Background
Sustainable Grazing Management for Semi-arid Rangelands: The Project evolving at the Njeremoto Biodiversity Institute located at Number 12 Northdale Farm in Chatsworth Intensive Conservation Area of Gutu District of Masvingo Province is demonstrating the Indigenous Shona Knowledge on Grazing and Land Management
In the Shona culture and belief system, the land evolved with herding grazers and the absence of one results in the destruction or extinction of the other. Numbers game had no role to protect vegetation then.
The conventional grazing management belief that “too many animals cause overgrazing” is a misconception of the semi-arid savannah environments of Southern Africa where these environments evolved with thousands of herding grazers such as wildebeest, buffalo, elephants with their predators’ lions, leopards, cheetah and hyena. When animals intensively grazed for short periods (at most a month) they left and came back after one or two seasons.
Overall Goal
The long-term goal of the Institute is to facilitate and see wealthy, empowered resource managers, local communities, and academia sustainably managing semi-arid rangelands productively and with biodiverse, stable rural ecosystems.
Purpose
A functional Njeremoto Biodiversity Demonstration and Training Institute is established, monitored, fully operational, sustained in Zimbabwe and is replicated in the Southern African Countries by December 2011.
Create a landform for the demonstration of Sustainable Grazing and Wetland Utilization & Management based on Indigenous Shona Knowledge Practices Prior to Introduction of Western Ideas in Zimbabwe at Njeremoto Biodiversity Institute by 31st December 2011
Specific objective
Ø Conduct research and training at the Njeremoto Biodiversity Institute located at 12 Northdale farm Chatsworth, Gutu District Masvingo Province Zimbabwe. This is the hub of the project where research and demonstration as well as training of communities and research students will take place.
Ø To establish five pilot communities in Zimbabwe. the first are the four farms surrounding the Njeremoto Biodiversity Institute representing commercial farms and the Gunda kraal in Hwedza District in Mashonaland East Province representing the communal areas.
Ø To carry out community work at the other three sites in Zimbabwe in ward 23 in Chipinge District Manicaland Province, ward 9 Insiza District Matabeleland South Province and ward 9 Mwenezi District Masvingo province.
Ø To replicate at two pilot communities in south Africa to be identified by collaboration Ashoka fellows (still to be identified)
Ø To collaborate with Universities who will have MSc and PhD Students attached to the Njeremoto Biodiversity Institute from Zimbabwe, South Africa, UGANDA, Canada, USA and UK (Still to be identified).
Target Group(s)
ACTIVITIES PRACTICED AT THE INSTITUTE
I) At the Njeremoto Biodiversity Institute located at 12 Northdale farm Chatsworth Gutu district Masvingo province Zimbabwe; this is the hub of the project where research and demonstration as well as training of communities and research students will take place. This site has to be fully funded for infrastruture development for suatainable watershed management; personnel staffing and adequately equiped.
II) Five pilot communities in Zimbabwe. the first are the four farms surrounding the Njeremoto Biodiversity Institute representing commercial farms and the Gunda kraal in Hwedza district in Mashonaland east province representing the communal areas.
III) The other three sites in Zimbabwe are sites in the eight (8) rural provinces of Zimbabwe. That is in Manicaland province, Matabeleland South province, Masvingo province, Midlands Province, Masholanda East, Central & West Provinces and Matebeleland North Province.
IV) Two pilot communities in South Africa to be identified by collaboration Ashoka fellows (still to be identified)
V) Universities where MSC and PhD Student attachment (interns/volunteers to the NJEREMOTO BIODIVERSITY INSTITUTE from. ZIMBABWE, SOUTH AFRICA, UGANDA, CANADA, USA AND UK (still to be identified).
OUTPUTS/Results
Ø The Njeremoto Biodiversity Demonstration and Training Institute Fully Funded and Operational by December 2013
Ø Annual Increase in Biological diversity and High Profit on all land-use and production systems at Njeremoto Biodiversity Institute measured in April for Biodiversity and in September for annual production each year starting from 2010 (baseline year).
Ø Proportion of land covered by bare-ground to decrease from 80% to 10 % by March 2012 and perennial species to increase from 3 to 10 by March 2013.
Ø Increased number of communities who visit the Institute per year and adopt the principle and in turn become host for other communities measured in September each year starting from 2010 to increase from zero (0) to at least 10 annually.
Ø Increased in Biodiversity and High Profit on all land use and production systems at pilot satellite communities measured in April for Biodiversity and in September for annual production each year starting from 2010. All pilot communities to be food secure and experience increased stable incomes by April 2015
