Project Detail

Zivembava Island and Chibememe Forest Biodiversity Programme

The project is located in Chibememe village in Chiredzi. The protection and rehablitation of Zivembava Island forest and the surruonding environment is an initiative meant to address the apparent problems of deforestation, veld fires and land degredation which have significantly contributed towards biodiversity loss and siltation of Save River.

Project objectives are to
-raise awarerness on the need to conserve and sustainably use our resuorces which will help in reducing loss of vegetatio0n cover ,animal species and land degradation.
-protect the Zivembava Island forest by fencing the whole area so that the resources will not be continually depleted.
-reclaim gulleys in the area and embark on reafforestation works to increase vegetative cover and reduce soil erosion
-fostering the spirit of community participation through the use of participatory methodologies in the conservation of cultural and natural resources emphasizing the active involvement of women and youth.

The project participants are the CHIEHA members and the whole Chibememe community.

Project activities
-conducting a biodiversity survey and resource inventory to ascertain the different tree species, wild game, birds
-environmental and cultural awareness and this will be achieved in the following ways- meetings,workshops,awareness bike rides and theatre.
-rehabilitation of Zivembava Island and its environs by fencingthe area and then embarking on enrichment planting, afforestation activities,protection of wild game and aquatic life.
-reestablishment and expansion of the community nursery
-construction of the adminstration and information centre
-gulley reclamation and planting of vertiva in the water ways to curb erosion
-implementing the small grains project
-horticultural activities and oil pressing
-construction of access road to site.

Project results
-increase in biodiversity as a result in vegetation cover, wild game, birds etc
-siltation of Save river reduced as a result of afforestation measures and prohibitation of stream bank cultivation
-community nursery establishment and expansion
-moisture conservation and water harvesting programme initiated -for food production
-gullies reclaimed and vertiva planted in the waterways
-landcare programme initiated and eco-tourism centre established
-increased food production and growing of small grains

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Chibememe Earth Healing Association

Country:

Zimbabwe

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

Phase 2

Grant Amount:

US$ 32,338.35

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 11,202.06

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 28,800.00

Project Number:

ZIM/98/G52/033

Start Date:

7/2000

End Date:

9/2003

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

Although the group is aware of how their intended project will impact on their local environment, they still need more awareness raising on how local initiatives affect the global environment.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

Protection of Biodiversity will help in the regeneration of indigenous trees which include fruit trees and the people will benefit by getting wild fruits which were becoming exinct. The group has another programme on small grains which will enhance food security and they look forward to establishing an information centre where they can generate money by selling books to visitors.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

The local people are expected to take the leading role in the whole process of project implementation and emphasis has been placed on tapping their local knowledge as regards natural resource management and conservation.

Linkages gef projects

The project addressed 3 GEFSGP thematic areas of climate change, biodiversity and protection of international waters.

Gender Focus

The project has creaed an enabling environment for women to participate in decision-making, project design, implementation and monitoring by having an equal proportion of men and women in the committee and actual project.

Replication of project activities

The project has unlocked potential for upscaling of community initiatives . Splinter and cluster initiatives are beginning to take shape in the SE low veld.

Notable Community Participation

The project is a community based initiative and it empphasises communal participation and collective responsibility in decision-making, project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Already the community has mobilised each other and have already started working on activities which do not need capital investment and are now waiting for funds to purchase the required materials.

Policy Influence

The project managed to influence national and global policy on community benefits in conservation of wildlife. The awareness campaigns conducted but the group have earned the CHIEHA support in its campaign for community benefits in conservation efforts.

Project sustainability

The project was sustainable.

Capacity - Building Component

This group has already received training but will still need to be revisited since this is a new project with integrated activities and the members still need to be empowered especially on project management and bookkeeping. However, they have demonstrated their capacity to manage their project by designing their workplan and actually starting with activities which they can support and implement on their own i.e. which do not need funding.

Planning gef grant

yes

Planning non gef grant

yes

Project Results

The 'Chibememe community benefits beyond boundaries' cycle ride in connection with the world parks congress (WPC_Durban 2003) enabled CHIEHA to penetrate both regional and global in terms of making awareness about the need for communities to benefit from the conservation. they participated at world Parks Congress in Durban and at the Equator Initiative in Malaysia after being shortlisted as one of ten winners. The group mobilized financial resources to the tune of of nearly Zim $215 million from such organisations as CIDA,IUCN, ARUP among others. CHIEHA has also influenced the draft National Environmental Policy (NEP) and is working benefiting from the implementation of the wildlife based land reform policy. the group has represented communities at different global for as such as the &th parties meeting to the convention o diversity(WP7)- Malaysia- Feb 2004 and the world parks congress among other conventions.They are also taking part in a trans boundary initiative known as the trans frontier Limpopo whereby there is the participation of communities from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa.

Rehabilitation has been done on zivembava island forest but is severely by the water crisis and drought situation of Sourthern eastern Zimbabwe. more than 50 ha of forest woodland is being effectively managed. biodiversity in terms of small wild animals such as the wild pigs, monkeys and bush bark; plants, reptiles, and birds and animal habitats are well conserved. Stone bounds in gullies along with vertiver grass planting have helped rehabilitate the gullies in the area. Water harvesting programmes involving the construction of water harvesters and infiltration pits were established to ease the problem of water shortages.

The small grains programme has over the years helped strengthen food and seed security sovereignty and diversity.despite the drought average per household harvests were sorghum/ millet- 0.5-2 tonnes, groundnuts 0.5 t and cow peas 250g. Sunflower harvest from a community field was in excess of 2 tonnes by end of project. The project has also established an ec- center and is still working on proper setting o the services such as accommodation in the area.

The project was a huge success and several reports were documented and disseminated to various partners. The project has received worldwide recognition and support.

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