Rehabilitation of Degraded Lands in Watersheds TK Sr - PDF document

!" !"#$ehabi%itation#of#&egraded#'ands#in#Watersheds #K$Sreede%i&$Suhas$P$Wani&$'$(s)an$and$Shailendra$#iwari!nternational"Crops"Resear#h"!nstitute"$or"the"Semi%Arid"Tropi#s"&!CR!SAT'Patan#heru"()*"+*,-"Andhra"Pradesh-"!ndiaCentral"Resear#h"!nstitute"$or"Dryland"Agri#ulture"&CR!DA'Santoshnagar-"Hyderabad"())")./-"Andhra"Pradesh-"!ndiaSeva"Mandir-"Old"0atehpura-"1daipur"%"+ +")),-"Ra2asthan-"!ndia (bstra)t There are about !" cate#ories of wastelands identi$ed in India, which constitute about 20%!7& of total #eo#ra'hical area% The Govt% of India has identi$ed !(6 districts in !9 states for micro-'lannin# of de#raded lands% Nearly )"& of wastelands are in Andhra Pradesh, Gu*arat, Karnataka, +adhya Pradesh, +aharashtra, .rissa, Ra*asthan, Tamil Nadu and /P% This 'a'er analyses the classes of wastelands and di1erent a''roaches to reclamation of these lands%Keywords:$Watersheds, wasteland, livestock, land de#radation, common 'ro'erty resources% Introd*)tion The soil erosion, caused 'rimarily by water and wind, is one of the ma*or contributors to the land de#radation% Livestock vis-3-vis over#ra4in# is yet another factor causin# de#radation of the e5istin# common 'ool resources 8CPRs:% The e5istin# CPRs, which include the natural #ra4in# lands have very 'oor #reen cover to feed the livestock% Heavy #ra4in# intensity reduces vi#or of #ra4ed 'lants, distort the 'lant #rowth 'attern and chan#e the biodiversity com'osition of the #ra4in# land% The land de#radation leads to the loss of soil, water, biota as well as nutrients from the to'soil% .n the other hand im'roved 'ractices result in e;cient and accelerated nutrient recyclin# system, im'roved intake of rainwater and thus stimulate 'lant #rowth% +,tent#of#&egraded#'ands There are various estimates of wastelands ran#in# from ")%( m ha to !)7 m ha due to di1erent methods em'loyed 8Table !:% There are about !" cate#ories of wastelands identi$ed in India, which constitute about 20%!7& of total #eo#ra'hical area 8NRSA, 2000: 8Table 2:% The Govt% of India has identi$ed !(6 districts in !9 states !+ for micro-'lannin# of de#raded lands% Nearly )"& of wastelands are in Andhra Pradesh, Gu*arat, Karnataka, +adhya Pradesh, +aharashtra, .rissa, Ra*asthan, Tamil Nadu and /P% #a,le$1-$$.arious$es/i)a/es$o0$was/eland$in$2ndia$3)-$ha415- !"#$%&#%'()!*)+!+',))-%!.)'#%'/'+0!1',)2!330440!1)!1)&5#0$",+"#%)6/2&789:;&#x-898;.08;8:=.=?@0#%$+!#'+%)!*)A$!1!30$4)B) +'+04+0$4C)@%D+.)!*)&5#0,)B)2!!D%#'+0!1?E.F8GH0104+#I)!*)&5#0$",+"#%)689EG8:=.⡀=? !$0%+I)*!#)J#!3!+0!1)!*)K'4+%,'1L)@%M%,!D3%1+)6 JK@789EF8G9.;?9@%D'#+3%1+)!*)A1M0#!13%1+)'1L)N!#%4+4)6OO)P!Q#'C)89E&#x-280;.99;9=.&#x-593; .64;G9/'+0!1',)K'4+%,'1L)@%M%,!D3%1+)O!'#L)6H!AN789E=&#x-692;.08;8G?.?:/'+0!1',)O"#%'")!*) !0,) "#M%I)B)R'1L)S4%)J,'11015)6T2&U7899F&#x-266;�8E:.=:/'+0!1',)U%3!+%) %14015)&5%1$I)6/U &7899=;?.E=G&#x-101;–.7;/.2.) 'V%1')6 %$.)U@7K@8G=.⡀?E !"#$%W)P.O.)A4X'#'1C)2Q'0#3'1) JK@C)/%X)@%,Q0C)T1)J#!$.)!*) %301'#)!1)K'4+%,'1L)@%M%,!D3%1+C)H'#⡀⡀$Q)G8C)J78F #a,le$ -$6rea$under$ea7h$7a/egory$o0$was/eland$in$2ndia- 2'+%5!#I&#%'6 Y)Z3()!*)+!+',)5%!5#'DQ0$)'#%')$!M%#%L8.-",,0%L)'1L[!#)#'M%1!"4),'1L)Gʄ.;==?.Fʄ.;.;=G.R'1L)X0+Q)!#)X0+Q!"+)4$#"\89Fʄ.;8F.?;.8??.S1L%#)"+0,0]%L[L%5#'L%L)1!+0^%L)*!#%4+),'1L)ʄ.;8F;=G.?F.FFF.H01015[01L"4+#0',)X'4+%,'1L)8G=G.8ʄ.;ʄ.;.F=.O'##%1)#!$ZI[4+!1I)X'4+%[4Q%%+)#!$Z)'#%';F=EF.EG.ʄ.;F;. +%%D)4,!D015)'#%':;=;.?ʄ.;.GF:. 1!X)$!M%#%L)'1L[!#)5,'$0',)'#%'==:EE.=8.:;E.@%5#'L%L)D'4+"#%4[5#']015),'1L)G=9:E.9ʄ.;.EG9.@%5#'L%L),'1L)"1L%#)D,'1+'+0!1)$#!D=EGE.8ʄ.;.8E8ʄ.;. '1L4701,'1L[$!'4+',=ʄ.;ʄ.;G8.;8.=E88.K'+%#),!55%L)'1L)3'#4QI),'1L)8;=;E.=ʄ.;.=G8G.R'1L)'**%$+%L)\I)4',010+I[',Z',010+I7$!'4+',701,'1Lʄ.;GF::.Fʄ.;.;=8?. Q0*+015)$",+0M'+0!1)'#%'?=8FG.G8.88_!+',)X'4+%,'1L)'#%';?E=8E.?Gʄ.;.G/!+%W)8CGʄ.;CEF9)4Y)Z3)01)`Ba)04)1!+)3'DD%L)'1L)Q%1$%)1!+)$!140L%#%L)*!#)$',$",'+015)+Q%)D%#$%1+'5%. !"