Matobo World Heritage Site Strategic project: Restoration of Degraded Lands through Integrated Catchment Management, documentation of programme activities for knowledge generation and dissemination, policy review and improvement of livelihoods through sustainable use of biodiversity resources.
1.0 BACKGROUND
The purpose of Matobo World Heritage Site strategic programme is to empower the community to manage and conserve natural resources in the protected area. This will be achieved through sustainable utilization of biodiversity resources. The strategy is to address livelihood issues that will result in better management of the natural resource base and also enhance food security.
The Matobo World Heritge Site (MWHS) lies in two districts namely Umzingwane and Matobo Districts. It offers a unique combination of the natural and cultural capital and one of the major areas of attraction is the Matopos National Park. There is a wide variety of flora and fauna and communities benefit from the natural resources that include fruits, humus, poles, fibre, medicines and the wetland ecosystems. Mountains are a key feature and have strong cultural significance that include the performance of rain making ceremonies, rituals (Njelele) and there are taboos that restrict the visits by people and exploitation of resources (i.e sacred places).
The vegetation is savanna type and composed of drought resistant species that include the acacia species. The acacia species that are present include nilotica, A. karoo and A. rehmanniana and these are interspersed with combretum and terminalia species. The grasses within the acacia thirn veld are heteropogon contortus, hyperrhenia filipendula, digittaria species, erasgrostis and loudetia species.The miombo woodlands are found in wards 8 and 9 of Umzingwane although it is not very dominant. The species present are julbernadia and brachstegia species. The mopane woodland is dominant in wards 3 and 12 of Umzingwane which is interspersed with a sweet veld (Urochloa mosambicensis and Erasgrotis species and pockets of sour veld characterised by hyperrhenia filipendula.
In addition to these species, lantana camara is becoming dominant in ward 25 of Matobo District and wards 8, 9, 10 ,11 and 12 of Umzingwane District. Also wards 3 and 4 of Umzingwane District are being invaded with Dicrostachys cineria. Communities were provided with tools to remove these invading species but they have not yet covered much ground and it is one of the key areas to be covered by this project.
In terms of wildlife the MWHS supports many animal species and prolific bird life that includes the largest concentration of black eagles and leopards in the world. The Matopos National Park is home to the hyena (spotted and brown hyena), the white rhino, klipspringer, black backed jackal and cheetah. Acquatic species include crocodiles, fish species that include river sardines, tilapia and catfish (clarias gariepinus).
2.0 PROBLEM STATEMENT
i) Lack of appreciation of the value of MWHS due to lack of awareness in terms of the natural and cultural capital of the site
ii) Unsustainable use of the natural resources leading to biodiversity loss and land degradation
iii) Poverty and food insecurity
iv) Decline in tourism thereby affecting the other source of income for the communities
v) Exclusion of communities in the Management of MWHS.
3.0 OBJECTIVES
i) To build and consolidate on the process of awareness raising that is already on-going of the MWHS status to all stakeholders through dissemination of information.
ii) To improve the livelihoods of local communities in the MWHS and its buffer zone through improved use of forest resources, crop and livestock production.
iii) To empower local communities and community institutions to participate meaningfully in tourism development and overall management of MWHS.
iv) To establish an inlcusive management system for the MWHS through review of relevant policies and procedures
v) To document experiences and lessons learnt on the implementation of work under MWHS in print and video format for infromation exchange and sharing.
4.0 OUTPUTS
i) Improved knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the value of MWHS.
ii) Increased capacity of local people to sustainably manage and utilize the natural eco-system for eco-tourism ventures
iii) Reduced pressure on forest resources through the establishment of biogas digesters
iv) Increased income from sale of biodiversity products and agricultural products
v) Strengthened and empowered communities who actively participate in the management of MWHS
v) Presence of an enabling policy environment/framework tp allow for co-management of MWHS
The purpose of Matobo World Heritage Site strategic programme is to empower the community to manage and conserve natural resources in the protected area. This will be achieved through sustainable utilization of biodiversity resources. The strategy is to address livelihood issues that will result in better management of the natural resource base and also enhance food security.
