Objectives

To secure critical ecosystem services through climate-resilient sustainable land and coastal management contributing to Land Degradation Neutrality in the Federated States of Micronesia

Other

Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency.

Target Groups

The socio-economic benefits in the project will be observed at the individual (household level) as well as at the collective community level for economic groups like farmers, fishers and forest dependents as follows: At least 4,516 people (50% women) living, in and around the 5 demonstration marine areas will directly benefit through improved natural resource use, sustainable agriculture and fisheries activities, agroforestry, diversified livelihood improvements, value chain development and improved ecosystem services. Improved conservation of terrestrial and marine seascapes and their watersheds, wetlands, marine habitats, fisheries and community production practices will enhance the ecological value of the respective ecosystems for community benefits. Implementation of strategies and mainstreaming of sustainable resource use via the community organizations will result into sustainable practices in agriculture, fisheries, marine resource use, tourism and value chain products and services. This will collectively result in better conservation and livelihoods outcomes; Improved access to basic goods and technical services, technology and improved agriculture, fisheries, waste management and marine resource use practices, as well as diversification of livelihoods including tourism and resource-based products will ensure more livelihood options and better prices and income. The focus on addressing gender inequality wherein various initiatives, such as promotion of alternative livelihood options, participation of women in various local conservation committees are proposed. The project envisages more gender equality in context of sex ratio, decision making powers, ownership and control on marine sources and women leadership as well as participation; A reduction in the resource use conflicts and increase in effective implementation of sustainable resource use practices. Incremental funding through sustainable agriculture and resource measures will protect critical biodiversity hotspots and provide for improved and diversified livelihoods and incomes and a sustainability of such investments beyond the life of the project; Incremental funding through new and innovative financial measures will protect critical ecosystems and provide for improved and diversified livelihoods and incomes and a sustainability of such investments beyond the life of the project; Stable or improved populations of native species and improved environments will greatly enhance visitor experiences for increasing potential for ecotourism and community financial benefit.

General

Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in the world with a rural population of small-holder, low income farmers. As the demand for meat and dairy increases, livestock farming continues to expand onto land that is not apt for farming, causing environmental damage through forest clearance, loss of biodiversity and land degradation. Different national initiatives aim to encourage more sustainable farming that support farmers' livelihoods, and protect the environment and its rich biodiversity. Silvo-pastoral farming is one of those initiatives as it combines forestry and grazing. The international Centre for Tropical Agriculture CIAT runs two interrelated projects, "Livestock Plus" and "Sustainable Amazon Landscapes" to encourage the adoption of silvo-pastoral farming. However, farmers find silvo-pastoral farming changes the landscape of their farm in ways that conflict with their ideas of what 'a good farm' should look. These social factors, in combination with possible economic and agronomic influences, may limit the uptake of sustainable silvo-pastoral practices. This interdisciplinary project brings together cultural geography, environmental economics and agricultural ecology to investigate the cultural and socio-economic reasons for low adoption of silvo-pastoral livestock farming practices that have been designed to protect and restore biodiversity in Colombia. It will also quantify the benefits of silvo-pastoral farming for plant and insect biodiversity, both for their intrinsic value but also the contribution it may make to support long-term sustainable production. In doing so, this research will provide evidence to underpin effective policy that allows intensification of livestock farming while supporting environmental priorities. This may encourage farmers to adopt more sustainable and biodiversity enhancing silvo-pastoral systems.

Objectives

The Newton Fund builds research and innovation partnerships with developing countries across the world to promote the economic development and social welfare of the partner countries.

Objectives

The project is an HRP 2020 endorsed project that will contribute to the HRP strategic objectives 2 and 3, the HF allocation strategy objective 1 for the West Bank under the normal track and the Food Security cluster objective in the WB. It will do so by Rehabilitation and provision of productive assets and inputs for farmers owns lands in Area C located in 3 villages in Tulkarem governorates who face specific challenges to cultivate their lands due to different measures imposed by the occupation regime including settler violence, demolition, confiscation, the wall, etc. The project is based on a needs assessment conducted by PUI and UAWC in September 2020 that identified the most pressing needs of vulnerable farmers working in area C close to the wall or settlements. In addition, PUI coordinated with FSS, MoA Central and MoA directorates of Qalqilya and Tulkarem, in order to identify and prioritize FSS needs and localities in these 2 governorates. In order to respond to the identified needs and to contribute to the HRP, HF and cluster objectives of this second allocation, PUI and UAWC will provide 2 types of assistance: - Provide1.5 kilometer of water carrier lines to ensure the delivery of water from the resources to the agricultural lands. The support will include the delivery of water carrier lines while the Village Council will contribute to provide additional inputs for the success of this activity. This activity will reach to 80 farmers in total. - Support 120 vulnerable farmers working in lands adjacent to the settlements or the wall and whose livelihoods are threatened by occupation measures. Agricultural roads will be rehabilitated (4 km), which will increase a safe access to lands and contribute to preventing land confiscations. Additional 10 farmers will receive land rehabilitation support to increase their production capacity. The project will also provide cisterns to other 3 farmers to enhance the supplementary irrigation to trees and crops in their lands In total, 213 farmers households (1022 individuals) will benefit directly from the Action. Selection criteria for those farmers will depend mainly on the socio-economic vulnerability criteria. It will look also on technical criteria including topography of the land, slope percentage, soil depth, land ownership, and planted trees (in addition to protection considerations, including IHL violations, close to settlement, the wall, and access restricted areas). The project will be implemented in partnership with UAWC and each organization will bring their expertise to the partnership: UAWC supporting agriculture from a development perspective focusing on water activities and PUI rehabilitating lands and assets, easing access and providing support to farmers with a protection lens through emergency and protective responses to settler-related incidents. Furthermore, the project will complement the Action of the West Bank Protection Consortium by covering a need gap in the provision of assistance and livelihood support to vulnerable farmers in Area C. Besides, PUI will mobilize its Consortium experience (tools, methodology, network) to be operational at different stages of the project.