#$%W)/U &)6Gʄ.;ʄ.;ʄ.;.) !8 -armoni.ation#of#&atabases#for#&e)ision#Ma/ers Harmoni4in# databases for land use and land evaluation is essential to address the key issues related to land resources and sustainable develo'ment of de#raded lands% There is a #rowin# concern that various e1orts are 'roducin# data sets, which are incom'atible and $#ures do not match% This 'oses di;culties for decision makers to rely u'on data emanatin# from di1erent scienti$c or#ani4ations% Wastelands information of National Remote Sensin# A#ency 8D.S: and soil de#radation of National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land /se Plannin# 8ICAR: form a #ood e5am'le% Therefore, there is a need for conver#ence of these data sets throu#h harmoni4ation to evolve a viable decision su''ort system at 'olicy makers level% The re'orted area under wastelands and their di1erent cate#ories by di1erent or#ani4ations has been si#ni$cantly varyin#% As 'er the Wasteland Atlas of India 'ublished recently by +oRD and NRSA, the area under wastelands is 6"%)= m ha 8NRSA, r.0;靰2000: based on !?=0,000 scale ma''in# whereas, NBSS@L/P has re'orted soil de#radation of !(6%) m ha in the country out of soil ma''in# on !?2=0,000 scale% The methodolo#y ado'ted for harmoni4ation of data sets consisted of collection of information available with NRSA, NBSSL/P, AISL/S and CAERI, e5aminin# the de$nitions ado'ted by them, sco'e for harmoni4in# the classes in the le#end of the ma's and availability of ma's 8Ramakrishna et al% 2007:% The nation-wide data are available only with NRSA and NBSSL/P% The data of AISL/S were coverin# only 'art of the country and hence not used in harmoni4ation% The com'arison of le#ends between wastelands and de#raded soil indicates that the common cate#ories between wasteland ma's and soil de#radation ma's are #ullied andFravinous lands, semi-stabili4ed to stabili4ed sand dunes, waterlo##ed @ marshy lands and land a1ected by salinityFalkalinity% However, there are some e5clusive cate#ories such as land withFwithout scrub, shiftin# cultivation, de#raded forest-scrub dominated, de#raded 'astureF#ra4in# land, a#riculture land inside noti$ed forest, de#raded land under 'lantations, stee'ly slo'in# area loss of to' soil, terrain deformation, over blowin# and loss of nutrients in soil de#radation ma'% After thorou#h deliberations on the data sets of wastelands and soil de#radation, a le#end com'risin# wasteland classes and soil de#radation was 're'ared and the statistics were #enerated on de#raded lands of India% The wasteland classes were com'ared with soil de#radation classes to arrive at common classes and mutually e5clusive classes% As 'er the harmoni4ed e1orts, the total de#raded lands in the country are !0=%96 m ha% The $#ure for soil de#radation by water erosion 8loss of to' soil: is 20%=2 m ha and "%76 m ha for wind erosion 8loss of to' soil:% The area under !9 #ully formation under water erosion is )%(7 m ha and under ravines is !%9 m ha% /nder wind erosion the aerial e5tent of over blowin# is !%)9 m ha and "%2( m ha under terrain deformation% The chemical de#radation consists of salini4ationFalkali4ation and acidi$cation 8J(%= 'H: where the harmoni4ed statistics are 6%7" m ha and 6%!9 m ha, res'ectively% /nder water lo##in# two cate#ories namely surface 'ondin# 80%97 m ha: and sub-surface water lo##in# 8=%(( m ha: have been identi$ed% The ve#etal de#radation with water erosion includes land withFwithout scrub, de#raded forest - scrub dominated, a#riculture land inside noti$ed forest, de#raded 'astureF#ra4in# land, de#raded land under 'lantations and abandoned @ current shiftin# cultivation areas of wasteland ma' 're'ared by NRSA% The area has been estimated to be "=%(= m ha% The other cate#ory includes minin# and industrial waste, barren rockyFstony waste and snow coveredFice ca's and their aerial e5tents are 0%2 m ha, =%77 m ha and =%(" m ha, res'ectively% 0%asses#of#Waste%ands#and#0orre)ti1es Since wastelands are un'roductive for di1erent socio-economic and bio-'hysical reasons, di1erent technical solutions will be needed% Broadly s'eakin#, Venkateswarlu 8200": #rou'ed the wastelands into?u/ncultivableuCultivableuSocialu+ar#inalSome details are discussed below? 