An Overview Of Our Solution
Contribution to the sustainable management of the Acacia and the Oasis of the Municipality of Fam El Hisn through the relaunching of transhumance conservatory management of soil and water and reforestation.
Who is this solution impacting?
Community Type
Rural
Additional Information
- Population Impacted:
- Continent: Africa
General Information
Organization type
Nonprofit
Ecosystem (select all that apply)
Deserts
Forests
Population impacted
7000 people
Challenge
Size of agricultural area
500 Ha
Production quantity
10000 kilos
People employed
60 people
Solution
Describe your solution
The project aims to create a local dynamic around the conservation of the oasis biodiversity, the reduction of the degradation of vegetation cover especially of the Acacia (specific and endemic species of Morocco), the reduction of pollution caused by the use of Fuel engines through the use of solar pumping, and the improvement of local socio-economic conditions.
The main thrusts of the project are:
- The maintenance of acacia trees and the improvement of its products;
- Reduction of carbon gases in oases through the promotion of the use of solar pumping;
- The setting up of a training and awareness-raising program for farmers and transhumant.
Implementation
Describe your implementation
Acacia trees are maintained and its products valued:
- Installation and equipment of a special unit for the treatment of Arabic Gum and its packaging.
- Organization of information actions on the product of the Arabian Gum unit and its operating procedures in order to market it.
Emissions of greenhouse gases in oases are mitigated:
- Farmers' awareness of the importance of solar energy instead of diesel engines.
- Replacement of diesel engines by solar panels and pumps as pilot actions
- Reforestation of 1000 shrubs of palm trees and fruit trees.
- Cleaning of 1000 palm trees
Farmers and transhumant are sensitized on sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and acacia products.
- Training of farmers on the importance and techniques of the proper use of solar energy.
- Training of transhumants on the improvement of local products of acacia trees.
Integration of sustainable land and range management through community practices (Transhumance, solar pumping and sustainable agriculture) into local policy debates is strengthened.
- Workshop to launch and close the project in the presence of local community and institutional actors. At the end of the launching workshop, a joint steering committee will be set up.
- Organization of quarterly information meetings on the results of the project, involving all partners: local associations, representatives of municipalities, external services, delegations, media etc.
- Evaluation and capitalization of the project and production of a good practice sheet on land and range management and use of solar pumping.
External connections
Urban Community of Fam El Hisn:
Realization of the technical service of the Municipality of a study of the estimated cost of the work of covering of the source of Tighirt and the works of equipment of a well in solar panels
Meeting room offer for: the project launching forum (1 day);meetings of the project steering committee (4 days);follow-up meetings and local project evaluation (3 days); training of farmers (4 days); training of transhumants (2 days);
- offer from the CU reception house for catering and accommodation (10 days)
- CU bus service for local transport (3 days)
- participation in the steering committee (4 meetings), follow-up meetings (3 meetings) and the rolling fund management committee (8 meetings)
Oasis POS Program:
- Participation in local project monitoring and evaluation meetings (3 days);
- participation in meetings of the project steering committee (4 days);
- participation in meetings of the Management Committee of the Rolling Fund (8 meetings)
Provincial Directorate of Agriculture of Tata- DPA
- Participation in local project monitoring and evaluation meetings (3 days);
- participation in meetings of the project steering committee (4 days);
- participation in meetings of the Management Committee of the Rolling Fund (8 meetings)
Association of transhumants
- Participation in local project monitoring and evaluation meetings (3 days);
- participation in meetings of the project steering committee (4 days);
Results
What is the environmental or ecological challenge you are targeting with your solution?
The urban community of Fam El Hisn has a large and diversified plant cover, consisting of Acacia Radiana, Acacia Ehrenbergiana, one of the very rare stands of Balanites in Morocco and a multitude of Saharan species.
The environmental richness of Fam El Hisn is severely degraded, mainly due to very difficult climatic conditions (hot, dry and arid climate), unsustainable agricultural practices, unregulated collection of gum arabica under unsustainable practices, overgrazing By transhumant and agro-pastoralists in the Acacia forests, and by the excessive harvesting of fuelwood and PAMs.
