Building Block 1. Assessment using the Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI)

The methodology of the Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI) was applied to assess the risks and threats posed by climate impacts like wave action, sea level rise, erosion, and precipitation, informing the actions taken. The application was carried out in combination with a regional training that took place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, together with other site managers and heritage practitioners from Tanzania, Nigeria and Uganda. The training and application was supported by the James Cook University, Australia. 

The application of CVI was made possible thanks to the support of institutions such as the James Cook University of Australia, ICOMOS and ICCROM. Though the participation to the CVI project in Africa, site managers and heritage practitioners from Tanzania, Nigeria and Uganda were also invited to join the 27th annual United Nations meeting on climate (COP27) in Egypt to share their experience and knowledge. 

This Building Block shows the importance of connecting with other practitioners in monitoring and assessing our sites for any climate change induced effects. But it also highlights the significant value of connecting with other site managers and heritage practitioners from around the world, particularly when it came to exchanging knowledge about our heritage sites, the methods we use to care for them, and our perspectives on their preservation.


 

Action research on impact on mangroves and human well-being

In collaboration with the Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, and Kenyatta University, a research study was initiated to quantify the impact of ICS on pollution reduction, health outcomes, and deforestation. The study aims to assess social implications related to health and savings, evaluate the contribution of efficient stoves to mangrove conservation, analyse the role of fuelwood in carbon emissions at both county and national levels, and provide actionable recommendations for short- and mid-term strategies at national and local levels.

Upscaling and Integration in Development Plan

Following the successful pilot in Matondoni village, there has been high demand and acceptance of the ICS, with neighboring villages and organisations seeking support. As part of the upscaling effort, 41 cookstoves were built in Pate village including Pate Primary School and involved an additional 13 trainees. 

Further, the County Government of Lamu partnered with Wetlands International to install 10 cookstoves in five wards on a pilot basis. This initiative aligns with the County's Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027, which highlights the significance of cookstoves in enhancing energy efficiency. A total of 3,010 people continue to benefit from these cookstoves in Lamu.

 

 

 

Piloting

In collaboration with local partners, we identified vulnerable areas and conducted a survey in Matondoni village, Lamu, where traditional cookstoves are common. The survey assessed cooking needs and methods while raising awareness about the benefits of ICS for both mangroves and human wellbeing. Two cookstoves were initially set up to gather feedback from end-users over two months on their experiences, benefits, and challenges. Following this pilot, an additional 51 cookstoves were built to inform scaling efforts in other areas of Lamu.

Public participation

During the 2019 Beijing International Design Week, we invited the local citizens from the nearby neighborhoods to participate in the workshop of "urban additions and subtractions" in order to collect public opinions and expectations for the renovation of Fayuan Temple district.

The followings are the conclusions that we drawn from the interviews and questionnaires collected from the workshop.

  • For the multiple choice question of “What do you want to add to the district?” , pocket parks were selected the most by 19.78% of the participants.
  • Many of the citizens complained that the space within Hutong (the Alley) was cramped and lack of greenery.
  • The inhabitants of Hutong complained that the public restrooms and markets were relatively far, it can hardly meet the daily needs.
  • Many of the inhabitants expected more communication and social space within the neighborhood.
  • A majority of the inhabitants deemed that the amusement facilities for children and fitness equipment for the public were not sufficient.

The visitors of Hutong claimed that the hotels and recreational facilities were not sufficient to support the basic tourism needs.

Conducting of pasture monitoring

In the framework of the project, the specialists of the public foundation "CAMP Alatoo" jointly with the forestry staff and with the pasture committees of the villages have been assessing the condition of pastures in the pilot forestry farms since 2015. The joint monitoring was conducted twice a year before grazing and after grazing in the pastures. 

      Annual monitoring results contribute to a more objective distribution of livestock in pastures and prevention of degradation.       

       Pasture monitoring determines the state of pastures, and calculates the norms of pasture load. The pasture monitoring data helps the forestry to assess the degree of degradation of pastures and to develop measures to prevent degradation and to prevent mudflows and landslides in pastures.

