This component focuses on incorporating innovative technologies in community-based sustainable NRM. Subcomponents include (a) addressing climate change impacts on water resources and agriculture by promoting innovative climate-smart NRM technologies and (b) alleviating negative impacts of environmental degradation and climate change on livelihoods.
The project will support watershed management planning and watershed restoration to reduce risk of landslide and floods.
The project will support the design nd pilot implementation of the Community Adaptation Fund (CAF) in the Gicumbi District. This includes piloting landscape restoration in the Gicumbi District through the CAF on investments such as catchment restoration and rehabilitation through reforestation, silvo-pastoralism and other watershed protection measures that have demonstrated community resilience to climate change. The project will also support the development of flagship programs such as Water Security for All Flagship Program.
Project preparation advance (PPA) enabled the Freetown City Council (FCC) in partner with CBOs to plant and grow 225,000 trees in 48 reforestation areas across Freetown. Phase 1 of the tree planting has been completed and created 550 short term-jobs, especially for youth, women and other vulnerable groups affected by the economic impact of COVID-19. Phase 2 will focus on tree monitoring to ensure a high tree survival rate and knowledge development based on lessons learned for further capacity building.
The project will fill critical infrastructure gaps in the Integrated Transport Network Development Plan (“ITNDP”) demonstrating use of innovative, climate-informed, safe, and nature-based solutions. It will also invest in innovative, climate resilient, nature-based design and construction solutions for roads and bridges, least-cost-engineering solutions for local infrastructure.
The project financed a cash-for-trees program which part of an erosion prevention activity that provided incentives for smallholders to reforest their lands in the watersheds surrounding the irrigated areas.
The measures to be integrated in the designs of bridges, roads and river crossings include bioengineering solutions for landslide and erosion protection, drainage systems, and so on. The resilience mainstreaming applies to the entire road under the upgradation works contract, as the road alignment falls in the midst of the Himalayan mountains. The bioengineering solutions and drainage improvement in slide risk locations apply to the roads under maintenance as well.
The project increased the afforested/reforested areas through participatory forestry and co-management approach in the degraded forestland, marginal, fallow and newly accreted land in coastal and hilly areas. This included the use of mangroves and other species. The project also used alternative livelihoods and capacity building to support the work.
The project worked to fund community-led development projects, and build capacity for improved land management practices.