2n)*%ti1ab%e#Waste%ands The $rst reason is lack of soil of any kind% This includes those areas of barren rocky outcro's and where the surface consists lar#ely of fractured rock, coarse #ravel or loose boulders% The Himalayan 'eaks, fro4en arid valley of Ladakh and the hot arid deserts of north-west a#ain come in this cate#ory% They can be im'roved only by 'lantin# s'arse forest cover in select micro-sites or soil 'ockets% 0*%ti1ab%e#Waste%ands These areas have some soil and include lar#e areas where the soil is e5cessively acidic, alkaline, saline or waterlo##ed either naturally or throu#h 'revious mismana#ement% Such areas may be turned 'roductive by? !; uselectin# es'ecially tolerant s'ecies and varieties or arable cro's or trees,us'ecial soil treatments like dee' 'lou#hin#, draina#e etc, and uchemical amendments like limin#, #y'sum or sul'hur a''lication%Generally, such treatments 8ii @ iii: are costly and only hi#h value cro's are likely to #ive an economic return% Therefore, selection of tolerant trees may be the only economically viable o'tion% 3o)ia%#Waste%ands This is another cate#ory of wastelands that are cultivable% The soils would lar#ely be #ood with climate that is not e5treme% But various social and economic factors make these lands sub*ect to e5cessive e5'loitation 'ressures that remove the 'roductive ca'ital as well as the interest or harvestable annual 'roduction%Amon# these are, mainly the lands where ownershi' is either ambi#uous, absent or is common% Mvidently nobody has a controllin# interest to mana#e it for lon# term 'roduction% .n the other hand everybody has an interest in e5tractin# as much as 'ossible% Returnin# such lands to 'roductivity will reOuire social and economic ad*ustments that can come throu#h 'eo'les 'artici'ation%IR+A, Anand had a detailed study on such Qsocial wastelands throu#h si5 case studies% They conclude that the most desirable answers to be?uassi#n 'ro'erty ri#hts on newly develo'ed wastelands to individual 'oor families†.1; with technical back sto' lar#ely from voluntary a#encies†.1;ucommunity involvement in wasteland develo'ment reducin# the indis'ensability of 'ower†.1;ful local leadershi'ureward individual showin# Ouality e1orts†.1;uencoura#e #rou' consensus in decision-makin# and also to avoid any 'ossible conUic†.1;tsulet small #rou's be made res'onsible f†.1;or small units of landu'rovide incentives for the rate of #rowth of trees maintained by these small #r†.1;ou's andusee that all the 'artici'ants have access to the #ains†.1;Yet another as'ect under social wastelands is the CPRs% In and around the settlements 8villa#es:, the economically disadvanta#ed #rou' 8small and mar#inal farmers and landless labourers: de'end on CPRs for their livelihood and also day to day amenities% They also need similar treatment as above% 1! Margina%#Waste%ands This is another lar#e cate#ory where combinations of the fore#oin# causes are at work% These are areas where the soil is very shallow or is #ravelly or where other 'hysical or chemical factors make it infertile and un'roductive% .ften such lands are ne#lected, 'artly because their 'roductivity is low at best% But another im'ortant reason is because they often are held by resource-'oor farmers who cannot a1ord the investment reOuired to make them 'roductive% Yet they are forced by their situation to continue to try to scratch a base subsistence of food cro's for them% +ost of the assi#ned lands 8Patta lands: fall under this cate#ory% Restorin# such lands to better 'roductivity also reOuires a combination of socio-economic and technical interventions% Government of Andhra Pradesh has come u' with novel scheme of Com'rehensive Land Develo'ment Pro#ram 8CLDP: and tree-based farmin# system by Bharatiya A#ro-Industries Xoundation 8BAIX:% Watershed#(pproa)h#to#$e)%amation Reclamation 'roducts would be more e1ective if im'lemented on a watershed mode% This is 'articularly the case in res'ect of addressin# land constraints such as soil erosion, water lo##in#, salinity, and wind erosion, which have stron# s'atial dimension in their manifestation% A watershed a''roach means a stron# central 'lannin#, active 'artici'ation of stakeholders and institutions involved and collective ownershi'% Xarmers 'artici'ation should be ensured from the be#innin# and they need