In 2021 the project developed a mobile application "Pasture Monitoring" which allows collecting data on the condition of pastures through a smartphone in the fields without internet.  

The application is developed on the basis of two methods of pasture estimation:

1. Measuring stick method - to estimate projective vegetation coverage of the pasture area

2. The clipping method - to determine the productivity of pastures

The digital tool was specially developed taking into account the fact that rural specialists who are poorly versed in the technique could independently assess pastures quickly and without special training. Also, the mobile application allows you to collect high-quality data on the state of pastures and effectively manage pasture resources based on the data. In addition, all data collected through the mobile application automatically transfers to a central server where it will be stored.

Working with the mobile application allows to quickly and efficiently monitor pastures, the data from which immediately goes to the server, facilitates the work of employees, relieving them of paperwork and re-entering the data into the computer.

To use the mobile application in the fields does not require special training . However, before conducting it is necessary to practice in the field and understand the instructions.

In addition, for quality data collection the following factors should be taken into account

  1. Smartphone in a technically good condition with the support of the GPS 
  2. Proficiency in using a smartphone or computer
  3. Good knowledge of the mountainous area where the pasture will be monitored
  4. meter stick for data collection
  5. electronic scales for biomass weighing 
  6. methodology for calculating pasture capacity

The mobile app for pasture condition assessment has several functions that allow to trace the reliability of the data by means of photographing the pasture area where the assessment was carried out as well as by means of geodata of the cell phone which automatically saves the geo-coordinates in the system. Thus, the app can control the location of the responsible person who should visit points for data collection. In addition, to use the GPS function on the phone, you should consider the model of the phone, as older phones may have errors in the accuracy of coordinate data.

Participatory planning of pasture management through the involvement of pasture users

  The  Grazing Management Plan is an important tool for improving the joint work of the local forestry and pasture committee and pasture users aimed at the development of joint management of forest pastures, conservation of forest ecosystems and rational use of lands of the state forest fund.

        The Grazing management plan in the forest areas  is developed annually by March 1, together with the pasture committee and the forestry committee and also involves pasture users  before the beginning of the grazing season.

The developed Grazing Management Plan, agreed with the Pasture Committee, is approved by the order of the Director of Forestry.

The implementation of the management plan is monitored by the forestry  and the pasture committee at least twice a year and monitoring is initiated by the forestry committee. During the joint monitoring they visit the pasture areas and check how the developed plan is implemented and determine the improvements that can be included for the next year.

The grazing management plan includes the following sections :

1.Chapter/ Introduction.

2.Chapter. Characteristics of the forestry, village and information about the pasture committee.

3 Chapter. Current condition of grazing (Information about the number of cattle of the shepherds).

4.Chapter. Determination of acceptable grazing load on forestry lands (Determination of grazing rates, distribution of number of livestock on grazed plots, mapping of plots).

5.Chapter. Planning the use of lands used for grazing (grazing schedule, assessment of grazing load, identification of problems and needs in grazing).

6.Chapter. Monitoring the implementation of the plan (data on the results of monitoring the use of land for the current year is entered).

1. Study of the previous pasture management plans to identify needs for improvement

2 Participating local pasture users for developing process

3.list   of number of livestock and herders

3. Map of pasture areas with divided plots

4. Grazing calendars to avoid early grazing in spring

According to pasture monitoring calculations the pressure on pastures is very high due to the increasing number of livestock. In addition, these calculations are affected by the fact that local households deliberately hide the exact number of livestock from the registration of the local municipality in pursuit of government subsidies paid to low-income families who account for the ownership of livestock (less than 4 cows and 20 sheep in the family). At the same time, the lack of accurate reporting of the number of livestock also leads to lower payments for the use of grazing land and increased degradation.

As a result, when developing a livestock grazing management plan, we have taken more data from local pasture users and veterinarians who used to have more accurate data on the number of livestock in the village. During vaccination and other veterinary activities they update their data.

