Proposal for Annual Plan 2008
WWF MAG NEW 2008_main text 2007-10-01 Page 1
Proposal for Annual Plan 2008
Project Name: / Community Forest Conservation in Ankodida and Ifotaka, MadagascarProject Location: / South-western Region of Madagascar (MAG)
Project Number: / NEW
Project Budget: / 2008: NOK 1,209,694 (NOK 1,096,849 requested from Norad, incl. 8% administration grant from Norad to WWF-Norway)
Local Partner(s): / WWF Madagascar and West Indian Ocean Programme Office (MWIOPO)
Contact Person(s): / WWF Madagascar & West Indian Ocean Programme Office
Anitry Ny Aina Ratsifandrihamanana, Conservation Director
Bernardin Rasolonandrasana, Spiny Forest Ecoregion Leader
WWF Norway: Anne Martinussen, Environment and Development Officer
Start Date: / January 2008 / Expected End Date: / December 2012
Global 200 Ecoregion(s)[1]
Madagascar Spiny Thicket n° 125
Part of an ecoregion action programme? / Yes / X / No
WWF MAG NEW 2008_main text 2007-10-01 Page 1
WWF Project Proposal 2008 – Community Forest Conservation in Ankodida and Ifotaka, Madagascar
executive Summary
Introduction
The three-year project entitled “Promoting Community Conserved Areas in Southern Madagascar” aims at supporting local communities in Southern Madagascar to effectively and sustainably manage natural resources through capacity building and support in the development of appropriate legal, institutional and organizational mechanisms for community management of the Ifotaka and Ankodida biodiversity rich areas. The project also aims at supporting these communities in developing and implementing environmentally-friendly development activities by building their capacity to plan, negotiate and implement partnership with development agencies working in the area. The experience and lessons drawn from the project will be used to feed Madagascar’s environmental policy, in particular policies relating to community involvement into biodiversity conservation and will thus greatly contribute to the achievement of the country’s commitment to triple its protected area coverage in a way that ensures the participation and equitable share of conservation benefits to all. In order to ensure long-term results, the project will emphasize a participatory approach with all relevant stakeholders from the beginning, will seek to build partnerships with existing actors and ensure coordination with other initiatives in the area.
Project background
The Spiny Forest (“Ala Maiky” in Malagasy) Ecoregion lying in the Southwestern region of Madagascar, forms one of the most unique and biologically rich drylands areas on Earth, with a great number of plants and animals that are found nowhere else in the world. The remaining natural habitat harbors the highest level of plant endemism both at the generic (48%) and species (95%) in all of Madagascar, and is home to 9 species of lemurs and the charismatic and endangered radiated tortoise. Unfortunately, this region is also the most economically disadvantaged in Madagascar and has the highest levels of economic poverty. Poverty, characterized by lack of sustainable economic alternatives, rapid population growth, lack of educational facilities and primary health care services, poor governance in general, is one of the underlying cause of overall land degradation, deforestation and biodiversity loss in this ecoregion. However, the majority of the local population heavily relies on natural resources for their livelihoods through subistence farming and contemplative cattle breeding. The ecoregion has the highest rate of deforestation for the period 2000-2005. Deforestation accentuates the already stark poverty by diminishing water availability for agriculture and livestock, reducing availability of forest products such as wood, medicinal plants for daily needs, the spreading of sand erosion and invasive species and above all impoverishes the land and reduces their potential for development and tourism (the area is the first destination for nature-based tourism in Madagascar). In the South, forest loss has fueled migration causing new settlements and forest clearings in once well preserved areas. In the areas of Ankodida and Ifotaka specifically, deforestation threatens the cultural identity of local people as sacred forests once preserving the spirit of their ancestors are now exposed to intrusion from migrants in search of new forests. Securing access to natural resources and building the capacity of local traditional communities in sustainably managing these resources is thus a key factor for successful conservation and development in this area.
In 1998, WWF started an ecoregional planning process in the Spiny Forest ecoregion and identified nine priority areas for the conservation of biodiversity and key ecological services. The vision of this ecoregional programme is that “the resources and natural heritage of the spiny forest ecoregion in Madagascar are sources of economic, social, and cultural benefits for present and future generations of Malagasy people.” Since 2000, processes have been developed in close collaboration with local actors to identify appropriate management options and implement these in all nine areas. The Ankodida and Ifotaka areas are among these priority areas.
