Biodiversity conservation in the mid-Zambezi region

Submitted by Kago Morobane on Tue, 12/10/2021 - 10:31
Donors/Funders: 
Global Environment Facility-6th cycle
Implementers: 
Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Environmental Management Agency, Forestry Commission, CAMPFIRE Association
Countries: 
Zimbabwe
Objectives: 
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Ministry of Environment of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry (METHI), with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) developed a project to mitigate development challenges associated with biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, and climate change consequences. The challenges to be addressed include, poaching and illegal wildlife trade, human wildlife conflicts and retaliatory killings, deforestation, and climate change consequences (droughts, floods, increased frequency of veld fires) in the Mid to Lower Zambezi Area of Zimbabwe. The project is entitled “Strengthening Biodiversity and Ecosystems Management and Climate-Smart Landscapes in the Mid to Lower Zambezi Region of Zimbabwe”, also known as the “Zambezi Valley Biodiversity Project (ZVBP)”. ZVBP overall objective is to promote an integrated landscape approach to managing wildlife resources, carbon and ecosystem services in the face of climate change in protected areas and community lands of the Mid to Lower Zambezi Areas of Zimbabwe. The Project has four components, and these are (1) Strengthening capacity and governance frameworks for integrated wildlife and forest management and wildlife and forest crime enforcement in Zimbabwe; (2) Strengthening Zimbabwe’s Project Area estate and CAMPFIRE Wildlife Conservancies in areas of global Biodiversity significance; (3) Mainstreaming Biodiversity and Ecosystems management, and climate change mitigation, into the wider landscape; and (4) Knowledge Management, M&E and Gender Mainstreaming. ZVBP is being implemented under the National Implementation Modality (NIM) through which the METHI is the Implementing Partner (IP). There are four entities (Responsible Parties), that have been selected to act on behalf of the IP, to directly collaborate with project partners and local communities in delivering relevant project outputs. The Responsible Parties (RPs) are Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA), CAMPFIRE Association and Forestry Commission (FC).

Output 1.1.  National policy and regulatory framework is reviewed, and updated in accordance with the new Zimbabwe Constitution and national development priorities including National Wildlife Policy, Parks and Wildlife Act, forest legislation in accordance with National Forest Policy (2017), and National Law Enforcement and Anti-Poaching Strategy.
Indicator: Presence of updated and officially approved National Wildlife Policy, Parks and Wildlife Act, Communal Land Forest Produce Act, and National Law Enforcement and Anti-Poaching Strategy

1.2. Two Multi-Agency Wildlife Crime Units are established and functional to ensure strong inter-agency collaboration to fight IWT and forest crimes
Indicator: presence of officially established and operational MAUsOutput 

1.3. Key law enforcement agencies (ZPWMA, ZRP Minerals and Border Control Unit, FC, ZIMRA, EMA, investigators, judiciary, and prosecutors) are provided with necessary trainings and tools to fight IWT and forest crime
Indicator: At least 100 LE officers are trained in the project area

1.4. Nationwide system for monitoring wildlife and forest crimes is developed and implemented
Indicator: National SMART center is established at the ZPWMA HQ; SMART is used for wildlife and forest crime monitoring and reporting in the PA estate and 6 target Conservancies

1.5. International treaties between Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique on protection of ZIMOZA and Lower Zambezi - Mana Pools Trans-Frontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) are developed, submitted to the countries’ governments and supported for implementation
Indicator: International Treaty(s) for TCFA is signed and have mechanism (Secretariat and Ministerial Committee) for implementation 

1.6. Project area awareness campaign targeting IWT, deforestation and climate adaptation/mitigation issues is developed and implemented
Indicator: Number awareness activities going on in the project area and number of local people involved

2.1. Updated Management Plans are developed and implemented for UNESCO Mana Pools WNH site (Mana Pools National Park, Sapi, and Chewore SAs) and surrounding PA complex of Charara, Hurungwe, Dande, Doma Safari Areas, including enhanced anti-poaching, woodland, HWC and veld fire management
Indicator: Presence of RBM Management Plans for the PA complex, number of trained rangers, presence of necessary equipment and infrastructure for PA management

2.2. CAMPFIRE Wildlife Conservancies (CWCs) with total area of 334,500 ha are officially established, have functional governance structure and CWC Management Plans, and trained in CBWM, SFM, HWC, and fire management
Indicator: 6 officially established Conservancies managed by Community Trusts

3.1. Integrated Landscape Management Plans for Hurungwe (northern part), Mbire, and Muzarabani Districts are developed, officially approved, and implemented
Indicator: 3 officially approved RBM Integrated Landscape Management Plans for target districts

3.2. Pilot projects on community based SFM, SLM, HWC management and alternative sources of income are developed and implemented in the target CWCs via sustainable small grant mechanism
Indicator: Number of pilot project of local communities supported in the target Conservancies

3.3.  Model woodland restoration projects are developed and implemented in the target CWCs.
Indicator: 3 indigenous tree nurseries are established, restoration of 6000 ha of woodlands is launched

3.4. Local communities in the target CWCs are provided with alternative sources of energy and energy saving equipment to decrease their dependence on firewood
Indicator: 3000 ha of firewood plantations established, 40 energy efficient tobacco curing barns constructed in the target conservancies

3.5. Corporate conservation and social responsibility programs are developed and introduced to tobacco companies in the project area to mainstream biodiversity conservation in the production sector
Indicator: Environmental responsibility rating is developed and introduced to tobacco companies; number of corporate conservation programmes developed by tobacco companies

4.1. Participatory project monitoring, evaluation and learning framework is developed and implemented
Indicator: Number of stakeholders participating in the M&E activities 

4.2. Lessons learned from the project are shared with national and international conservation programmes, including GWP
Indicator: Number of lessons documented and shared by the project

4.3. Gender strategy developed and used to guide project implementation, monitoring and reporting
Indicator: Presence of the Gender Strategy, annual reports on the Strategy implementation

TFCA: 
Lower Zambezi – Mana Pools Transfrontier Conservation Area
PAs: 
Mana Pools National Park & World Heritage Site, Sapi Safari Area, Chewore Safari Areas
Specific Area (Village, Town, District, Province): 
Dande, Mbire, Muzarabani
HQ of the Initiative: 
Harare, Zimbabwe
Timeframe: 
2016 to 2021
Is the timeframe likely to be extended?: 
Yes
Elaborate on likelihood to extend: 
GEF 7 STAR Allocation for Zimbabwe can cover some of the initiatives
Budget: 
10000000.00
Currency: 
USD
Thematic Focus: 
NR Protect & Mgt
1st Contact Name: 
Tanyaradzwa Mundoga-National GEF Focal Point
1st Contact Email: 
mundogat@gmail.com
2nd Contact Name: 
Chipangura Chirara - GEF Project Manager
2nd Contact Email: 
chipangura.chirara@undp.org
Website: 
https://www.thegef.org.project/