Progress Report 

SECTION1- BACKGROUND INFORMATION

1.1	Project Title: People, Land Management and Environmental Change
1.2	Project Number: GF/1300-98-01
1.3	Responsible Office: The United Nations University
1.4	Co-operating/Executing Institutions: University of Ghana, Ghana; University of Conakry, Guinea; Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Kenya; Ukiriguru Agricultural Research Institute, Tanzania; Makerere University, Uganda; Chinese Academy of Sciences/Kunming, China; National Research Institute, Papua New Guinea; IPAM (Instituto de Pesquisa Ambiental da Amazônia), Brazil.
1.5	Reporting Period:  1 March 1999  – 29 February 2000

SECTION 2 –PROJECT STATUS

2.1 Status of the Implementation of the Activities and Outputs Listed under the Workplan in the Project Document
2.1.1 Status of the Implementation (check appropriate box)

Project activities and outputs listed in the Workplan for the reporting period have been materially completed and the Institution reporting is satisfied that the project will be fully completed on time (given reasons for minor variations at Section 3 below)

Project activities and outputs listed in the Workplan for the reporting period have been altered (give reasons for alterations: lack of finance; lack of guideline; reformulated; project revisions; other at Section 3 below)

Project activities and outputs listed in the Workplan for the reporting period have not been fully completed and delays in project delivery are expected (give reasons for variations in Section 3.1 and new completion date in Section 3.2 below)

          Insufficient detail provided in the Project Workplan

2.1.2 Overall Progress Against the  Project Workplan

The four-year project PLEC under GEF funding formally started on 1 March 1998. The project implementation was into the second year  on 1 March 1999, and  progress made on schedule.

Major progress was made in developing and harmonising  methodologies  through Scientific Coordination, Biodiversity Group (BAG) and  Demonstration Activities Advisory Team (DAT and in assessing  all elements of agrodiversity, and in  demonstrating good practices of using agrodiversity, and in capacity building.   

Advance in methodologies is based on a diversity of existing approaches by different clusters. The special issue of PLEC News and Views (No.13) of April 1999 put forward three guideline papers for project-wide application. The Biodiversity Advisory Group (BAG) reviewed existing methods and proposed a practical methodology for agrobiodiversity assessment. For a broader topic, Scientific Coordinators revised guidelines on agrodiversity assessment in demonstration site areas as a companion to the BAG guidelines. In order to conduct more detail results, the sampling frame for agrobiodiversity and agrodiversity assessment is now based on land-use stages and field types while the investigation during the preparatory period was largely an assessment along  transects at reconnaissance level. The China Cluster has moved further to appreciate agrodiversity at household level.  BAG members visited Papua New Guinea, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The detail participatory assessment helps further identify good practices in agrodiversity, and expert farmers.  In connection, the third guideline paper was presented by Amazonia Cluster on their successful  experience in demonstrating good practices in agrodiversity with expert farmers. The core of the emerging method  is to work with the most skilled, or ‘expert’ farmers, in devising and propagating patterns that combine superior, or more secure, production with preservation or even enhancement of biological diversity in their fields. The scientists learn from the farmers, and assist successful farmers to train others. They have to be facilitators more than they are interventionists. A general adoption of this distinctive approach throughout the PLEC was greatly facilitated by formation of the Demonstration Activities Advisory Team (DAT), who have visited Papua New Guinea, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Production of a manual for assessment of land degradation is launched. A pilot initiative with PLEC clusters in Asia-Pacific Region for testing indices and developing a basic  manual for  land degradation assessment was led by a scientific advisor under joint support between PLEC and the Macquarie University in Australia. Recently, UNEP has approved a project largely based on PLEC for producing guidelines for field assessment of soil degradation, which is under leadership of one PLEC Scientific Coordinator at University of East Anglia in England.   The output will have wide application  beyond  PLEC.

On  the assessment of agrodiversity, most agrobiodiversity data have been collected or re-collected, and reported by clusters following guidelines made available in 1998 and 1999, but the data quality varied across clusters. Initial data analysis is finished and reported. Compiling data into a database form at national level is under way with technical advice from a data management consultant. Due to legal and logistical reasons, the raw data are held by clusters in their own countries, only aggregated results will be reported and compiled into a data-base in UNU. As for other elements of agrobiodiversity, management regimes are compared across sites; demonstration site populations and causes of resources degradation are analysed and reviewed. Initial results of the assessment are reported.

The current number of demonstration sites is 21 operational with a further 7 in development. Demonstration of good practices of using agrodiversity is expanding at some PLEC demonstration sites. Participating farmers have adopted and are currently practicing those practices/methods found useful/relevant to them. Farmers and communities outside the current PLEC sites are also volunteering to participate in PLEC activities. More and more expert farmers were involved, and farmers’  associations  were strengthened to lead demonstration activities. The value of agrodiversity for livelihoods  is widely sensitised in local population at field workshops and other occasions. Meanwhile, some cluster adjusted approaches to demonstration from the scientist-directed intervention to the farmer-led capacity building. Still, some clusters have concentrated on identification and documentation of good practices and expert farmers for demonstration. 

With respect to capacity-building, more and more farmers obtained practical techniques through farmer-to-farmer training.  By exposure to what PLEC does with farmers, agricultural extension workers and other official associates are also being sensitized to the knowledge and skills of the best farmers, and even implementing PLEC field activities in some clusters. New or old member scientists were re-trained and re-oriented  in a farmer-centred approach.  There is now a body of students associated with the project who are receiving training ‘on the job’ in the PLEC approach to rural development with conservation.  Both university and school courses are offered, and in one country (Guinée) PLEC activities have included the promotion of literacy classes for village people. The whole PLEC network has expanded to include more than 200 professionals, including core and associated scientists, young researchers and students, the majority of whom are in developing countries, plus several hundred participating farmers.
In addition to numerous informal meetings in the field, a large number of meetings and workshops were organised at project and cluster levels. Among others are the 3rd annual meeting of the PLEC Management Group, 15-18 May 1999, Toluca, Mexico; the 4th Meeting of the Joint UNESCO-UNU-TWAS Programme on “South-South Cooperation on Environmentally Sound Socio-Economic Development in the Humid Tropics” , 19 – 24 May 1999, Xalapa, Mexico; The 4th PLEC West Africa Cluster regional workshop, 6-8 September 1999, Pita, Guinea; The coordinators’ meeting, 26-27 January, Xishuangbanna, China. 

PLEC has been disseminated to a wide international community through publication of No. 12 (April 1999), No. 13 (special issue on methodology, April, 1999), No.14 (November 1999)  of PLEC News and Views. PLEC was presented at the 10th International Soil Conservation Organization Conference, 23-28 May, 1999, West Lafayette, Indiana; the 6th Meeting of  International Geographical Union Commission on Land Degradation and Desertification, Perth, Australia, 20-28 September 1999; and  the third session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations convention to Combat Desertification, Recife, Brazil, 15-26 November 1999.

