The proposed activity is aimed at reforestation of mangroves and conservation in coastal areas of Taluka Kharochan District Thatta. The project will be implemented in approximately 10 communities of the target area, who will also be involved in the mangrove resource management.

Specific Objectives of the proposed activity:

1. To carry out community managed reforestation of the mangroves at approximately 300 hectors (1100 ac) in coastal areas of Taluka Kharochan District Thatta.

2. To mobilize and organize communities for the protection and enhancing participatory mangrove resource management in coastal area of the Taluka Kharochan District Thatta

Activities of the Project

? Preparing Mangrove Resource Management Plans of the target communities. The plans will be prepared through extensive consultation with the communities, Sindh Forest Department. The plans will set reforestation targets, conservation measures and the actions to be taken by the communities.
? Reforestation of mangroves on 300 hectors at the selected sites in Kharochan. For this one mangrove species i-e Rhizophora mucronata will be sown whereas the Avicenna marina plantation, a nursery will be established and then plantation will be carried out. Mangrove reforestation activity will be carried out in accordance with the plans of the communities.
? Formation of Plantation teams comprised of local men and women of the target communities. The community teams will be engaged in plantation of the mangroves at the selected sites.
? Collection of seeds/saplings for plantation of identified species of mangroves
? Plantation monitoring and coordination through onsite visits. The project will request Sindh Forest Department for their technical input on the plantation and provide feedback for the improvement.
? Formation of the mangrove resource management committees (RMCs) of the communities through Social mobilization and sensitization sessions. Community Guards will be inducted for the monitoring of the mangrove plantation. Communities will be mobilized to reduce fuel wood consumption and control the camels in the mangrove forest.
? Gender awareness session in targeted communities
? Conducting collective community meetings with the cameleers, wood cutters for sustainable use of the mangrove forests. Community leaders and activists will be involved in those meetings to motivate them for the protection of the mangrove forests.
? Organizing Trainings on 'Community Organization Management' and 'Sustainable Use of the Natural Resources' for the members and office bearers of Mangrove Resouce Management Committees.
? Organizing awareness sessions for the communities, school children on mangrove conservation with the objective to orient them on sustainable use of the mangrove forests.
? Organizing networking and coordination meetings with Sindh forest department, UNDP GEF SGP Partners, WWF, IUCN and other civil society organizations to share lessons learnt, challenges and progress
? Organizing one exposure visit of the communities to the other mangrove plantation to learn conservation practices of other communities.
? Generating financial and narrative progress reports and submission to the GEF SGP
? Final Evaluation of the Project
? Lessons Learnt Workshop of the Project to share successes and failures, lessons learnt with the stakeholders.
? Preparing a video documentary of the project and sharing it with stakeholders, general public




Indicators of the results of the proposed activity

Result Indicators
Community-based mangrove resource management in and around coastal belt of Kharochan Tahsil at about 300 hectors # of Mangrove Resource Management Plans of communities prepared and used for the management of mangrove forests.
#of hactors of mangroves reforested
# of conservation measures taken by the communities
local community is involved in conservation process and sensitized for the sustainable management of mangrove resources # of community mangroves resource management committees formed and sensitized on the mangroves conservation
# of communities are involved in the mangroves plantation and conservation
# of community members are supervising the mangroves plantation
Increased awareness among the community and civil society on Mangrove Ecosystem Management # of NGOs and community members attend conservation measures
# of consultative meetings with the communities, NGOs on Mangrove Resource Management
Future Partnership amongs communities and conservation organizations are nurtured to support rehabilitation of the mangrove fores
Reduced the risk of tropical cyclones and sea erosion # of hactors of Magroves forest rehabilitated and conserved


Target beneficiaries:

About 5000 people of the 60 villages and surrounding will be the direct beneficiaries of project, besides other NGOs/CBOs and district government will be the main stakeholders.

Stakeholders Analysis

Stakeholder Role in the Project
Beneficiary Communities Seed collection and plantation
Supervision of the plantation
Maintenance of the Nursery
Conservation
Sindh Forest Department Coordination & participation in activities
Support in site selection for plantation
Field visit during plantation
Hamdam Foundation Overall implementation of the Project
UNDP GEF SGP Financing the proposed activities
Monitoring and evaluation of the project
Support in collaboration with Forest Department
IUCN Participation in coordination meetings
Hamdam Foundation will share project sites and beneficiary communities with IUCN so that the duplication of mangrove plantation at similar sites could be avoided by the IUCN under its Mangrove for Future Program.
WWF Participation in the coordination meetings
Local NGOs Support in site selections for the plantation
Support in holding social mobilization campaigns at the begning of the project