Subnational | PANORAMA

Ministerial and Sectoral Alignment: a partnership-based approach to developing a Frugal Rehabilitation Methodology

Acknowledging and identifying conflicts between ministries and sectoral stakeholders is important. It is important at the early stages of an initiative to recognise these problems and to establish and work through a consultative platform to make the case for a methodology that is of value to all stakeholders, that is inclusive of artisanal miners and the stakeholders impacted by such mining as well as government ministries. It is only through such collaboration that a methodology can be developed that addresses environmental concerns, meets artisanal miners needs for performance-based incentives and access to land, and can be valued by government in formalising condition-based permitting for mining. It is within the context and platform of engagement that the FRM can be demonstrated to be of value to all stakeholders, and deliver outcomes at the local as well as national level.

Government recognition of range of problems across the sector
Government alignment on best environmental practices and effective enforcement
Government willingness to engage in wider partnerships to assess problems associated with informal ASM and to seek solutions and incentives for better environmental practices
National and stakeholder willingness for ASM formalisation to be conditional on environmental performance
ASM sector willing to implement FRM
Stakeholders willing to endorse ASM licensing based on improved environmental practices

It is critical for the initiative to have support from the national government, as a gateway to engaging with local government and other local stakeholders impacted by artisanal mining. Also, it is important that leading ministries that may potentially hold conflicting views (e.g. mining and environment) appreciate and support the initiatives’ capacity for developing solutions and approaches that can deliver benefits of interest to all parties (ministries).

Documentation and dissemination of results

East Asia

Environmental Rehabilitation: Learnings from Artisanal Miners in Mongolia

Jonathan

Stacey

Ministerial and Sectoral Alignment: a partnership-based approach to developing a Frugal Rehabilitation Methodology

Establishment of National FRM working group with government and sectoral stakeholders

Frugal Rehabilitation Demonstration (FRD): developing and adapting the methodology (FRM) through action-research

East Asia

Environmental Rehabilitation: Learnings from Artisanal Miners in Mongolia

Jonathan

Stacey

Ministerial and Sectoral Alignment: a partnership-based approach to developing a Frugal Rehabilitation Methodology

Establishment of National FRM working group with government and sectoral stakeholders

Frugal Rehabilitation Demonstration (FRD): developing and adapting the methodology (FRM) through action-research

East Asia

Environmental Rehabilitation: Learnings from Artisanal Miners in Mongolia

Jonathan

Stacey

Ministerial and Sectoral Alignment: a partnership-based approach to developing a Frugal Rehabilitation Methodology

Establishment of National FRM working group with government and sectoral stakeholders

Frugal Rehabilitation Demonstration (FRD): developing and adapting the methodology (FRM) through action-research

Sharing lessons learned for replication

The process of establishing the Pakistan’s first MPA has led to a number of valuable lessons being learned, mainly regarding how stakeholders from various sectors (federal and provincial governments, civil society and academia) can collectively work towards pushing through policies for environmental conservation. Pakistan also has a large coastline, and this process can now be replicated for other sites which are rich in biodiversity. Some other potential MPA sites have already been identified, including Churna Island, Miani Hor, and Gwatar Bay. Through regular meetings of the MFF NCB and other regional gatherings Pakistan continues to share its experience establishing Astola Island MPA and vision to establish additional areas.

Strong interest from policy-makers, IUCN Members and civil society to replicate the process to establish Astola Island MPA in other coastal areas in Pakistan.

The MFF NCB is a valuable 'soft governance' platform. Whilst not a formal body, it's unique membership provide a forum for advocay and policy influence with input from a cross section of stakeholders with an interst in coastal resource managment. The continued engagemnt of the NCB will be vital for supporting the development of a management plan for Astola Island and for achieving sustainable coastal resources management in Pakistan.

Monitoring

Documentation and dissemination of results

Subnational

National

Mulit stakeholder process

The MFF Pakistan National Coordinating Body (NCB) meets to discuss the designation of Astola Island

MFF Pakistan

To support the process of to establish Astola Island MPA, MFF Pakistan utilized the membership of its National Coordinating Body to undertake the necessary feasibility assessments, conduct consultations, and raise awareness about the importance of the area. Membership of the NCB includes several government agencies with an interest in marine and coastal resources, the private sector, and civil society organisations. This unique ‘soft governance’ platform facilitated cross sectoral dialogues and advocacy that enabled the declaration of the MPA more quickly than would have otherwise been possible.

