<p class="MsoNormal">The Dinder, Atbara and Bau Watershed Management Project is one of the four fast track projects prepared in 2007 under the Eastern Nile Watershed Management (ENWM) Project. Three watersheds were selected for the Sudan Project based on a number of factors including community interest and prior experience, impact on poverty, chances for demonstrating early results of improved land and water management, and government support. The three watersheds were (i) Dinder National Park and surroundings; (ii) Lower Atbara, and (iii) the Bau locality.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The project objective was to stimulate, support and demonstrate alternative livelihood practices and local governance systems that contribute to poverty reduction and environmental sustainability. The three selected watersheds have different characteristics and needs and are located within different ecological zones. Area specific characteristics and objectives for the three watersheds were as follows:</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph">           <em> <em>(DNP)</em> <em>Area</em> â€" <u>Features</u>: remote and poorly connected area; degraded natural resources in the lands surrounding the Park; encroachment by surrounding communities on the Park natural resources (grazing of large herd sof livestock) leading to conflicts with park management; conflicts between different communities over natural resources; area prone to droughts and floods; previous experience with community participatory planning and development. <u>Objective</u>: To safeguard the natural resources and the biodiversity of the Dinder National Park by improving the Park management and enhance participatory planning and offering alternative livelihoods to target groups who at present depend on the park's natural resources</em></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph">         <em> â€" <u>Features</u>: desert area with low rainfall and scare natural resources; pronounced urban-rural interaction, limited mechanized farming, low environmental carrying capacity; substantial previous experience with community participatory planning and development. Objective: to combat desertification, improve environmental resilience and reduce people’s vulnerability by promoting more reliable and environmentally sound livelihoods to the people dependent on the scanty natural resources in the Lower Atbara.</em></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">         <em> â€" <u>Features</u>: remote, poorly connected, war-stricken area; facing influx of people from IDPs; favourable precipitation and natural resources base; area prone to droughts and floods; land tenure distribution/management still ongoing; very limited experience with community participatory planning. <u>Objective</u>: to reduce the pressure on and conflicts over the natural resources, to capture the long-term development potential of the area, and to build a foundation for sustained peace by promoting alternative, more reliable and environmentally friendly livelihood practices.</em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The project had three components namely: (a) institutional strengthening; (b) project management; and (c) integrated watershed management and development (IWM&D) interventions. Specific interventions under the Project included strengthening capacity of supporting government institutions and stakeholder institutions; building capacity of Community-Based Organisations; construction of weirs with intake structures, construction of shallow wells, deep boreholes; construction of micro-and small dams for irrigation with diversion structures and distribution canals; construction of sand dams; construction of rainwater harvesting structures; improving farm production and farming systems through diversification and intensification of farming and farm infrastructure; improving grazing lands in wadis through water harvesting and reseeding with local legumes and seeds; reviving and improving animal migration routes; planting trees along animal migration routes for shade and browse; constructing livestock watering points and veterinary service centres, control of livestock pests and diseases; rehabilitating degraded parts of existing forests; controlling illegal logging, fires and grazing in protected areas; training local communities in forest management; introducing appropriate technology for small-scale miners to reduce their pollution impact; an diversification of income generating activities (fodder harvesting and packing; gum Arabic packing and marketing; dates grading and packing; vegetable and fruit processing; dairy processing; fish processing; wood handcraft making; mat making with camel wool; small scale metal fabrication; hand woven cotton fabric.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The project objective was to stimulate, support and demonstrate alternative livelihood practices and local governance systems that contribute to poverty reduction and environmental sustainability. The three selected watersheds have different characteristics and needs and are located within different ecological zones. Area specific characteristics and objectives for the three watersheds were as follows:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em> <em>(DNP)</em> <em>Area</em> <u>Features</u>: remote and poorly connected area; degraded natural resources in the lands surrounding the Park; encroachment by surrounding communities on the Park natural resources (grazing of large herd sof livestock) leading to conflicts with park management; conflicts between different communities over natural resources; area prone to droughts and floods; previous experience with community participatory planning and development. <u>Objective</u>: To safeguard the natural resources and the biodiversity of the Dinder National Park by improving the Park management and enhance participatory planning and offering alternative livelihoods to target groups who at present depend on the park's natural resources</em></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><em><u>Features</u>: desert area with low rainfall and scare natural resources; pronounced urban-rural interaction, limited mechanized farming, low environmental carrying capacity; substantial previous experience with community participatory planning and development. Objective: to combat desertification, improve environmental resilience and reduce people's vulnerability by promoting more reliable and environmentally sound livelihoods to the people dependent on the scanty natural resources in the Lower Atbara.</em></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><em> <u>Features</u>: remote, poorly connected, war-stricken area; facing influx of people from IDPs; favourable precipitation and natural resources base; area prone to droughts and floods; land tenure distribution/management still ongoing; very limited experience with community participatory planning. <u>Objective</u>: to reduce the pressure on and conflicts over the natural resources, to capture the long-term development potential of the area, and to build a foundation for sustained peace by promoting alternative, more reliable and environmentally friendly livelihood practices.</em></p>
<p>Benefits - strengthened capacity of supporting government institutions and stakeholder institutions; enhanced capacity of Community-Based Organizations; construction of weirs with intake structures, construction of shallow wells, deep boreholes; construction of micro-and small dams for irrigation with diversion structures and distribution canals; construction of sand dams; construction of rainwater harvesting structures; improving farm production and farming systems through diversification and intensification of farming and farm infrastructure; improving grazing lands in wadis through water harvesting and reseeding with local legumes and seeds; reviving and improving animal migration routes; planting trees along animal migration routes for shade and browse; constructing livestock watering points and veterinary service centres, control of livestock pests and diseases; rehabilitating degraded parts of existing forests; controlling illegal logging, fires and grazing in protected areas; training local communities in forest management; introducing appropriate technology for small-scale miners to reduce their pollution impact; an diversification of income generating activities (fodder harvesting and packing; gum Arabic packing and marketing; dates grading and packing; vegetable and fruit processing; dairy processing; fish processing; wood handcraft making; mat making with camel wool; small scale metal fabrication; hand woven cotton fabric. </p>