Promoting  pasture management in the context of improved biodiversity and ecosystem services faces such challenges: 

  • Preventing the destruction of forested areas by livestock grazing is particularly difficult because of ever-increasing livestock populations and a shortage of pasture areas; 
  • Fencing and maintenance of pasture areas is expensive and work-intensive; 
  • Staff turnover among forestries and pasture committees for pasture management complicates the sustainability of pasture management and requires large investments for continuous capacity building of new staff.
KAP research (Knowledge, Attitude, Perception)

The start of our information campaign was preceded by a survey among the communities in the project area. We used this approach to objectively assess the attitudes and use of local people's knowledge about the state of the forest, their understanding and perception of the consequences of the current environmental situation, and their willingness to change consciousness and behaviour. First we interviewed 214 respondents in 4 rural districts to determine their level of awareness of the project's thematic areas and their preferences for the choice of information sources/channels/activities that would be effective in increasing their environmental knowledge. 

The target groups selected were: 

1. Representatives of local authorities at the rural district, village level (village administrations, forestry); 

2. Representatives of social institutions (schools, kindergartens, hospitals, first aid points);

3. Representatives of different associations and groups: religious (mosques), pasture committees, water users associations, political parties, NGOs etc; 

4. General population: dependent users of natural resources (focus on pilot communities): forest users, pasture users, product processors, etc.; women, elderly, people with disabilities.

The results of the survey showed that the level of environmental awareness and readiness to change the consciousness and behaviour of the population was below average (on a scale from 1 to 10 it was 4). The planned information campaign should have raised the level by at least 3 points. According to the results of the final KAP survey conducted among 332 residents in the two districts within the project area, the score would be 7. Thus, the level of environmental awareness was 10 points after the end of the project. 

 

The KAP baseline and final surveys were conducted in an open and friendly manner on the part of the local people who participated in the survey. Their attentiveness, careful reflection on the answers and honesty gave an objective picture of the level of public awareness and knowledge of the use and conservation of walnut forests and rangelands. Careful preparation of the study also played a big role, including the design of the questionnaire in local two languages, effective sampling of respondents, inclusion of female interviewers, taking into account local mentality and traditions, etc. This helped us to build and implement an effective information campaign in which local communities were given a central role.

During and after completing the KAP studies, it became clear to us that when interviewing local people, it was advantageous to know their mentality, life, everyday life, conditions that enable them to generate income from renting forest plots, collecting, processing, selling nuts and other forest products. The language and wording of the questionnaires were also important to people. The simpler and clearer the questions are phrased and the more accessible their language, the easier it is to get a clear and direct answer. And another important lesson lies in the behavior of the interviewers themselves, in their politeness, friendliness and willingness to explain or reformulate the question. 

Сommunity-based information campaign

In creating the information events plan, we used the edutainment principle and tried to make the events diverse and interesting for people of different statuses, occupations and ages. The main role in each event or activity was given to local people. They had to take an interest in ensuring that the condition of the walnut forests and other environmental problems in their area was addressed, not exacerbated. For example, in the third year of the March for the Parks, we saw a change in the attitude of the Dashman Nature Reserve staff towards this environmental action. The event, which some time ago was "on duty" and, in their opinion, was only our duty and responsibility, has now been seen by them as the transfer of knowledge to the younger generation and the cultivation of a caring attitude towards the forest in schoolchildren. On the day of the March of Parks, staff members of the zapovednik nature reserve donned their ceremonial Marine Wave uniforms, took schoolchildren on excursions to the forest, told them interesting facts about the flora, recalled practical cases and participated in a litter pickup on the territory of the zapovednik. Our summer school "Chyirak Zhangak" ("Strong Walnut") for high school students has become a place that is impossible to enter without a competition. During the selection rounds, we received 45-50 essays from high school students wishing to attend the summer school. We had to make difficult choices among the best of the best because of the limitation on places for participants. In other events we could often count on the active participation and support of local people. During the filming of short films, they played occasional roles for free and lent their homes as filming sites.

