Project Detail

Gwalekh Bio-diversity Conservation Project

In order to conserve the vast Gwalek Forest, Gwalek Biodiversity Conservation Project has been implemented. The success and experience gained from Watershed Biodiversity Conservation Project have given the grantee added vigour to launch the project in Durgasthan VDC of Baitadi district.
The Gwalek forest which is spread in 8 VDCs occupying an area of 2571 ha is very significant for a couple of reasons. First, the area is very rich in biodirversity with diverse forest ecosystem. Second, the watershed of this forest is the water sources of district headquarter. Third, it is a very significant religious site. Gwalekdham, which lies at the pinnacle of Gwalek mountain, is a sacred place for Hindu religion.
The project has aimed at conserving the vanishing Gwalek forest through active participation of local communities. And in the mean time, the project has also aimed at addressing local needs to improve their socio-economic well being.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Tripura Sundari Village Development Association

Country:

Nepal

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

Phase 2

Grant Amount:

US$ 50,000.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 11,719.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 9,967.00

Project Number:

NEP/02/02

Start Date:

7/2002

End Date:

4/2005

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Gender Focus

Baitadi is ranked lowest according to the women development index in Nepal.During the birth of a child, when the mother needs more attenction, she is kept away from home usually at the cattle den. Likewise, the girls or women members are not touchable during the menstruation. Even schools offer holidays to the girl students during their menstruation period. All these malpractices have led to immense gender discrimination in the district. The project focused on the formation of men, women and mixed group of both men and women.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

Brahmin, Thakuri and Bhul (lower caste) communities are among the indigenous groups in the project area and are the major participants of the project.

Capacity - Building Component

Social mobilisaiton, leadership development, Account keeping, exposure visits, learning and interaction workshop and other village specialist training are the major component in capacity building activities In collaboration with CEAPRED, Vegetable farming training has been conducted benefitting 16 farmers

Notable Community Participation

The CBOs formed with the participation of at least 80% HH are the base for the project implementation. The CBOs formulate and execute their own plan with both their cash and kind contribution

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The major chunk of the grant has been segregated as Community Environment Trust Fund which is exclusively used in economic development activities. Seed money is also allocated for the social development. The houses in the project area is build in such a way that the cattle are kept at the ground floor. As the ground floor is open to the courtyard, the courtyard is always filled with the cattle dung and their smell of the urine. The people also collect the dung in an open space, and thus the rain washes the valuable nutrient from the dung. Thus the project has aimed at use and practice of manure pits which not only help restore the nutrient inthe manure but also keep the household clean.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

The project is a demonstration type in nature. Gwalekdham is very famous regionally as a holy place for Hindu religion. Hundreds of visitors from neighbouring districts and country also do visit the area to pay homage to the holy shrine every year. The project site is very good for disseminating demonstrative activities carried out in the area and for promoting generate the awareness of global environment.

Project Results

The project has been able to capture the sacred belief of older generation for the conservation of this divine forest and guide the younge generation for the conservation of Gwalek forest ecosystem. Apart from conserving the vast gwalek forest, the project has also facilitated to hand over forest to community in Gwalek VDC. A total of 53 ha community forest has been handed over to two forest users group with 208 users. Likewise, other 8 CFs are in pipeline for handing over to the users.

Shree Kedar CBO has been awarded as best CBO in the Far and Mid West Region of Nepal during the the occassion of the inauguration of first regional office of UNDP in Nepal in Neapalgunj. The CBO has build their own RCC house; constructed ICS in every houses of its members; built irrigation pond and supported in the forest coservation activities.

The project has to adopt the wait and see strategy due to increased insurgents activities in the district and many donors had retreated their activities in the District. But the insurgetnts later on gave green signal to this and Decentralised Financial Development Project (other UNDP supported project) to work in the VDCs.

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