Shivapuri Watershed Management and Fuelwood Plantation Project, Phase 1, Nepal. Interim report

In your letter of transmittal the following points should be brought to the attention of His Majesty's Government:"The project was designed, as a first phase, with several immediate objectives in view to improve appreciably the conditions of the fragile Shivapuri Watershed and of the socio-economic situation of the local inhabitants as well as the quantity and quality of potable water to the population living below in the Kathmandu valley.The project became operational in June 1985 and terminated in June 1991. Limited activities, however, in the watershed had been commenced just previously by HMG Nepal with their own resources.Several project activities were implemented as planned in order to achieve project objectives. The activities concerned watershed planning, stream and stream bank protection, road erosion control, landslide stabilisation, on-farm soil conservation, hydrological studies, trail improvement, agricultural (including fodder) development and associated income and employment generation, nurseries and reforestation establishment and maintenance, wood energy conservation, to name the major ones.The activities were carried out by local people with project support by considerably strengthening the project's own extension services, while utilising assistance extended by relevant line agencies, by other related projects and by local NGOs, in particular, concerning awareness compaigns to educate school children in the Shivapuri area on the need for conservation and sustainable management of natural resources. Institutionally, the project worked at grassroots level through the medium of user- groups and, to a limited extent, with Women's Committees.The results of these interventions are outlined in the Interim Report while more detailed accounts can be found in the various project progress reports and in the documents listed in Appendix 4 to the report. To summarise, the watershed area within the boundary wall is now under almost total protection with felt improvement in environmental and hydrological conditions. Food, fuelwood and fodder production has been considerably enhanced, as also the income and employment opportunities. However, supply still falls short of the demand especially in the initial years of this development scheme.Several recommendations are made arising from the First Phase. A Phase II, as recommended, is already in place. Among the main recommendations are the preparation of an integrated management plan for sustainable conservation, management and utilisation of the natural resources with emphasis on supporting the needs of the local population. A number of feasibility studies are recommended in order to further maximise project benefits (and beneficiaries). Socio-economic impacts need to be evaluated, especially to harness private entrepreneurship of local inhabitants in the longer-term beyond meeting their basic needs. There is also a need to institutionalise extension and training activities and improve communications between the project and the local people. There is also room to improve user-group participation in the planning and implementation of resource management and in particular, enhance the role of NGOs, women and school children.