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With a predominantly rural population, characterized by over 83% residing in villages, and a substantial majority belonging to Scheduled Tribes, Nandurbar presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities.
By focusing on water conservation, soil fertility enhancement, and sustainable farming practices, Nature+ mitigates the vulnerabilities of local communities to climatic fluctuations and enhances their resilience.
Moreover, by promoting the sustainable utilization of trees and forest resources and the development of alternative livelihoods, the initiative empowers tribal communities to preserve their traditional ecological knowledge.
Contact: Alok K. Sikka, Country Representative and Principal Researcher International Water Management Institute (IWMI), New Delhi a.sikka(at)cgiar.org
Operating Location: Shahada Cluster, Nandurbar district
Traditional Name: नंदुरबार जिल्हा
Area of Operation: 5 villages distributed on 3,500 hectares
Coordinates: 21.3700° N 74.2400° E
Communities: Tribes: Bhil, Pawara, Kokani. The project involves five villages in Nandurbar’s Shahada cluster: Ranipur, Nagziri, Chirde, Pimprani, Kotbandini.
Description of the Area: The area is diverse, featuring southern hilly areas, alluvial deposits around the Tapi river, and the northern part forming part of the Satpura range.
Nandurbar’s villages experience hot and dry conditions with three distinct seasons: a scorching summer, a humid monsoon, and a mildly cold winter. Annual rainfall is variable, with the northern and western regions receiving more precipitation than the rest of the area. This challenging climate exacerbates agricultural and water-related issues, making sustainable development critical for the well-being of Nandurbar’s cluster residents.
Nandurbar is predominantly rural, with over 83% of its population living in villages and a significant proportion belonging to Scheduled Tribes, particularly the Bhils and the Pawra. Key challenges in Nandurbar include severe soil erosion due to its hilly terrain, erratic rainfall patterns, and poor groundwater availability.
The initiative’s goals are multifaceted, aiming to enhance water conservation through sustainable practices, reduce soil erosion, and improve soil fertility. By promoting sustainable agriculture and developing value chains for NTFPs, the initiative seeks to bolster the local economy and preserve traditional ecological knowledge. Furthermore, it aims to diversify livelihoods through activities like goat husbandry, thereby reducing dependency on seasonal migration and providing more stable income sources for the tribal population.
Traditional farming methods in Nandurbar often involve use of chemical inputs that might lead to air pollution. The Initiative aims to mitigate it by promoting sustainable agricultural practices that reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, thus minimizing air pollutants.
Due to erratic rainfall patterns and high surface runoff, water scarcity is a pressing issue in Nandurbar, exacerbated by inefficient water management practices and lack of infrastructure for rainwater harvesting. By implementing water conservation techniques such as rainwater harvesting and watershed management, the initiative seeks to replenish aquifers and ensure sustainable water availability.
Climate change and rainfed agriculture increase the vulnerability of local agricultural practices. Soil acidity significantly affects soil fertility by altering the chemical, biological and physical properties of soil. Reclamation of soil fertility through organic farming, application of lime and gypsum, and soil conservation measures are key goals to increase agricultural productivity and reduce soil erosion.
The region’s forests, which are crucial for the livelihoods of tribal communities through non-timber forest products (NTFP), face degradation, impacting both the ecosystem and the economic stability of these communities. Protecting and restoring natural habitats, particularly forests, is crucial for preserving biodiversity and ecosystem services essential for the well-being of local communities.
Marginalization of tribal communities in Nandurbar, exacerbated by limited access to resources, lack of representation in governance structures, and socioeconomic disparities, hinders their participation in development initiatives. Nature-Positive Solutions initiative aims to promote equity and social inclusion by empowering marginalized tribal communities through capacity-building, livelihood diversification, and inclusive decision-making processes.
Rapid deforestation and land degradation in Nandurbar contribute to carbon emissions, exacerbating climate change effects such as extreme weather events and loss of ecosystem resilience. By promoting afforestation, agroforestry, and sustainable land management practices, the initiative seeks to enhance carbon sequestration and mitigate climate change impacts.
The CGIAR Initiative on Nature-Positive Solutions carries out its activities in partnership with numerous international and local organizations in order to leverage collaboration and the sharing of knowledge and skills and achieve the maximum possible impact. In each region several CG centers take part in the activities by contributing their expertise for the success of the entire initiative.
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