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Lawyers' Environmental Action Team (LEAT) leat@mediapost.co.tz |
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LEAT Biodiversity Programmes Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) [http://www.leat.or.tz/activities/biodiv/cbnrm/] Conservation and Development Opportunities from the Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity in the Communal Lands of Southern Africa (CODEOSUB) [http://www.leat.or.tz/activities/biodiv/codeosub/] |
Conservation and Development Opportunities from the Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity in the Communal Lands of Southern Africa (CODEOSUB)BackgroundThe project "Conservation and Development Opportunities from the Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity in the Communal Lands of Southern Africa" (CODEOSUB) is focused on promoting successes in Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) projects within southern Africa through building the capacity of communities and NGOs who are involved. The project targets eight southern African countries namely Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe that have signed the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) and are implementing the CBD work programme within the arid and semi-arid ecosystem. The arid and semi-arid ecosystem and the communal areas in these counties support much of the remaining biodiversity in southern Africa. The project address problems such as: the decline in biological diversity and lack of development opportunities in communal areas; the lack of national and regional capacity of southern African NGOs and CBOs; CBNRM initiatives under the framework of the CBD and related instruments; and the lack of exchange of CBNRM related information in the region. The project addresses some of the major challenges facing the CBNRM initiatives by enabling relevant NGOs and CBOs to harness the opportunities offered by the CBD both to advance CBNRM policies and practices in the region and in turn to influence the development of the CBD and other international instruments through contributing their own CBNRM experiences and insights. Project RationaleMuch of Southern Africa's biological diversity lies outside protected areas, particularly in the arid and semi-arid savannahs where 'biodiversity is sparse' and the demands by resident local communities for access to and use of biological resources is high. These semi-arid savannah areas are characterised by a rapidly expanding human population requiring high agricultural production to survive, resulting in high rates of deforestation, which are a threat to biological diversity in the region. Project PartnersThe project is implemented through a network of Southern African Community Based Organisations and Non -Governmental Organisations (SAFCAN) coordinated by Africa Resources Trust and funded by the European Union. The project partners are as follows:
Key Results
Key ActivitiesAt National and Sub-National LevelParticipate in/contribute to the development and implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action PlanAll signatories to the CBD are required in terms of Article 6 to develop and implement a national biodiversity strategy and action plan (BSAP) which should reflect the principles/articles/decisions of the CBD. Participate in/contribute to national policy development and practices in support of decentralized NRM, CBNRM, sustainable use, using relevant CBD Articles and DecisionsThe CBD promotes poverty alleviation, involvement of local communities in conservation and development, incentives, sustainable use and NRM outside Protected areas. NGOs and CBOs are linking CBD support for these to national policies and practices, thereby encouraging governments to act in accordance with the CBD to which they are party. Initiate and participate in national and sub-national workshops and processes to promote awareness of CBD related issues/CBNRM amongst all stakeholdersCBD encourages public awareness of and practical involvement in biodiversity conservation. The project enhances national capacity to address biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, as well as to mobilise public support for CBNRM as a biodiversity conservation strategy. Forums and workshops are organised around issues central to the success of CBNRM or biodiversity conservation and sustainable use outside protected areas, such as decentralised authority and management of biological resources, secure and appropriate tenurial arrangements, social, economic, financial incentives, institutional development and traditional knowledge and indigenous systems. Some of the workshops held include the following:
Participate in relevant bodies, government or non-government for the conservation of biodiversityEstablished National and Regional committees to address, monitor and influence biodiversity conservation and national CBD implementation. Identification and production of case studies of successful biodiversity conservation by local/traditional communitiesCase studies are used to inform and enrich CBNRM or community based approaches to biodiversity conservation, as well as promoting support amongst national decision policy makers for CBNRM initiatives. Furthermore, case studies can be used to educate the public and inform the CBD process and related decisions on the importance of empowering communities, if sustainable use and conservation is to be achieved. The case studies focus on agro-biodiversity, dry and sub humid lands biodiversity, forests biodiversity, sustainable tourism and biodiversity and sustainable use of biodiversity. Some of the case studies that have been compiled include the following:
Facilitate production and dissemination of CBNRM /CBD related information materials to stakeholdersProduction of newsletters for example Africa Resources for Development, videos and CDs produced by Resource Africa entitled 'A Community Perspective: Access and Benefit Sharing and Community Based Natural Resource Management', pamphlets, electronic bulletins and establishment of websites to disseminate information on CBD and CBNRM. Websites on national and regional activities are as follows:
Radio and TV Programmes were produced in order to disseminate information on CBD and CBNRM. The following CBD themes have been covered: Interpretation of the CBD and its implementation at national level, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Tenure, Technology transfer, Intellectual Property Rights and Benefit Sharing, Agro- Biodiversity, Transboundary Natural Resource Management and Ecosystems Approach. At Regional LevelFacilitate intra-regional community/CBNRM exchange visitsSuch visits enable interested communities to benefit from the exchange of ideas and experiences with communities in other countries in the region. This not only promotes regional community based initiatives around CBNRM/ CBD implementation but also strengthens the capacity of concerned communities to represent their interests. Facilitate regional networking, information exchange and collaboration with similar NGOs/CBOs to strengthen regional CBD/CBNRM implementation capacities and inputs into regional and international foraWorkshops and meetings have been held to facilitate networking and information exchange. For example a workshop entitled 'Communities and Conservation in Southern Africa: Key issues and Challenges Toward a More Equitable and Sustainable Future' was held in conjunction with IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy and the Programme on Land and Agrarian Studies at the University of Western Cape. A Southern African Technical workshop on 'Local Communities, Equity and Protected Areas: Issues and Challenges Towards a More Equitable and Sustainable Future' was also attended by technical experts from the region. The activities were conducted in preparation for the World Parks Congress. At International LevelFacilitate CBO/NGO representation at CBD related meetings for the purposes of promoting Southern African experiences and perspectives in the CBD decision- making processThe CBOs and NGOs influence the development of the CBD and other international instruments through contributing their own CBNRM experiences and insights by participating in international meetings such as the CBD COP6 in the Netherlands in April 2002, World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg South Africa in September 2002, CITES COP12 in Chile in November 2002 and the World Parks Congress in Durban, South Africa in October 2003. The project also facilitates and disseminates local/national information materials at international forums in order to ensure that community needs and interests are considered in the decision making process of these international meeting through the production of newsletters and pamphlets. Promote and participate in relevant bodies, government or non-government for biodiversityEstablished National and Regional committees to address, monitor and influence biodiversity conservation and national CBD implementation. |