With advice from scientific coordinators, DAT and BAG, clusters in East Africa  and Papua New Guinea are concentrating their work in more narrowly defined areas, and making significant progress, especially in the second half of the year. 

2.2 List Actual Project Personnel/Consultants engaged and Non-Expendable Equipment Purchased:
See Appendix 1 for  List of Project Personnel/Consultants.
See Appendix 2  for List of  Non-Expendable Equipment.

2.3 List Actual Activities and Outputs Achieved in the Reporting Period

2.3.1 FIELD-BASED ACTIVITIES: DEMONSTRATION SITES,  BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT, PARTICIPATORY RURAL APPRAISAL and OUTREACH AND EXPERIMENTAL WORK

General

Activity 1 (Demonstration Sites in general) continued. Current number of demonstration sites are 21 operational with a further 7 in development. The site areas in East Africa Cluster and Papua New Guinea were re-defined. With farmers, three-year work plans at sites were drawn up and adapted to the new situation.  

Activity 2 (Biodiversity Assessment) guidelines were made available to harmonise methodology across clusters. The Biodiversity Advisory Group (BAG) provided guidelines on agrobiodiversity assessment. The 2nd  meeting of  BAG recommended Microsoft Access database program for construction of agrobiodiversity database, and developed five-related formats (tables) for data entry, and advise clusters of keeping detail information about utility of plant species in the country of origin in order to avoid the issue of intellectual property right in the biodiversity database. Scientific Coordinators  revised general guidelines on agrodiversity assessment, especially on other elements of agrodiversity, namely, biophysical diversity, management diversity and organisational diversity.

Following those guidelines, most agrobiodiversity data have been collected or re-collected, and reported by clusters, but the data quality varied across clusters. Initial data analysis is finished and reported. Compiling data into a database form at national level is under way with technical advice from a data management consultant. Due to legal and logistical reasons, the raw data are held by clusters in their own countries, only aggregated results will be reported and compiled into a data-base in UNU. As for other elements of agrobiodiversity, management regimes are compared across sites; demonstration site populations and causes of resources degradation are analysed and reviewed. Initial results of the assessment are reported from clusters.

China Cluster has furthered agrobiodiversity assessment from landscape level to household level, linking the assessment with the identification of expert farmers and promising practices.
Production of a manual for assessment of land degradation is launched. A pilot initiative with PLEC clusters in Asia-Pacific Region for testing indices and developing a basic manual for  land degradation assessment was led by a scientific advisor under joint support between PLEC and the Macquarie University. Recently, UNEP has approved a project largely based on PLEC for producing guidelines for field assessment of soil degradation, which is under leadership of one PLEC Scientific Coordinator at University of East Anglia.   The output will have wide application  beyond  PLEC.
 
Activity 3 (Participatory Rural Appraisal) continued to involve farmers in PLEC and to  understand social and economic aspects of agrodiversity, i.e. organisational diversity. Following the guidelines, clusters have completed field work, and reported initial findings. 

Activity 4 (sustainable models of agrodiversity management based on farmers’ technologies and knowledge at demonstration sites). PLEC demonstration under some clusters is advancing rapidly  and is influencing farmers, local communities and other stakeholders beyond the site areas. PLEC professionals facilitated farmer to farmer training for exchange of locally developed knowledge and practices. The enthusiasm of local population on PLEC in these sites could be capitalised to extend PLEC activities and influence to other areas. 

Meanwhile, some cluster adjusted approaches to demonstration from the scientist-directed intervention to the farmer-led capacity building. Still, some clusters have concentrated on identification and documentation of good practices and expert farmers for demonstration. 

The value of agrodiversity for livelihoods  is widely sensitized in local population at field workshops and other occasions. PLEC farmers of southern Ghana hosted a major show of traditional meals based on endangered biotic species on 5 November 1999 at Sekesua-Osonson demonstration site, demonstrating the value of agrodiversity.  Over 1,000 people attended it. They included farmers, government officials, PLEC scientists and a  Scientific Co-ordinator), Leader of Papua New Guinea cluster and Managing Co-ordinator. It received national TV coverage, and was featured in a popular national daily newspaper.

Amazonia
 Santarém: 
•	Two main sites, respectively on Ituqui island  and Aracampina island  established. 
•	Biodiversity and agrodiversity inventory was completed, and the report is forthcoming. 
•	Population data were collected and analysed. Income and expenses of participating households monitored. The report is forthcoming
•	In Aracampina, working with the Association of Mini and Small Fishers and Farmers on annual crops, housegardens and fallow management. In Ituqui, reforestation of lake margins continued.

Amapá:  
•	Two site villages, Mazagão and Ipixuna  have been further developed. 
•	Biodiversity surveys were conducted. Participatory mapping and inventories were used in training the owners of each selected landholding before the demonstration sites were surveyed. Biodiversity surveys in fallows continued 
•	Social analysis of populations continued.
•	A total of 36 demonstration plots were established: 23 plots in fallows, forests, field, house gardens and orchards in Mazagao, and 13 plots in faloows and fields in Ipixuna. The participation of the selected expert farmers in the process of planning and executing demonstration activities was greatly consolidated during this period. A total of 26 visits of farmers (9 in Ipixuna and 17 in Mazagao) to demonstration plots established in fallows were organised by the experts and the project team. The main goal of the visits was to demonstrate the visiting farmers how the experts are managing fallows for the production of timber and fruits (particularly açai and taperiba). New landholdings for the future establishment of demonstration plots are in development to demonstrate production and management systems and techniques that are not used by the current selected experts.

Marajó:
•	Two subsidiary sites have been identified, Jabuti and retiro Grande, in the municipality of cachoeira do Arari in central Marajó Island.  The first has a population of 30 and the second 60 families.  Five families will participate in a program to monitor farm inputs and outputs.
•	The main different types of production systems  were identified (perennial & annual crops, forest products, small animals and small scale cattle raising). 
•	Preliminary surveys of households in the two communities were undertaken.  More in depth surveys will be undertaken in collaboration with two community groups.

Yunnan, China 
•	Reports on “Sustainable Community Development Planning” for all four sites have been completed. Two farmers associations were newly formed in Daka, and Shabadi sites.
•	Agrobiodiversity assessment at Daka, Baka and Hanlong sites were completed and initial findings reported.  Preliminary assessment of land degradation was conducted at Daka, Baka and Hanlong sites, and initial findings reported. 
•	Participatory rural appraisal was completed, initial reports at 3 sites  submitted. 
•	The demonstration approach is modified to emphasise role of expert farmers. Experiments on indigenous preferred timber tree, home garden, agroforestry, butterfly farming and  indigenous Cassia siamea firewood groves continued. 

