Joint evaluation of the watershed management

Evaluation covers the period 4/79-6/81 and is based on document review, interviews with RENARE and project personnel, and onsite inspections. Progress in watershed management -- especially in soil conservation, less so in pasture improvement and reforestation -- has been slow with only 26% of loaned funds expended halfway through the project. Nonetheless, implementation has recently been better, and remarkable progress has been made transforming RENARE, through training and reorganization, into a capable conservation institution. For more detailed analysis of current project status, see the attached PES (PD-AAI-626). It is recommended that RENARE: (1) review reforestation plans for 1982-83 to ensure that only areas in need of stabilization are planted; (2) develop more realistic strategies for managing parks and forest preserves; (3) reduce the cost of establishing and managing plantations; (4) improve weed control; (5) prepare written reforestation agreements to be signed by RENARE and cooperating landowners; (6) conduct analyses to determine optimal planting times; (7) seek to develop improved administrative procedures with the Ministry of Agriculture in order to allow RENARE to contract labor directly; (8) obtain technical assistance (TA) in financial management; (9) ensure timely processing of reimbursement vouchers; (10) establish adequate petty cash funds, reduce administrative burdens and personnel costs, and increase labor efficiency--possibly through private sector involvement in reforestation--at regional offices; (11) utilize avaliable TA to address problems in applied research and evaluation, nursery/plantation management, and road construction techniques; (12) evaluate the cost-benefit relationships of major project activities to determine those most worthy of continued support; (13) study the project"s impacts. Finally, it is recommended that A.I.D. determine appropriate and adequate funding levels for RENARE and adjust its advances accordingly.