Planning soil conservation projects through participation - A Guide
Poor project design has been shown to be the most significant factor leading to the failure of soil conservation projects. However, the lessons learnt from these failures have been instrumental in promoting a major change in thinking with regard to catchment management. There are two key elements underlying this new approach: People's participation and better land Husbandry. The Guidelines present procedures and methods for planning soil conservation projects following a "bottom-up" participatory approach.
Background
A study carried out by the FAO showed that poor project design has been the most significant factor leading to the failure of soil conservation projects. The Guidelines for planning soil conservation through participation have therefore been produced to aid better project formulation using a participatory "bottom-up" approach.

The Guidelines
The Guidelines describe the activities involved over the complete project cycle from problem identification to post project evaluation. Most emphasis is placed on the critical stages leading to project formulation.

What it Covers
The Guidelines are divided into two main sections:

Section I: Approaches to catchment management
This section describes the mechanisms of catchment degradation, different approaches to catchment planning and the lessons learnt from the relatively poor record of success of soil conservation programmes in developing countries. It briefly reviews the potential costs and benefits associated with catchment management projects and concludes with a summary of the planning framework, which forms the second part of the guidelines.

Section II: Framework for participatory planning
The stages of project planning, preparation, formulation and implementation are described in turn, placing emphasis on the role and participation of the project stakeholders at each stage. Monitoring and

  Evaluation are also covered in detail

Further, more detailed information on methods and procedures is provided in the appendices, covering:

  • Components of land degradation
  • Sources and analysis of secondary data
  • Characterising recommendation domains
  • Informal surveys for assessing farm household characteristics
  • Farmer to farmer dissemination

Contributors
HR Wallingford Ltd, UK

Intended Users
The Guidelines are intended for use by Government Officials and others who are responsible for catchment management planning and research and extension specialists who wish to learn more of the methods and procedures involved in the planning of soil conservation projects following a "bottom-up", participatory approach.

Douglas, M and Lawrence, P, 1997. Planning soil conservation projects through participation: A Guide. HR Wallingford, UK. Report no. OD 139.

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