The project potentially has significant demonstration value as water logging and salinity is the key environmental problem in Pakistan and the one that directly threatens the largest number of livelihoods.

SWAMP has been conceived and planned to maximize the demonstration effect. For this project, it is important that it is being implemented alongside a handful of similar projects, demonstrating that success is not unique, but achievable whenever there is a base in effective grassroots organization.

In phase one of the project, covered by the current proposal, twenty acres of land will be brought back into cultivation, leading to a direct impact in terms of increased food availability and income for ten households with cultivation rights in the area covered.

The current phase is intended as a pilot and after analysis of the experience and impact of this phase it is planned to extend the drainage to 198 acres cultivated by 107 farmers. In the meantime, during phase 1, the promotion of agro-forestry and sustainable agricultural practices will cover all 107 farmers. The visible outcome of this will be the establishment of 12,000 seedling trees. However, the full impact, in terms of village wide sub-soil water level, diversity of trees and cropping pattern, will be visible within ten year time frame of the resource.
Nature of the proposed activity:
The project addresses the problem areaa of protection of bio-diverstiy and is located in an area which is threatened by degradation. By overcoming the environemntal stress that has caused degradation, the project simultaneously protects people's livelihoods and facilitates diversity in the agricutlure and the natural flora and fauna.

The objectives of the project are: 1) to bring back into productive use an experimental tract of 20 acres of degradated agricultural land that has been affected by excessive irrigation and poor drainage. 2) to promote sustainable use of soil and water resources, compatible with a productive agriculture and diverse natural environemnt.
As such, the project is designed to demonstrate through successful small scale activities an innovative approach to cocmbatting land degradation due to the waterlogging and salinity. This is one of several small scale initiatives that challenge the notion that effective action for control of waterlogging and salinity must focus exclusively on large scale infrastructure investment. It is intended to help demonstrate that community based action to restore the balance in irrigation and drainage water is possible, with minimal external resources.
A learning approach is integral to the project design. The SWAMP initiative, of which this is a part, includes a longitudinal study (using popular science techniques) of water levels, soil fertility and the impact of these attemtps to restore equilibrium.

Activities to be carried out:

Land rehabilitation:
Construction of 1.25 km of drainage line
consturction of a well for vertical drainge and link to Dadu cancal
One year operation of pumps for vertical drainage
raising of multi-species tree nursery
planting of eucalyptus and other trees with known high evapo transpiration rate, for biological drainage.
Promotion of sustainable resource management:
preparation of village ten year soil and water management plan
participatory monitoring of soil water levels and other indicators of soil health
experimental planting of range tree and plant varieities tolerant of the prevailing waterlogging and salinity
promotion of agro-forestry
promotion of improve irrigation.

Anticipated Results:
Impacts on participants beneficiaries:
In phase one of the project, covered by the current proposal, twenty acres of land will be brought back into cultivation, leading to a direct impact in terms of increaed food availability and income for ten households with cultivation rights in the area covered.
The current phase is intended as apilot and, after analysis of the experience and impact of this phase, it is planned to extend the drainage to cover 198 acres, cultivated by 107 farmers. In the meantime, during phase 1, the promotion of agro-forestry and sustainable agriculture practices will cover all 107 farmers. The visible outcome of this will be the establishemnt of 12,000 seedling trees. However, the full impact, int erms of village wide sub soil water lelvel diversity of trees and cropping pattern, will be visible within the ten year time frame of the resource management plan.

Demonstratiion value:
The project potentially has significant demonstration value as water logging and salinity is the key environmental problem in Pakistan and the one which directly threatens the largest number of livelihoods. SWAMP has been concived and planned to maximise the demonstration effect. For this project, it is important that it is being implemented alongside a handful of similar projects, demonstrating that success is not unique, but achieveable wherever there is a base in effective grassroots organization.

Value as learning experience.