Natural Resource Development

Seva Mandir’s Natural Resource Development (NRD) Program works towards the following objectives:

-        To restore and regenerate the ecological base of the Udaipur and Rajsamand Districts.

-        To enhance and sustain the contribution of natural resources to local livelihoods.

The need:

  • In Seva Mandir’s work area, the majority of the population depends on natural resources like land, water, and forests for their livelihood.
  • The unrestrained and inefficient usage of natural resources and agro-climate conditions like frequent droughts have led to a rapid deterioration of natural resources in the last few decades.
  • Food security, which poses a major problem to the area is directly linked to natural resource management.

Current situation:

Work on natural resource development has been an important intervention of Seva Mandir since its inception. The current approach of integrated natural resource development was initiated in the mid 1980′s with the programs plantations on private wastelands.  The program today encompasses the afforestation of village common lands (pasture lands and sacred groves) and private lands, forrest management, watershed development, water resource development, agriculture and livestock, clean drinking and sanitation, climate change and research of common lands.

Impact of the program

With a broad spectrum and variety of well-planned activities, there has been both a direct and quantitative achievement, as well as a  subtle yet even more important change in the mindset of local communities towards their resources. The interventions have brought a significant section of the natural resource base to an increased level of productivity.  Augmented ecological security has strengthened the livelihood sustainability.  Most importantly, the activities especially in common resources have served as a locus for nurturing individual and community leadership at grassroots as well as increased cohesion and empowerment in villages.

Our approach/endeavor of facilitating community based natural resource governance has obtained ample recognition in both policy and academic areas.

Future challenges

  • Climate change is a major issue in this region particularly because of the gaps in understanding and unpredictable nature of such changes.
  • Activities like mining, which have existed for many years, hamper the work of conservation and regeneration of natural resources.
  • The youth of many of villages where Seva Mandir works have been found to be more inclined towards fast cash and as a result migrate to local cities, rather than participating in local resource conservation.

 

Specific Interventions

If you would like to support our  Natural Resource Development Program or any of its specific interventions please visit our Donation Page

For more information please Contact Us