Project Detail

Greening Tsodilo Hills eco-tourism venture through the use of renewable energy

The proposed project is located at Tsodilo, a remote settlement within the Okavango Sub-District in an area commonly referred to as NG6. The primary inhabitants of the area are the Ju/?hoansi San and HaMbukushu.

Tsodilo has been declared as a protected site under the ?Monuments and Relics Act? of Botswana and has been so since 1927. It has also been declared a World Heritage Site in 2001 under the World Heritage Convention due to its archaeological significance as one of the most important rock art sites in Southern Africa. The project site is also important as it falls within the larger Okavango Delta Ramsar Site ecological system. In order to maintain the ecological and archaeological integrity of the site the Tsodilo Integrated Management Plan and the Core Area Management plan were developed so as to guide all the developments and to ensure that such do not negatively impact the area.

It is upon this background that the Tsodilo Community Development project was initiated. The main object of this project is ?to ensure the successful long-term management of the Tsodilo World Heritage Site through equitable benefit sharing and sustainable management of the area?. Of paramount importance has been the need for the organization of the community through involvement, employment and the conservation of flora and fauna through the development of tourism.

The greatest environmental challenge experienced by the project has been the development of effective eco-friendly heating and sewage disposal systems in conformity with stipulated Environmental Impact Assessment Act (2005) requirements and set International Standards. This problem is compounded by the lack of requisite infrastructure to undertake such, including grid electricity and sewage disposal systems in the area. It is upon this background that this funding application is made. If successful funds will be used to identify and buy ecologically and environmentally friendly technologies (already available on the market) that will mitigate loss of vegetation and ground and surface water contamination. This proposed project is therefore relevant to the GEF/SGP Country Programme Strategy as it seeks to address critical environmental areas of use of renewable energy in line with the Climate Change focal area.

Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Tsodilo Community Development Trust

Country:

Botswana

Area Of Work:

Climate Change Mitigation

Operational Phase:

OP5-Y3 (Jul 13 - Jun 14)

Grant Amount:

US$ 37,290.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 3,460.21

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 1,153.40

Project Number:

BOT/SGP/OP5/STAR/CC/14/01

Start Date:

6/2014

End Date:

12/2015

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

By upholding required environmental standards, the project will serve to promote Tsodilo as a tourist destination of choice. This will in turn ensure long-term usage of and benefit from the area by the local community thereby sustaining their livelihoods through eco-tourism activities.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

Implementation of the project would involve regular feedback meetings with the General Trust?s membership to ensure that no body is left behind. Lessons learnt during project implementation would be documented and availed through media publications such as newspapers, and newsletters for public consumption. As part of its capacity building strategy TCDT would organize public awareness raising workshops on global environment and related issues during project implementation.

Notable Community Participation

The design and planning of the project followed a participatory approach whereby all stakeholders including Government, Private sector, NGO community, and Community Based Organization were engaged and contributed ideas towards the development of the project concept as a way of promoting a wider participation and ownership of the project. Deliberate effort was made to engage different interest groups such as craft producers, farmers, women, and local guides also to get their views and aspirations on the project. A steering committee constituting of representatives of the various stakeholder groups was established to oversee project implementation. TCDT has made a commitment as a standard operation procedure to hold regular consultative meetings with its general membership to appraise them on project progress and to solicit for their views on project development issues. TCDT continues to embrace steering committee meetings as a platform for sharing information and giving technical direction to the project at all levels.

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

The innovative financial mechanism which the project will embark in involve diversification of its tourism base from the current focus on rock art interpretation to include other aspects of culture such as veld food gathering and preparation, cultural festivals, traditional song and dance and others.

Capacity - Building Component

The need for community capacity building as a means for active and effective engagement of the Tsodilo community in the management of its environment and natural resources is an integral part of the broader project development strategy. To address this shortcoming, the project has engaged in a process whose objective is to define knowledge, abilities and skills needed to develop and effectively run sustainable community based tourism ventures base on offering of cultural heritage experiences of the Tsodilo community. The output (training plan) from the training needs assessment is also essential as it would assist the Trust in directing efforts and resources to areas where they are most needed. As regard the Solar Heating and Sewage Water Management Project it would be a requirement that contracted technology suppliers should train selected community members on its utilization and maintenance as part of the sustainability strategy.

Gender Focus

The need for promotion of gender equality in community development interventions is enshrined within TCDT constitution. As one of its objectives the constitution states that it shall ?encourage and support equal rights in the Trust and full participation by women as General Members and as trustees, in the business of the trust?. The project is fully aware of the division of responsibilities among gender lines within the Tsodilo community and would endeavor to promote equal participation in project development along these lines. For example, one can easily conclude that craft production is dominated by women by observing that they are the ones involved in the marketing of the end product. A closer look at the situations shows that men?s contribution towards craft production in terms of collection and preparation of the requisite raw materials is very significant, e.g carving of the palm nut which is one of the essential components of Tsodilo crafts. Women are going to be an integral part of project implementation and monitoring. They will constitute 50% of the people who will be selected for training in equipment management and monitoring. The key role played by women on the project would not only end with its implementation but would continue even after completion. They will continue to play a significant role in utilizing the services provided by way of producing and selling of arts and crafts as well as providing some essential services such as cultural performances to tourists. The Tsodilo Community Development Trust would ensure that gender equity is observed when considering candidates for occupying any vacancies employment, training, e.t.c) that may arise as a result of the project.

Policy Impact

The project would not directly impact on new policy formulation since it seeks to address an existing policy requirement. However, its success can inform the development or change in policy direction in future. If successful, the project learning can be used to define the use of renewable energy and environmental friendly ways to dispose of waste in an ecotourism venture.

Project Results

Tsodilo Community Development Trust fitted the office, gate house and one residential house with solar home systems for lighting and charging small gadgets including use of laptops, cellphones and solar lanterns. Solar lanterns have been purchased for use by tourists at the campsites. Lanterns were favored instead of installation of solar home systems for fear of losing solar panels to thieves. The Board and trust management appreciate the use of solar technologies as it has enhanced the operations of their tourism ventures. In addition, an environmental friendly sewage system has been connected to the office, gate house and two ablution blocks to replace the soak away system that allowed seepage of water with a high possibilities of contaminating ground water. The new sewage system has a chlorinator, a chamber that allows insertion of a chlorine tables that kill germs/pathogens in the waste water making it reusable. Test results from the water samples show that water can be safely used for landscaping purposes.

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