Papua New Guinea 
•	Dreikikir-Wosera site in East Sepik Province was selected as the principal site, which consists of three close  villages,  Tumam, Ngahmbole, and  Miko No.2.   Tari site is held up as a result of regional conflicts and a decision of continuation  is pending in April 2000. The site at Ossima, Sandaun Province was dropped.  A new site has been initiated in Sogeri plateau, Central Province.
•	A major biodiversity inventory completed and reported at Dreikikir-Wosera site. 11 categories of land use were identified. 50 plots were sampled in five categories. The agrodiversity inventory has been completed in one category, 1st yam planting gardens for a sample of 50 farmers. 
•	Genealogical and census records have been updated for Dreikikir-Wosera site and used as a sampling frame for the inventory work. A census of coffee and cocoa gardens by farmer, including a count of trees, has been completed for Tumam and Nghambole. Details of cocoa sales to local fermentaries were collected for the year 1999.
•	Farmers have been kept up to date on progress in regular village meetings. Meetings were held with village councillors and other leaders at Sogeri site, and PLEC concept was well received.
Uganda 
Mwizi site and Kabingo site, Mbarara District:
•	Two sites, one each at Bushwere Parish in Mwizi Sub-county and at Kamuri Parish in Kabingo Sub-county were precisely delimited. The three-year plan of work completed with farmers;
•	Definition of field types and analysis of agrodiversity completed for both minor and major growing seasons in both demonstration sites, with slight modification of the BAG guidelines to cater for the inherent landscape /soil diversity. Work repeated in Bushwere with BAG advice, and the tabulated database and preliminary analysis reported;
•	Assessment of organisational diversity completed and data analysis is continuing;
•	Identified 12 expert farmers in Bushwere and 10 in Kamuri. Assessed  their innovative practices on planting annuals and perennials (banana and coffee), and managing soil and water, and conserving biodiversity in home garden for demonstration. Formed Mwizi Expert Farmers’ Association (MPEFA) in Bushwere. The field work was actively supported by local extension service.  
 
Kenya
•	Lari Division in Kiambu and Nduri village in Embu were selected as the principal sites. 
•	Initial biodiversity survey in the study area has been conducted and reported. Sampled fields and quadrates are marked within farmers' fields. Biodiversity study in accordance with the BAG has been completed and reported in Embu.  
•	Demographic survey  has been conducted and reported.
•	There has been significant development at demonstration site at   Embu, but work in Kiambu is still an early stage.

Tanzania
•	Olgilai/Ngiresi site with high altitude and rainfall, and Kiserian site with low altitude and rainfall are firmly established in Arameru. A work plan was developed in accordance with farmers activities and project outputs for year three. Routine visits to each site at least once a weeks by PLEC extension staff  and once a month by PLEC scientists.
•	Agrodiversity assessment was redone, and draft reports completed following guidelines. An improved version on agrobiodiversity data and report is expected. Work towards refinement of identified land use stages (LUS) and field types (FTs) continued and more refinement is expected. 5 LUS and 18 FTs in Kiserian and 6 LUS and 30 FTs in Olgilai/Ngiresi have been identified. There seems greater diversity with resource rich farmers than resource poor ones.
•	Participatory Rural Appraisal continued. A report on farmers livelihood and market fluctuations during the season was completed. A separate document on land tenure and by-laws on resource management and agrodiversity is expected. 
•	More non PLEC farmers in the sites and others outside PLEC sites are voluntarily and actively attending on-farm PLEC training sessions. Some farmers have adopted and are currently practicing those practices/methods found useful/relevant to them during the training. They now believe after seeing that farmer engineered training sessions are more relevant and much more acceptable by a majority of fellow village farmers than those conducted by experts. Three women groups were initiated for income generation and tree nursery. A gradual and steady expansion of PLEC domain in Arumeru is observed. 

Ghana
•	Seven demonstration sites (3 in southern Ghana, 2 in central, and 2 in northern) reached advanced stage of development.  Sekesua-Osonson in southern Ghana and Jachie in central Ghana led them. Amanase-Whanabenya in southern Ghana and Bongnayili-Dugu-Song in the north picked up rapidly.  Planned extension to Kwae and Anloga in southern Ghana, and to communities around Sekesua-Osonson, Amanase-Whanabenya and Jachie in response to popular demand. Support in form of seedlings, cash, materials and advice for off-farm income-generating activities provided for Associations of PLEC-CAMP Farmers in all sites.
•	Significant progress in filling gaps in previous work on floral diversity, and in recording the data in standardised form according to BAG format. Initial recording of agrodiversity was essentially completed for southern Ghana.   Attempts were made at bringing agrodiversity (including biodiversity aspects) assessment in central and northern Ghana more in tune with the suggested standardised format. 
•	Social analysis of demonstration site population (including resource tenure)  progressed satisfactorily, and was reported.
•	Farmer-led conservation proceeded apace: a) conservation of trees on farm, relict forest groves and other mini bio-reserves; b) nurseries of rare and preferred species of plants; c)conservation of indigenous varieties of rice; d) soil conservation through stone terracing/lining and grass bunding along slopes, and agronomic and vegetative measures; e) tree planting. 
•	Income-generating activities continued to focus on local poultry, bee-keeping, and snail and mushroom raising in central Ghana, whilst there were initiatives in group nuclear piggery, sheep and snail ventures by PLEC-CAMP Farmers in southern Ghana. 
•	Investigation into trees that combine effectively with field crops and experiments on soil conservation and continued. Initial findings reported. 

Guinea

•	Two demonstration sites have been established one each in Pita (Bantignel) and  in Kouroussa (Moussaya). The site in Pita is  a compound area consisting of a few villages spaced over a few kilometers: Missidé Héiré, Dianguel, Goloya, Tioukoungol, Kollagui, and Dar-Es-Salam. With farmers participation, a yearly work plan has been set up and adapted to each site situation. 
•	Biodiversity inventory in groves completed and reported. The inventory in the house garden continued. Causes of land degradation were analysed and reported. Comparison of management regimes were done and reported.  
•	Through interviews, group discussions and census, organisational diversity was assessed and reported, including land pressure, land use history, and  household economy. 
•	Different models have been experimented with popular farmer groups to conserve the biodiversity and improve farmers’ livelihoods by sustainable use of biodiversity. These included 1) nurseries of local varieties of medicinal  plants and rare species for reforestation; 2) composting of particular plants and manure cow-sheds for intensive production of cash crops; 3) planting rain-fed rice, maize and cotton for food self-sufficiency in a short term; 4) fruit plantations around houses and fields. 5) diversification of  crops in the house garden for food production and soil conservation. 6) dyeing and soap making using local plant resources.