Describe the context in which you are operating
The project has created a local dynamic around the conservation of oasis biodiversity, reduction of the degradation of the vegetation cover, notably Acacia (a species specific and endemic of Morocco threatened by the cutting of wood and the anarchic grazing) and The improvement of local socio-economic conditions.
The project mobilized the community of farmers and transhumants of Fam El Hisn around the maintenance of agricultural and livestock farming, the restoration of natural resources, notably water, rangelands and forest, through conservatory management , Based on an agro-ecological approach The municipality also faces a difficult socio-economic context marked by the low incomes of the local population.
The local economy is mainly based on oasis agriculture (livestock, pasture and transhumance). These activities do not generate enough wealth for the oasis communities.
this project, which aims to combat climate change and help local indigenous peoples to value their ancient practices, in particular transhumance, acacia. But also, the reduction of pollution effects due to the use of gas oil in irrigation, and the rationalization of water uses.
How did you impact natural resource use and greenhouse gas emissions?
In this context, the project carried out the planting of 1000 date palm shrubs in Tamsouqt, the introduction of solar pumping, the coverage of the Douar Tighirt water source and the installation of an irrigation system Based on irrigation water distribution doors. A participatory Agdal has also been set up by transhumants.
The socio-economic situation of the community has been improved by this project:
The establishment of a revolving fund has allowed transhumants to have resources for their needs to purchase pasture, medicines or transport from one region to another;
Planting 1000 shrubs of date palms in an area of 10 hectares in Tamsouqt transformed the region into a green oasis and created the living conditions for the farmers and transhumants who used to frequent this area;
Solar pumping has also ensured the irrigation of date palms and planted fruit trees; The transhumants still exploit it as a source of water for their flocks of dromedaries and goats to drink;
Coverage of Douar Tighirt's source has helped protect it from silting and desertification;
The irrigation system based on irrigation water distribution doors has made it possible to organize the distribution of water and has contributed to the rationalization of the irrigation operation, notably water saving;
The participatory Agdal that was set up by the transhumants protected the targeted areas of the Acacia trees, which protected the trees from the hostile behavior of the population and increased quant
Language(s)
Arabic, French, Berber
Water
These solar panels will enable 100 farmers to irrigate their fields and palm trees in a reasonable manner while saving water use
Food Security/Nutrition
- 1 unit for the processing and valorization of gum arabic is set up; - 1 women's management cooperative of this unit is created with 11 members
Economic/Sustainable Development
1000 shrubs of date palms and fruit trees are planted. -1 Evaluation of the project is carried out; -1 capitalization of the project with production of a sheet of good practice on land and range management and the use of solar pumping is carried out.
Climate
-16 solar panels, 2 distribution panels, 2 pumps are made available to 2 local agricultural cooperatives -1000 date palms shrubs are cleaned.
Sustainability
PROJECT IMPACTS ON LOCAL POPULATION
Persons directly concerned by the project
Number of women: 1413 women
Number of men: 7269 people
Persons involved in the project's capacity-building activities
Number of women: 2 women
Number of men: 32 farmers and 28 transhumant breeders
It should also be pointed out that the revolving fund for transhumants in the form of an interest-free loan had a positive impact. Especially the year 2014 was considered a dry year in the project area. Breeders stated at the time of the evaluation that
(2000dhs), have contributed to the financing needs of the operations required to manage their herds: livestock transport, purchase of prophylactic products and purchase of livestock feed.
Return on investment
In terms of improving standard of living of target population, the project up to the time of the evaluation did not generate income since the project's initial design does not aim to carry out income-generating activities. However, the project saved farmers and herders costs. Therefore, the socio-economic impact on the improvement of the living standards of the target populations can only be assessed after several years required for the reconstruction of the paths defended and the growth of Plantations. The integration of solar pumping & development of the séguia allowed the targeted community to make savings in the purchase of gas oil to operate the heat pump and also the labor. We estimated this saving of money at about 2900 Dhs/month
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Replication and Scale
How could we successfully replicate this solution elsewhere?
This initiative for the conservation management of pastoral and ocean resources in the Areas should be networked in order to constitute a force for the proposal and Lobbying local and regional policies in this area. The association has a Experience confirmed to act as a relay or focal point for several NGOs National networks and networks working for the dissemination of sustainable practices in Areas of agro-ecology, ecotourism, combating desertification, climate change And sustainable development in general;