to be a''raised of the short-and lon#-term bene$ts of the measures% Plans need to be drawn such that farmers can see some short-term bene$ts and the technolo#ies are remunerative% Peo'le 'artici'ate only when they #et tan#ible bene$ts% The traditional customs and 'ractices, user ri#hts of common 'ool resources, sustenance of natural resource base have to be taken into account so that the new a''roaches to develo'ment meet the needs of di1erent sections of the society% +ost of the de#raded lands in a to'o-seOuence are located in the rid#e 'art of the watershed% These are the hots'ots and source of sur'lus runo1 and soil erosion% The success of #reenin# lies in treatin# these s'ots and site im'rovement% Mi)rosite#Impro1ement Rehabilitation of de#raded lands is very im'ortant to enhance the #reen cover in India% Trees 'lay 'ositive role in amelioratin# ill e1ects of harsh environments of the dry areas% Thou#h many trees are 'lanted each year throu#h various 'lantin# 'ro#rams and the tar#et is achieved, the survival and #rowth of 'lanted trees remain very 'oor in these areas% This may be due to many factors, amon# which 'oor site is a ma*or one% +icrosite im'rovement consists of soil 'ro$le modi$cation% Si4e of 11 the 'it de'ends on the ty'e of 'lant and has to 'rovide a #ood rootin# medium for the 'lant to establish and #row subseOuently%+icrosite im'rovement is done by di##in# 'its at s'acin# and of si4e a''ro'riate to the tree s'ecies, back $llin# it with a 'it mi5ture consistin# of ori#inal soil, XY+ and tank silt 8in li#ht soils: or sand 8in heavy soils: in !F" 'ro'ortion each 8by volume:% Phos'horus and insecticide are also added to the 'it mi5ture to im'rove root #rowth and control termites% The di##in# can be done either manually or usin# tractor o'erated 'ost-hole di##ers% In the areas where labour is in short su''ly or the soil and climatic conditions are not favorable for manual 'ittin# tractor can be used% The covera#e with tractor drawn au#ers is more and faster% +oreover, the work can be done in unfavorable weather like hot summer when the manual work is not 'ossible% Studies under rain-fed conditions at CRIDA have shown considerable im'rovement in survival and initial #rowth of the 'erennials% In the non-rainy 'eriod these trees can be s'ot irri#ated usin# micro tubes or the dri's% The cost of microsite im'rovement is a 'rereOuisite for tree-based interventions to convert demanded de#raded lands to dense #reenlands% Mi)ro4)at)hments +icro-catchments are formed around the sin#le 'lant or alon# rows of 'lants de'endin# on the 'lantin# #eometry and to'o#ra'hy of land% These measures are ado'ted to sha'e the land surface to concentrate the rainwater around the base of the 'lant% Xor this, miniZcatchments or half-moon con$#urations are created around each 'lant% These mini-catchments around the 'lant can be created in many ways, trian#ular, rectan#ular, $sh bone, crescent, V-sha'ed, catch 'its, etc%, can be raised with an o'en end at u''er side to concentrate the surface Uow for hi#her in$ltration into the root 4one% Besides these, trench cum bund, sta##ered and contour trenches were found useful in im'rovin# the survival and #rowth of seedlin#s 'lanted% 5arti)ipator6#(pproa)h#to#$ehabi%itate#0ommon#5ropert6#$eso*r)es#705$s8#9ith#Biodiese%#5%antations Mner#y security has assumed #reater si#ni$cance than ever as ener#y consum'tion, food 'roduction� im'roved livelihoods and environmental Ouality alon# with water availability are interrelated% Asian countries with dense 'o'ulation are more 'rone to ener#y crises than to their counter'arts in the world% A stron# ne5us between overall develo'ment and ener#y consum'tion as well as source of ener#y e5ists% Develo'ed country use more fossil fuel to meet their ener#y demand where as develo'in# country use lower ener#y as well as hi#her 'ro'ortion of ener#y from 1 the renewable sources such as wood, coal, animal 'ower, cow dun# cakes, etc%, 8Kareke4i S and Kithyoma W, 2006:%Any increase in food 'roduction calls for hi#her ener#y use in terms of irri#ation and fertili4er, as further e5'ansion of area under a#riculture is limited% Countries