The Matobo World Heritge Site (MWHS) lies in two districts namely Umzingwane and Matobo Districts. It offers a unique combination of the natural and cultural capital and one of the major areas of attraction is the Matopos National Park. There is a wide variety of flora and fauna and communities benefit from the natural resources that include fruits, humus, poles, fibre, medicines and the wetland ecosystems. Mountains are a key feature and have strong cultural significance that include the performance of rain making ceremonies, rituals (Njelele) and there are taboos that restrict the visits by people and exploitation of resources (i.e sacred places).
The vegetation is savanna type and composed of drought resistant species that include the acacia species. The acacia species that are present include nilotica, A. karoo and A. rehmanniana and these are interspersed with combretum and terminalia species. The grasses within the acacia thirn veld are heteropogon contortus, hyperrhenia filipendula, digittaria species, erasgrostis and loudetia species.The miombo woodlands are found in wards 8 and 9 of Umzingwane although it is not very dominant. The species present are julbernadia and brachstegia species. The mopane woodland is dominant in wards 3 and 12 of Umzingwane which is interspersed with a sweet veld (Urochloa mosambicensis and Erasgrotis species and pockets of sour veld characterised by hyperrhenia filipendula.
In addition to these species, lantana camara is becoming dominant in ward 25 of Matobo District and wards 8, 9, 10 ,11 and 12 of Umzingwane District. Also wards 3 and 4 of Umzingwane District are being invaded with Dicrostachys cineria. Communities were provided with tools to remove these invading species but they have not yet covered much ground and it is one of the key areas to be covered by this project.
In terms of wildlife the MWHS supports many animal species and prolific bird life that includes the largest concentration of black eagles and leopards in the world. The Matopos National Park is home to the hyena (spotted and brown hyena), the white rhino, klipspringer, black backed jackal and cheetah. Acquatic species include crocodiles, fish species that include river sardines, tilapia and catfish (clarias gariepinus).
2.0 PROBLEM STATEMENT
i) Lack of appreciation of the value of MWHS due to lack of awareness in terms of the natural and cultural capital of the site
ii) Unsustainable use of the natural resources leading to biodiversity loss and land degradation
iii) Poverty and food insecurity
iv) Decline in tourism thereby affecting the other source of income for the communities
v) Exclusion of communities in the Management of MWHS.
3.0 OBJECTIVES
i) To build and consolidate on the process of awareness raising that is already on-going of the MWHS status to all stakeholders through dissemination of information.
ii) To improve the livelihoods of local communities in the MWHS and its buffer zone through improved use of forest resources, crop and livestock production.
iii) To empower local communities and community institutions to participate meaningfully in tourism development and overall management of MWHS.
iv) To establish an inlcusive management system for the MWHS through review of relevant policies and procedures
v) To document experiences and lessons learnt on the implementation of work under MWHS in print and video format for infromation exchange and sharing.
4.0 OUTPUTS
i) Improved knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the value of MWHS.
ii) Increased capacity of local people to sustainably manage and utilize the natural eco-system for eco-tourism ventures
iii) Reduced pressure on forest resources through the establishment of biogas digesters
iv) Increased income from sale of biodiversity products and agricultural products
v) Strengthened and empowered communities who actively participate in the management of MWHS
v) Presence of an enabling policy environment/framework tp allow for co-management of MWHS
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Project Snapshot
Grantee:
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Country:
Zimbabwe
Area Of Work:
Land Degradation
Grant Amount:
US$ 50,000.00
Co-Financing Cash:
US$ 18,333.00
Co-Financing in-Kind:
US$ 173,732.00
Project Number:
ZIM/SGP/OP3/Y2/CORE/2007/03
Status:
Satisfactorily Completed
Project Characteristics and Results
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
At the moment, the major problem is that communities within Matobo World Heritage Site are not aware of the value and importance of this area and the status that it holds. The major objective of this project is to raise awareness on the important biodiversity aspects that include the flora, fauna and acquatic life and how sustainable management practices will help to reduce the depletion of these resources and as a result also mitigate land degradation.
Notable Community Participation
Communities in both Umzingwane and Matobo Districts have actively partcipated starting with the process of proposal development, carrying out of the baseline survey and now the process of implementation. The only area where there has been limited community participation is on the management of the Matobo World Heritage site as the current legislation actually excludes communities from managing the site. To this end one of the key areas to be addressed is the review of the existing policy framework to enable communities to also play a key role in the management process.
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