1. Why this catalogue?

Tajikistan is one of the most vulnerable countries in the region for negative impacts of climate change, with a rural population of small farmers being most heavily affected. To make the country’s agricultural land more resilient to climate change requires a wide range of possible measures (options) for adequately responding by considering different cultural, biophysical and climatic conditionswithin the country. Local conditions are decisive for the choice of the improvement option. The local population knows these conditions best and is at the same time the driver for change. Therefore, a sound participatory approach is key.

This catalogue of land use options (this “LUP Catalogue” or the “catalogue”) should provide “food for thought” for the local population in form of easily and understandably presented options, to be used either during community workshops or during other occasions. The description of options is not exhaustive but should provide ideas on improving land use practice, should motivate creative thought directions outside the traditional ways, and should help in establishing an atmosphere of curiosity among villagers to lead them to innovative planning and testing.

The selection of the options is tuned to Tajik conditions, i.e., the prevailing soil and climate conditions, land use systems and related problems, etc.

The LUP Catalogue is supposed to be open for any addition and improvement. Users and experts are invited to propose additional land use options or to improve the presentation of existing land use options. The catalogue is public and anybody can use it.

2. For Whom is the catalogue?
The LUP Catalogue is primarily designed for facilitators and community mobilizers (CM) as a tool during community workshops or other occasions. Only in exceptional cases are such CMs technical experts in one or more of the subjects covered under the different land use categories, certainly not in all. If necessary, technical experts on specific land use questions can be invited by CMs whenever needed to support villagers in their planning and implementation efforts.

3. How is the catalogue structured?

Main chapters of the lup Catalogue are:
– Forest management
– Pasture management
– Crop management
– Saline and waterlogged land management