A
transect walk is a serious of observations performed while walking across a
geographical area (village, tank catchment, cascade, etc.) by observing,
asking, listening, looking and producing a transect diagram. In the case of cascade,
it is to develop a cascade profile. Accordingly, a cascade profile is a cross
section of the cascade, showing the connections between the cascade and the
farmer community. It is a quick, initial assessment tool that may reveal a need
for more detailed or quantitative assessment. This exercise helps to
triangulate data collected through other methods. At the same time, the walk
must be complemented by other methods like problem-prioritising and translation
into action plans. Therefore, the cooperation of the major stakeholders must be
secured in order to implement results from the transect walk and subsequent
mapping.
Purpose: Learn the cascade and identify issues that affect negatively to it, in a participative manner with all relevant stakeholders in order to develop a profile for the cascade, which enables to develop a pragmatic cascade management plan to ensure the sustainability of the cascade and the water productivity of the tank system in the area.
Deputy Project Director’s Office (Southern Province) of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project organized three transect walks recently with the participation of over 70 members of the Cascade Management Committees people, who were divided into 3 groups, went on a transect walk covering the entire the (Ellanga) Cascade along 3 transect walk to the last lake called Babawa Lake of the Cascade.
The
first group walked from the border of Ellanga above Tabarawa Lake through
Tambarawa Lake, Muliththan Lake, Karabidangu Lake, Maila Gus Lake, Karuvala
Bend, Rotawala Lake and Deiyange Lake, Bandu Lake, Halemba Lake to Babawa Lake
around 10 km, the second group walked from Panagammana Tank, via Bandu Lake,
Helamba Lake to Babawa Lake around 11 km, and the third group walked from
Millatta Lake via Julpatana Lake, Aliwala, Muwan Lake, Mailattha to Babawa
Lake around 8km.
The cascade profile: It is developed after the transect. It reveals the interrelationship between various ecosystems in the cascade especially from the cascade watershed to the village tank system. Further, it helps stakeholders to gain an understanding of the cascade area, extent of cascade, severity of problems, resources use, type of damages done to the cascade, types of animals live, number of small tanks located within the cascade, endangered species, areas that have been deforested and so forth.
The profile also provides a venue for stakeholder agencies and the farmer community to share information and understand their responsible areas and duties in a different perspective. Moreover, it helps to open eyes of the local politicians, policy makers, stakeholder agencies and farmers to see the true picture of the cascade and thereby to take appropriate decisions to safeguard the cascade. Most importantly, the profile contributes largely to preparing a pragmatic Cascade Management Plan in a collective manner.
