From 11–18 May 2015, a workshop was held in the Indian part of the Kailash Sacred Landscape (KSL) to facilitate partners in India to develop a participatory natural resources management (PNRM) plan for Himkhola, a village in Pithoragarh district. The training was attended by 13 participants from the Central Himalayan Environment Association (CHEA),Wildlife Instituteof India (WII), and GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development(GBPIHED), facilitated by Kamal Aryal, Neha Bisht and Sanjeev Bhuchar from ICIMOD.

The training was organized as part of the ecosystem management component of the Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative to increase the capacity of Indian professionals in PNRM planning and support the team to develop a PNRM plan for Himkhola. It included a theoretical understanding of the integrated watershed approach, various tools used for PRA-mobility mapping, resource mapping, stakeholder analysis, use of a seasonal calendar, and other tools. The workshop also made participants aware of the role of gender and governance in the management of natural resources.

The sessions were followed by field work, during which the participants used the various tools to design and formulate a PNRM plan for the village. The field work culminated in a stakeholder consultation dialogue with members of the Gram Sabha, Biodiversity Monitoring Committees, Forest Department, Agriculture Department and local community members. During the consultation the members from key departments shared their views and expressed their desire to provide need-based support to the Himkhola villagers through their respective departments.

The training and the PNRM plan were well received by the participants and local community. At the end of the training the participants commented on the whole process. Aniket Chaudhary from GBPIHED said that: “Knowing about resources and conservation practices is not enough for the preparation and implementation of the plan, especially at the community level. Stakeholder engagement and involvement in the planning and designing process is also crucial.”

Rashmi Devi Pradhan from Himkhola added that: “I am pleased to have been part of the PNRM planning process for Himkhola village. Involving all of the stakeholders from the village and asking us about our own problems and ideas for addressing these problems is highly appreciated.”

At the end of the training, an exposure trip was organized for the participants to meet with the Api Nampa staff and the District Forest Officer based at Darchula, Nepal to discuss their activities in the KSL Nepal and their experiences in developing and implementing PNRM plans.

Letter of Appreciation

• Training on Participatory Natural Resources Management Planning – Himkhola, India (PDF, 6KB)