The MFF National Coordinating Body, a unique multi-stakeholder 'soft governance’ platform, provided opportunities to engage partners from relevant sectors in decision making processes
Engagement of non-traditional actors such as Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Pakistan Navy (PN) with their active role in influencing coastal policy decisions.
Face to face advocacy with decision makers, and media engagement

Several previous attempts to establish MPAs in Pakistan had not succeed due to the lack of a systematic approach and engagement of all relevant stakeholders. In this case the MFF NCB proved to be an invaluable asset, providing an inclusive platform the NCB could engage with all the key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Defense and Navy, to develop wider consensus among all involved for the establishment of MPAs in Pakistan.

Planning phase

Subnational

National

MFF Pakistan NCB membership

South Asia

Designation of Astola Island, Pakistan’s first Marine Protected Area

Alex

McWilliam

Mulit stakeholder process

Science informing decision making

Sharing lessons learned for replication

South Asia

Designation of Astola Island, Pakistan’s first Marine Protected Area

Alex

McWilliam

Mulit stakeholder process

Science informing decision making

Sharing lessons learned for replication

Collaboration with forestry enterprise

Slope with juniper woodland above site affected by debris flow

GIZ

Land leased from forestry enterprise to local farmer for rehabilitation

GIZ

Tree nursery of forestry enterprise supported by GIZ

GIZ

The lands where the disaster risk is most critical are typically located downstream and do not belong to the forestry enterprise. The areas where flash floods and debris flows originate are the upstream located upper catchment areas. Many of these areas are managed by the forestry enterprise. Its involvement is therefore crucial.

The forestry enterprise aims at better management of the upper catchments by regulation of grazing, prevention of deforestation and by reforestation activities.

Furthermore in the case of the solution the forestry enterprise provided land for lease to interested community members, which would rehabilitate the land, plant trees and grow fodder for their livestock while preventing overgrazing and destruction of the vegetation.

The key enabling factor is the collaboration between forestry enterprise and local land users, including lease agreements, which provide clear benefits for the users.

The forestry enterprise in Shahriston has long experience in the propagation of native juniper trees and the successful rehabilitation of juniper woodlands using these seedlings. With the assistance by GIZ the forest nursery was fenced to prevent damage by free-ranging livestock and increase the production of native tree seedlings.

Collaboration requires clear mechanisms and the consideration of the interests of different stakeholders. Land-users are ready to take over responsibility on forestry lands only in case of clear agreements securing long-term benefits.

The forestry enterprise in some cases experiences a conflict of interest, which is difficult to address. Much of its income is from the grazing permits issued to livestock owners grazing their livestock on forestry lands. Additionally there is also informal social pressure on the forestry enterprise to allow access for increasing livestock numbers. This conflicts with the function of the forestry enterprise to protect rangelands, woodlands and forests and their ecosystem services. As long as these ecosystem services are not sufficiently honored there will be land degradation increasing the disaster risk. This problem is particularly difficult to address in a transboundary context where upper catchment and affected villages are in different jurisdictions.

Input packages

Show room in the agro-technical service centre of the Neksigol Group of Companies

GIZ

The farmers together with receiving the technical advice by the agricultural extension service get the opportunity to purchase directly the appropriate packages of seeds, fertilizer, pesticides and other agrochemicals. As these purchases are needed at the begin of the growth season, when financial means are scarce, they are partly (50% of their costs) provided on loan basis under affordable conditions (interest rate below normal market rates).

Enabling factors are:

- Packages of seeds and agrochemicals are adapted to local growth conditions and all components are complementary;

- Inputs are made affordable during the time when they are needed, but typically farmers cannot afford them;

- Loans can be returned when farmers have income from the harvest.

The combination of agricultural extension providing side-specific advice with tailored packages of agricultural inputs and the financial mechanism (part loan at affordable conditions) are key for the adoption of new and adapted agricultural technologies and practices. If one or two of these elements would be missing the rate of adoption and succesful application would massively drop. Without specific technical advice farmers do not have the awareness and capacity to purchase suitable combinations of complementary inputs. Advice without the opportunity of direct purchase of inputs leaves too much a barrier in terms of the farmers having to find suppliers on their own and having high opportunity costs, and possibly sometimes purchasing suboptimum combinations or insufficient quality and quantity of inputs. And only the availability of a timely and affordable loan enables the farmers to purchase the full quantity of inputs and to apply the adapted technologies.

Implementation

Local

Subnational