like India have to maintain a delicate balance between food, fodder, water and ener#y security% All these are interrelated and need to be considered to#ether% Xor e5am'le India has to 'roduce 2=0 million tones of food to feed its ever-#rowin# human 'o'ulation% Water demand for food as well as for industries, human needs, and environmental services is increasin#% /nder water limited situation by 202= one third of the develo'in# world would be facin# 'hysical scarcity of water 8Seckler et al% !99):% Similarly, of )=2 million 'oor 'eo'le in the world, 22! million are in India and more number of 'oor reside in dry land rural areas% Mdible oils as well as 'roductive lands will have to be s'ared for food% Considerin# all these 'oints use of de#raded common 'ro'erty resources 8CPRs: alon# with low-Ouality 'rivate lands with conservation and e;cient use of rainwater strate#ies o'en u' a new window of o''ortunities for #rowin# non-edible oil trees for im'rovin# livelihoods of rural 'oor 8Wani et al% 2006:% The advanta#es of 'erennials are many as the #reenery will 'rotect the land from further de#radation and #enerate em'loyment in rural areas% The total number of s'ecies with olea#inous seed material mentioned from di1erent sources varies from !00 to "00 and of them 6" belon#in# to "0 'lant families holds 'romise% Two s'ecies namely 3atrohpa"#ur#as and Pongamia"pinnata are favored in India because of their contrastin# 'lant characteristics and the s'ecies selected should match the site characteristics% ICRISAT develo'ed novel a''roach for rehabilitatin# de#raded common 'ro'erty resources 8revenue lands: usin# biodiesel 'lantation involvin# local landless communities% CPRs for establishin# biodiesel 'lantations were identi$ed throu#h consortium a''roach involvin# o;cials from #overnment functionaries, non-#overnmental or#ani4ations 8NG.s:, local #overnin# bodies and community% Institutional arran#ement was carved out in the identi$ed locations for involvin# unor#ani4ed a#ricultural labors as a stakeholder in the model% The villa#e a#ricultural labors are encoura#ed to bind themselves to form self hel' #rou's 8SHGs: and ins'ired to work in the identi$ed lands for establishin# biodiesel 'lantations 8Xi#% !:% Thus formed SHGs bene$t not only earnin# from the wa#es and the #rou's are fostered to nurture 'lantations by o1erin# harvestin# ri#hts 8usufruct ri#hts: 8Xi#% 2: once the 'lantation starts yieldin# economic bene$ts% The arran#ement makes wa#e earners to inculcate ownershi' in the model% The successful establishment of model not only rehabilitates the de#raded lands into #reenin# lands but also becomes source of livelihood for the landless 'eo'le% ICRISAT has restored more than =00 ha of de#raded lands with biodiesel 'lantations in Andhra Pradesh throu#h the 'artici'atory model% 1* 0ig4" 4"Biodiesel"plantation"through"#olle#tive"a#tion"o$"SHGs"in"Vel#hal-"Andhra"Pradesh4"0ig4"*4"Biodiesel"user%$ru#t"rights""handed"over"by"the"Distri#t"Magistrate-"Ranga"Reddy-"Andhra"Pradesh-"!ndia-"to"the"SHG"leaders 1 Integrating#Indigeno*s#:odder#;rasses#9ith#Biodiese%#5%antations#in#'o94 ICRISAT and BAIX evolved model for restorin# #ra4in# lands with biodiesel 'lantations on CPRs in Ra*asthan, India 8Di5it et al% 200=:% In many 'arts of semi-arid systems, livestock is the mainstay of livelihoods for the survival, where common #ra4in# lands are used to su''ort fodder reOuirements of the livestock 'o'ulation% .ver time, common #ra4in# lands are de#raded and #rasses #rown are neither 'alatable nor su;cient to feed the livestock 'o'ulation% The villa#e communities are sensiti4ed for collective action, to contribute the labor for the develo'ment of the #ra4in# land% Initially, the lands are restored with biodiesel cro's for 'reventin# soil erosion and subseOuently sowin# of #rasses were taken u' in between rows of 'lantations with soil and water conservation structures% Institutional mechanism was desi#ned to safe#uard the restored areas and harvest the fodder #rasses from the land% The model created a sense of ownershi' amon# the community for the 'rotection of natural resources and mana#ement% The