Detail approaches_2445 | CESRA & WOCAT

Savings Book Approach

Type: Approaches

Creation: 2011-05-01 00:00 Updated: 2021-11-02 16:09

Compilers: Roziya Kirgizbekova

Reviewers: David Streiff, Alexandra Gavilano, Joana Eichenberger

Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

Country: Tajikistan
Region/ State/ Province: Tajikistan, Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region
Further specification of location (e.g. municipality, town, etc.), if relevant: Shugnan
Map: View Map

Description of the SLM Approach

Short description of the Approach

Reforestation of deserted state forest plots through a financial incentive system for the labour intensive first years of forest establishment, after which harvests of forest products from the plot provide income opportunities for the forest tenants and the State Forestry Agency (in the frame of CACILM).

Detailed description of the Approach

Aims / objectives: The main objective of the approach is the reforestation of a completely deserted former forest area in collaboration with the local population. However, as reforestation is highly labour intensive especially in the initial phases, this approach was developed as an incentive system to overcome this high-labour/low-income phase.

Methods: The underlying method is the implementation of Joint Forestry Management (JFM) on severely degraded forest plots (For JFM see approach TAJ015). In order to enable reforestation on such plots, an incentive system has been developed to bridge the gap when the initial workload is high, but no forest resources can yet be harvested. Therefore, selected forest tenants receive a savings book with a total amount of money to be obtained for forest rehabilitation work within the next six years. Every year clear planting and rehabilitation goals are formulated, which have to be completed by an agreed deadline. All tenants who completed their annual tasks will get access to a share of the total amount in the savings book. The annual shares gradually decreases over a period of six years, after which access to forest resources on the rehabilitated plot will be substantial enough to provide income opportunities and forest resources for their own consumption. According to the JFM contract, forest tenants hold a plot for a period of 20 years. This also applies for the savings book tenants, who act as regular JFM tenants after the subsidised reforestation period of six years is over.

Stages of implementation: The savings book approach is designed to cover a period of six years, and includes the following; (1) Before implementation; the willingness of the local population to participate needs to be assessed, the feasibility of reforestation, costs for irrigation, possibilities and the need for fencing and possible conflicts and challenges that might occur. (2) In the first year a living fence (seabuckthorn) has to be established, and the irrigation system has to be fully rehabilitated. (3) During the first three years of the approach implementation tenants will reforest one third of their plot each year (1-2 ha per household), introducing a rotation system that will be used for harvesting. (4) During years 4-6, mainly maintenance work will be conducted (pruning, fence and irrigation maintenance).

Role of stakeholders: The JFM rental contract is valid for 20 years and defines the rights and duties of the forest tenants and the State Forestry Agency. While the tenant is responsible for the agreed annual reforestation tasks, the Forestry Agency provides the required planting material, technical support and monitoring. The Micro Loan Organisation MADINA, facilitates the financial transactions required for the implementation and management of the savings books.