USAID Bangladesh’s Climate-Resilient Ecosystems and Livelihoods (CREL) project is implemented by a team led by Winrock International. CREL aims to scale up and adapt co-management models for better conservation of wetland to improve the natural resource management, as well as to build climate change resiliency through diversified livelihoods.
Co-management organizations (CMO) are the vehicle through which CREL aims to create effective natural resource management (NRM), conservation and sustainable livelihoods in project sites Hazarikhill Co-management Organization (HCMO), a voluntary Natural Resources Management Organization , having its Forest Department endorsed office at Hazarikhill, Fatikchari, Community Development Centre (CODEC).
BSRM and HCMO joined hands to support expanding tree plantation and livelihood activity at landscape households to restore and maintain the forests at both buffer and core zone of Hazarikhill, Baroierdhala and its constituent biodiversity in the best possible condition.
Strategy chosen for this project is – increasing income of the neighboring population and awareness building on importance of ecosystem. 100 households have been selected whom HCMO will counsel in smaller groups, train, help each individual to engage in activities of his/her own choice as their skill permits. The fund will be revolving, and refunded in a timely manner and bring more households under the programme in the coming years and make it a sustainable project.