1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The conservation of biodiversity by declaring some environments protected areas has often attracted a myriad of responses from communities living on the fringes of the protected area or those who sometimes are inclined to be relocated to create space for conservation of flora and fauna. These responses have ranged from clandestine activities such as poaching in the protected area under the cover of darkness, destruction of fences erected to demarcate human settlement and the protected area, to outright acts of defiance of regulations which includes violent confrontation with the authorities.

Karamba Ward in which the proposed activities are going to take place is situated on the fringes of Nyatana Wilderness Area, a joint wildlife management initiative between Mudzi, Rushinga and Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe Rural District Councils under the CAMPFIRE programme. The Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) is a rural development programme that aims to improve people?s livelihoods by developing their capacity to manage their indigenous resources (grazing, forestry, water, and wildlife) better. Its origins lie with the Parks and Wildlife Act of 1975 by which the government granted the rights to manage and administer wildlife (?appropriate authority?) to landowners (private) and landholders (communal). The CAMPFIRE programme constitutes a transfer of the notion of non-state wildlife ownership, previously only available to freehold landowners, to residents of communal lands (Farquharson 1993, Murombedzi 2001). The conditions under which appropriate authority status (for wildlife resources) was granted to district councils were: that they demonstrate sufficient capacity to manage wildlife; that communities should be fully involved in decision making; and that the benefits would accrue directly to those communities which produced the benefits and incurred the costs of management (of the wildlife)(Peterson 1991, Bond 2001). The Appropriate Authority condition stipulating that district councils devolve wildlife revenue to those communities, which produced the benefit and incurred the cost of management has been termed the ?producer community principle? and operationally means that hunting revenue is allocated to the wards from which animals are shot.

The implementation of CAMPFIRE on the Uzumba-Maramba Pfungwe side of Nyatana Wilderness has been characterized by a glaring absence of local consultation, which has inevitably, estranged the communities from the project. Residents of Karamba Ward which borders the Wilderness Area?s perception of the project is that the local authority is bend on forcing down their throats a conservation project from which no benefits will accrue to them despite real and potential losses incurred from having to live with the wildlife. The Uzumba- Maramba Pfungwe Rural District Council has on the other hand taken an uncompromising stance- the communities have to beaten into submission. There has therefore emerged a polarization of stakeholders, which is detrimental to the achievement of the goals of community participation in natural resource management and accrual of benefits from conservation to communities underlying the doctrine of CAMPFIRE. The proposed project will seek to engage communities in dialogue with the Rural District Council so as to broker a shared vision for the present and future conservation of the Nyatana Wilderness. Resolving conflicts about the utilization of the Wilderness is central to the sustainability of its flora and fauna.

The total amount requested from the GEF Small Grants Programme for the proposed activities is US$ 48,000.

1. ORGANISATIONAL BACKGROUND AND CAPACITY
The Senate and Council of the University of Zimbabwe gave the Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS), founded in 1954, a mandate in 1985 to be an applied social science department administratively located in the Faculty of Social Studies. The department is responsible for an interdisciplinary applied social science research and teaching programme available on an inter-faculty basis throughout the University. A trust, CASS Trust was set up to develop and advise the department on strategic directions that CASS can pursue in its teaching and research agenda.

During the past 30 years of its existence, CASS has developed a reputation for innovative and independent Social Science Scholarship at both national and international levels. Recently, September 2002, CASS identified key strategic objectives as for the next three years. The prioritisation of these objectives was driven by the need for information at community, national, regional and international levels, and to contribute towards the development of human capital, for improvement of livelihoods.

CASS strategic objectives are to generate and disseminate policy relevant information for use in: influencing program policies and processes drawing lessons from broader regional and international applications to strengthen management capacity of local leadership, support human capital development nationally, regionally and internationally and facilitate and encourage policy debate and analytical discussions at all levels.

