponding increase in both food and income poverty in the area. With no meaningful conservation efforts in the farming areas, the area is at great risk to continuing degradation.

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According to the recent investigation by ASUD in the area, it was noted that over 95% of the 4500 total population is not formerly employed and have limited sources of income which makes them to overly depend on natural resources extraction for income. At present, no development facilitators (NGOs, cooperatives, private enterprises, etc) have any known presence or interest in the area. In order to address the problem, ASUD will undertake a number of rehabilitation and conservation activities with the local communities in the area.The rationale of this project is to support the initiatives of the OP6 SGP with particular focus on the community land degradation along the lakescape/landscape. The project will also support Rumphi District CouncilEnvironmental Management Plan that intends to address key environmental issues that affect agricultural production and all linked sectors of the economy which consist soil erosion, decreasing soil fertility and deforestation, and extreme climatic variations.

Objectives:
? To increase the sources of cash income for 750 low resource households within the landscape in Bale area by March 2019.
? To increase agricultural production per hectare from degraded landscape in Bale area by March 2019.
? To rehabilitate 40 ha of degraded landscape in 15 villages of Bale area by March 2019.
? To develop capacity of 750 households in managing land degradation and sustainable forest management projects by March 2019

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