2.3.2 ACTIVITY 5: REPORTS, WORKSHOPS ON MODELS

General

Except one cluster, the rest clusters and sub-clusters have submitted their initial chapter-length reports on demonstration sites in general, on biodiversity and agrodiversity assessment, and on organisational (participatory rural appraisal) activities, and will further fill gaps and complete reports for consolidation by Scientific Coordinators. 

With further advice from the BAG and a data management consultant, Clusters are  compiling  agrodiversity data into a Cluster database. Only the only aggregated results will be reported and compiled into a data-base in UNU due to legal and logistical consideration.

Amazonia

Databases sites in Santarém have been constructed for lake fisheries and aquatic macrophyte communities, and for socio-economic data. Considerable progress has been made in developing a GIS of Ituqui island.

Members of the team at Macapa have participated in 7 seminars organised in Macapa by the environmental secretary of the state and 3 conferences on production systems in varzea organised by the local University. The experts farmers also participated in three workshops conducted by the education secretary of Amapá. 

China

HH-ABA field workshop was held, August 1-10, Xishuangbanna. 6 participants attended. The workshop formulated and tested the HH-ABA. The methodology paper of HH-ABA was agreed to be cluster principles and guidelines  following general PLEC guidelines.

Initial chapter-length reports for Daka, Baka and Hanglong sites submitted. 

Papua New Guinea 
Three chapter-length reports submitted for the sites at Dreikikir-Wosera, and briefly for the sites at Tari and Sogeri.  Biodiversity database includes:
- Species list for Tumam/Nghambole and Miko demonstration sites
- Agrodiversity field sampling species database for Tumam/Nghambole and Miko demonstration site
- Agrodiversity database for Heli, Wenani and Kikita (Tari Basin demonstration site)
- Sago resource mapping for Miko (Postgraduate Student, Curtin University)

Uganda
Reports:
(i)  Reported on development of PLEC demonstration sites in south-western Uganda.
(ii) Compiled agrobiodiversity data at Bushwere site into a database form, made initial analysis. 
(iii) Reported organisational diversity at both sites.

Workshops:
(i) Held two sub-county level and four community workshops  for sensitisation and feedback.
(ii) Held a technical workshop on progress.

Kenya 
Three chapter-length reports are accomplished. Data in Embu is put into the Excel format. 

Tanzania
Draft report on agrodiversity was compiled and is to be improved.  Report on the organizational diversity has yet to be completed although  a report addressing socio-economic characteristics of selected households was completed. An initial report and data compilation on agrobiodiversity was submitted, and an improved version following BAG guidelines is expected. 
Ghana
•	The chapter-length reports on demonstration sites in general, on biodiversity and agrodiversity assessment, and on organisational (participatory rural appraisal) activities submitted 
•	Attempts initiated to standardise methods, particularly through Ghana-PLEC workshop on ‘Five Years of PLEC Experiences in Field Methodologies of Conserving Agricultural and Biological Diversity in Ghana’ held in Kumasi, 25-27 March 99, and through development of a common modified method of recording information on management and organisational aspects of agrodiversity.

Guinea
•	Preliminary chapter- length reports submitted on schedule.
•	A training workshop was organised in the field at the Kouroussa site to explain to farmers importance of improving land use systems, keeping vegetation cover on  soil surface, protecting soil against wind and water erosion ,increasing soil fertility and soil organic matter content and maximising water infiltration in the soil. Associated researchers and all farmers attended the workshop.

2.2.6 ACTIVITY 6: CAPACITY STRENGTHENING (TRAINING)
General

PLEC continued to create and strengthen a multidisciplinary network of specialists in developing countries. At cluster, more young researchers and university students are added to PLEC team for training. A total of more than 40 postgraduates and junior researchers joined PLEC under long or short training. A collaborative training programme between China Cluster and Yunnan University is established to involve 1-2 postgraduates in PLEC work each year. A regional centre for PLEC is proposed by PLEC-Ghana to organise the graduate training programme. The whole PLEC network has expanded to include more than 200 professionals, including core and associated scientists, young researchers and students, the majority of whom are in developing countries, plus several hundred participating farmers.

Courses on  working methods, and English were organised for local officials, students and young researchers. Both DAT and BAG provided field training to members of Papua New Guinea, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. One English training course was organised for 8 members of China Cluster. PLEC members in Ghana, and Uganda  were  sponsored to take training courses relevant to PLEC work. 

Inter-cluster collaboration saw significant progress.  BAG integrates expertise from three Clusters in Amazonia, China and West Africa to develop guidelines on biodiversity assessment. DAT brings experiences and expertise gained in some Clusters to help other PLEC clusters and to develop strategies in carrying out demonstration activities.  Initiatives have started to develop a manual for the assessment of land degradation and to provide training on application. A comparative study on floral and management diversity in dry zone of Ghana and Guinea is undertaken between PLEC sub-clusters of West Africa. 

At community level, training through visits, meetings, short courses and participant observation was organised for more than 600 farmers and other local stakeholders to facilitate learning and exchange of knowledge and technologies between communities, farmers, grassroots people, and scientists. Farmers have started to adopt good practices and  cultivars demonstrated to them.  Tanzania sub-cluster has reported that the rate of adoption of new or better management technologies is greater with farmer engineered training sessions  than any other approaches previously employed. In one country (Guinée) PLEC activities have included the promotion of literacy classes for village people.

Collaboration between PLEC and other UNU initiatives is further developed. UNU/INRA has participated in the project, especially in the area of capacity building and its Director acts as a Regional Advisor to PLEC. INRA continued supporting one researcher of PLEC-Ghana at its training course in computer applications,  and INRA has been instrumental in encouraging the trainee to apply the skills acquired. One PLEC Scientific Coordinator has taught at the UNU/IC. UNU Training and Fellowship Programme has partially supported one  PLEC researcher for postgraduate study at UEA. 

Amazonia
•	Santarém: two seminars in community management of lake fisheries, and one training programme for varzea school teachers of the municipal school system has been organised. In Ituqui, the school teachers and students were integrated into the community reforestation projects as part of the environmental education programme. 

•	Amapá: training courses organised for smallholders. Average 27 including 13 women joined demonstration activities. Participant observation methods were used in the promotion of demonstration activities. The farmer teaching farmer approach helps to disperse the results of demonstration activities beyond the boundaries of the communities where PLEC is working. 

