Environment

Located in the heart of the northern-western ghats, the Kalsubai and Harishchandragad landscape in the Akole block of Ahmednagar district is renowned for its rich biodiversity of flora and fauna. This area has been home to tribal communities who have coexisted with nature for centuries. However, public domain data indicates that nearly 6.12% of the core forest has been lost over the past three decades due to increasing human interference. This deforestation has severely impacted tribal livelihoods, which depend on Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP), and has led to the decline of native Dangi cattle due to a lack of fodder.

Despite these challenges, 25 villages in this landscape have successfully gained Community Forest Rights (CFR) over 1000 hectares of forest through Lokpanchayat's systematic intervention and advocacy over seven years. However, the benefits of CFR to tribal families have been limited due to lost biodiversity and forest density

 Climate Action for Regeneration of Community Forests

In alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), community-based climate action is essential for restoring forests with native vegetation to foster biodiversity. This restoration is crucial for protecting wildlife habitats, preserving natural water sources, and reducing poverty by enhancing tribal livelihood opportunities.

Community-Based Climate Action for Community Forest Restoration

In 2024, Lokpanchayat initiated a comprehensive programme on Climate Action for the regeneration of community forests, focusing on protecting, preserving, and enhancing native flora and fauna. This programme includes the following components:

1. Continuous Action-Oriented Campaigns

    - Engage every household in the village in afforestation, conservation, protection, and sustainable harvesting of NTFP.

    - Develop action plans for ecological restoration, sustainable harvesting, and equitable distribution of benefits.

2. Strengthening Community Forest Rights Management Committees

    - Support the committees (as per the Forest Rights Act 2006 and relevant government resolutions) in afforestation, conservation, protection, and sustainable harvesting of NTFP.

    - Disseminate information and build capacity for leadership development and community-led forest management.

3. Sustainable Management of Grassy Meadows

    - Implement community-based monitoring and equitable distribution of benefits from no-grazing zones within the forest.

4. Afforestation with Native Flora

    - Enhance biodiversity and forest density by planting Hirda (Myrobalan), Behada (Terminalia bellirica), and Hudya variety of Bamboo in collaboration with the forest department.

5. Participatory Protocol Development

    - Develop and monitor community-based protocols for the conservation, protection, and sustainable harvesting of NTFP.

    - Conserve sacred groves and ensure equitable benefit distribution to every household.

This holistic approach aims to restore and regenerate community forests, ensuring sustainable livelihoods for tribal communities while preserving the rich biodiversity of the Kalsubai and Harishchandragad landscape.

Seed Sovereigntywith Conserving Agro-Biodiversity 

Lokpanchayat has over 20 years of experience in the field of sustainable agriculture, beginning in the Sangamner block of Ahmednagar District, Maharashtra. This area is part of the North Western Ghats, recognized as a Biodiversity Hotspot and partially designated as a UNESCO Heritage Site.

Challenges in Domestic and Agro-biodiversity

The region faces significant challenges including deforestation, land degradation, changing crop patterns, a lack of organic manure, seed dependency, irregular southwest monsoons, and water scarcity. These issues severely impact agriculture, the primary livelihood for the farming community. With an agricultural season lasting only 6 to 7 months, many people migrate to nearby blocks or cities in search of employment. Tribal, Dalit, and Nomadic communities often move to irrigated areas and industrial zones, where they face exploitation due to their status as marginal farmers and unorganized laborers.

This programme aims to foster a shared understanding of issues related to gender discrimination in the context of livelihood, food processing, and nutrition. By increasing control over seeds for farmers and local communities, the programme supports the evolution of food security. Additionally, it promotes mutual accountability towards the full realization of women’s rights, leveraging gender equality and women's empowerment for the attainment of all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG1, SDG2, SDG5, SDG6, SDG8, and SDG10.

Key Initiatives

- Enhancing Agricultural Practices: We promote sustainable agricultural practices that address deforestation, land degradation, and water scarcity. This includes advocating for organic farming and reducing seed dependency.

- Gender Equality and Women Empowerment: The programme emphasizes gender equality and women's empowerment, ensuring women have equal opportunities in livelihood, food processing, and nutrition sectors. 

- Strengthening Food Security: By increasing farmers' control over seeds and promoting sustainable agricultural practices, we aim to enhance food security in the region.

- Supporting Migrant Workers: We work to protect and support tribal, Dalit, and Nomadic communities who migrate for employment, ensuring they have access to fair working conditions and are not exploited.

This comprehensive approach strengthens synergies among various SDGs, ensuring holistic development and sustainable livelihoods for all community members. Through these initiatives, Lokpanchayat contributes to the sustainable development and empowerment of rural communities in the North Western Ghats.

  Lokpanchayat's journey in environmental conservation began in 1993 with the inception of an integrated watershed development programme in collaboration with the government. Initially, Lokpanchayat worked with 9 villages, implementing a holistic approach to watershed development, natural resource management, and sustainable water use.

Today, Lokpanchayat continues its dedication to watershed management through active participation in the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan. This initiative focuses on making villages drought-free by enhancing water conservation and storage measures.

Key Initiatives

Integrated Watershed Development: Lokpanchayat has adopted a comprehensive approach that includes soil and water conservation, reforestation, and the construction of water harvesting structures to enhance water availability and soil health.

Natural Resource Management: Lokpanchayat efforts are aimed at sustainable management of natural resources to ensure long-term environmental health and community well-being.

Sustainable Water Use: Lokpanchayat promotes efficient water use practices in agriculture and daily life, ensuring that water resources are used judiciously and sustainably.

From its early work in 9 villages, Lokpanchayat has expanded its reach and continues to make significant strides in watershed management across the region. By participating in Jalyukt Shivar and other initiatives, we strive to create sustainable and resilient communities, ensuring that water resources are managed effectively for future generations.

Lokpanchayat's environmental programme has made significant strides by becoming part of the Maharashtra Gene Bank, primarily focusing on restoring the biodiversity of the Western Ghats. Within this project, Lokpanchayat has initiated a unique intervention aimed at saving the Dangi cattle, a vital asset for the tribals in the hilly areas. The population of Dangi cows is declining due to cattle hybridization and the deteriorating diversity of fodder in the forests of the Akole block.

Key Interventions

1. Formation of Dangi Breeders Association and Capacity Enhancement

- Establishing a dedicated association for Dangi breeders to facilitate knowledge sharing and collective action.

- Enhancing the capacity of breeders through training and resources to improve breeding practices and cattle management.

2. Entrepreneurship Development Based on ‘Dangi’ Cattle Breed

- Promoting entrepreneurial activities centered around the Dangi cattle breed to create sustainable livelihood opportunities.

- Supporting initiatives that leverage the unique characteristics of Dangi cattle for economic gain.

3. Felicitation of the Best Dangi Breeders

- Honoring and recognizing the best Dangi breeders to encourage excellence in breeding practices.

- Celebrating success stories to inspire and motivate other breeders to adopt best practices.

Through these interventions, Lokpanchayat is committed to preserving the Dangi cattle breed, supporting tribal livelihoods, and contributing to the broader goal of biodiversity restoration in the Western Ghats.