Rajasthan Rainwater Harvest Ingredients for Success

Outside stimulation and facilitation  Non-profit organization went to a village to set up a clinic  Discovered water was a greater need  On village elder’s advice, helped restore traditional dams  Outside engineers helped plan

Strong democratic local institutions and enduring commitment of local leadership  Traditional village councils restored to manage johads  Representatives of all families decided by consensus  Dams rebuilt with village labor  Councils expanded cooperation to reforestation projects  Non-profit organization maintained leadership

Co-adaptation between social system and ecosystem  Revived traditional council focused on water supply  Council organized tree planting for fuel and forest protection  Ecosystem now provided for people and returning wildlife!  Women did household work, and children attended school, instead of spending all their time carrying water and fuelwood

Letting nature do the work  Underground storage of rainwater provided year-round supply  With no expense for pipes, wells are filled and flowing  Rivers and streams revived year-round  Water seeps into the ground where it is stored without loss due to evaporation: groundwater!

Letting nature do the work  Less crop irrigation needed because lots of groundwater  With groundwater restored they grew trees close by for fuelwood  Recovery of forest reduced erosion and kept water clean

Rapid Results  Well near first johad filled with water within a few months  Quick results inspired more dam building: 9 ponds holding 162 million gallons for Golpapura village  Dry rivers started flowing year round and all wells refilled  Seeing success, johads spread to 750 other villages

A powerful symbol  Johads symbolized village’s ability to survive and thrive  Tied rakhis (friendship bracelets) on trees as sign of protection  Non-profit organization’s leader symbolized the movement

Overcoming social obstacles  ‘Water warriors of Rajasthan’ organized to defend resources  Sit-ins stopped state from tearing down dams and cutting trees  70 villages united to cancel state sales of fishing rights  Sued illegal miners draining and poisoning groundwater

Social and ecological memory  Elders remembered how to construct and maintain johads  Tradition of village councils and pitching in ensured success  Natural habitat adapted and provided for returning wildlife

Social and ecological diversity  Women made cooperatives to sell milk products, soaps, crafts  Children returned to school, bringing new skills to village  Farmers diversified crops, including sugar cane and potatoes

Building resilience  Forest maintained healthy watershed  Lots of groundwater maintained water supply through dry times  “Success breeds success” created a circle of positive effects  Village pride, commitment, & solidarity protected sustainability  Return of men strengthened community bonds and farming  Revived traditional council organized village to face challenges