model is hi#hly suitable for establishin# 'lantations on mar#inal soils aimin# at inte#ration of livestock for #eneration of sustainable livelihoods% =he#5ro)ess BAIX Institute of Rural Develo'ment, an NG. that is im'lementin# the 'ro*ect, initially reco#ni4ed the 'roblem and en#a#ed the community to discuss about what could be done to im'rove the situation% The 'eo'le reci'rocated 'ositively and a#reed to 'art with half of the common #ra4in# area for rehabilitation% The villa#e stakeholder community consistin# of #ra4ers, herders and farmers throu#h pan#hayat 8local villa#e #overnin# elected body:, resolved to erect stone fence around the (=-ha #ra4in# land and not allow any cattle to #ra4e in that area% Thus the area was forti$ed with 'hysical and social fencin#% The stakeholders a#reed to take u' rehabilitation of the #ra4in# land in half the area initially so that the other half was accessible to common #ra4in#% Villa#ers contributed their labor to erect stone fencin#, and construct soil and rainwater conservation structures to arrest runo1 and increase in$ltration% .ver 200 sta##ered trenches, 290 'ercolation 'its and 6 #ully 'lu#s were constructed across the #ra4in# land% .nce the in%situ rainwater harvestin# structures were in 'lace villa#ers 'lanted useful #rasses and sa'lin#s all over the area% The de#radation was so severe that the mortality of the sa'lin#s was very hi#h% The idea of 'uttin# u' stone bench terraces, contour trenches and catch 'its for in-situ moisture conservation was considered% This resulted in e5cellent soil and moisture conservation and aided establishment of ve#etation% Des'ite consecutive drou#hts from 2000 to 200", the area turned lush #reen in stark contrast with #ray area across the fence 8Xi#% ":% The villa#ers cut the reOuired #rass freely from the 1" area to feed their cattle and no free #ra4in# is done% Xor the bene$t of CPR villa#ers leave half of the Ouantity of #rass cut by them for the society% The society auctions the collected #rass to nei#hborin# villa#ers and earns an income of /S[ !)"0 'er annum%There was a 'erce'tible im'rovement in the density of ve#etation in the 'rotected #ra4in# land in contrast to the un'rotected land 8Xi#ure (:% The density of ve#etation includin# #rass has attracted many birds and animals to this 'art of the #ra4in# land% Prominent amon# these are blue bulls% The e1ort of the villa#ers and the pan#hayat"for over si5 years has brou#ht out remarkable chan#es in the Uora and fauna of this 'iece of land% The whole e'isode has brou#ht out valuable learnin# for all those involved in the 'ro*ect and hel'ed enhance the con$dence level of the villa#ers% It was 'recisely at this *uncture that the 'ro*ect sta1 thou#ht of #ettin# the whole 'rocess recorded and evaluated by the very 'eo'le who were instrumental in the success of the 'ro*ect% Thus came the idea of #ettin# the villa#ers to assess the biodiversity in the rehabilitated #ra4in# land in contrast with land not rehabilitated% �=he#Obe)ti1es#of#this#+,er)ise uLet the community know the worth of the e1orts 'ut in by collective action%uCreate awareness in the community about the im'ortance of community action in natural resource mana#ement%uCreate a sense of ownershi' amon# the community so that the conservation and mana#ement of natural resources by the community #o beyond the 'ro*ect 'eriod% 0ig4"+4"A"villager"showing"the"di5eren#e"in"vegetation"on"either"side"o$"the"$en#e"at"Dev2ika"Thana-""Ra2asthan4 1+ uThe number of s'ecies of useful #rasses and fodder has increased tremendously% Besides the Uora, even the fauna was rehabilitated in this area% This area is a safe haven for nil#ai 8a s'ecies of wild cows 8blue bulls:, adults and youn# ones% Rabbits, hares, *ackals, fo5es, man#ooses and a host of bird s'ecies are found in this area% A biodiversity assessment was undertaken recently with the community 'artici'atin# actively in enumeratin# and listin# the uses of the various herbs, shrubs and #rasses that have been rehabilitated in this area% 0ig4",4"Rehabilitated"CPR"and"Dev2ika"Thana-"Bundi"in"Ra2asthan6"The"PBA"team"with"a"blue"bull"#al$"$ound"in"the"same"area4 