Winners of the 2008 International ReSource Award for sustainable watershed management
A reservoir watershed project in China and a watershed forest preservation initiative on the Solomon Islands have won the 2008 International ReSource Award for Sustainable Watershed Management. The projects of the winning contestants distinguish themselves by actively involving the various stakeholder groups and creating strong emotional ties and local support. They are cost efficient and facilitate safe and clean water supply to the local communities.
Shangri-la Town, Yunnan: Ensuring safe and clean water supply
The Mountain Institute leading the project by the title of “Participatory Community Watershed Management for Ensuring Safe and Clean Water Supply for Shangri-la Town, Yunnan, China” is a non-profit organisation dedicated to conservation, community development and cultural preservation in various mountain ranges of the world. The aim of the project submitted for the award is to ensure clean and safe water supply for Shangri-la Town by facilitating multi-stakeholder collaboration in a dynamic reservoir watershed model.
The project’s main output will be to establish a watershed management plan and a committee with community and stakeholder representatives, to implement improved management practices and adopt relevant management regulations, and to establish regulations for watershed management and community natural resource management.
The Shangri-la Water Resource Bureau is the superior agency of Sangna Reservoir Agency. The Mountain Institute will support the Shangri-la Water Resource Bureau in implementing the project and facilitating the involvement of other stakeholders.
The project will receive USD 82 573 to implement the project submitted for the award. The overall cost of the pilot project is USD 211 504, and third-party contributions of USD 129,369 will be generated through cost sharing by the local government.
Solomon Islands: Watershed forest preservation
“Voices and Choices for the Chivoko Community” is the project title of the second award winner 2008. It was submitted by the Lauru Land Conference of Tribal Communities (LLCTC), an associated body registered in the Solomon Islands whose work has received national recognition. The project’s goal is to secure the 8000 ha of Chivoko watershed forests and place them legally beyond the reach of industrial logging ventures. A collaborative watershed management plan will also be developed based on national expertise providing sustainable forest management by community cooperative.
The two main activities of the award winning project are to abate the threat of clear-fell logging of the Chivoko watershed system by external interests and secure the commitment from the tribal council of Chivoko. A further step is to develop local institutional and technical capacity, strategies and partnerships to manage the Chivoko watershed forest for ecoforestry enterprises and compatible development activities to provide sustained local benefit.
The project will receive USD 75 000 to implement the project submitted for the award. The overall project is USD 95 000. Third-party contributions of USD 20 000 will be paid by The Nature Conservancy, partly in kind by way of administrative support and technical backstopping.
International ReSource Award: Press release 21 Feb 2008
Representatives from Solomon Islands received ReSource Award on 21 February 2008
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Shangri-la Town, Yunnan
Solomon Islands
