Project level results

Activity 2.2.1 Management effectiveness of 7 legally recognized PAs increased through investments in improved community participation and benefits, monitoring, enforcement capacity. The project team analyzed and reviewed the status of 7 key specially protected natural areas and assessed the capacities of their staff to improve the management effectiveness of the protected areas covering important dryland forest and associated Lower Amy Darya ecosystems. In response to the lack of knowledge and technical skills of PA staff, identified within capacity needs assessment, a series of training sessions were conducted for all 7 targeted PAs, covering 280 rangers and reserve management staff. The focus of the training was on the topic: “Monitoring the State of Wild Animal Populations in Specially Protected Natural Areas.” As part of the awareness-raising activities of local communities surrounding the Protected Areas," a youth-focused campaign titled “Save the Nature – Save the Future” was held with the aim of fostering environmental consciousness among young people and encouraging a responsible attitude toward the natural resources of their homeland. The campaign brought together 760 schoolchildren (40% female) 11th-grade students from various secondary schools surrounding 7 targeted PAs. For the development of the Management Plans for all 7 targeted legally recognized Protected Areas, the project team conducted an analysis of existing and previously implemented management plans, interviews with Protected Areas’ staff and experts and collected statistical and budget information. The existing Management Plans for "Tigrovaya Balka" (Beshai Palangon) Nature Reserve and “Sari Khosor” Nature Park were assessed, updated and approved by relevant government institutions. The Management Plans for Dashtijum State Nature Reserve, Dashtijum State Nature Refuge, Siyohkuh State Nature Refuge, Norak State Nature Refuge and Childukhtaron State Nature Refuge were developed and approved by relevant government institutions. With the purpose of supporting improved biodiversity monitoring and enforcement, technical assistance was provided to all 7 targeted PAs. Based on the updated PA Management Plans, stakeholder consultations with the representatives of PAs and capacity needs assessments, equipment and tools support needs were identified. Accordingly, 21 motorcycle, 10 motor block (hand tractor) and 42 ranger outfit sets were provided to all 7 targeted PAs, covering more than 157,000 hectares of high-value arid ecosystems in southern Tajikistan. In addition, field and monitoring equipment was provided for Dashtidzhum State Nature Reserve, Tigrovaya Balka State Nature Reserve and Sary Khosor Nature Park. The equipment package includes 17 items in total, such as GPS navigators, portable weather stations, folding solar panels, tablets, tents etc. These equipment and tools enhance the capacities of PAs in management and monitoring and allows women and men rangers to effectively prevent overgrazing, illegal logging, and poaching — all of which threaten the delicate balance of these ecosystems. This, in turn, will contribute to restoring vegetation cover, enhancing soil fertility, and maintaining biodiversity — essential for ecosystem resilience and for sustaining the livelihoods of both women and men in local communities.

Project level results

Component 1: Integration of biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management in production landscape Outcome 1.1: Biodiversity mainstreamed in land-use planning and management in 6 priority districts covering 874,978 ha. Activity 1.1.1 Integrated spatial plans in 6 priority districts developed covering 874,978 ha, approved and under implementation, with high value ecosystems mainstreamed, including high resolution maps of KBAs, PAs, transition zones, and surrounding land use. The work has started for the development of land use plans (LUPs) with biodiversity-friendly and sustainable land management (SLM) practices in Baljuvon, Farkhor, Khovaling, Muminobod, Shurobod (Shamsiddini Shohin), and Panj districts to cover the areas of landscapes of these districts under improved management for benefitting biodiversity, that includes the integration of watershed management practices, data compilation on list of target villages and their total population and the formal adoption of these plans in the pilot districts. To date, the relevant information (village statistics, population, land area, farming existing difficulties etc.) related to development of LUP for Sh.Shohin district is fully collected. To support sustainable and resilient livelihoods for local communities, including women, with the additional benefit of reducing negative impacts on biodiversity, discussions were held with the women’s initiative groups, where key preventive measures against soil erosion and deforestation, as well as opportunities to generate additional income through the sale of agricultural products and cost savings from the use of new technologies were identified. Based on these consultations, it was proposed to support women in constructing small greenhouses, solar water heaters, and solar-powered fruit dryers. To support the implementation of LUPs in priority areas, particularly within buffer zones of protected areas and to strengthen women’s livelihoods, eight women’s groups have been established, that covers 120 women. These groups aim to promote gender-focused livelihood initiatives in villages bordering the lands of the State Forestry Agency in Panj, Farkhor, Khovaling, Muminobod and Sh.Shohin districts. 13 solar water heaters were provided to women farmers in Daryoobod village of Farkhor district, that will improve the quality of life of rural women by providing free hot water and reducing the time spent for collecting firewood or using electricity. Nowadays, the project’s supported-women-beneficiaries successfully use the solar water heaters in the households in the period when a strict regime on electricity use has been introduced by the government in view of lack of precipitation in the course of the year. In addition, the construction of four small greenhouses (sized 90m2), benefitting 28 women, in Surkhob village of Farkhor district and Savkhoz Panj village of Panj district have been successfully completed, that will enhance nutrition, boost household incomes and prevent the pressure on the local biodiversity. These greenhouses bring financial independence and food security to rural women, allowing them to grow vegetables, berries, and herbs for themselves and for sale, regardless of the season. It provides families with fresh products by extending the growing season by 4-6 months. Women groups in Muminobod and Khovaling districts were supported with 45 fruit dryers powered by solar panels. It is expected that annually 200-250 kg of dry fruits will be produced by each WG member for home consumption as well as for marketing purposes, contributing to food security.

