Joint pasture use planning
Type: Approaches
Creation: 2011-12-16 00:00 Updated: 2017-08-17 10:49
Compilers: Azamat Isakov
Reviewers: Alexandra Gavilano, David Streiff
Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied
- Country: Kyrgyzstan
- Region/ State/ Province: Naryn
- Further specification of location (e.g. municipality, town, etc.), if relevant: Naryn
- Map: View Map
Description of the SLM Approach
Short description of the Approach
The joint pasture use planning is the involvement of all stakeholders in the process of a balanced distribution of livestock, according to pasture capacities and seasonality of their use (in the frame of CACILM).
Detailed description of the Approach
Aims / objectives: The aim of this approach is the reduction/prevention of pasture degradation by joint pasture use planning. Currently, 15% of the pastures in Kyrgyzstan are at a state of desertification; 21% are at the stage of erosion degradation; and the remaining 64% are partially degraded due to overgrowth of non-palatable grass species. This situation has arisen due to the unsystematic use of pastures over the last 20 years; and administrations on varying levels shared the pasture management responsibilities. Starting from 2010, as per Kyrgyz legislation the pasture management responsibilities were delegated to the local communities in the name of Pasture Users Associations, the executive agency of which is a Pasture Committee. One of the Pasture Committee’s functions is the development of pasture use plans. The proposed approach is aimed at supporting the Pasture Committees in fulfilling this role. The here described approach of “joint pasture use planning” is part of the “joint pasture management” approach, described in WOCAT QAKYR005.
Methods: The joint pasture use planning by considering the state and capacities of seasonal pastures is aimed at preventing and reducing pasture degradation. The opinions and wishes of the pasture users are taken into consideration to avoid pasture related conflicts between different pasture users’ groups. Finally, both pasture state and livestock conditions are improved, which provides income stability and the welfare of local communities.Members of the Pasture Committees get salaries from the income gained owing to sale of pasture tickets.
Stages of implementation: The first step in implementing this approach is the collection of statistical information on the total number of livestock in a local government (ayil okmotu, A/O); available cartographic materials; pasture areas; and the area and structure of cultivated land for producing fodders. A Pasture Committee determines the actual number of livestock of each farmer. Further, it defines internal borders of pasture areas, which are traditionally used by farmers. Pasture capacity (i.e. the estimated maximum number of livestock units which can be grazed in a pasture area without degrading it) is calculated for each allocated area according to seasonal use
Role of stakeholders: As per Kyrgyz legislation, both men and women can become members of the Pasture Users Associations. A representative body of the Pasture Users Association – Pasture Committee – is selected at the general assembly of the Pasture Users Association for a period of 1 year. Representatives of the local government and pasture users at different levels (small, medium and large farms) are selected as members of a Pasture Committee, and the number of pasture users must be more than the number of representatives from the local government.
Other important information: This approach was implemented by Public Foundation CAMP Ala-Too within the GIZ regional programme “Sustainable use of natural resources in Central Asia”.
Photos of the Approach
- 📍 Jergetal village, Naryn
- 📷 Azamat Isakov (Jergetal village, Naryn oblast)
- 📍 Jergatal village, Naryn
- 📷 Azamat Isakov (Jergetal village, Naryn oblast)