CASS's strength has been in establishing collaborative relationships for facilitating rural development. To date the centre has established up to twelve (12) working partnerships including: University of Zimbabwe Academic Staff, SAPES, WWF (SARPO), IUCN ROSA, ART/ZIM Trust, Institute of Natural Resources University of Natal, Land Tenure Centre ? University of Wisconsin, Programme for Land and Agrarian Studies ? University of Western Cape, Post Graduate School of Agriculture & Rural Development, University of Pretoria, Christian Michelssen Institute - Norway, Department of Rural Sociology at Michigan State University, Institute of Fisheries Management ? Denmark.

Programme implementation at CASS is governed by six major principles: Multi- disciplinarity, training and research linkages, participatory methodologies, effective delivery of research results, accountability to constituencies both local and international and a focus on policy relevance. It is upon this solid foundation that the Centre for Applied Social Science Regional Public Policy (CARPP) Programme is imbedded.

The Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS) of the University of Zimbabwe coordinates the Regional Public Policy Research programme. This programme is a component of the Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) hosted by the University of Pretoria. The IRDP is one of the three initiatives funded by the WK Kellogg Foundation's (WKKF) Africa programme. The other two programmes being the Initiative for Development and Equity in African Agriculture (IDEAA) and the Leadership Regional Network for Southern Africa (LeaRN).

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT AREA
2.1. Socio Economic Characteristics
Karamba ward, in which the proposed project will be undertaken, is 220 kilometers northeast of the capital, Harare. It falls under the administrative area of Uzumba-Maramba Pfungwe District of Mashonaland East Province. The Nyatana Wilderness Area straddles three rural district councils of Mudzi, Rushinga and Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe. The Mazowe River and the Nyadire run through the wilderness. These two rivers are the main source of livelihood for the inhabitants living in the adjacent dry lands. The largest ethnic group inhabiting Karamba is the Korekore with other minor groups such as Zezuru and Karanga being immigrants into the area.

The Nyatana wilderness has become the centre of controversy in the UMP district because of its diverse flora and fauna. With the development and implementation of CAMPFIRE the UMP RDC spear headed development of the Nyatana wilderness through a wildlife co-management model that involved Rushinga RDC, Mazowe RDC and UMP and rural communities living adjacent to the wilderness as stake holders. The co-management team led by UMP RDC however marginalized the rural communities in their activities pertaining to the management of the wilderness, making CAMPFIRE enemy number one in the process.

It is with this background that the Nyatana wilderness finds itself a highly charged and contested wilderness. The communities feel that their heritage and livelihood source is being taken away by the RDC without their consent. The scenario that has emerged is that of the RDC being barred access to the wilderness by some quarters of the community especially gold panners. The wilderness in its state of limbo for effective and cohesive management strategies that fit into the national agenda is totally under the will of community members battling with starvation and extremely difficult social conditions. Community members though not officially constituted have some working system in place that enables them to use the wilderness whilst still preserving some areas within it. This system however due to its non constitutionality faces critical life threatening problems, especially those of abuse.

This project seeks to institute a system that will see the communities manage the wilderness legally under a sustainable management regime. It seeks to plug into the already existing informal system, working on the strengths of this and reinforcing these with development of a system that can be recognized by the RDCs and relevant government organs as the official management system for the wilderness.


2.2. Bio-physical characteristics
? Soils
Like the rest of the country, the soils of Karamba have been heavily influenced by the underlying geology. Over most of the area the rocks have weathered forming siallitic soils, which are generally shallow and sandy. In the Zimbabwean system of soil classification there are lithosols formed on siliceous gneisses with a generally limited agricultural potential due to their insufficient depth and stoniness. The area however is rich in semi precious stones such as kainite and others. These have become some of the major sources of income for most families.

