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Pilio and SAMA^Verte have been engaged by Better Cotton as Knowledge Partners for biodiversity. With funding from the Better Cotton Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF), this project aims to build the capacity of Better Cotton farmers to develop Community Biodiversity Enhancement Plans (CBEP) in and around cotton growing areas. These will be developed based upon the Better Cotton Principles & Criteria Version 3.0 of March 2023. The section on biodiversity: “Criterion 2.3 – Biodiversity and natural habitats are conserved and enhanced” provides the primary framework.
The key components of this three-year project are:
Pilio and SAMA^Verte have developed the biodiversity strategy and baseline methodology. Using the strategy and baseline methodology biodiversity baseline has been successfully carried out across three learning groups forming biodiversity profile for each learning group. The baseline methodology has proven adequate in capturing evidence of presence of all classes of biodiversity and the indigenous knowledge stream regarding biodiversity including any social norms including values for biodiversity.
All of the data collected has been analyzed and representative elements have been used to form a biodiversity profile for each of the three villages. The biodiversity profile consists of seven sections which represent relative habitat percentages, number of indicator species, species at risk along with practices and biodiversity values of community and farmers.
Proving the success of baseline, SAMA^Verte has delivered trainings on biodiversity baseline methodology to one regional team of local Implementation Partner of Better Cotton in Shujabad. This institutional capacity building exercise has resulted in exponential growth of knowledge regarding biodiversity with more than 3 regional teams of Implementation Partner having received the training internally.
Currently, the Knowledge Partner Team is implementing Community
Biodiversity Enhancement Plans (CBEPs)in all of the three LGs with the support of local community and implementing Partner. CBEPs are detailed implementations plans focused at enhancing biodiversity in the region in a sustainable manner with inclusion and support of community at all stages. CBEPs include habitat and species-specific interventions tailored to the on-ground conditions. CBEPs also include farmer and community capacity building related to unsustainable practices disrupting ecosystem and biodiversity at the present. Farmers will also be trained to develop basic knowledge on how to conduct on-farm and off-farm biodiversity surveys.
Pilio and SAMA^Verte, are also developing a nature enhancement model to find sustainable funding sources for community biodiversity enhancement plans. In this regard, multiple not for profit funding sources and the community itself have been considered. The model is still under consideration and will be tested by mid of year 2025.
The Biodiversity Enhancement Strategy and Baseline Methodology has been designed keeping in view the global frameworks including Convention on Biological Diversity’s recent Global Biodiversity Framework and Sustainable Development Goals. The strategy is also being aligned with the biodiversity related target setting guidance from Science Based Targets Initiative.