Project level results

Activity 1.2.1 Dryland High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF) guidelines and management plans developed, approved and operationalized in 4 priority forestry units covering 45,300 ha of HCVF (including 21,000 ha of degraded forest) (outside of PAs), incorporating biodiversity. The project is strengthening the local capacities of 4 priority forestry units- Farkhor, Baljuvon, Shamsiddini Shohin, and Panj forestry units with multiple interventions. To this end, support was provided to the priority forestry units to establish or expand their tree nurseries to ensure the cultivation of critically threatened wild tree species, such as wild almond, wild pear, wild apple, and wild hawthorn, that have a particularly strong focus on gender mainstreaming as well. Accordingly, 6 hectares of nurseries were established in Farkhor, Baljuvon, Shamsiddini Shohin and Panj districts. In addition, 3 ha of agroforestry plantation of local poplar seedlings were established in Farkhor, Baljuvon, and Shamsiddini Shohin districts. This fast-growing fuelwood plantations of native poplar trees deter local communities from illegal cutting and create sustainable fuel supplies.

Project level results

Activity 1.4.1 Key high value arid ecosystems restored in 4 sites (outside PAs) supporting 21,000 ha of degraded forest, including reforestation of 400 ha of degraded HCVF through agroforestry using globally significant Red List fruit and nut species to support sustainable livelihoods An extensive assessment was carried out to evaluate the condition of Farkhor, Baljuvon, Shurobod and Dashtijum forestry units within the project zones by reviewing existing maps and geodetic data, interviewing forestry staff and local communities. Cartographic materials—including satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and land inventory maps—were carefully examined, corrected, and updated. Infrastructure elements such as roads, buildings, and water sources were also updated. Digital high-resolution maps were developed and approved for the Dashtijum (52,955 Ha) and Shurobod Forestry (10,679 Ha) in Shamsiddin Shohin District. These maps will improve forest management by enhancing forest monitoring, improving control over logging or illegal cutting, emergency prevention and response as well as support for reforestation and ecological monitoring. The project is partnering with local communities, forestry units, and PAs to restore HCVF through planting seedlings of agriculturally productive species in community agroforestry plots, and priority sites of threatened wild tree species, such as wild almond, wild pear, wild apple, and wild hawthorn species. It is supporting local communities through the installation of climate resilient agroforestry technologies to ensure the productivity and sustainability of these sites, including gender considerations and engagement of women. The project team conducted assessments and stakeholder consultations for the identification of degraded forest areas and the varieties of rare tree species for restoration works. However, because of the late starting of the raining season, forest restoration activities were initiated in the end of the current year. Works for land preparation and seedling plantation has started for 80 ha of forest areas in two forestry units in Shamsiddini Shohin and one forestry unit in Baljuvon district.

Project level results

Activity 2.3.1 Legally recognized Plant Micro Reserves (PMRs) established in selected KBAs for the conservation of rare crop wild relatives and associated flora communities, under community-based management, and management operationalized. To select appropriate sites and establish Plant Micro Reserves (PMRs) , that is an effective mechanism for flora biodiversity in the context of Tajikistan, a comprehensive management and botanical monitoring program was developed via stakeholder consultations, that includes methodology for collecting and analysing data on the state of vegetation as well as law enforcement program, including mechanisms for monitoring compliance with environmental legislation, identifying and preventing violations. A botanical assessment of key areas of six districts of Baljuvan, Shamsiddini Shohin, Farkhor, Panj, Muminobod and Khovaling was carried out. Based on the assessment, a total of 105 hectares of forest and reserve lands have been identified and proposed for botanical monitoring and establishment of PMRs in 6 project areas. Based on the selected sites, the project supported with necessary fencing materials and tools for the establishment of 10 ha of PMRs. The training modules, handouts, training program and monitoring programs were developed, and ToT (Training of Trainers) was conducted. 25 trainings were organized, in which 285 (40% female) representatives of dehkan farms (forest land users), local governments, village leaders and rural women participated. To raise public awareness about PMRs and the importance of their establishment, 3000 (50% female) people from local communities were covered with awareness raising activities and received knowledge materials.

