A new sustainable approach for rangelands in the dry lands: Integrated Rangeland Restoration (IRR) based on local climate change adaptation strategies, seed isles and collective landscape governance

MENARID Knowledge Exchange workshop24th to 28th of March, Hammamet, Tunisia

Stefanie Christmann, Aden Aw-Hassan, Toshpulat Rajabov

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Description of the innovation (1)Integrated Rangeland Restoration (IRR)

The approach combines -participatory developed climate change adaptation strategy using self-developed scenarios to agree on a common purpose to restore rangelands (female and male participants, all age groups)- establishment of a Pastoral User Group (PUG) with rules and enforcement - land lease for the PUG to exclude free-riders and allow long-term planning; instead of high tax: only symbolic rent of 10 cent per ha and year paying respect to in kind contribution of villagers and their low income (low-cost-land lease)- establishment of small seasonal seed isles with social fence (low-cost seeding)- participatory development of seasonal grazing maps and collective restoration plans → by this social framing the seed-isle-approach (by now used in nature reserves only) can be used in environments under heavy anthropogenic stress

UzbekistanNavoi province(province with highest rangeland degradation)Khokimiat Qiziltepa(one of the worst degraded areas additionally at risk due to location, bordering Kyzylkum desert)200 mm rainfall/year

Area concerned by the innovation in current pilot project: 56.200 ha• Potential in Uzbekistan: 23,1 mln ha of which 78% desert and semi desert rangelands • Potential in Kazakhstan: 180,0 mln ha of which 60% desert and semi desert rangelands• Potential in Turkmenistan: 34,5 of which 60% desert and semi desert rangelands

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Description of the innovation (2)Partners involved in the innovationMinistry of Agriculture and Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan (policy support)Prof. Shavkat Ruziev, Director, Navoi Branch of Uzbek Scientific Production Center for Agriculture (pathfinder within district and regional administrative bodies)Khokimiats (district and regional administration) of Navoi provinceMalikchul Shirkat farm (former state, now collective farm)2 entrepreneurs2 villages (Gulbog and Obihayot)ICARDA: Dr. Christmann (coordinator) and Dr. Aw-Hassan (Director SEPRP)Samarkand Division of Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Dr. Toshpulat Rajabov (research; plant and rangeland expert)Uzbek Research Institute of Karakul Sheep Breeding and Desert Ecology, Dr. Abdullah Rabbimov (research support)

Number of people impacted by the innovationPilot project: around 500 people impacted in project regionPotential in Uzbekistan:63% of 29,6 mln inhabitants live in rural areasPotential in Kazakhstan:46% of 16,7 mln inhabitants live in rural areasPotential in Turkmenistan:51,4% of 5.2 mln inhabitants live in rural areasMost households in rural areas have some livestock as additional income, saving, prevention of debts in case of sudden incidents.

Financial investments made 100.000 Euro (2 years pilot project funded by BMU)

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Results and benefits of the innovation (1)Impact on farmers’ income: shrubs need to grow first (in 1. year they produce a huge root system up to 5 m deep, growth of twigs and leaves starts in 2. year), currently they may not be grazed or harvested, so after 18 months there can’t be income increase yet; shrubs disappeared due to overgrazing, but are highly adapted to dry environment;Potential of plants: Fodder production may increase by 2-3 times in 5 years. If rangelands are well managed, rangeland productivity increases by 4-5 times and more in 15 years. In long term, productivity of natural rangelands can be increased from 0,15-0,36 t DM/ha to 1,0-1,2 t DM/ha in Artemisia-ephemeroidal rangelands. Currently flock size exceeds grazing capacity by far.Restoration of rangelands and shift from cattle (irrigated forage production) to sheep (rain-fed rangelands) is the only option to sustain livestock production on medium- and long-term in this region. Villagers want to use the small amount of future irrigation water for products with smaller water footprint but higher income (e.g. horticulture and poultry) with improved irrigation. The target is to sustain the level of current level of income from meat production (= 40-60% of income in those 69% of households still rearing livestock, 31% already gave up (this is an ambitious target with regard to climate change forecast) and to allow additional horticulture production.

