Abstract:
Environmental assessments are normally triggered by larger-scale development projects. In contrast, this study offers experiences from a small-scale development project where dairy goats and root crops were introduced as project interventions in four villages facing several environmental constraints. Participatory appraisal methods revealed environmental challenges and impacts including shortage of pasture, deforestation, conflicts between farmers and pastoralists, and loss of biodiversity. Once understood, farmers were able to design mitigation strategies to address environmental impacts. Such methods could be applied to other small-scale development initiatives where positive or negative environmental impacts can be enhanced or ameliorated.