? Vegetation
The vegetation of the area consists of a mixture of highveld and dry lowveld with mixed grassland and bushland species predominating. The vegetation structure varies from bushland and hushed woodland around areas far removed from human settlement and significant human related activities such the wilderness area, to open savanna with thinly sparsed woodland supporting mixed grasslands. The most common tree species include Adonsia digitata, Commiphora species, Kirkii acuminata, Acacia nigrescens, Albedizia species, Alfezia quanzensis, Strychnos madagascariensis, and sterculia africana. In waterlogged areas and vleis the vegetation supports a denser grass cover, comprising Hyperrhenia species, Pognathria squarossa, Panicum colorotum, Heteropogon contortus, Eragrostis curvula among others

Along streams and rivers, the dominant vegetation type is wooded bushland and the common species include Acacia galpini and Kigelia africana. Where topography is rocky and on steep slopes of the terrain dominant species include Dombeya rotundifolia, Friesodelsia obovata and Sterculia africana. The forestry is home to many insects, such as bees that produce honey, and small animals, such as rabbits and various antelope, that are sources of livelihood for the rural communities.

? Wildlife

There are 19 mammal species found in the Wilderness with elephant and hippopotamus dominating this wildlife community, constituting over 90% of the total biomass. Other animal species occurring in significant numbers include crocodile, leopard, hyena, kudu, bushbuck, klipspringer, duiker, grysbok, bush pig, baboons and monkeys. There are also reports of occasional sightings of zebra, reedbuck, buffalo and also rarely lion. The small game is a source of food for the rural communities of Karamba.



3. PROJECT OBJECTIVES
The major objective of this project is to conserve the biodiversity within the Nyatana Wilderness Area through the involvement of local communities in the sustainable utilisation and management of its flora and fauna.

The Wilderness has been a field for contestation and feuding pitting on the one hand local communities and Uzumba-Maramba Pfungwe District Council on the other. For communities bordering the Nyatana, the Wilderness Area constitutes an invaluable livelihood option. There is discernible competition for land between the human and wildlife population since some of the arable land lies within the Wilderness.

An inventory study by a team of consultants showed that in some parts of Karamba Ward there was more arable land within the wilderness than there was outside it (Murindagomo and Gwazani 1999). The Rural District Council?s restriction of access had financially crippled some families so much that some children had not been attending school for lack of school fees. This is mainly because barring the community in practice severed it from its major source of game meat, which had a ready market both within and without Karamba.

Restricted access to Nyatana excludes communities from sites of sacral significance located in the wilderness. Some of the sites such as Pamuchacha, Tsuwa raBanga and Dziva raNyatana (Nyatana?s pool) were believed to be domains of clan spirits where rituals were supposed to be conducted during periods of drought and other periods of social calamities. Restriction from the wilderness also excludes the communities from livelihood activities supported by the Nyadire and Mazowe rivers such as reed harvesting among others.

The people of Karamba Ward were hostile to any plans about the wilderness that disregarded these and other important considerations. Nyatana remained an important source of livestock graze and browse as well as honey, game meat, reeds, thatch grass and building materials and exclusion was inconceivable for the majority of Karamba residents.

Communities have therefore construed any planning about the Nyatana Wilderness that does not take into consideration their perceptions and needs as an assault on their livelihoods, and culture, hence to be resisted at all costs. They have hence decided to avoid discussion on the problem thereby totally withdrawing from the CAMPFIRE philosophies. This absence of a consensual environment has made it difficult for UMP RDC led conservation programmes to forge ahead.


3.1. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
The specific objectives of the project include, inter alia:
(i) Enhance sustainable management of natural resources through the resolution of conflict between the Rural District Council and communities resident with the resources. (This will look specifically at stakeholder interests, right to resources, power and avoidance of the dispute) these will be looked at the following levels:
a. Conflict between the RDCs and the community
b. Conflict between the local leadership and the community
c. Conflict within the communities on their interactions with Nyatana wilderness; and
d. Conflict within the RDCs
(ii) Facilitate the creation of a conducive environment for dialogue between stakeholders to the Nyatana Wilderness Management Area.
(iii) Preserve the cultural heritage of the community by allowing them access to the wilderness, especially sites of sacral significance so that they maintain them.

