Minutes Annual Conference of the Pasture Management Networking Platform February 6th, 2015 Sheraton Hotel, Dushanbe,

The Annual Conference of the Pasture Network took place on February 6th at Sheraton Hotel, Dushanbe city. It convened a total number of 86 participants and speakers from a wide range of organizations within and outside Tajikistan. Among the participating national institutions and international development agencies were: Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Justice, Women and Family Affairs Committee under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, Academy of Science, EU, UN Women, USAID, FAO, IFAD, WB, GIZ, SDC, Caritas Switzerland, AKF, CESVI, ACTED, and Association of Veterinarians of Tajikistan.

The conference aimed at summarizing the achievements over the year 2014 against the targeted objectives and outcomes described in the Activity Plan/ToR of the Pasture Management Networking Platform. It also aimed at gathering ideas and feedbacks on further engagements and learning processes for the year 2015. The GIZ FLERMONECA team as the secretariat of the Pasture Network and its platform, presented on the processes and products achieved during the year 2014. Thus, for each outcome the following processes and products were presented:

Outcome 1 “Knowledge Exchange & Joint Learning” As a Kick-Off of the Pasture Management Networking Platform, a Round Table involving the Ministry of Agriculture, State Committee for Environmental Protection, the Tajik Livestock Institute, and inviting all development partners working in the rangelands and livestock sector, took place in December 2013. Coordination Meetings with IFAD, WB, SDC and AKF were organized in cooperation with the GIZ FFPSD/GREAT project, with the purpose to discuss the overlapping areas, ways to avoid duplication and improve implementation efficiency. Study Tour to Kyrgyzstan provided a ground for knowledge and experience exchange, as well as for joint learning of new perspectives. Regional Practitioners’ Conference in Kyrgyzstan allowed not only Central Asian practitioners but also the international experts learn about the progress gaps and needs to move forward in the path of sustainable pasture management, policy and institutions, and rehabilitation practices.

Outcome 2 “Identification and Documentation of Good Practices/Dissemination” A successful practice of Hay Cabling, which became popular in Rasht Valley, Tajikistan, was documented in WOCAT. A video with local beneficiaries’ stories was recorded for the purpose of dissemination. Newsletter of the Pasture Management Networking Platform is regularly elaborated and released to the “network” members, as well as to the relevant government institutions to inform the public about the Pasture Network activities. Grazing Calendar for PUUs with key messages was elaborated and released for use as a tool for planning and monitoring of pastures. A GIS Map of Pasture and Livestock Related Projects in Tajikistan was developed and distributed to the “network” members for coordination and unified knowledge about donor interventions on pasture management in targeted districts and jamoats of Tajikistan.

Outcome 3 “Contribution to Pasture Management Policy” Public Hearings on draft by-laws to the Pasture Law were organized for the Parliament Members on district level during the months of May and June 2014. National-level Round Table to discuss draft by-laws to the Pasture Law and their applicability in real life took place in August 2014 in Dushanbe. Thematic Meetings to discuss the challenges encountered by the PUUs and the processes of PUU registration were organized. A Model PUU Statute with clear recommendations and steps on PUU registration was also elaborated as a result of these meetings. A PUU Policy Note was elaborated based on a survey with the IFAD, WB, SDC, GIZ and AKF and EU project implementing partners. This Policy Note describes the current situation of the PUUs in terms of their registration, use rights and limitations.

During the conference Mr. Sharofjon Rahimov, the Head of Technology and Innovations Department, Livestock Institute under the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan presented about the status of the draft by- laws to the Pasture Law. It was mentioned that a cross-sectoral expert group was formed to further analyse the applicability of these draft by-laws, given the existing gaps of the current Pasture Law. The expert group will also analyse the discrepancies of the Pasture Law in comparison with other land management related laws.

The Conference also provided three side events on specific topics, which the participants expressed interest to participate in. The specific topics included: tax and land issues, pasture management planning, and role of women in pasture management. The side events were organized in a non-traditional way in a theatre setting where the speakers discussed real life situations and were followed by questions from the actual PUU members, livestock owners and herders. The session on tax and land issues was the most attended and it raised a lot of questions requiring detailed study by the Tax authorities. It was concluded that if the PUUs have a status of a Community-Based Organization the Pasture Law should clearly define this and thus should be amended in the nearest future. As of today the registered PUUs are not definite about their legal status and therefore cannot argue or advocate their legal rights and obligations related to pasture management. The pasture management planning session allowed the existing projects present their pasture management planning templates and tools and it was concluded that in fact a planning tool could be adapted to the different geographic location, social peculiarities and pasture types. The session on role of women in pasture management raised a discussion about the actual women participation in livestock management, dairy business and seasonal grazing. PUU female members from , Tojikobod, Jirgatal and were active participants of the discussion. It was decided that women will be involved in further case studies around Tajikistan to acknowledge the role of women in pasture and livestock management.

As an additional tool for land use planners the GIZ FLERMONECA team in cooperation with the GIZ FFPSD/GREAT team have elaborated a Land Use Planning Manual with a catalogue of technologies and practices. This LUP manual was also presented at this conference. The technologies and practices described in this manual were tested and are currently applied in different areas of Tajikistan, however the LUP is still under development. During the work groups the participants discussed its layout, contents and involvement of relevant implementing partners in describing the good pasture management practices/options.

Lastly, the conference ended with a session of planning further activities of the Pasture Network, i.e. identification of some key tasks and learning objectives for the year 2015. In correspondence with the objective of joint learning and experience sharing the participants requested for more internal exchange visits in view of several ongoing donor funded projects. For example, the PUUs established under the WB ELMAR project were interested to see the beneficiaries of the IFAD LPDP project and visa versa. The specific topics of exchange visits need to be further studied and discussed prior to making an exchange visit program. Among the areas to visit were mentioned: Rudaki, B. , , , Muminobod (Caritas), Tavildara (MSDSP), Shurobod (IFAD), Jirgatol (WB). As an outside-of-Tajikistan option countries like Iran, Mongolia and Turkmenistan were proposed for international level knowledge exchange and learning. The participants also expressed their opinion regarding participation in policy and legislation development processes. It was mentioned that experts from the “network” should participate at the meetings of the “By-Law Expert Group” to ensure coordination and relevant fruitful contribution. Moreover, the “network” members have expressed their will and strong interest to take part in gender assessments in the field of pasture management as this area still remains neglected and undiscovered.