Seva +andir, a NG., involved in community develo'ment activities in Ra*asthan since !969% It focuses on enhancement of rural livelihoods throu#h develo'ment of 'rivate wastelands� soil and water conservation activities and small lift irri#ation schemes under the #uidance of \X+ and National Watershed as about (2& of the land is under forest% Xrom !9)6 to 200=, Seva +andir a1orested !"2== ha out of which 2=09 ha is CPR land%The 'roblem of encroachment on commons cannot be dealt with by enactin# a law a#ainst tres'assin#% To overcome it, Seva +andir im'lemented GTE su''orted 'ro*ect ]Decoloni4in# the commons^ Z the 'rovision of an ]Mnvironment Xund^ which could be used to disburse incentives to the encroachers to handover the land back to the community% Contd%%% (==or/uni/y$and�$hallenges$o0�$o))on$?and$@e%elo=)en/4$Se%a$'andirAs$BC=erien7es 18 #rends$in$Dego/ia/ions$and$(u/7o)es!% Xacilitation by an outside a#ency? Presence of Seva +andir in all cases has initiated the ste's towards develo'ment of the commons and removal of encroachments, because of disem'owerment of formal institutions such as"pan#hayats to take any initiative on restoration of these lands, des'ite bein# their le#al custodians% 2% Reasons for Mncroachments? Peo'le are willin# to buy even encroached 'ieces of land where the certainty of tenure is hi#hly dubious% The encroachments in Shyam'ura, Tur#arh, +adla all fall in the cate#ory of ]bou#ht^ encroachments% "% M5tent of encroachments? Scattered encroachments are the ma*or fact as in the cases of villa#es Tur#arh and Shyam'ura, where the encroachers have encroached 'ockets of an entire forest block% (% Im'lications of Mncroachments? Ties between 'eo'le in a villa#e are not one-way but reci'rocal and a dissonance in one s'here mi#ht translate into loss of su''ort of the 'atron in other forums% =% Mviction of Mncroachments? The momentum #enerated on one issue can be transformed to other s'heres of develo'ment% Buildin# of informal institutions such as gram"vikas committee, samuh- etc%, #ains su''ort from this observation% It is easy to dislod#e a small number of encroachers as in Gadla and Sankhla, recent encroachers than old ones%6% Ambi#uity in Land records, encroachers who have made the ma5imum investments on lands is not dissuaded under 'eer 'ressure to vacate the encroachments%7% It is absolutely im'ortant to establish #rou' norms for the mana#ement and usufruct sharin# of the common assets develo'ed, e#, gram"vikas committee, by Seva +andir%)% Ambivalent state 'olicies%In this 'rocess, the 'oor #ained the most% A sam'le survey conducted in 200=-06 on !6 sites coverin# 'oor 69! households 8mostly tribals: revealed that each household received a monetary value of Rs%!"92 8SISIN im'lementation re'ort, Seva +andir 200=-06:% A'art from this, there have been enormous social and institutional #ains% These relations have encoura#ed the emer#ence of stron#er villa#e level institutions with #reater social cohesion 8Bhise S%N% 200(, MMRN 2002:%Poli7y$2ssuesAccess to treat the forestland fallin# under the watershed% +oreover, since the location of forests is on u'lands, leavin# forestland untreated would reduce the lon#evity of watershed treatment bene$ts downstream% Convertin# revenue land into villa#e 'asture can be made sim'le so that investments can be made to make revenue lands more 'roductive% It would indeed be better if authority over villa#e 'astures were dele#ated to the concerned gram"sabha rather than the pan#hayatContd%%% 19 $e)ommendations#for#5ra)titioners uRehabilitate wastelands or low-Ouality lands not $t for #rowin# food cro's with suitable SWC measures with suitable tree cover to decelerate land de#radation% u/se known source of 'lantin# material and 'romote self hel' #rou's for raisin# nursery% uIdentify nutritional constraints in lands tar#eted for such cultivations and undertake need-based nutritional amendmentsuAdo't collective action mechanisms to ensure that livelihood of vulnerable #rou's and landless de'endent on CPRs is not taken away%uProvide usufruct ri#hts to SHGs of landlessFwomen to harvest bene$ts from rehabilitated CPRs to ensure im'roved livelihoods and sustainable mana#ement of CPRs%u+ost CPRs are encroached and its a challen#in# task to evacuate the encroachments% Combination of social 'ressures, enablin# 'olicies and $nancial incentives could hel' in decoloni4in# the CPRs% In1estment#?eeds#b6#'o)a%@?ationa%#;o1ernments#or#Other#&onors uCPRs and low-Ouality lands owned by vulnerable #rou' members in the society need 'ublic investment to minimi4e land de#radation and 'rovide livelihoods to the stakeholders% uGreenin# wastelands throu#h such initiatives need 700-!