Project level results

Activity 1.3.1 Sustainable pasture management plans that mainstream biodiversity in 4 priority areas in and around high value arid ecosystems (outside PAs) developed, approved and operationalized, covering 100,000 ha plus 100,000 ha of degraded pastureland restored, including training of local resource users Difference Vegetation Index) analysis was used to assess vegetation condition and identify priority areas for intervention across four Key Biodiversity Areas / Protected Areas: Sari Khosor, Childukhtaron, Karatau, and Dashtijum. NDVI is a proven satellite-based index of vegetation greenness, with lower values associated with reduced biomass, overgrazing pressure, deforestation, or general ecosystem degradation. The satellite-derived NDVI was analysed, using Sentinel-2 NDVI composites. NDVI is an indicator of live green vegetation cover (values range -1 to +1, higher indicating more/denser vegetation). Data utilized included NDVI raster maps and aggregated statistics for the KBA in each period of analysis. The focus was on spatial NDVI patterns, the change in NDVI between 2020 and 2024 to infer vegetation changes that could signal pasture degradation (e.g. from overgrazing). By combining satellite-based NDVI evidence with consultations held with local communities, Pasture User Unions (PUUs), village organizations, dehkan farms, and district representatives, the project was able to systematically select 10 degraded pasture areas located in 10 communities totalling 100 hectares for rehabilitation. The combined population of the ten communities is 18,640 people, from which 51% are women, that play an important role in livestock production, fodder preparation, and community-level pasture management practices. Across all ten communities, more than 6,548 small ruminants (sheep and goats) and 2,540 heads of cattle are maintained by local households. The communities collectively possess 3,443 hectares of officially designated community pastures, which they depend on for access to winter fodder and reluctantly share with transient livestock herds. In practice, however, the communities’ functional grazing system extends well beyond these formal pasture boundaries: seasonal movement patterns indicate that, during the summer grazing period, herds can readily range within a 10 km radius of settlements, corresponding to an estimated 30,926 ha of accessible grazing area per community per season (as illustrated by the buffer zones on the Figure 6). Across 10 communities, this implies a functional grazing footprint of approximately 309,250 ha, underscoring that grazing impacts, biodiversity pressures, and the benefits of improved pasture management operate at a landscape scale well beyond the legally designated community pasture parcels. 10 coordination meetings were held with local hukumats across five target districts of Khatlon Region (Baljuvon, Muminobod, Sh. Shohin, Farkhor, and Panj), engaging 20 key representatives from local authorities. As an outcome of these meetings, priority intervention sites were confirmed, roles and responsibilities between local authorities, State Forestry Enterprises, Natural Reserves administrations, PUUs were clearly defined. 10 community seminars were conducted on sustainable pasture management, reaching 123 participants, of whom 11% were women, inclusive of members of PUUS and local communities. These sessions raised awareness on the value of drafting and using a rotational grazing calendar, measures for delaying early season grazing, forage seed collection and controlled stock density.

Project level results

Component 2: Protected Area strengthening. Outcome 2.1. Conservation of arid Key Biodiversity Areas enhanced. Activity 2.1.1 High resolution land-use maps for 7 PAs and buffer zones developed, covering 157,671 ha, and analysis of land-use conflicts. To develop high resolution maps for target SPNAs for improved geospatial information, that will support improved spatial planning and management to enhance biodiversity conservation, the project team assessed the condition of the 7 targeted national level Protected Areas (PAs) via baseline review, stakeholder consultations, cartographic analysis, field visits, infrastructure and GPS mapping and the development of database. The assessed Protected Areas are: 1. Dashtidzhum State Nature Reserve; 2. Dashtidzhum Nature Refuge; 3. Childuktaron State Nature Refuge; 4. Tigrovaya Balka State Nature Reserve; 5. Sary Khosor Nature Park; 6. Siyohkuk Nature Refuge. 7. Khatlon (Nurek) Nature Refuge; As a result, high-resolution digital maps were developed and approved for the Sari Khosor Nature Park (3,085 Ha) in Baljuvan District and the State Nature Reserve “Dashtijum” (19,700 Ha) in Shamsiddin Shohin District.

Project level results

Component 3: Knowledge Management and Learning Outcome 3. Strengthened understanding among resource-users and decision makers regarding the existence and value of arid high value biodiversity in Tajikistan Activity 3.1.1 Knowledge management, education and awareness campaign conducted targeting institutional-level key decision-makers and local resources users on key issues and approaches for conservation of globally significant biodiversity and PAs. To raise public awareness on biodiversity conservation in protected areas and buffer zones, and to promote the concept of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) in the target regions, a contract was signed with TV Kulob for the production of an educational film. The main objective of the film is to increase community understanding of the importance of biodiversity, the causes of land degradation, and practical measures to mitigate its effects. As a result, it is anticipated that local communities will reduce pressure on land resources in buffer zones and adopt more sustainable land use practices. At the national level, the film is expected to contribute to improved policymaking that supports biodiversity conservation and the rational use of land and natural resources. Accordingly, a 30-minute film titled “Sarzamini Nodir” (Rare Land), featuring Tigrovaya Balka State Nature Reserve, Dashtijum State Nature Reserve, and Sary Khosor Natural Park, has been produced by TV Kulob. The film, produced in Tajik with English subtitles, has been broadcast twice on the local Kulob TV network. It showcases the natural landscapes of these protected areas and includes commentary from reserve staff and specialists on their daily activities. Additionally, community representatives, including Mahalla leaders and local activists, share insights on sustainable land use practices and measures to improve land management in and around the protected areas.