|
| 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 Zambezi Basin Wetlands Conservation and
Resource Utilization Project |
| Date of Publication |
|
|
| Project Status |
|
Completed |
| Project Start Date |
|
|
| Project End Date |
|
|
| Countries |
|
|
| Regions |
|
Africa |
| Funding Source |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2. Background to Project |
| Project Issue/Problem Statement |
|
The project aimed to conserve the Zambezi Basin wetland
ecosystems while facilitating their sustainable use. |
| Project Description |
|
An integrated, multi-national approach to management was
promoted to address the ecological degradation resulting
from the unsustainable use of wetland resources. There
were two main types of activity:(1)wetland conservation
and (2)community well-being. The achievements were:(1)
Zambezi basin biodiversity assessment, which identified
priorities and provided a baseline inventory; introduction
of resource-based management regimes, which encouraged
resource use to be more sustainable; economic evaluation of
wetland resources, which has helped raise local awareness
and develop regional policies.(2)Health, education, food
security, income and cultural values were enhanced. It was
necessary to first address community well-being and try
to meet people ’s immediate needs before addressing the
conservation goals of the project.
Highlighted aspects of the Ecosystem Approach
• It was necessary to first focus on enhancing socio-
economic conditions and sustainable use before turning
to conservation and use.
• Economic valuations of goods and services were
undertaken at regional and local scales.
• The immediate delivery of benefits to the people
responsible for conservation and sustainable use is vital.
• Maintaining ecosystem functioning across the basin
(and the value of products locally)was a high-priority
objective.
•A multi-scale approach was taken:the economic
valuation of goods,services and biodiversity were
undertaken at the local and basin levels,and activities
were targeted at the local (village-level institutions
established and local bylaws passed)and transboundary
scales.
• Improvements to the conservation and ecosystem service
status of site studies were not fully evident within the
five-year project period.
• The project aimed to make use of multidisciplinary
scientific and traditional knowledge. |
| Highlighted Aspects of Ecosystem Approach |
|
Highlighted aspects of the Ecosystem Approach
• It was necessary to first focus on enhancing socio-
economic conditions and sustainable use before turning
to conservation and use.
• Economic valuations of goods and services were
undertaken at regional and local scales.
• The immediate delivery of benefits to the people
responsible for conservation and sustainable use is vital.
• Maintaining ecosystem functioning across the basin
(and the value of products locally)was a high-priority
objective.
•A multi-scale approach was taken:the economic
valuation of goods,services and biodiversity were
undertaken at the local and basin levels,and activities
were targeted at the local (village-level institutions
established and local bylaws passed)and transboundary
scales.
• Improvements to the conservation and ecosystem service
status of site studies were not fully evident within the
five-year project period.
• The project aimed to make use of multidisciplinary
scientific and traditional knowledge. |
| Conclusions |
|
Conservation and sustainable use objectives cannot
be achieved unless education,health,gender equity,
transport and incomes and human well-being are first
addressed.
•Local-level economic resource valuation helped build
awareness of the need for measures to ensure the
sustainable use of the resource base.
• Popular media (radio plays and songs)using local
community artists were important for building awareness
of wetland values and sustainable use.
• Regional economic valuation of resources assisted in
integrated transboundary planning within the basin.
• To be more useful,the biodiversity study report needs to
be packaged into appropriate formats for the different
stakeholders such as planners,policy-makers and local
communities. |
|
|
|
|
| 3. Sectors and Biomes |
| Sectors |
|
|
| Biomes |
|
Inland Waters Biodiversity |
|
|
|
|
| 4. Tools and Approaches |
| Tools and Approaches |
|
Relevance
Score |
|
Further
Information |
| Public Participation |
|
3-High |
|
|
| Management and Incentives |
|
3-High |
|
|
| - Environmental accounting |
|
3-High |
|
|
| Cross-sectoral Research and Working |
|
3-High |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 5. Issues |
| Issues |
|
Relevance
Score |
| Sustainable Use of Biodiversity |
|
3-High |
|
|
|
|
|
| 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 |
|
|
| Principle 2: Management should be decentralized to the lowest appropriate level |
|
3-High |
|
|
| 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 7: The ecosystem approach should be undertaken at the appropriate spatial and temporal scales |
|
3-High |
|
|
| Principle 10: The ecosystem approach should seek the appropriate balance between, and integration of, conservation and use of biological diversity |
|
1-Low |
|
|
| Principle 11: The ecosystem approach should consider all forms of relevant information, including scientific and indigenous and local knowledge, innovations and practices |
|
3-High |
|
|
| Principle 12: The ecosystem approach should involve all relevant sectors of society and scientific disciplines |
|
3-High |
|
|
| Operational Guidance A: Focus on the relationships and processes within ecosystem |
|
3-High |
|
|
| Operational Guidance B: Enhance benefit-sharing |
|
3-High |
|
|
| 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 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 7. Lessons Learned and the Outcomes |
| Lessons Learned |
|
Conservation and sustainable use objectives cannot
be achieved unless education,health,gender equity,
transport and incomes and human well-being are first
addressed.
•Local-level economic resource valuation helped build
awareness of the need for measures to ensure the
sustainable use of the resource base.
• Popular media (radio plays and songs)using local
community artists were important for building awareness
of wetland values and sustainable use.
• Regional economic valuation of resources assisted in
integrated transboundary planning within the basin.
• To be more useful,the biodiversity study report needs to
be packaged into appropriate formats for the different
stakeholders such as planners,policy-makers and local
communities. |
| Outcomes |
|
|
| Other Information |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 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. |
|
|
|
|
| 9. Contact Details |
| Contact Person |
|
Dr 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 |
| Country |
|
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| Telephone |
|
+44 1733 866857 |
| Fax |
|
+44 1733 555948 |
| E-mail Address |
|
diana.mortimer@jncc.gov.uk |
| |
| |