•	Integrate College students in training activities: All three groups of the Amazon cluster are working with local university students.  Two NAEA graduate students are involved in activities at Santarém and local university undergraduates in the reforestation and range management projects.  Undergraduates will use their experience for their undergraduate theses.

China
•	Field  training workshop on methodology was conducted from March 27-April 8 in Xishuangbanna and Gaoligongshan. 10 persons in total participated in the field visit and training.
•	English fluency  training course was organised with Yunnan Normal University, August 1 - September 15, Kunming. 8 cluster members participated. 
•	A co-operative memorandum was signed with Yunnan University. 1-2 graduate students from Yunnan University will be jointly trained under the UNU/PLEC/CHINA each year. 3 female students have started work on their thesis with PLEC.
•	Training Workshop on Indigenous Preferred timber Tree was conducted in Xishuangbanna, June 17-19 1999.  Another farmer training was conducted with  51 farmers in attendance in Baihauling, Baoshan.

Papua New Guinea 
•	One postgraduate and two undergraduate students worked with PLEC on a short term basis.
•	Three research officers worked for PLEC on-the-job training on a full time basis. 

Uganda
•	Five young scientists (Graduate Research Assistants): three males and two females trained in field based PLEC research methods. One GRA (female) trained in GIS.
•	Two students under PLEC: one undergraduate (male), and one postgraduate (female) in socio-economic research.
•	Eight young local men and one girl (school dropouts) trained in biodiversity inventory, in Bushwere.
•	All co-operating farmers -males and females at Bushwere and males, females at Kamuri trained in farm record keeping.

Kenya 
•	Two students are working with the project. Training of farmers were conducted in Kiambu.

Tanzania
•	Practitioners-in-training: 1) those trained on agrodiversity inventory include two Field Officers from Ukiriguru, four Research Staff from Agriculture Research Institutions, one land use planner from the Ministry of Agriculture headquarters, two researchers from the Tropical Pesticide Research Institute (TPRI); 2) one field officer trained on assessment of land degradation;3) One expert lady was introduced to PLEC objectives and sent around to see PLEC activities on the ground.
•	An MSc student from University of East Anglia, UK was at Olgilai/Ngiresi site for two months for his thesis addressing the impact of population on agrodiversity. 
•	Farmer to farmer training and visit organised. Adoption of successful management methods by expert farmers is taking place.  

Ghana
•	Graduate and undergraduate students were involved in all three geographical sectors (south, central and north) of PLEC work in Ghana. In southern Ghana, sit students involved, including three females. They have carried out a wide range of activities for PLEC.
•	Three PLEC members were trained on computer applications. 
•	Capacity building for farmers continued. Farmer-scientist meetings were a regular feature. Over 60 so-called ‘expert-farmers’ were identified, and involved in extension activities in a kind of ‘trainer-training-trainee’arrangement. Tree-planting techniques imparted to farmers, were applied to expand existing reforestation project and to initiate new ones in degraded areas of Sekesua-Osonson. 15 farmers (including 5 females) received training in farming techniques at the University of Ghana Agricultural Research Station, and 3 farmers on rearing of the grass-cutter organised by Heifer Project International (HPI).
•	Efforts continued to set up and secure funding for a graduate training programme on resource management in the University of Ghana, emphasising the PLEC approach. Such a programme might most effectively be organised within the institutional framework of a REGIONAL CENTRE FOR APPLIED RESEARCH ON PEOPLE, LAND MANAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE (UNU-CARPLEC). It is believed that PLEC-Ghana has matured enough over the nearly seven years of its operation, for it to transform into a centre of academic excellence in the kind of applied, field-oriented participatory research work that is needed to counter deteriorating biophysical and living conditions of people at the grassroots.

Guinea
•	Training was organised for farmers and post graduate student on the PLEC guidelines, and data collection and analysis on agrobiodiversity. Ten post graduate students and 8 associated researchers joined Waplec-Guinea. The number of technicians and farmers involving in Waplec is increasing.
•	Two expert-farmers have been trained in construction technique of the manure cow-shed at Missidé Héiré and Dar-Es-Salam.
•	PLEC continued support in materials and organisation to farmers’ groupings.

2.2.7 ACTIVITY 7: NETWORKING AND DISSEMINATION

General

Networking continued to involve various clients and stakeholders (inter-governments; governments, institutions, farmers groups, NGOs, etc.) within and outside PLEC network. Details for meeting and publications  see Appendix 3.

The 3rd Meeting of PLEC Management Group was successfully organised, 15-18 May 1999, at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, Mexico. The meetingDue to climate and logistical reasons, was decided to postpone the next General Meeting and to combine it with the next Management Group meeting in Brazil, 26 May to 2 June 2000. It also decided to establish a PLEC Demonstration Activities Advisory Team (DAT). 

 A PLEC team represented UNU to participate in the 4th Meeting of the Joint UNESCO-UNU-TWAS Programme on “South-South Cooperation on Environmentally Sound Socio-Economic Development in the Humid Tropics”, 19 – 24 May 1999, Xalapa, Mexico. They shared experiences and discussed ways forward with participants from the UNESCO/MAB and the TWAS network.

PLEC BAG held its 2nd Meeting, 20-24 May, 1999, New Hampshire, USA. The meeting recommended Microsoft Access database program for construction of agrobiodiversity database, and developed five-related formats (tables) for data entry. 

The Principal Scientific Coordinator was invited to attend the STAP Expert Group Workshop on Land Degradation Interlinkages in the GEF, 14-16 June, Bologna, Italy.
The 4th PLEC West Africa Cluster regional workshop was organised, 6-8 September 1999, Pita, Guinea. The workshop focussed on the theme, ‘Participatory Approaches to Eco-Development and Agro-Biodiversity Conservation’.
 
PLEC results continued to be disseminated widely through meetings, technical and public information (presentations on PLEC), publication, press (newspaper, radio, etc.) and networking. PLEC was presented to a wide international policy and academic community at International Seminar on Fallows in  Tropical Africa, Dakar, Senegal, 13 – 16 April 1999; International Seminar on Campesino Agrodiversity, Toluca, Mexico, 12-14 May 1999; the 10th International Soil Conservation Organization Conference, 23-28 May, 1999, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; The 6th Meeting of  International Geographical Union Commission on Land Degradation and Desertification, Perth, Australia, 20-28 September 1999; The 2nd Asia-Pacific Conference on Sustainable Agriculture of American Association for the Advancement of Science, Phitsanulok, Thailand, 18-20 October, 1999;  The third session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations convention to Combat Desertification, Recife, Brazil, 15-26 November 1999.