As part of the national strategy «Madagascar Naturellement” and the ambitious Durban Vision[2] for increasing protected areas in the country, it is Madagascar’s policy to empower local communities to take active part in biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resources management. The new Madagascar Protected Area system offers an unique opportunity to develop innovative options such as community conserved areas and shared governance mechanisms. WWF pioneered the testing and implementation of community managed protected areas with the creation of the Ankodida and Ifotaka PAs in order to ensure that these forested areas of economic, biological and cultural importance are sustainably managed for the benefit of both the local communities and biodiversity.
At this early stage the inter-communal associations and local committees will require ongoing “backstopping” support for the development and implementation of detailed management plans as well as development of revenue-generating activities such as ecotourism, sustainable forestry to support PA management and provide incentives for conservation and local sustainable development.
Previous experiences
The project will build on the advanced process that the international WWF network has so far supported to conserve the Ankodida (10,744 ha) and Ifotaka (22,256 ha) community conserved areas. The processes started in 2003 when traditional leaders, with the help of WWF, revived the traditional norms that rule the sacred forests of Ankodida and Ifotaka through the establishment of the first community-based forest management contract. A temporary protection status was granted to the two forest areas in 2005; a zoning plan was finalized with local communities that identifies the sacred forest as the core areas, sustainable management use zones and user rights zones. Local management committees were created in each of the villages surrounding the two areas and an union of these committees is now established. Two inter-communal[3] associations were formed in order to support community management of the two areas. These important steps have been achieved with funding from the WWF network, which is supporting the overall ecoregion coordination since 1998.
It is planned that the Ankodida PA (2,900 ha) will be co-managed by the inter-communal association MAKAREFI, the Forest Service, the regional authorities of Anosy and the technical support of WWF. Delineation of the area is completed and a temporary protection status obtained in February 2006. WWF is currently preparing the transfer of management of six areas (7,844 ha) around the Ankodida PA to local communities. This measure was taken to give responsibility for managing these areas which act as buffer zones to adjoining populations. This protected area comprises a core area that is a sacred forest for the Tandroy people and is surrounded by community-managed forests.
The Ifotaka PA (22,256 ha) consist of 8,000 ha core area and a total of 900 ha of sacred forests, sustainable use areas for the collection of medicinal plants and other non-timber forest products and a buffer zone for zebu pasturing. It is planned that the area will be co-managed by the inter-communal association FIKASANA, the Forest Service and the technical support of WWF. Delineation of the area is completed and a temporary protection status obtained in February 2006.
Goal and Purpose
The goal of the project is that “the resources and natural heritage of the spiny forest ecoregion in Madagascar are sources of economic, social, and cultural benefits for present and future generations of Malagasy people.” The project is designed so as to contribute to the Spiny Forest ecoregion vision.
The purpose of the project is to develop and consolidate capacity building programs and management systems towards a successful model of community management for the new protected areas of Ifotaka and Ankodida in Southern Madagascar by the end of year 2010.
Indicators:
· Delegation contract for the devolvement of management authority approved for Ifotaka and Ankodida community protected areas
· Threat abatement strategies implemented and monitoring and surveillance system in place
· Reduction by 60 percent of natural habitat loss in protected areas and their peripheries (compared to the situation of 2000)
· Opportunities and benefits for local management of protected areas widely communicated in Madagascar.
Outputs
The project aims at five outputs in order to achieve the project purpose and contribute to the project goal:
Output 1: Roles and responsibilities among local and regional actors and institutions involved in both natural resources management and the administration of the protected areas are established and reinforced by the end of year 2009
Indicators:
· Existence of a platform of agreement between local and regional actors and institutions
· Signed consensus on management goals and management structures for the two protected areas
· Enforcement actions taken & penalties paid by those violating regulations
Output 2: Technical support in the implementation of community conserved areas and natural resources management tools are provided, by the end of the year 2010.
