|
| 1. Project Details |
| Author or Responsible Organization |
|
R D Smith and E Maltby. (2003) 'Using the Ecosystem Approach to Implement the Convention on Biological Diversity: Key issues and case studies. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK x + 118pp. |
| Project Title |
|
Sustainable Management of Indigenous Forests in
Mwanza East, Malawi |
| Date of Publication |
|
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| Project Status |
|
Completed |
| Project Start Date |
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| Project End Date |
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| Countries |
|
Malawi |
| Regions |
|
Africa |
| Funding Source |
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| 2. Background to Project |
| Project Issue/Problem Statement |
|
The project addressed the problem of deforestation of
Miombo woodland in a catchment of the Shire, one of
Malawi ’s major rivers. The area has experienced a rapid
conversion of forest to agricultural land following the
construction of a main road. The remaining forest faces
greater pressure from humans, livestock and wildlife. |
| Project Description |
|
Five approaches were used to reduce deforestation:(1)
Involving local communities in awareness campaigns and
training in improved forest management. These campaigns
have benefited from local knowledge of forest management
and establishment techniques.(2)Integration of women and
other marginalised groups in forest resource management.
Women suffer most as a result of declining availability of
firewood and the drying up of streams due to siltation.(3)
Empowerment of communities through the formation of
various clubs and committees. Committees were needed
to administer the management of forest resources because
awareness and training were found to be insufficient to
address the problem of deforestation.(4)Control of illegal
timber, charcoal and fuel wood use by bylaws. Since the
licensing system designed to control the harvesting of
trees has been ineffective, the project developed bylaws
that limited the use of forest resources by communities.
(5)Harvesting and marketing of non-timber forest products
(NTFPs).The project encouraged the diversification of forest
product use by supporting the formation of groups to carry
out management, utilisation and marketing. As a result of
these efforts, communities are managing greater areas of
forest, illegal harvesting of wood is being reduced, income-
generating activities have increased and diversified, and
communities are actively involved in forest management. |
| Highlighted Aspects of Ecosystem Approach |
|
• The project has had some success in simultaneously
implementing each of the objectives of the CBD. For
example, conservation and sustainable use were balanced
and the distribution of forest benefits made more
equitable by adding value to sustainably harvested forest
products (e.g. fruit juices)and successfully marketing
them in urban areas.
• Societal choice – the setting of priorities by local
communities was vital for the success of the project; this
identified the need and potential for income generation.
• Goods, both timber and non-timber, were identified.
Sustainably harvested non-traditional forest products
replaced timber and charcoal as the preferred products.
• The success of the project in changing peoples ’ attitudes
towards natural resources results from the local
involvement of diverse stakeholders including churches,
research institutions, NGOs, businesses and government
departments.
• The project did not:(1)use or enhance knowledge
of ecosystem functional relationships and processes
(although their importance were acknowledged);or (2)
use or test adaptive management. |
| Conclusions |
|
•The activities and structures developed by a project can
only be judged as successful if they survive in the longer
term. Continuity of project-inspired activities will require
further empowerment and strengthening of institutions
at the village level.
• Obstacles to the success of the project included:1)
insecurity of tenure over customary resources;(2)
over-harvesting of NTFPs;(3)insufficient community
empowerment to prevent illegal forest use.
• The project needs to be expanded more widely in the
catchment if the improvements to forest condition are to
have a positive impact on the river.
• A focus on the value of individual species (and neglect of
their ecological function)has led to over-harvesting of
some species and unknown ecological effects. |
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| 3. Sectors and Biomes |
| Sectors |
|
Forestry |
| Biomes |
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Forest Biodiversity |
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| 4. Tools and Approaches |
| Tools and Approaches |
|
Relevance
Score |
|
Further
Information |
| Public Participation |
|
3-High |
|
|
| - Community based methods |
|
3-High |
|
|
| - Local community approaches |
|
3-High |
|
|
| - Social analysis |
|
3-High |
|
|
| Education and Awareness |
|
3-High |
|
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| - Communication |
|
3-High |
|
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| Governance, Law and Policy |
|
3-High |
|
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| - Litigation and enforcement |
|
3-High |
|
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| Management and Incentives |
|
3-High |
|
|
| - Conservation enterprises/Diversification |
|
3-High |
|
|
| - Incentives |
|
3-High |
|
|
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| 5. Issues |
| Issues |
|
Relevance
Score |
| Sustainable Use of Biodiversity |
|
3-High |
| Traditional Knowledge, Innovations and Practices - Article 8(j) |
|
3-High |
|
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| 6. Ecosystem Approach |
| Principles and Operational Guidance |
|
Relevance
Score |
|
Reason
(Only if NOT relevant) |
| Principle 1: The objectives of management of land, water and living resources are a matter of societal choices |
|
3-High |
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|
| Principle 2: Management should be decentralized to the lowest appropriate level |
|
3-High |
|
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| Principle 4: Recognizing potential gains from management, there is usually a need to understand and manage the ecosystem in an economic context |
|
3-High |
|
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| Principle 5: Conservation of ecosystem structure and functioning, in order to maintain ecosystem services, should be a priority target of the ecosystem approach |
|
1-Low |
|
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| Principle 6: Ecosystem must be managed within the limits of their functioning |
|
1-Low |
|
|
| Principle 9: Management must recognize the change is inevitable |
|
3-High |
|
|
| Principle 10: The ecosystem approach should seek the appropriate balance between, and integration of, conservation and use of biological diversity |
|
3-High |
|
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| Principle 11: The ecosystem approach should consider all forms of relevant information, including scientific and indigenous and local knowledge, innovations and practices |
|
3-High |
|
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| Principle 12: The ecosystem approach should involve all relevant sectors of society and scientific disciplines |
|
3-High |
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| Operational Guidance B: Enhance benefit-sharing |
|
3-High |
|
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| Operational Guidance C: Use adaptive management practices |
|
3-High |
|
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| Operational Guidance D: Carry out management actions at the scale appropriate for the issue being addressed, with decentralization to lowest level, as appropriate |
|
3-High |
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| Operational Guidance E: Ensure intersectoral cooperation |
|
3-High |
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| 7. Lessons Learned and the Outcomes |
| Lessons Learned |
|
•The activities and structures developed by a project can
only be judged as successful if they survive in the longer
term. Continuity of project-inspired activities will require
further empowerment and strengthening of institutions
at the village level.
• Obstacles to the success of the project included:1)
insecurity of tenure over customary resources;(2)
over-harvesting of NTFPs;(3)insufficient community
empowerment to prevent illegal forest use.
• The project needs to be expanded more widely in the
catchment if the improvements to forest condition are to
have a positive impact on the river.
• A focus on the value of individual species (and neglect of
their ecological function)has led to over-harvesting of
some species and unknown ecological effects. |
| Outcomes |
|
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| Other Information |
|
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| 8. References |
| References |
|
Smith, R.D. & Maltby, E. (2003) Using the Ecosystem Approach to Implement the Convention on Biodiversity: Key issues and case studies. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, Uk x + 118pp. |
|
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| 9. Contact Details |
| Contact Person |
|
Ms. Diana Mortimer |
| Job Title |
|
Ecosystem Approach Officer |
| Organization |
|
Joint Nature Conservation Committee |
| Address |
|
Monkstone House, City Road, |
| Postal Code |
|
PE13 4LA |
| City |
|
Peterborough |
| ZIP/State/Province |
|
Cambs |
| Telephone |
|
+44 1733 866857 |
| Fax |
|
+44 1733 555948 |
| E-mail Address |
|
diana.mortimer@jncc.gov.uk |
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