Impact on farmers’ livelihoods: -the spirit of apathy and resignation is surmounted; - villagers self-engage in rangeland restoration; - all pastoral households employ a shepherd and stopped uncontrolled grazing and uprooting- villagers stick to self developed maps for seasonal grazing and restoration

Impact on local communities:- Communities developed a collective climate change adaptation strategy and a common purpose to restore rangelands-One Pastoral User Group (PUG) received access on entrepreneurs land for a number of sheep (yearly increasing) -One PUG received 10-years land lease for 216 ha with option for prolongation (first land lease for a village in Uzbekistan

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Results and benefits of the innovation (2)Impact on natural resource- Shrubs, which had disappeared, grow again on small rangeland patches, first species started seeding

(Halothamnus subarphylla) - Cost-effective decentralized seeding (0,05 ha patches)- seed-isle approach will induce seeding in large areas, - 10-years-restoration plans make successive restoration feasible- establishment of PUGs and grazing management ensure growth of plants and seeding

Without IRR spread of Kyzylkum desert (9th largest desert worldwide) and loss of large agricultural areas is probable in a country with increasing population and food demand.

5Impact on access to land / policy levelCurrently we try to enhance the options for smallholders organized as PUG for necessary long-term land leases as shirkat farms and enterprisers receive.

SWOT analysis resultsStrengths of your organization when the innovation has been implemented

Weaknesses of your organization when the innovation has been implemented

Opportunities (external factors from the environment)

Threats(external factors from the environment)

Combination of different environmental governance instruments and low-cost seed- isles. ICARDA: Good experience with a specific participatory method to develop a common purpose by scenarios on climate change. Well-known shrubs; much missed after disappearance due to overuse at the wrong time (before seeding).

PUGs are regarded as informal organisations; currently it is a huge administrative process to provide them with a land-lease.Current land law favors entrepreneurs and shirkat farms, but highly disadvantages villagers. Staff in Khokimiats and Mahallas needs training for outscaling (no NGOs permitted in Uzbekistan). We advise to include teachers.

Degradation of rangelands is getting a desperate case; additionally it is fueled by climate change and current prevailing land tenure; Khokimiats really seek for low-cost options that work. Current NARSs’ efforts for large scale seeding don’t succeed in getting funds; IRR approach can restore much larger rangelands with less funds and more sustainably. Pro-poor-approach (in general supported by the government, spec. if it results in enhanced natural resources management).Villages need nearly no funds to start (less than 1 slaughtered sheep in total), but common purpose, training, PUG, land-lease etc.Involvement of TV for outscaling.

It takes years until pastoralists can harvest more forage and have economic benefit, therefore participatory development of a common purpose and land-lease are indispensable.

Climate change (temperature increase 40% above global average) causes higher risk of droughts, slowing down the recovery process of vegetation and challenging the discipline not to use forage in sites currently under restoration. 6

Recommendations to policy-makers to scale-up the innovation, and to remove constraints

1. Policy: Simplify the procedure for providing a long-term land-lease for PUGs (currently under preparation).

2. Policy: Provide more land-leases to Shirkat farms and PUGs than to entrepreneurs (level of Khokimiats).

3. Policy: Adjust the law on rangelands and include restoration with seed-isle (shirkat farm) and integrated IRR-approach for PUGs as a duty of the rentee (national policy level,MoA , Cabinet of Ministers, President) (current project activity).

4. Outscaling: Present the approach (including interviews with local pastoralists) in the governmental TV channel (currently under preparation)

5. Outscaling: Offer trainings to Khokimiat, Mahalla and Aksakals on implementation of the approach. Include schools and colleges for participatory development of climate change adaptation strategies and for outscaling.

6. Outscaling: Provide seed multiplication sites and support development of a market for rangeland seeds (currently under preparation).

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