PLEC News and Views No.12 (April 1999), No.13 (Special Issue on Methodology, April, 1999), and No.14 were published and distributed to PLEC members as well as a wider readership. The PLEC homepage was re-designed for better dissemination. Two PLEC publications was proposed by the Coordinators’ Meeting. The first is  to be a ‘manual’ based on PLEC methodology, which will contain either reprints or revisions of a number of papers that have appeared in PN&V.  The second, a longer-term prospect, is to be a special issue of a journal containing more scientific papers selected from draft articles available or forthcoming from clusters.

Amazonia
•	Conduct regular meetings with local community and regional membership of partner grassroots organizations, such as the Sindicatos in Amapá and the Colônia de Pescadores in Ituqui and Santarém, and with representatives of state and municipal agencies.
•	Promote visits and exchanges between farmers working in demonstration projects of different Cluster Projects. The first regional demonstration activity was also organised. The participants in this first regional event included farmers from the Mamiraua Sustainable Development Reserve and from the PLEC sites in Santarem.
•	Initiate meetings with farmer’s organizations and other stakeholders in Marajó. meetings held with community associations, and representatives of municipal organizations, as well as, state and federal agricultural institutions such as EMBRAPA, EMATER and SAGRI.
•	1 book, 1 Newspaper article, 5 pamphlets were published. Several articles and books are in process.
•	Deputy Leader presented PLEC at the third session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations convention to Combat Desertification, Recife, Brazil, 15-26 November 1999.

China
•	China cluster members attended and introduced PLEC at  a number of international and national meetings: 1) International Conference Symposium towards co-operation utilization and co-ordinated management of international rivers, June 25-30, 1999, Kunming, China. 2) Salzburg Seminar Special Session: Sustainability, education and the management of change in the tropics, August 22-27, 1999, Salzburg, Austria. 3) Eco-tourism Development Meeting of Chuxiong Prefecture: August 17, 1999, Chuxiong, China; 4) The 2nd Asia-Pacific Conference on Sustainable Agriculture of American Association for the Advancement of Science, Phitsanulok, Thailand, 18-20 October, 1999.
•	Twice news media reported UNU/PLEC work, one on China Daily (August 4), and Yunnan Daily (June 13).  Three papers and one book published (see attachments). 
•	The Annual Meeting of China Cluster was organised in Xishuangbanna, 23-25 Jan 2000. It attended by about 30 participant, including one official from State Environment Administration, and three PLEC coordinators in connection with coordinators meeting.

Papua New Guinea

Networking within the cluster was made through the Annual Meeting of UNU/PLEC Papua New Guinea Cluster in March 1999 and an attempt to register interest of selected stakeholders for the “National Biodiversity Advisory Group”. Significant progress in networking across clusters was made through visits by BAG, DAT, and scientific coordinators, and a visit to PLEC-Ghana by the cluster leader.  

Dissemination was through publication and presentation as follows:
Newspaper Articles
Sowei, J.W. (1999). Managing our agriculture to achieve rural progress. Post courier, 26 May.
Sowei, J.W. (1999). Agricultural research and extension: the missing link in rural progress. Post Courier, 30 June.
Sowei, J.W. (1999). Sustainable resource management promotes diversity, supports life. Post Courier, 11 August.
Sowei, J.W. (1999). Part I: Around the world in thirteen days - journey west to Mexico City. Papua New Guinea Magazine. pp 23-25.
Sowei, J.W. (2000). Part II: Around the world in thirteen days - Mexico to PNG. Papua New Guinea Magazine. pp 15-18.

Radio Broadcast:
Sowei, J.W., Simbiwen, T., and Erepan, B. (1999). ‘Painim na Tokaut’ radio program of PLEC project. National Broadcasting Commission.

Unpublished Reports:
Allen, B.J. (1999). ’25 years of change in two East Sepik villages’. Seminar presentation, Geographical Sciences Postgraduate Program. The Australian National University, Canberra.
Dingle, J., Sensik, S. and Sowei, J. (1999). Where has the wildlife gone? A report written from the fauna survey funded by UNU-PLEC PNG Cluster.
Sowei, J.W. (2000). Resource management and food security. Paper to be presented at the Papua New Guinea National Food and Nutrition Conference, University of Technology, LAE, June 2000.

Uganda

Networking:
•	The Mbarara District stakeholders workshop was held in Mbarara town in November 1999, for further sensitisation, feedback on progress, discussion of results and joint planning for effective networking. Participants included political representatives, local government officials, civil service officials from relevant sector ministries e.g. Agriculture, Forestry, Environment, Statistics and Population, as well as relevant NGOs and some local representatives from the local officials of the demonstration sites. All PLEC scientists and research assistants participated. 
•	Held collaborative meeting with Deputy project coordinator of ACORD, a development NGO operating in Kabingo.

Dissemination:
•	Five PLEC scientists, five research assistants, one collaborating Mbarara District officer, one field assistant and three co-operating farmers participated in the 17th Soil Science Society of East Africa (SSSEA) conference during September 1999.
•	Contributed " Agrodiversity highlights in East Africa” to PN&V. No. 14. Published the first issue of EAPLEC – Uganda Newsletter entitled "ITWE".

Kenya 
•	Participated in the Tanzania Workshop of Stakeholders, 1-2 November 1999. 
•	Contribute to a paper in  PLEC news and views.