=00 /S[ 'er ha de'endin# on locations and other factors% 5o%i)6#and#:inan)ia%#In)enti1es# uPolicy su''ort to access, develo' and maintain CPRs is needed%uMnablin# 'olicies to em'ower landless and vulnerable #rou's for collective action and facilitation by G.s and NG.s% 0on)%*sion Wastelands can be develo'ed with a''ro'riate land and water mana#ement 'ractices involvin# micro-site im'rovement and micro-catchments% A''ro'riate nutrient mana#ement o'tions alon# with other a#ronomic measures can #reen the de#raded CPRs and other low-Ouality lands throu#h collective action% By allocatin# usufruct ri#hts for the SHGs of vulnerable #rou's alon# with rehabilitation of 1; de#raded CPRs livelihoods can be im'roved and environment also could be 'rotected% PRIs and the community-based or#ani4ations can ensure bene$ts to vulnerable members of the society% However, suitable mechanisms and 'olicies should be worked out to tar#et mar#inal areas for 'lantin# of need-based tree cro's inte#ratin# with annuals% $eferen)es Ehise$SD- 200(% Decolori4in# the Commons Published By Seva +andir, /dai'ur and National Xoundation of India, New Delhi%@iCi/$Sreena/h&$#ewari$�F&$Wani$SP&$.ineela$�&$�hourasia$6K and Pan7hal$GE-200=% Partici'atory biodiversity assessment? Mnablin# rural 'oor for better natural resource mana#ement% Global Theme on A#roecosystems Re'ort No% !), Patancheru =02 "2(, Andhra Pradesh, India? International Cro's Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tro'ics% 20 ''%@HSil%a$B&$Wani$SP and Dagna/h$E- 200(% The makin# of new Power#uda? Community em'owerment and new technolo#ies transform a 'roblem villa#e in Andhra Pradesh% Global Theme on A#roecosystems Re'ort No% !!% Patancheru =02 "2(, Andhra Pradesh, India? International Cro's Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tro'ics% 2) ''%B7ologi7al$and$B7ono)i7s$Iesear7h$De/worJ- 2002% Re'ort submitted to Centre for Mcolo#ical Studies, Indian Institute of Science%Lran7is$M&$@inger$I and Ee7Jer- 200=% A conce't for simultaneous wasteland reclamation, fuel 'roduction and socio-economic develo'ment in de#raded areas of India? Need, 'otential and 'ers'ectives of 3atropha 'lantations% Natural Resources Xorum, 29?!2-2(%KareJeNi$S and Ki/hyo)a$W- 2006% Bioener#y and a#riculture? Promises and challen#es% Bioener#y and the 'oor% 2020 vision for food, a#riculture and the environment% Peter Ha4ell and Pachaun RK 8eds%: Brief !!%DIS6- 2000% Wastelands Atlas of India% National Remote Sensin# A#ency, Hyderabad, ''% )!%Para)a/h)a$'&$Par/hi,an$K# and DeelaJan/an$KS- 200(% 3atropha"#ur#as% Xorestry Series No 2% Xorest Colle#e and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu A#ricultural /niversity, +ettu'alayam% () ''% ! Ia)aJrishna$OS&$Iao$MMSD&$Kausalya$Ia)a7handran and (s)an$'% 2007% Climatic variability, its im'act on rain-fed a#ro-ecosystem and co'in# strate#ies% Pa'er 'resented in VIII Science Con#ress 2007 held at TNA/,!=-!7 Xebruary 2007, Coimbatore, India%Se7Jler$@&$6)arsinghe$Q&$'aldes$@&$@e$Sil%a$I and EaJer$I-$!99)% World water demand and su''ly !990 to 202=% Scenarios and issues% Research Re'ort !9% International Water +ana#ement Institute%.enJa/eswarlu$F-$200"% Wastelands and Xallow Lands? Their +ana#ement% Winter School on Wasteland Develo'ment in Rain-fed Areas, Se'tember !-"0, 200", Com'endium of Lecture Notes, Central Research Institute for Dryland A#riculture, Hyderabad% ''?99-!0=Wani$SP&$(s)an$'&$@HSil%a$B$and Sreede%i$#K- 2006% Im'roved livelihoods and environmental 'rotection throu#h biodiesel 'lantations in Asia% Asian Biotechnolo#y and Develo'ment Review, Vol%)?2, ''% !!-29%