IMPACTS

• Environmental enhancements from reduced soil and forest degradation resulting from a) increased tree planting, b) increased protection and management of natural wood lands, c) protection of vulnerable stream bank areas and watersheds, d) increased efficiency of wood use; and e) increased use of alternative materials for construction and fuel.
• New long-term, income-producing opportunities and increased land values due to the reduction of forest and soil degradation.
• Villages empowered (a) to address their own problems and needs by harnessing new resources and capabilities; and (b) to formulate by-laws to better regulate, use and manage natural resources for the common good and the good of individual households.
• Villages and households trained and equipped to sustainably manage their farm and forest resources, improving not only livelihoods but also local economies.
• Potential diversification of farm activities and market participation activities resulting from sustainable harvesting and responsible use of tree-based resources.
• Increased food security, income-earning capacity, and development and use of wood products.
• Buy-in from other stakeholders and greater external support for expanding and strengthening poverty-alleviation programs.
• Best practices and lessons learned leading to models for replication, expansion, and adaptation to other areas in the region as well as to neighboring countries.
• Development of case studies for public use illustrating successes and benefits of poverty-alleviation measures.
• Spin-off programs that address relevant peripheral issues of mutual interest to all partners (e.g., introduction of irrigation and other technologies to increase food security and income; development of improved natural resource curricula for primary and secondary education; reduction in the use of child labor in rural areas; inter-related measures to address nutrition and health issues – especially related to Malaria and HIV-AIDS).
• Emerging opportunities for improving farming technologies and practices through research and development involving a range of institutions.