Biodiversity Stewardship

Transcription

1 Biodiversity Stewardship Benefits & Partnerships Angus Burns (Senior Manager: Land and Biodiversity Stewardship Programme WWF-SA)

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3 Context

4 Context

5 Kwamandlangampisi PE First PE declaration in SA in terms of new Act Was the result of a highly successful partnership between SANBI, UNDP, WWF-SA and MTPA Achieved major milestones for BDS, the province and landowners

6 Context ha PE declared in 2010 (First in SA under the new legislation) Additional 3 100ha added later. (total area ha)

7 Context: Reasons for focus on this site Priority area for PA expansion Enable landowners to take collective action Conserve biodiversity and ecosystems services Maintain and enhance current biodiversitycompatible land-use practices Improve and maintain management of sensitive ecosystems Headwaters of major river system Located in IBA High levels of endemism and biodiversity

8 How was the declaration achieved? Strong partnerships (SANBI/UNDP /WWF/MTPA) Strategic planning Detailed collaborative assessments Excellent landowner support Enabling provincial conservation authority (MTPA) Strong support and motivation from SANBI/UNDP

9 What are the other benefits? National/provincial targets (49% of mistbelt forest & 16% of Paulpietersberg moist grassland target achieved for Mpumalanga through this single declaration) Expansion of PA footprint & BDS initiatives with partners (eg: BirdLife SA & the EWT with direct benefits to SA, people & biodiversity) Direct incentives (benefits): a) Management plan development b) Access to innovative invasive weed control initiatives c) Access to government funded wetland rehabilitation initiatives d) Extension support and training e) Grassland (veld) condition assessments and monitoring f) Maintenance and enhancement of rural economy

10 Mgundeni Community Biodiversity Stewardship Site

11 Mgundeni Community BDS site

12 Context: Reasons for focus on this site Priority area for PA expansion Enable community to take collective action Conserve biodiversity and ecosystems services Maintain and enhance current biodiversitycompatible land-use practices Protection of culturally significant sites Improve and maintain management of sensitive ecosystems Headwaters of major river system Located in IBA High levels of endemism and biodiversity

13 First signed Biodiversity Agreement between Land Reform beneficiaries and the Province (EKZNW) Resulted from successful partnerships between WWF, SANBI, UNDP, Ezemvelo KZNWildlife and the Mgundeni Community

14 How was the agreement achieved? Strong partnerships (SANBI/UNDP /WWF/EKZNW) Strategic planning Detailed collaborative assessments Excellent community support Enabling provincial conservation authority (EKZNW) Strong support and motivation from SANBI/UNDP

15 Total area = 1472 ha Houses = ha Wattle = ha Ploughed land = ha Available for grazing = 1180 ha (Proposed PE of which initial area of 125Ha signed into BA)

16 Well established advisory forum meets on monthly basis with various partners: EKZNW, Dept Environment, Agriculture, Health, community leadership and WWF

17 Initial initiatives/studies: Participatory rural appraisal Baseline socio economic study Detailed economic feasibility study Signing of BA Certified training in invasive weed control Certified training in fire management Detailed grassland condition assessments Development of a grazing plan (aligned with the BA management plan)

18 Implementation of a sustainable cattle farming initiative Agricultural mentor appointed Community herd formalised Grazing plan implemented Infrastructure developed Nutritional requirements of the herd met Vaccination programme implemented Herd mortality down from over 30 losses to 7 (less than 1.5% loss) Job opportunities created Access to the commercial market facilitated

19 Other outcomes Project catalysed other community agreements through learning exchanges Recognised as a successful land reform and livestock initiative in Amajuba district Resulted in effective partnerships between community and government departments Effective conservation of natural resources used by the community Community has now signed PE agreement to incorporate remainder of grazing land

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21 And all at a fraction of the cost when compared to purchase of the land: Total area currently at various stages of BDS process = ha Cost to purchase at approx R9000 per hectare: R Cost through BDS initiatives: R (over the course of a decade)

22 Together we can (and are) achieving great things!

23 Climate change context

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25 THANK YOU!