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| 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 |
|
The Pendjari Biosphere Reserve, Benin |
| Date of Publication |
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| Project Status |
|
Ongoing |
| Project Start Date |
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| Project End Date |
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| Countries |
|
Benin |
| Regions |
|
Africa |
| Funding Source |
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| 2. Background to Project |
| Project Issue/Problem Statement |
|
The management of Pendjari was failing, as it formerly
prioritised conservation for the benefit of tourism and
neglected the need for grazing land and the economic needs
of the local population. This led to significant poaching. |
| Project Description |
|
Pendjari has been a protected area since 1954 and a
Biosphere Reserve since 1986.Initially, management of
the protected area was for conservation for the benefit
of tourists. This system had limited success due to social
and technical difficulties. For example, although every
year thousands of domestic animals (particularly cattle)
undertook seasonal migrations through the reserves this
use conflicted with management objectives. Biosphere
Reserve management has since implemented an integrated
approach with some success. These are the key changes in
management:
•Management that seeks to integrate the interests of all
parties.
•Initiation of community participation in management.
• Grazing rights that have been formalised as part of a
strategy to ensure that livestock rearing is sustainable
and does not compromise the conservation objectives of
the reserve.
• Allowing agriculture in designated areas within the
reserve.
•Organisation of fruit picking and hunting so as to ensure
its sustainability.
• Allowing ritual use by local communities.
• Transfer of some hunting revenues to the local
community. |
| Highlighted Aspects of Ecosystem Approach |
|
• Conservation, equitable sharing of benefits and the
sustainable use of biological diversity are addressed.
• The importance of providing alternative livelihood
strategies outside the reserve is emphasised. Tourist
guides have been employed as a benefit sharing measure.
• The importance of inter-ecosystem linkages is recognised
and the impact of agriculture in surrounding areas on the
biosphere reserve is being examined. In particular, the
impact on the river of pesticides used in cotton growing
requires investigation.
• Goods and services included grazing resource, hunting,
fishing, firewood, fruit and cultural/religious value.
• Benefit sharing has been strengthened through granting
of use, access and some hunting revenues to local
communities.
• New legislation has been prepared and is being
examined by the authorities with a view to legalising the
participation of local communities in the management of
the reserve.
• The Ecosystem Approach may provide a basis for
negotiating an agreement with Burkina Faso for the
harmonisation of certain practices, especially fishing.
At present, Benin forbids all commercial fishing in the
frontier stretch of the Pendjari River, which borders the
national park, while Burkina Faso is intensifying its
fisheries activities in the same waters on its side of the
river.
• It is hoped that development agencies use the Ecosystem
Approach to harmonise their assistance. For example,
the European Union has funded the protection of the
Pendjari National Park while simultaneously financing the
development of fishing in the Pendjari River. Similarly,
the World Bank supports the management programme
for protected areas at the same time as it promotes the
cultivation of cotton around, and in some cases within,
these areas.
• Developing ecological monitoring is a priority and
support is needed. |
| Conclusions |
|
• The Ecosystem Approach can be used to support the
Biosphere Reserve through promotion of transboundary
cooperation and harmonisation of development assistance.
•Conservation goals are best achieved if local economic
and cultural needs are also met. |
|
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| 3. Sectors and Biomes |
| Sectors |
|
Agriculture |
| 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 |
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| - Community based methods |
|
3-High |
|
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| Governance, Law and Policy |
|
3-High |
|
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| - Legislation and treaties |
|
3-High |
|
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| - Policy development, planning and reform |
|
3-High |
|
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| Management and Incentives |
|
3-High |
|
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| - Practical management techniques |
|
3-High |
|
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| - Conservation enterprises/Diversification |
|
3-High |
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| Data, Monitoring and Modelling |
|
3-High |
|
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| Protected Areas and Land Use Policy |
|
3-High |
|
|
| - Protected/managed areas |
|
3-High |
|
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| Cross-sectoral Research and Working |
|
3-High |
|
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| 5. Issues |
| Issues |
|
Relevance
Score |
| Public Participation |
|
3-High |
| Sustainable Use of Biodiversity |
|
3-High |
| Tourism and Biodiversity |
|
3-High |
| Traditional Knowledge, Innovations and Practices - Article 8(j) |
|
3-High |
| Transboundary Conservation |
|
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 3: Ecosystem managers should consider the effects (actual or potential) of their activities on adjacent and other ecosystems |
|
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 |
|
|
| Principle 5: Conservation of ecosystem structure and functioning, in order to maintain ecosystem services, should be a priority target of the ecosystem approach |
|
3-High |
|
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| Principle 6: Ecosystem must be managed within the limits of their functioning |
|
3-High |
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| Principle 7: The ecosystem approach should be undertaken at the appropriate spatial and temporal scales |
|
3-High |
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| Principle 8: Recognizing the varying temporal scales and lag-effects that characterize ecosystem processes, objectives for ecosystem management should be set for the long term |
|
3-High |
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| Principle 9: Management must recognize the change is inevitable |
|
3-High |
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| 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 A: Focus on the relationships and processes within ecosystem |
|
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 Ecosystem Approach can be used to support the
Biosphere Reserve through promotion of transboundary
cooperation and harmonisation of development assistance.
•Conservation goals are best achieved if local economic
and cultural needs are also met. |
| 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 |
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+44 1733 555948 |
| E-mail Address |
|
diana.mortimer@jncc.gov.uk |
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