1.0 BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

The Matobo World Heritage Site is a landscape that offers a unique combination of natural and cultural capital. Its natural landscape comprises of scenic geological formations and habitats that are home to a wide range of flora and fauna. Numerous rock paintings, rock shelters, historical buildings, burial sites, religious sites and various artifacts. This natural and cultural capital covers a total area of 3100km2 of Matobo National Park whilst 1050Km2 covers communal areas.

2.0 PROJECT RATIONALE
The Matobo World Heritage Site Programme seeks to address the following problems:

i) Lack of understanding and appreciation on the World Heritage Site Status
There is a general lack of understanding of the World Heritage Site Status in that communities do not see the value in the natural and cultural capital they have. This lack of appreciation leads to the area being mismanaged and overexploited resulting in loss of biodiversity and ultimately land degradation.

ii) Decline in Tourism
There has been a decline in tourist arrivals due to problem of negative publicity in the country and the hyper inflationary environment that has severely reduced the ability of citizens to travel to scenic places for holiday. To this end, this has also negatively impacted on community eco-tourism ventures that also depend on tourist arrivals. In addition, there has been lack of marketing of the sites that some of the ecotourism sites like Diana's pools with its unique features are not known even locally.

iii) Exclusion of communities in the management of the Matobo World Heritage Site
Communities living in and around the protected sites/areas are excluded from actively participating in the management process. This is as a result of the existing policy and legal framework that guides the management and administration of such properties. The framework seeks to protect the natural resources from people living in and around the site and this has resulted in poaching, vandalism and extensive degradation of the area.This project therefore seeks to develop a forum for the review of policies governing the management and utilization of the resources of MWHS so that communities are mainstreamed in the management process.

3.0 OBJECTIVES
i) To build and consolidate on the process of awareness raising that is already on-going of the Matobo World Heritage Site status to all stakeholders that include communities, NGOs, government agencies and private sector.

ii) To empower local communities to participate meaningfully in tourism development and overall management of biological diversity in the MWHS

iii) To establish and all inclusive system for the MWHS through the review of relevant policies and procedures

4.0 OUTPUTS
i) Imporved knowedge, understanding and appreciation of the value of the natural and cultural capital in the site.
ii) Increased capacity of local people to sustainably manage and utilize the natural system for eco-tourism
iii) Increased incomes from eco-tourism projects
iv) Increased local community's appreciation and understanding of Matobo World Heritage Site
v) An apropriate and effective policy environment established for sustainable management of Matobo World Heritage site

OUTCOMES
i) 70 % of the community and listed stakeholders have knowledge and are aware on the World Heritage Site status and its importance to them
ii) 50% improvement in incomes for both men and women through eco-tourism projects
iii) Rate of land degradation and biodiversity loss reduced by 45%
iv) Existing relevant policies developed and implemented in 75% of the wards