Application of the participatory rangeland and grassland assessment (PRAGA) methodology in Kyrgyzstan

As rangelands support one-seventh of the world’s population and occupy one-third of its land area, there is increasing focus on their economic, environmental and nutritional roles together with a growing understanding of their potential in climatic regulatory systems and biodiversity conservation. However, rangelands and grasslands are complex, dynamic systems, which make assessment and management difficult given the many interacting biophysical elements, drivers and objectives of those that use them. Facilitating and developing tools to monitor rangeland and grassland complexity and clearly demonstrate how management influences ecosystem processes is an important component of improving rangeland management practices, regulatory systems and economic development.

The project “Participatory assessment of land degradation and sustainable land management in grassland and pastoral systems”, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), was developed with the primary objective of strengthening the capacity of local and national stakeholders in pastoral and agropastoral areas comprising of grasslands and rangelands to assess land degradation (LD) and make informed decisions to promote sustainable land management (SLM) in a way that preserves the diverse ecosystem goods and services provided by rangelands and grasslands .

This report represents a synthesis of activities in development and testing of the participatory rangeland and grassland (PRAGA) methodology in Kyrgyzstan, including a national and regional baseline review, large-scale assessment & remote sensing, participatory mapping and indicator selection, field assessment results and validation workshops held to verify data and resulting conclusions that feed into next steps and technical and policy recommendations.

Other Publications

Scaling agroecology using video in Africa and India

This manual is a tool for produce growers to learn about food safety risks and apply that knowledge to review their farm practices and operations to identify where food safety improvements may be needed. By following the guidelines and recommendations outlined in this manual, growers can assess their current practices and take proactive steps to enhance the safety and quality of their fresh produce.

Produce growers worldwide play a pivotal role in nourishing our communities, providing essential sustenance, and contributing to local economies. However, with increasing attention on food safety and environmental sustainability, growers face ever-evolving challenges. It has become imperative to adapt to a new era of best practices, embracing modern techniques and standards that ensure both the health of consumers and the vitality of our planet. This detailed Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) manual was developed to meet this need by enhancing the current Nepal GAPs for fresh produce growers. The primary goal is to empower produce growers with the knowledge, tools, and guidelines necessary to navigate the complex landscape of fresh produce safety and GAPs.

Digital Inclusion Through WOTR’s FarmPrecise Mobile Application

The majority of smallholder farmers in developing countries lack access to location-specific science-based information. Although digital advisory tools can potentially help such farmers in accessing information, often blanket recommendations and obsolete content shared through these digital tools discourage farmers from using them. Farmers need relevant information and knowledge which they can adopt in their specific situations, which can thus help them enhance their productivity and income from farming. Keeping these in view the Watershed Organization Trust (WOTR) developed FarmPrecise Application in 2019 with the support of Qualcomm Wireless Reach programme. WOTR adopted a holistic approach to digital tool deployment, especially for reaching women who often face barriers in digital access and proficiency. This comprehensive approach involved capacity building of women by providing digital skill trainings, building social capital to reach more women, and instilling a sense of empowerment among them by enhancing their participation in decision making. In this Good Practice Note, we highlight how FarmPrecise, an innovative digital solution developed by WOTR, is ensuring digital inclusion of women farmers and empowering them to overcome the barriers of gender digital divide.

Digital Mapping for Inclusive Rights on Forest Land and Resources by PRADAN in Odisha

Securing the rights of forest dwellers on forest land and resources is crucial for their livelihood development as well as for forest protection, conservation and climate benefits. However, for decades, forest-dwelling communities have been struggling to secure their rights on forest land and resources, the absence of which is preventing them from securing the various benefits offered by government schemes in terms of education, healthcare, and agricultural development. Recognising these issues, the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2006, commonly known as the Forest Rights Act (FRA) was passed by the Government of India. This Act enabled the forest dwellers to claim their customary and traditional rights on forest land and resources through Individual Forest Rights (IFR), Community Rights (CR), and Community Forest Resources Rights (CFRR). However, the intricacies involved in the claim-making process posed a major challenge for these marginalized communities. In this context, PRADAN, one of India’s leading NGOs, has been facilitating the forest rights-claiming process in Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Over the years, PRADAN has achieved a major breakthrough by getting the claims accepted by the government using a digital mapping tool. This Good Practice Note describes how PRADAN is assisting in digital land mapping and documentation to expedite the claim process under the Forest Rights Act-2006 in Rayagada, Odisha, thereby ensuring the digital inclusion of forest dwelling communities (Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes [FDSTs] and other traditional forest dwellers [OTFDs]) in forest areas.