5. Adaptive Pathway Plan

An Adaptive Pathway Plan is a strategic framework designed to enhance resilience and adapt to long-term changes, particularly in the context of climate change. It involves identifying adaptation challenges and evaluating the effectiveness of various interventions over time. The key components include:

  • Pathways Mapping: The plan illustrates sequences of measures or investments to achieve defined objectives, allowing for adjustments as conditions change.
  • Thresholds and Tipping Points: The approach uses indicators to signal when a change in strategy is needed, ensuring flexibility in decision-making.
  • Removal of Uncertainty: The uncertainty with using climate risk prediction models for decision making has led us to use Resilience instead, therefore removing uncertainty from the decision-making process.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Involvement of diverse stakeholders ensures that the pathways are context-sensitive and reflect local needs.

Key enabling factors include:

  • Flexibility: The plan must adapt to changing conditions and uncertainties, allowing timely adjustments as new information arises.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Involving diverse stakeholders ensures the plan addresses various needs, fostering broader support.
  • Clear Triggers: Establishing specific signposts for when to adjust strategies enhances decision-making and responsiveness.
  • Integrated Approach: Aligning the plan with existing policies creates a cohesive strategy that is easier to implement.
  • Ongoing Monitoring: Continuous evaluation of the plan's effectiveness is crucial for informed adjustments and long-term success.

Key lessons learned include:

  • Contextual Adaptation: Tailoring the analysis to specific contexts and needs enhances effectiveness and addresses complexity.
  • Visualization Tools: Diverse visual representations, like metro maps and decision trees, improve understanding and communication of pathways.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Involving multiple actors is crucial for addressing varied values and objectives, requiring robust governance structures to support ongoing monitoring.
  • Shared Experiences: Documenting and sharing experiences can facilitate wider adoption and application of adaptive pathways in practice.
5. Mid-term review of the implementation of the OIPR DZNE - riparian villages agreements for access to the PNC in connection with the worship of sacred sites

Follow-up missions to these agreements have enabled us to ascertain the level of their implementation and to initiate new partnerships. Several worship initiatives in the PNC have been carried out to seek cures, drive away evil spirits and solicit professional promotions. In all, 30 access agreements for the worship of sacred sites were signed in the localities of Nassian, Bouna and Tehini.A workshop was organized to take stock of worship activities carried out at sacred sites within the PNC by communities in each sector, to identify the advantages and difficulties associated with the implementation of the convention for access to sacred sites within the PNC, to provide the OIPR with an annual calendar of worship activities, and to formulate recommendations for improving collaboration between the signatories of this convention. The review workshop took place on December 20, 2023, in the meeting room of the Kotouba Sub-Prefecture. It brought together the Sub-Prefects of Tehini, Nassian, Kotouba and Bouna. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the villages that have signed the conventions, OIPR officials and a representative of the technical partner (GIZ/Pro2GRN).

In all, thirty (30) agreements have been signed between the communities and OIPR for access to the PNC for worships in thirty (30) riverside villages. Fifty-eight (58) worships were performed in five (05) villages in 2023. Four hundred and seventy (470) people accessed the PNC during all the worship activities carried out in 2023. A few testimonials were collected from the local population during the workshop to present the benefits of the PNC access agreements.

Testimonial 1 (village of Kokpingué): fetish worship inside the PNC slowed down the succession of misfortunes that were befalling the village;

Testimonial 2 (Village of Kotouba): Several benefits of worship can be cited, the latest being the professional promotion of a state civil servant who had requested the services of the fetish and was rewarded with a high position.

Testimonial 3 (Village of Yalo): the village representative reported that drought was affecting the village, leading to crop failure. Following adoration of sacred sites, the rains were abundant and harvests were good.

A schedule of village worships was drawn up. Some of the difficulties encountered relate to access to the sites, insufficient financial resources for the worships, sites that cannot be found, and the disappearance of certain worshippers. Faced with these difficulties, OIPR DZNE and its partners intend to provide technical and financial support to find the people's sites and make the first sacrifices.

A regular review framework is important to assess progress and propose solutions to remove obstacles to convention implementation.