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Objectives
The goal of the programme is to re-establish the productive
capacity of Jordan’s rangeland and realize its significant environmental,
social, cultural and economic contribution for present and future generations.
Activities
 The
programme was intended to:
- provide policy-makers with reliable up-to-date information on the
status of rangeland resources;
- develop a national pastoral resource assessment and monitoring system
for the rangelands;
- enhance environmental awareness in the utilization of rangeland resources;
- develop a methodology of participatory planning with local communities
for the rehabilitation and management of grazing resources; and
- assist beneficiaries and target communities to implement and periodically
revise rangeland management plans.
Outcome
By the end of the third year of implementation, it was necessary
to reformulate the first phase, following the recommendations of IFAD
supervision mission reports. Achievements varied widely among components;
activities that were independent of social aspects and climatic conditions
tended to perform better. Factors beyond the control of the programme
that had negative effects included:
- severe drought affecting the entire Badia area from the time of programme
start-up;
- the confusing land-tenure system of the rangelands, which exacerbated
complicated social issues; and
- complex, time-consuming administrative procedures, mainly related
to expenditure modalities and processing.
Significant progress was made, however. A useful basis was
established for future projects in Jordan, including:
- establishment of a pastoral resources information monitoring and evaluation
(PRIME) unit;
- development of a national strategy for rangeland development;
- creation of a rangeland directorate in the Ministry of Agriculture;
and
- demonstration of the importance of water harvesting as the basis
for regeneration of rangeland vegetation.
Organizations
and people
| In view of the
economic, social and cultural importance of livestock production,
the Government has implemented various efforts to alleviate its
precarious situation over the last 60 years. From the 1940s until
the end of the 1980s, programmes were mainly oriented towards combating
desertification and protecting natural resources. Valuable technical
packages were provided by the Government on a top-down basis, but
there was no investigation of sustainable management tools.
Since the early 1990s, however, the Government has
introduced fundamental changes in rangeland rehabilitation strategy.
The aim is to increase the efficiency of interventions by associating
rural societies in the development and management of resources.
Phase I of the programme is testing this new approach, whose main
output is not expected to be immediate forage improvement on a large
scale, but development of means for sustainable rehabilitation and
management programmes in the future, when users will be fully engaged.
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| Planned |
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Achieved |
| To recruit staff, including:
- a range-management specialist;
- a participatory-planning specialist or sociologist;
- a livestock specialist;
- an environmentalist; and
- two field-extension officers for each pilot site.
To organize four training courses on participatory
approach techniques.
To establish a rangeland management group in each
pilot area.
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Staff were recruited.
155 people, a small minority of beneficiaries, benefited
from participatory training.
Rangeland management groups were formed at the programme
sites. In some cases, members not involved in livestock rearing
were included.
A directorate of rangelands was created; a long-term
strategy for rangeland development and rehabilitation was developed;
and a new law on agricultural policy was drafted, including a tenure
system for rangelands.
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Range
management
The rangelands support about 88 500
people in 12 200 livestock-owning households. Livestock owners and
herders owe traditional allegiances to their tribes and respect
land-use patterns. In recent decades, however, the rangelands have
been deteriorating: declines in production and plant diversity are
mirrored by a decrease in flora biomass. Rangeland is being encroached
upon as extensive farming becomes more widespread in areas unsuited
to arable cropping, which is often undertaken to achieve ownership
rights rather than for production. Wildlife is now in serious decline,
largely because of hunting and the deterioration of natural grazing. |
Planned |
|
Achieved |
| To implement rangeland management
plans, including:
- resting rangeland by excluding livestock;
- planting shrubs such as Salsola vermiculata, Atriplex halimus
and Atriplex leucoclada;
- providing ten 35-50m³ cisterns; and
- establishing PRIME.
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None of the beneficiary groups fully
implemented the rangeland management plans. However:
- 7 500 ha are being rested for at least two years;
- approximately 3 000 ha have been planted with fodder shrubs,
mainly Atriplex mammularia, and reseeded, mainly with
Salsola vermiculata and Atriplex leucoclada;
reseeding is less significant, however;
- three hafirs (water storage ponds);
- and one cistern have been established;
- PRIME is operative and provides valuable information on natural
resources in Jordan; a climate database has been developed.
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Livestock health
Animal disease is a major cost for livestock
owners. Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), foot-and-mouth disease
(FMD) and bluetongue are endemic, causing debilitation rather than
death. Internal and external parasites and nasal bots are significant
problems. The effectiveness of government vaccination is low. Drugs,
drenches and insecticides are available from private sector pharmacies.
There are extensive opportunities for increased production as a
result of improved animal health and husbandry. The incidence of
disease is reportedly made worse by the presence of large numbers
of animals in transit through Jordan, for example 350 000 sheep
in 1996.
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| Planned |
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Achieved |
To control internal parasites and enterotoxaemia.
To demonstrate the advantages of strategic drenching
by conducting a trial on about 10% of settled flocks.
To demonstrate veterinary practices to combat enterotoxaemia.
To facilitate organization of the supply of drugs, which would be
procured by a local private-sector source.
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No information is yet available on the implementation
of these activities. |
Lessons learned
- Rangeland projects may need to clarify the land-tenure system and
rights to resources. Development activities should be coordinated with
other components.
- Training should be synchronized with the phases of project implementation.
Individuals involved in training must be thoroughly briefed about project
components and assisted by the project management unit to avoid contradictions
and ensure effective follow-up once training is completed.
- Baseline studies to provide information on social structures and
the potential for regeneration of natural resources should be carried
out prior to contact with beneficiaries.
- Project success may be encouraged by:
- experience in implementing previous projects;
- development of competition among rural communities to develop
their resources; and
- effective, self-managed cooperatives of herders.
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| Project information |
Total cost: USD 9.0 million Livestock cost (as percentage
of total): 100% IFAD contribution: USD 4.0 million
Duration: From 4 September 1998 to 30 June 2003
Area: The programme was to operate at two levels. Long-term
information collection and analysis, essential for the development of
national policies and plans for rangeland development, was to have a nation-wide
perspective; the programme area was to include all rangelands. Physical
development activities were aimed at identifying and defining interventions
that could be utilized everywhere. These would be implemented at five
pilot sites in the areas of Mreigh, in Ma’an in the south, and Menshiat
El Ghieth, in Hamad in the north-east.
Beneficiaries: The beneficiaries are 12 242 livestock-owning families living
on the rangelands. About 83% of owners have flocks of less than 200, accounting
for some 55% of small ruminants. Direct benefits will be provided to 3
650 families in the pilot area. |
| References |
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Environmental assessment for the
identification of a pastoral resource assessment and monitoring component
for the national programme for range rehabilitation and development.
October 1995.
Project Appraisal Report, Phase I, November 1997.
Report and Recommendation of the President to the Executive Board.
December 1997
Mission report prepared by IFAD Range Management and Livestock Consultant.
September 1999.
Project Reformulation Report, March 2002. |
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