The project, which has been extended through October 1997, is being implemented through FAO with the Balochistan Forest and Wildlife Department. It is funded by the Italian Cooperation.
In the past, the Forest Department's upland watershed management actions focused on attempts to recharge the rapidly depleting ground water table. The Forest Department, working usually on state lands, did not develop an extension service and consequently did not develop methodologies to approach farmers or messages to be delivered to farmers. Instead, a major section of the Department's personnel is made up of Forest guards.
But, the sectoral priorities proposed in the 8th five-year plan by the Balochistan Forest Department included reorientation of forest policy towards a more "participatory approach" and public education with a view to bettering the management of forest and land resources.
The Inter-regional project was introduced as a pilot project to develop "participatory methodologies" in Balochistan. The main objective of the project is to promote participation of local communities in conservation and development of upland catchments, in accordance with government policies and priorities.
Noza sub-watershed, selected as the project site in Kanak valley, is private rather than state land. The main problems in this area are that rangelands have been over exploited by transhumant and other flocks. The remaining vegetation has been uprooted for firewood consumption. The removal of almost all vegetation has negatively affected water infiltration rates and increased soil erosion, with the consequence that little of the original top soil is left.
Due to the increasing number of tube-wells installed in Noza, a decline in groundwater level from about 15 to 80 meters below the surface has occurred in the last thirty years. All traditional water supply systems known as "karezes" have slowly dried up. Commonly owned and maintained "karezes" were replaced by individually owned wells, now concentrated in a few hands. Irrigated agriculture, especially orchards, is entirely dependent on groundwater utilization and orchards area has steadily increased due to the high market value of the products.
A participatory and integrated approach to watershed management and natural resources use and conservation, was promoted by the project both within the Forest and Wildlife Department, as well as through much needed coordination with the Agriculture and Livestock Departments.
The project was designed so that a strategy could be evolved based on the results of the PRA. A strategy evolved from assessment of local physical and socio-economic realities, problems and potentials, and from the identification of priority activities to support implementation of selected activities by the population. The project strategy adopted the following lines of action:
· Increasing water infiltration by reducing runoff;
· Promoting water use/water management;
· Promoting water use regulation/water policy starting at village and area level;
· Promoting women's participation in resource management development programmes.
