Activity 1. Capacity Building Rangeland Conservation Knowledge sharing workshop ?Rangeland Conservation Knowledge sharing workshops.?

Target End Results

? 10 workshops on Rangeland Conservation delivered and sound curriculum arising from participant feedback re experiences.


Results achieved:
? 10 workshops on rangeland conservation, including topics such as rangeland associations and local biodiversity were delivered. For example in June 2013, COAM organized a workshop Techniques in Rangeland Conservation. This was a large knowledge-sharing workshop where representatives of relevant ministries (NEPA, ANMDA, and DAIL), national and international NGOs, UN agencies, and communities attended. The workshops included presentation of the different approach in rangeland conservation by different organizations and an interactive discussion section. As an output COAM produced a rangeland conservation best practice brochure. See Annex E, part C.
? Evaluation (SWOT) of rangeland conservation techniques was performed in participatory workshops.
? Sound curriculum on rangeland conservation was developed using participant feedback.

Activity 2. Encourage a community established Rangeland User Association.

Target End Results
? Rangeland user associations established by communities.

Results Achieved
? A Rangeland User Association ToR (framework) was developed through consultations with communities that incorporates approach and suggestion from different community based rangeland specialists
? Rangeland User Associations, based on the above framework, were successfully established in Sumara and Jawzari, with signed agreements outlining the role of the user association and of COAM. See Annex E, part C.
? Per target village a team of rangeland association member was democratically selected. Positions were: head of association rangeland, patroller, seed collection officer, secretary/cashier, forestry officer, and assistant.
? Rangeland User Association Management Plans were developed
? Workshops were delivered to inform communities about rangeland conservation and rangeland user associations, provide ongoing training, as well as collect feedback to help develop management plans that would be accepted by communities. This was connected to Activity 1. What is the result of this

Activity 3. Demonstration Activities

Target End Results
? An evidence based study on the effects of over grazing on rangeland and the effect of reseeding as a method of rehabilitation. Publication on best practice of rangeland management
? A film, brochure and poster will be developed showing best practice of rangeland conservation
? Report on all traditional rangeland conservation practices in the Koh-e-Baba mountains.
? Inventory of rangeland species in the area.
? Demonstration plots that can be used as an education tool for informing communities and others about proper rangeland management.

Results Achieved
? An inventory of rangeland conservation and management projects from different specialists and organizations was carried out and summarized in a brochure, Rangeland Conservation Best Practice Brochure.
? An inventory of traditional rangeland conservation practice was carried out and integrated in the rangeland conservation brochure.
? Together with Young Conservation Leaders, developed output materials on traditional and best practice in rangeland conservation. Additionally, a flim on traditional uses of plants and the changes in shrub collection was created by YCLs with elders from Sumara for Activity 6.
? Grazer exclusion plots have been established in three mountain areas in Koh-e-Baba and will be used as an outreach tool to educate local communities about the importance of sustainable rangeland use.

Activity 4. Identification Tool of Indicator Species For Degraded Rangelands

Target End Result
? Simple photographic key for non-experts to identify degraded rangeland habitat.

Results Achieved
? Inventory of indicator species through field surveys and consultations with local experts
? Completion of photographic key, which identifies indicator species of degraded rangeland where presence of these species indicates that the land is degraded while their absence indicates good quality rangeland. This included a photo of the species, a description and some information on its uses. See Annex E, part C.

OBJECTIVE 2. CREATE A REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER AND ECOLOGICAL GARDEN IN BAMYAN

Activity 5. Create a Regional Environmental Center

Target End Results
? Establishment of the Environmental center, a first of its kind in this area.
? Fully catalogued physical and online library with study space.
? Exhibition room established with educational materials such as information posters, artifacts on display, photography, art; a place for developing educational material; and a space for workshops/ training /discussion/ activities/classes, environmental films, and herbarium.
? A curriculum established for training young conservation leaders.
? Education and awareness raising materials developed on the topics including local biodiversity, sustainable natural resource use, local impacts of climate change and translated into comprehensive and stimulating education material.
? Ecological demonstration garden established.
? 3 posters, 2 leaflets, appearance in local media

Results Achieved
? Environmental centre established, a first of its kind in the area, with a launch that generated excitement and awareness in the local population. This event involved partner organizations, government partners, and community members, and included activities such as a baking contest using clean burning stoves.
? Library and study space established, with both the online and physical documents fully catalogued. See www.myafghanmountains.org for more details.
? Exhibition room established (outdoor yurt) containing herbarium cabinets produced by a local designer to display artifacts, photography, information products. This area also hosts the ethnobotanical exhibition, created in Activity 6.
? Training center established for workshops/ training/ discussion/ activities/ classes, environmental purposes. For example ANDMA (Department for Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority), had chosen the environment center for a two-week knowledge sharing and long-term planning session on ecological disaster risk reduction.
? A curriculum was developed for training young conservation leaders on rangeland conservation and biodiversity.
? A multitude of education material has been developed including information posters, artifacts on display, brochures, photography etc. Topics covered included local biodiversity, local impacts of climate change, recycling, sustainable natural resource use. This includes the required 3 posters and 2 leaflets (See Annex E, part C.).
? Ecological demonstration garden ?package? established, including a keyhole garden, poly tunnel, eco-san toilet, fruit-drier, and different compost strategies.
? Green-tech display established in exhibition room, as mentioned above.
? National TV and Bamyan Radio covered COAM events such as the rangeland conservation workshops in Bamyan city. COAM also made international media when it was awarded the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification: Land for Life 2014 award based on work by COAM on this and other projects.

Activity 6. Demonstration And Capacity Building Ethnobotanical Survey

Target End Results
? High quality publication in English and Dari of the ethonobotanical knowledge of the area, with plant descriptions.
? Ethno botanical exhibition in the environmental center.
? A film of the traditional uses of plants in the Koh-e-Baba mountains.
? Photographic exhibition of natural resources in the Koh-e-Baba mountains.
Result achieved:
? Using literature and consultation with local communities, a publication on the relationships that exist between peoples and plants, or ethnobotanical knowledge of the area, was created in both English and Dari with plant descriptions.
? An ethnobotanical exhibition containing photos and artifacts is displayed in the environmental center and has been received well by visitors.
? The capacity of the Young Conservation Leaders was strengthened through a collaboration on a film of the traditional uses of plants in the Koh-e-Baba mountains. This film featured elders from Sumara discussing local species and the traditional uses of plants.
? Photographic exhibition of natural resources in the Koh-e-Baba mountains was featured in the Regional Environmental Centre

Objective 3. Community Nurseries

Activity 7. Establishment of Community Nurseries

Capacity building / demonstration activities
Target End Results
? Community nurseries established.
? Communities carrying out panting their own trees in vulnerable areas with external support.
Result achieved
? Jawzari; new nursery established, activities included: signing of contracts with land- owners, ploughing, establishing fences, manure, planting of seeds.
? Enforcement of vulnerable nurseries in Sumara and Quazan (e.g. localized re- seeding, improved fencing)
? Re-planting of seeds in vulnerable areas (according to Rangeland User Association plans)
? Practical training program for nursery owners
? A system established to follow-up on nursery owners, assessing germination success and providing long-term support