Tanzania
Networking:
A workshop of stakeholders was attended by PLEC farmers, representatives from (i) National Land Use Planning Commission, (ii) National Environmental Management Council, (iii) Directorate of Research and Development of the Ministry of Agriculture, Representatives of the Regional and District Development Directors, The District Agriculture and Livestock Development Officers for Arumeru and Arusha, Director and scientists from the Northern Zone Agricultural Research Institute, Village secretaries from both PLEC sites, PLEC scientists, Members of news media etc. The project was commended for involving farmers to train other farmers, farmers participation in presentations and discussions of PLEC findings during the workshop. This was the first time experience for many of the official participants.
Dissemination:
•	A paper of “Assessment of Agrodiversity at Landscape level under small scale farming systems in Arumeru distinct, Tanzania” was presented at  the 10th International Soil Conservation Organization Conference, 23-28 May, 1999, Purdue University. 
•	The second paper was presented in the Lake Zone (Tanzania) Workshop on agro-biodiversity. It was entitled: Agrodiversity Assessment in district and diverse landscape units with some experiences from Arumeru, Arusha, Tanzania. 
•	The third paper related to agrodiversity was presented as a key note paper in a regional workshop for Kagera Environmental Management Project (KAEMP). The paper was entitled: Potentials and strategies for alleviating soil fertility decline in Kagera region using Integrated Plant Nutrient Management Systems.
•	PLEC work and findings reported in annual internal programme reviews for the Northern and Lake zones and reported to the mother ministry through Research and Development Annual Progress reports.
Ghana
•	Networking between Ghana and Guinea under West Africa Cluster was made through substantial inputs in planning the 4th WAPLEC Regional Workshop in Guinea, and arranging a Ghanaian delegation  to the Workshop, and conducting a joint study on biodiversity. Strong interaction across clusters was made through Ghanaian members in BAG and DAT, and hosting visit by coordinators and Papua New Guinea Cluster leader.
•	The growing collaboration among the demonstration sites is greatly facilitated by an association of the Executive  personnel of the three farmers’ associations in Sekesua-Osonson, Gyamfiase-Adenya and Amanase-Whanabenya in southern Ghana. The solidarity and collaboration emerging among the farmers was demonstrated through action-oriented visits by farmers from two sites to the rescue of a sagging  farmer effort in one site.
•	Regular contact was maintained with all the key stakeholders including farmers, and the Ministries of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), Lands and Forestry (MLF) and Food and Agriculture (MOFA).
•	Publications included: 1) a paper on demonstration site development in a forthcoming issue of PLEC News and Views; 2)report on the Third WAPLEC Regional Workshop on ‘Conserving Agricultural and Biological Diversity for Food Security: Participatory Approaches in West Africa (Sub-themed: Building Upon Traditional Agro-Technologies and Management Systems for Biodiversity Conservation)’; and, 3) report of a workshop on ‘Five Years of PLEC Experiences in Field Methodologies of Conserving Agricultural and Biological Diversity in Ghana’.
•	Dissemination on PLEC was further made by the cluster leader through an hour-long radio programme on 'Radio Universe',  a Ghana Institute of Public Relations Lecture, a Green Earth Club lecture on ‘The Role of the Youth in Sustainable Environmental Development’, and a  presentation at the February 2000 meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) in Barbados.

Guinea

•	The 4th WAPLEC Workshop was organised in Pita, 6-8 September, 1999. It focussed on the theme, ‘Participatory Approaches to Eco-Development and Agro-Biodiversity Conservation’. Among over 70 participants, were the PLEC Scientific Co-ordinator, a Ghanaian delegation, and farmers, scientists, and government and non-government officials from the Republic of Guinea. The Workshop consisted of scientific sessions, and field visits, which attracted huge numbers of villagers in addition to the core workshop participants.
•	Publication included  Role of the natural fallow in the biodiversity conservation and of production in the Fouta Djallon (Guinea Conakry), which was also presented at the ORSTOM workshop on the Fallow in Tropical Africa, Dakar from April 31 to May 2 1999. 
•	Publicity was achieved through mass media and meetings. The Labé Rural Broadcasting service, the Guinea TV and the National daily "Horoya" reported widely on the PLEC activities at Bantignel in Pita Prefecture and Moussaya in Kouroussa. Many meetings with state technicians charge of rural development, and technicians of the administration, NGO, and farmers of the demonstration sites  facilitated  dissemination of the project work.

2.2.8 ACTIVITY 8: COORDINATION AND PLANNING

General

The PLEC Coordinators met on 18 May 1999 after the end of the 3rd meeting of the Management Group. Discussion and decision  were made on  1999 mission travel, scientific coordination, preliminary arrangement of mid-term review, laggard Clusters and  terms of reference for regional advisors.

The Coordinators met again from 26-27 January, Xishuangbanna, China. Among others, the meeting reviewed progress, prepared  mid-term review, agreed a proposal on budget reallocation for the year 2000, and decided to establish a working group for PLEC sustainability. 

Scientific Co-ordinators revised Guidelines on Agrodiversity Assessment in Demonstration Site Areas. Various missions were undertook by coordinators to Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana,  Guinea, Papua New Guinea, and China, and to monitor progress and advise clusters on technical and management issues as appropriate. In particular, Clusters in Papua New Guinea and East Africa were advised to focus their activities on more narrowly defined areas, and to adjust their approach to demonstration. 
It was  noting that the UNU Rector and Vice Rector visited China Cluster. PLEC is recognised as a flagship project at UNU.
Financial management has been strengthened in order to meet standards of GEF/UNEP and UNU. Auditing was made to Uganda Sub-Cluster and China Cluster. The system of managing the PLEC funds should be improved in terms of book keeping and transparency.  
New personnel are added to Clusters in a few Clusters. Notably, Papua New Guinea Cluster now has  seven full time personnel for PLEC.

Amazonia
•	Communication among members of the Amazonia cluster is greatly improved. One of the result of such improvement was the participation of Santarem farmers in the regional demonstration activity organised in Amapá.

•	Cluster members met and communicated to discuss plans and evaluate progress.  One major item has been the planning of the next general PLEC meeting which will be held in Macapá with a stopover in Belém, 26 May-2 June 2000.

China 
•	Two staff are employed in the cluster office to deal with daily works and training activities.
•	Three female members, soil erosion and database members also are added to the cluster.

Papua New Guinea
•	Papua New Guinea Cluster Planning Meeting was held on 9 June 1999, at Australia National University, Canberra. The meeting followed up a decision by the Coordination Team meeting in Mexico and decided to concentrate major effort in 1999 on the Dreikikir-Wosera site.

Uganda
•	Internal auditing of PLEC accounts was done. Improvements in the book keeping and accounting systems were initiated.
•	Reconstituted the sub-cluster management committee to include two more active and able members
•	Hosted visits by cluster leader, and the associate scientific co-ordinator, members of the BAG and the DAT.    

Kenya 
•	Management meeting of Kenya Sub-Cluster was held on 9  July  to review progress.  The meeting minutes was submitted.
•	Hosted visits by BAG, DAT and Scientific Coordinator.

Tanzania
•	Three meetings were conducted for the core PLEC research scientists. Two were organised in Dar-es-Salaam and addressed problems of University project members repeated absentism for planned field works. The third was held in Arusha in August and emphasized on early submission of each individuals contribution to the substantive report by the end of the month.
•	Hosted visits by scientific coordinator, BAG and DAT members.

Ghana
•	Cluster co-ordination was achieved principally through correspondence, e-mailing, visits and meetings.  The Legon PLEC office continued to serve as the WAPLEC administrative node. Work there was supported by and Administrative/Research Officer, a Secretary and a Driver.

Guinea
•	Successful coordination facilitated organization of the 4th WAPLEC Workshop, and expansion of membership of the Sub-cluster.

2.3 Targets for the Next year 
Overall targets for the next period of work in relation to the annual work plan and outcomes of the previous period of work are described under each activity.

Activity 1: Demonstration Site

Using field and GIS methods as appropriate, commence investigation of potential sites in which PLEC methodology might be replicated.  Include preliminary discussion in Report 7.

