Water conservation and integrated resources management : a case study on Interface Forestry Programme in Allikuli watershed, Thiruvallur division, Tamil Nadu, India

The Interface Forestry Project (IFP) in Tamil Nadu is a multicomponent project whose aim is the rehabilitation of a degraded environment by regeneration of the natural vegetation, afforestation and landscape engineering. According to the 1982 statistics, only 0.13 hectare of cultivable land per person is available in this region. Most of the cultivation is rainfed agriculture, and while use of groundwater for irrigation is possible, the changes in land use are threatening aquifer recharge. The lack of reliable water supplies has caused low yields and harvest failures, resulting in widespread poverty; even among landowners with significant acreage. There is a lack of community cooperation; few farmers were willing to share wells. The IFP, begun in 1988, has constructed soil and water conservation measures and planted 15 varieties of trees. The natural vegetation is beginning to recover, and erosion has been significantly reduced, if not eliminated. Among the social improvements noted was an agreement between villagers to halt the abuse of the planted areas by allowing cattle and goats to graze there. Concerns are addressed regarding the maintenance of the project once the support is withdrawn, and suggestions for management and administration are given.