Integrated And Participatory Approach To Revegetate Village Ecosystems In Karnataka For Carbon Sink Enhancement And Biodiversity Conservation Through Sustained Livelihood Development Dr. M.H. Swaminath Conservator of Forests Karnataka Forest Department

WESTERN GHATS REGION – FEATURES  Western Ghats is a “megadiversity hotspot” in India  Area: 14 Mha with Forest area of 5.3 Mha  Large biodiversity  Flora (3500 species)  Fauna (48 genera of mammals, 275 genera of birds, 60 species of reptiles)  Watershed for several rivers  Provides NTFPs and livelihood to large population  Forest conservation is effectively implemented but forest degradation continues

PROJECT AREA  Western Ghats Region  Kanara Circle  3 Forest Divisions Representing:  I Coastal Forest Ecosystem (Evergreen & Semi-evergreen forest type)  II Ghats or Mountain or Hill Ecosystem (Moist deciduous forest type)  III Dry Forest or Plain Ecosystem (Dry deciduous forest type)  Project Area:  I. Coastal Ecosystem: 30 villages  II. Hill Ecosystem: 30 villages  III. Plain Ecosystem: 30 villages

OBJECTIVES OF PROJECT “Develop, implement and disseminate integrated and participatory approach to revegetate village ecosystems for enhancing sustained flow of benefits to the local communities  To enhance carbon stock and biodiversity in different land components of village ecosystems in the Western Ghats region  To enhance bio-resource supply to village communities to improve incomes and livelihoods  To develop and disseminate integrated village ecosystem revegetation package to different regions of the Western Ghats  To develop sustainable participatory institutions and build capacity, and  Participatory Monitoring for Biodiversity Conservation.

BASELINE SCENARIO  Forest degradation due to biomass demand and to a small extent demand for land for conversion.  Afforestation, social forestry, implemented on significant scale in the Kanara circle.  Dominated by fuelwood model, dominated by fast growing species such as Acacia auriculiformis.  Focus is largely on degraded forest land (Reserve Forest & Minor Forest lands).  Biodiversity or carbon sequestration is not the focus.  JFM implemented in about 336 out of 1283 villages in the district.  Community participation limited to decisions on; revegetation system, species choice, protection etc.  Capacity building activities limited to VFC members and FD staff. Contd….

 Productivity (carbon sequestration) rate low for afforested area.  Current level of incentives inadequate for sustaining community participation  Inadequate focus on NTFP species  Inadequate focus on NTFP processing, fuelwood conservation devices etc.  Lack of integrated approach to revegetation or biodiversity conservation  Inadequate resource for sustained institution and capacity building activities.

GEF PROJECT SCENARIO – FEATURES 1. Integrated “Village Ecosystem” approach to revegetation of all land categories; forest, village commons, private forest, dryland, irrigated land, temple land, school compound, stream and pond fore shore area. 2. Focus on enhancing a. biodiversity b. sequestering carbon in vegetation (biomass) and soil and c. flow of forest products 3. Participatory approach to involve the stakeholders relevant to each land category in decisions on area to be planted, species choice etc.  Community forest: Village assembly  Temple land: Temple committee  Farm land: Farmers  School land: School teacher/School committee Contd...

4. Strengthening existing and developing new institutions for protection, management, participation in different activities 5. Building capacity for; village community, women, farmers, NGOs, Forest Dept. staff to enable and empower them for effective participation. 6. Developing information package on “Integrated and participatory approach to revegetation of village ecosystem” and its dissemination for replication.

Innovative aspects of the project  Integrated village ecosystem revegetation approach including forest and non-forest land categories through participatory approach  Focus on conservation and enhancement of biodiversity, carbon sequestration and flow of economic benefits of different stakeholders u through decreasing dependence on forests u enhanced planting of native species in different land use systems u biodiversity conservation through landscape approach, e.x. water bodies, agroecosystems etc. u enhancement of productivity through SMC measures, innovative silvicultural interventions, intensive management on both forest and non-forest categories

u enhancing the local need resources through  sustained resource use in forest lands  creation of resources in non-forest lands including private lands  value addition at the local level  improved market infrastructure  empowerment and equity through innovative institutional mechanisms u Intensive institutional and capacity building for sustaining participation u Information package development and dissemination

SUSTAINING BIODIVERSITY, CARBON SEQUESTERED AND FLOW OF BENEFITS  INSTITUTIONAL AND SOCIAL FACTORS  Strong participatory institutions with capacity to manage ecosystem resources developed  Awareness and capacity built  Women groups created under the project will ensure sustainability of activities to ensure sustained flow of benefits  FD and NGOs will create appropriate institutions and incentives to enable project sustainability  ECONOMIC FACTORS  Regeneration and planting of economically valuable tree and non- tree species will provide forest products and income, creating a stake for different stakeholders Contd...

 Biodiversity and carbon sequestered on farmlands, around temples and water bodies are unlikely to be felled, ensuring sustenance of local benefits  TENURIAL AND POLICY CHANGES  Policy changes to ensure secure tenure for stakeholders  Financial management by local community

Sampling framework

FIELD STUDY METHODS AND SAMPLING Adikehosuru & Chibbalageri Kanara Circle Coastal ES Karwar & Ankola Division Hill ES Sirsi Division Plain ES Haliyal Division Cluster of 30 villages Cluster of 30 villages Cluster of 30 villages - Landuse survey - Socio-economic studies - Afforestation Andle & Bole Kallur & Maggegaru - Detailed 100% landuse measurements - Census household survey - Stakeholder consultation on revegetation - GIS maps of land use, vegetation, biodiversity,soil C

Land area potential for different ecosystem based revegetation systems (coastal/Ghat/Plain) under project scenario in 90 aggregate villages

Carbon Emission avoided and sequestered

Stakeholders choice of re-vegetation system for different ecosystem categories: Kallur- Hosahalli village case study

Silvicultural package and innovations for the Integrated Ecosystem Development Project

Project Scenario; Revegetation systems, Silvicultural packages for different land categories developed based on participatory approach

Incremental Cost Matrix

Implementation Arrangement

SUMMARY INTEGRATED AND PARTICIPATORY APPROACH TO REVEGETATE VILLAGE ECOSYSTEMS IN KARNATAKA FOR CARBON SINK ENHANCEMENT AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION THROUGH SUSTAINED LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT  Local Executing Agency:Karnataka Forest Department (KFD)  Project Location:Western Ghats Uttara Kannada Circle (District) Karnataka  Project Period:5 years  The project aims at: u The development, implementation and large-scale dissemination of an integrated village ecosystem revegetation package for enhancing carbon sinks and biodiversity along with improvement in the livelihoods and incomes of local communities

 The project components are: u Developing a package for the Western Ghats region in consultation with relevant stakeholders u Implementing the package in 90 villages of 3 forest ecosystems of the western Ghats region u Developing institutions and enhancing the capacity to implement, protect and manage the revegetation programme u Developing participatory vegetation monitoring for biodiversity conservation u Developing and disseminating the approach in other parts of the Western Ghats region  Budget  GEF: $ 6.15 Million  Co-Financing  Government of Karnataka: $1.38 Million  Bilateral: $1.17 Million  Beneficiaries: $0.234 Million  Total Project Cost: $8.934 Million