Indicators:
· Existence of a management plan and participatory ecological monitoring protocols
· Threat abatement strategies implemented
· Conservation management planning completed, including: management plans for the sustainable use of wood and non-wood resources ; conservation and habitat restoration strategies and planning for targeted endangered species; a detailed research plan; a proposed monitoring program; and a plan for private sector investment (notably for ecotourism)
Output 3: Capacity building and programmes for local actors on community conserved areas planning and management, monitoring, natural resources management, social organization and project development are developed and implemented, by the end of year 2011.
Indicators:
· Existence of reporting/feedback system of the capacity building programmes
· Level of funds leveraged for rural development
· Area replanted for restoration and reforestation
Output 4: Appropriate development activities (mainly ecotourism and sustainable land management) are developed, by the end of the year 2012.
Indicators:
· Business plan for priority rural and economic development projects developed
· Revised communal development plan developed
· Strategic plan for ecotourism development developed
· Ecotourism planning and strategy document developed, ecotourism infrastructures and services improved, number of local guides trained
· Existence of developed tourism infrastructures and services
· Number of both national and international visitors
Output 5: Lessons learned relating to community conservation areas are drawn and shared to contribute to the Malagasy government policy on protected areas by the end of year 2012.
Indicators:
· Lessons learned documents
· Number of publications
Project implementation arrangements
Project implementation will be carried out in close collaboration with the local management committees regrouped into the Union, traditional leaders and the two inter-communal associations of FIKASANA and MAKAREFI and with the technical support of the regional Forestry Service of Taolagnaro. WWF Madagascar & West Indian Ocean Programme Office (WWF MWIOPO) will manage the project, through its Spiny Forest Ecoregion Leader based in Toliara, who will be the Project Executant and under the supervision of the Conservation Director based in Malagasy capital-city of Antananarivo. In the field, the Anosy Coordinator based in Taolagnaro will implement activities and have under his supervision 2 socio-organizers who will work closely with the local communities. WWF-Norway lends technical and administrative support and is ultimately responsible for the Project and its deliveries through the contract with the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).
Budget
The table below shows the proposed total project budget for 2008-2012, detailing WWF-Norway’s matching funds (10 per cent of project budget), Norad’s direct project contribution (90 per cent of project funds) and Norad’s administration grant (8 per cent of 90 per cent of project budget). All figures are in NOK.
Year / WWF-Norway matching funds / Norad direct project funding / Norad adm. grant(8 per cent) / Total budget
2008 / 112 845 / 1 015 601 / 81 248 / 1 209 694
2009 / 95 272 / 857 447 / 68 596 / 1 021 315
2010 / 96 270 / 866 426 / 69 314 / 1 032 009
2011 / 88 562 / 797 058 / 63 765 / 949 385
2012 / 85 462 / 769 158 / 61 533 / 916 153
Total / 478 410 / 4 305 690 / 344 455 / 5 128 555
TABLE OF CONTENTS
WWF MAG NEW 2008_main text 2007-10-01 Page 1
WWF Project Proposal 2008 – Community Forest Conservation in Ankodida and Ifotaka, Madagascar
executive Summary 2
Previous experiences 3
Goal and Purpose 3
Outputs 4
Project implementation arrangements 4
Budget 5
Abbreviations 7
2 introduction and Project Background 8
2.1 Area description 8
2.2 Threats, problems and opportunities 9
2.2.1 Threats 9
2.2.2 Problems 9
2.2.3 Opportunities 10
2.3 Stakeholders 14
2.4 Contribution to the implementation of national plans 16
2.4.1 Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) 16
2.4.2 Environmental plans and strategies 16
2.4.3 Other national, sectoral, regional and local development plans 16
2.5 Global thematic programme, ecoregional targets or global policy initiatives 16
3 project achievements, lessons and deviations 16
4 Project Goal and purpose 17
4.1 Project Goal 17
4.2 Project Purpose 17
5 Project Outputs 17
5.1 Output 1 17
5.2 Output 2 18
5.3 Output 3 18
5.4 Output 4 19
5.5 Output 5 19
6 Project implementation 20
6.1 Overall approach / Implementation strategy 20
6.2 Activities 20
6.3 Project implementation arrangements 22
6.3.1 Project organisation 22
6.3.2 Local cooperation partners 23
6.3.3 Relationship with Other Relevant Initiatives 23
6.4 Main beneficiaries and target groups 23