Project Detail

Fish Biodiversity Status and Water Quality Parameters of the Gbondapi-Wanjai Riverine Strait.

The primary objective of this project is to document all information about the physico-chemical parameters that would influence fish abundance and biodiversity and raise awareness of locals about the status of fish species in the Gbondapi fishing community. Specific objectives include capacity building of field staff and young scientists, through training in skills for conducting water quality parameters, fish species collection and identification, use of field equipment and data collection; collect data on all possible water quality parameters from Gbondapi riverine; conduct research on socio economic and livelihood activities of the Gbondapi community; recording of fish species composition within these water bodies and setting up a data base for fish species abundance in the Gbondapi riverine.
Activities will include training of field staff in using key research instrument/tools/methods, and conducting community sensitization and education meetings/seminars. It is hoped that this work will serve as a base for an intended national fresh waters fisheries biodiversity research. The project is located in Gbondapi town which is in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone. It is one of the major fishing communities found in Pujehun district, Kpanga-kabonde Chiefdom. The town situated located 12 miles away from the district head quarter town Pujehun. The road leading to Gbondapi is gravel terrain with potholes and make it difficult for low vehicles to easy ply the route. Motor bikes (Okadas) are common of transportation. The population of Gbondapi is 5000, dominated by female (SSL, 2015). But this population increase during the periodic market days. During the dry season, migrant fishermen come to Gbondapi for fishing activities and this increase the human population and exploitation of the aquatic resources. Although fish communities may have a high degree of natural variability, they can be useful indicators of ecosystem health. Berkman and others (1986) recommended fish be given consideration in biological water-quality monitoring of streams because they generally are perceived by the public to be ecologically relevant, and they are directly related to legislative mandates because of human health and endangered species concerns. Low abundances and types of fish species may be influenced by water quality and habitat which could be affected by the surrounding land use

Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Planning Green Futures Non Governmental Organization

Country:

Sierra Leone

Area Of Work:

CapDev
International Waters

Operational Phase:

OP6 -Y4 (Jul 18 - Jun 19)

Grant Amount:

US$ 30,000.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 10,182.93

Co-Financing in-Kind:

Project Number:

SLE/SGP/OP6/Y4/STAR/IW/29/08/2018/50

Start Date:

10/2018

End Date:

9/2019

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

Indigenes and home base fishermen usually have wealth of knowledge about their immediate surroundings that could be of importance to the research or surveys; it is therefore eminent that PGF-NNGO will tap into that local knowledge and make the best use of them and also improve upon them through the provision of refined and structured training for better understanding of the scientific knowledge. Field staff will be encouraged to always listen to what locals have got to say before sharing their ideas and information about a particular water body, fish species and the socio-economic/livelihood activities they know about. This firsthand information or data sharing process will raise the awareness and or assure locals of their local knowledge about their water bodies and species richness. For staff, the training exercise will serve as a capacity building process which PGF-NNGO hopes will last since they will be in the field even after the proposed project. The use of different tools and skills used in the research is hoped to last in the minds of all those that will be involved

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

Result of the research will include a list supported photos of freshwater fish species recorded in the Gbondapi riverine. For whatever lessons learned from the field, staff will be encouraged to include such ideas, stories and experiences for inclusion into the final report. These will be compiled and copied on a CD and sent to UNDP GEF- SGP, TV programmes will be organized to generate public discussion about the results of the research, copies will be made available in our (PGF-NNGO) resource center, research and library Unit of MFMR and copies sent to the University and College Libraries in the country and make available to every interested persons/stakeholders.

Capacity - Building Component

The organization does not need any capacity training for the project; however, there is need to train some local field staff on the use of survey tools and data collection. Currently the organization does not have a research speed boat, and therefore has to use the services of local boat to cruise the Gbondapi-Wanjai Riverine strait during the research

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The predominant economic activity of the community is fishing. There is a population increase during the periodic market days (Tuesdays and Wednesdays). During the dry season, migrant fishermen come to Gbondapi for fishing activities and this increase the population. This project will train the community on sustainable fishing and support with fishing gears. The Jetty is located at the close bank of the river Wanjai and the newly constructed Sierra Leone Maritime Administration the maritime office. The project will also make attempt to support other socio-economic and livelihood activities such as petty trading and subsistence farming/agriculture. This research venture is geared towards sustainable management of the fisheries resources of the targeted communities which informs that fishing activity could be booted and transcend to food and nutrition security for the inhabitants.

Gender Focus

The project will involve women in both the training, field exercises and data analysis. The Field officers will be encouraged to suggest the inclusion of women into the local guide positions, though most women are particularly scared of sitting in boats for fishing purposes. Women will be encouraged to take part in collecting data on the water bodies. Women will be involved in collecting fish and other aquatic resources using their local nets (Bembay) and traps because women are the predominant group involved in fishing in most rural communities. On the other hand, women will also participation in setting traps and nets monitoring and data collection on socio economic activities. In the education and sensitization meetings and workshops, the involvement of women will be a priority. The project and project coordinator will ensure that for every meeting the ratio of men to women is at least 60:40 and in every deliberation, women will be given priority. People with disability will be involved in this project by serving as nets and traps menders.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

The research has made room for the inclusion of indigenous people including local government leaders, fishermen, boat owners, tour guide etc. Meanwhile our scientists are capable of speaking the local languages of the targeted communities. All trainings are tailored to make the grassroots/locals to easily understand.

Policy Impact

This research will at the end of the day produce a policy impact in the sense that, findings and recommendations could aid national and international drives on biodiversity conservation and sustainable exploitation of aquatic resources. The intended results will include increased awareness of the importance of aquatic biodiversity, sustainable exploitation and livelihood enhancement. From our training on co-management, recommendations could be adopted by local and incorporated into their bylaws which they the locals could regulate general good of their communities and the nation as a whole.

Notable Community Participation

Youth will be recruited as local field assistants/guides. For every community visited, the community people will be involved and briefed about the goal and objectives of the project and asked for their assistance in the effort of the registry process by providing local guides. These guides will help field staff by taking them around to key riverine areas/community within Gbondapi community that know fish species distribution either by experience or them been fisher folks that have once done fishing and it related activity. They will also be part of the setting of traps and net monitoring effort since they are indigenes. They will also be encouraged to provide information relevant to species of greater concern they know of, for identification. Though the research team will not rely on second hand information but the information will serve as a spring board for further investigation of the presence of the most species. Once this is done, project staff and identified local guides will visit the sites and conduct the search. Locals will also be educated about the unnecessary dumping of household and other agricultural wastes into the adjacent water bodies to prevent cascade loss species.

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Indicators

Empowerment

Number of indigenous people participated/involved in SGP project 50

Livehood

Number of individuals (gender diaggregated) who have benefited* from SGP project 5000

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