(iv) Strengthen the capacity of the Karamba community and Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe Rural District Council to manage the biodiversity of the wilderness sustainably.

(v) Enhance community participation in the management of the Nyatana Wilderness


The proposed project will not only foster conservation of biodiversity but economically benefit local communities so that the Nyatana Wilderness Area Conservation Programme is consistent with the philosophy of promoting sustainable utilization of natural resources by ensuring communities derive benefits from their conservation efforts.



4. PROJECT ACTIVITIES

Objective (i) Enhance sustainable management of natural resources through the resolution of conflict between the Rural District Council and communities resident with the resources
Activities:
? Identification of all stakeholders and their interests to the Nyatana Wilderness Area
? An analysis of policy and legislation dealing with the selected natural resources, these are the basis upon which some stakeholders exercise power.
? Analysing the conflicts arising from rights of access to resources will be important especially the types of conflicts and their causes, the magnitude and their connectivity of conflicts and possible conflict management strategies
? Analyzing the effects of boundaries on natural resources in terms resource tenure arrangements, natural resource use and the main opportunities and constraints presented by boundaries is going to be done.
? Conduct conflict resolution workshops and meetings with council, communities, local leaders and then call on all stake holders with vested interests.
?
Objective (ii)
Facilitate the creation/building and nurturing of institutions at community level that enable effective co-management of the wilderness area.
Activities:

? Convene stakeholder workshops and discuss forum to engage leadership and local policy makers in dialogue with communities
? Facilitate workshops to draw out co-management framework for the wilderness.
The community will be trained in leadership styles and facilitation so that they can lead the workshops to chart a way forward for the Nyatana Widerness

Objective (iii)

Preserve the cultural heritage of the community by allowing them access to the wilderness, especially sites of sacral significance so that they maintain them.


Activities:

? Facilitate workshops for drawing set sites in the Wilderness for unlimited access to community for ritual purposes.
? Training of community cultural and natural resource monitors.
? Allocate each stakeholder/partner roles and responsibilities

Objective (iv)

Strengthen the capacity of the Karamba community and Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe Rural District Council to manage the biodiversity of the wilderness sustainably.
? Training for community and RDC members in wilderness management (training is going to take a multilevel approach starting from the given such as type of trees and wildlife to the unknown such as human/environment interactions and ecological sustainability).
? Facilitate the development of Nyatana into a community owned and managed wilderness area.
? Educational exchange visits to Mahenye, Nyaminyami, Masoka or any community based natural resource management initiatives for best practices
? Monitoring and evaluation

Objective (v)
The wilderness management is central to the whole project and this will involve:
? Formation and management of management committees for specific livelihood activities that the community undertakes within the wilderness area. (The committees to be formed will be on the lines of benefits derived by the communities from the wilderness area for example reed harvesting, fishing and honey collection.)
? Development of a wilderness management plan of action (This plan will include allocation of funds to various activities as identified by the community to the committees, it will also involve identification of specific tasks to be done to ensure biodiversity conservation and by whom these will have to be done.)
? Development of constitution for the management structures of the Nyatana wilderness area (This could also benefit with a trip to an area where communities have legally constituted themselves to run their own affairs in natural resource management)
? Training (This is both natural resources management training and business management)
? Implementation of wilderness management plan. This will involved:
o Disbursement of funds for the specific activities identified
o Wilderness Wardens recruitment and training
o Fencing of the wilderness area along the community identified boundary lines
o Development of eco tourism plans
o Conservation of the Mazowe catchment area (this will include, reduction in haphazard gold panning, rampant harvesting of riverine products as well as conservation of sacred pools)
o Identification of markets for community products from the wilderness, such as herbs, reed baskets, gold, honey and others which include semi precious stones)