Activity 2:  Biodiversity Assessment

Complete any gaps in the assessment of biodiversity and agrodiversity, record data in the standardized data-base form as advised by BAG, and forward final full results to UNU with a short report as soon as complete but not later than 31 August 2000. Compile aggregate information on agrodiversity and biodiversity into a database in UNU taking legal implication into account;

Using both verbal and cartographic means as appropriate, show how community evaluation of resources relates to the scientific evaluation, and report the results under Activity 5 below (Report 6).

Activity 3:  Participatory Rural Appraisal 

Using both verbal and cartographic means as appropriate, show how the system of resource access and distribution relates to the use of land, in the selected areas.  Report the results under Activity 5 below (Report 6).

Activity 4: Outreach and Experimental Work

With farmers’ associations and individual farmers, continue and enlarge experimental and demonstration activities; evaluate preliminary results (REPORT 7).

Hold community-level workshops to review results, and propose changes in method and coverage.

Activity 5: Reports, Workshops on Models

Complete two chapter-length reports on (1) the relation of community information to scientific information on resource assessment, and on how the system of resource access and distribution relates to the use of land (Report 6); (2) preliminary results from experimental and monitoring work at the demonstration sites, with a note on sites where PLEC might be expanded or replicated (Report 7).

Activity 6: Capacity Strengthening (Training)

Continue training for junior participants, and students; ensure that all participants in the project, especially new participants, are thoroughly familiar with the PLEC approach and the manner in which it differs from standard extension methods.

Assist expert farmers to encourage other farmers in use of successful methods.

Report a summary of  progress in the capacity building programme, with quantitative data on number, status and gender of persons trained.

Activity 7: Networking and dissemination

Continue networking and involving stakeholders in PLEC activities at international, national and local levels. 

At international level, organise the 2nd General PLEC Meeting and the 4th Meeting of PLEC Management Group, 26 May – 2 June May, 2000, Belem/Macapá, Brazil; 2) Hold the 2nd Meeting of PLEC Advisory Group, early November, 2000 Rome. At national level, both start and end of year general Cluster meeting are venues to network government agencies, national institutions. A PLEC forum is planned to take place in Beijing, early October 2000.

Continue disseminating PLEC results widely through presentations, media (newspaper, TV, radio, etc.), and publication of PLEC News and Views No. 15 and 16, and two books.

Activity 8: Coordination and planning

UNU Coordination team will work together with relevant clusters to assist PLEC mid-term review in April, 2000.

Coordination team will meet on 2 June 2000 to discuss important issues raised by mid-term review and plan forward. Coordinators will visit clusters to monitor and advise their work. 
Cluster meeting will be organised to review progress and plan forward.

SECTION 3 – PROJECT DELIVERY AND ACTION

3.1 Summary of the Problems Encountered in Project Delivery (if any)
Some problems/constraints have emerged in the field of methodology, reporting, and project management.

Progress with special respect to demonstration activities varied between Clusters. Papua New Guinea Cluster used to work on three demonstration site areas with very poor accessibility. In addition, members were overwhelmed by their own research agenda, and were inactive in demonstration activities. The situation in East Africa also aroused attention. Three sub-Clusters until early this year had carried out activities within very large transects that covers quite a few agro-ecological zones. It had taken three of them a long time to move from the external approach of the agricultural or agrarian researcher to the idea of partnership with real farmers on the ground. Some members, especially, new comers in some other clusters were rather technocratic and intervention-minded, needing “re-schooling” of PLEC approach, which differs from the standard extension service. 

The substantive reporting from clusters is inadequate and inconsistent mainly due to delay in some aspects of work at newly initiated sites, demanding work for other tasks including field-based activities, insufficient guidance, and language translation. 

Project management met some constraints in financial, personnel, logistic and coordination areas. Institutions hosting PLEC Clusters did not fully assume responsibility to administer PLEC funds. This resulted in non-standard practice and increased significant administrative work load on Cluster leaders who were supposed to lead PLEC activities forward. A particular case arose to notice in Uganda, where Makerere University  left all financial administration with the Cluster leader. As a result, satisfactory accounting of expenditures was delayed.  The potential loss in exchange for Kina prompted transfer of financial management for Papua New Guinea Cluster.  

Departure of the former UNU Senior Programme Officer responsible for PLEC left additional responsibilities for remaining coordination team to share for some time. Regional responsibility by the three scientific coordinators does not meet increasing demand for technical advice on a multidisciplinary basis.

In respect to logistics, ground transportation needs further improvement in Northern Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania and Papua New Guinea. 

3.2 Actions Taken or Required to Solve the Problems (identified in Section 3.1 above)
Corrective action was taken to concentrate their work in more narrowly defined areas, and to bring in experiences from other clusters through DAT. PNG work is now concentrated at two nearby sites in the East Sepik Province, Tumam and Miko 2. Three Sub-Clusters in East Africa have also dropped their extensive large transects, and begun to  focus their work on a few village sites with farmers on the ground. Since then, Tanzania team has made rapid progress in all respects, and is becoming one of “Stars” in PLEC. Training of the PLEC approach is being strengthened. DAT will lead a special session at the General Meeting in Brazil to offer policy guidelines on approaches to demonstration. A training in association with DAT visit will be held in China in summer 2000.

As for reporting, a data management consultant is hired to provide further advice on database construction. Assistance was made to China Cluster. More guidance will be provided to clusters through training.

Actions have been taken to streamline project management. Auditing was made to Uganda sub-cluster and China cluster to improve financial management. At request of National Research Institute of Papua New Guinea, PLEC Office at the Australia National University has taken over of financial management for Papua New Guinea Cluster in order to  avoid loss in exchange. It will revert to National Research Institute pending stabilization of local currency (Kina) in Papua New Guinea. 

Under general direction of the UNU Vice Rector for Environment and Sustainable Development, responsibilities left by the former UNU Senior Programme Officer is now taken over by a replacement of the Senior Programme Officer. It was also agreed to drop regional responsibility by the three scientific coordinators. Each of them will instead be responsible for certain aspects of coordination across all Clusters. It was proposed that Michael Stocking  take on capacity building, Christine Padoch biodiversity and all related aspects, Harold Brookfield finance and  most of publication. 

Logistics have been further improved.  A vehicle is now in place for the team in northern Ghana. A project vehicle from Australia National University is made available for Papua New Guinea Cluster to use while PLEC covers maintenance costs. A new and additional vehicle is also in place to ease transportation problem in Papua New Guinea.  A vehicle is now approved for one each of Uganda sub-Cluster and Tanzania sub-Cluster. Transport difficulties will remain since demonstration sites are remote, and not well connected to the main road system. In this connection, Clusters have been encouraged to work in better accessible  sites, or  concentrate on a fewer number of sites given the inability of PLEC to fund adequate transport for all its groups.