Communities more engaged in preserving biodiversity and building sustainable livelihoods

Mon, 22 February 2010

“After this training I am feeling more confident to begin interacting with my community mostly importantly because the training has enlightened me on the an understanding of community dynamics as well as what level one is to use when engaging with them” (Kagiso Seabo- temporary Rural Eco-Warroir)

REPORT 3 [Impact Report]: Endangered Wildlife Trust’s - Training Eco-Warriors in rural communities (http://www.sasix.co.za/projects/view/EC-GP-OCT-0001/)

This project has enabled five trained Rural Eco-Warriors (REWs) to launch sustainable living projects in their communities around Howick, Jozini, Barberspan, Dullstroom and Memel. The Endangered Wildlife Trust's (EWT) Rural Eco-Warrior Programme has been active in these communities for the past three years. The Eco-Warriors are part of the EWT’s conservation leadership group and are recognised as environmental role models in their communities. Their sustainable living project will initiate five community-based projects focusing on local environmental issues.

This report covers implementation activities from August 2008 to April 2009.

Outputs and Impact

After the training received in the first project phase, four Rural Eco-warriors (REW) led a community workshop in each of their communities. The workshops served to identify and discuss specific environmental challenges faced by each community. More specifically:

The workshop in Jozini, KwaZulu Natal, focused predominantly on illegal and unsustainable use of fever trees, whose bark is being used by medicinal plant harvesters and traditional healers.

After discussions, it was decided that a community law enforcement strategy will be established. This would serve to set up a community watchdog that would ensure that people harvest fever tree products sustainably. The illegal harvesters were the main contributors to the decline of fever trees as they harvested in bulk and used unsustainable methods.

It was recommended that governmental environmental authorities would have to develop measures and procedures which would assist to curb or regulate the harvesters. The community members also emphasised the need for tree propagation within their homesteads.

Since the community workshop, a community vegetable garden has been established, which is approximately a half a hectare in size. A community nursery project was also developed, with an emphasis on Fever Trees.

The workshop in Dullstroom, Mpumalanga, revolved around township tourism and the possibility of improving environmental and cultural heritage sites as tourist attractions. Since the conclusion of the workshop:

• A Sakhelwe Township Tourism Development Committee has been established. The Dullstroom Rate Payers Association and the Sakhelwe Municipality have since come on board with the aim of capacitating the committee members on issues relating to tourism enhancement and development
• A community recycle project has been started, which is already generating money for some community members
• A township greening project is underway, through which more than a thousand trees had since been planted within the township. Committee members are at present working to ensure that the newly planted trees are protected from being eaten by the livestock.

The workshop in Memel, Free State, involved the community of Zamani Township, who raised concern about the pollution of the nearby river, which was being used as a waste dump.

The following are some of the notable changes and activities that have taken place since the community engagement:

• Community river clean up campaigns
• Selected community members have been working with the Seekoeievlei Nature Reserve around the issue of fauna orientated tourism. Community local bird guides have been trained for this purpose
• An audit which was based on the extent of water pollution at Pampoenspruit River was conducted. These results showed a considerable amount of pollutants
• A stakeholder forum has been established. This forum will work to ensure that issues relating to the river and surrounding areas are addressed
• Adjacent community members, particularly farm workers, have been interviewed about their interaction with the river. The results of these interviews highlighted the dependency on the river for drinking, washing and cooking
• The land use practices adjacent to the river have been determined. This has shown that the adjacent land could be utilised better than the current practices being employed
• A learning programme on water pollution has been presented to local schools

The workshop in Howick, KwaZulu Natal, focused on the effects of pollution on a nearby wetland area near the community of Mpophomeni. While there haven’t been any developments since the workshop, the following were important pints discussed:

• There is growing concern by community members on the issues of safety for livestock and children as dangerous materials and harmful chemicals have continuously been dumped at the wetland area;
• A pit created by the municipality has been continuously used as an illegal dumping site;
• A growing concern was raised by community members over health issues related to residing within a wetland area (diseases, floods and damp environment);
• A need to address the unsustainable utilisation of the wetland (vegetable gardens, piggery projects and uncontrolled grazing);
• A need for capacity building around the issue of sustainable land utilisation;
• Alien plant and soil erosion control within the project site needs to be addressed (planned for July 2009); and
• A conflict resolution meeting which would involve SAPS and the various levels of the community is required because the adjacent community projects are being negatively affected by theft and vandalism. This meeting is scheduled during July or August.

A training course for REWs took place in Memel, where each community project was reviewed and REWs received individual assistance. The workshop covered topics such as sustainable livelihoods; community vulnerability; understanding relevant organization policies and procedures; drawing up a six-month action plan; and conflict resolution strategies.

The project had substantial media coverage, which is an important tool for the purpose of raising awareness of environmental issues as well as the community solutions being offered. Three REW were subject of nine articles in six different national and international media platforms.

Challenges

One of the main challenges faced by the project was to ensure government buy-in and engagement in community workshops, particularly in the case of local municipal representatives. Local municipalities are crucial stakeholders as it is within their mandate to see that community projects are incorporated into the local Integrated Development Planning process. Therefore, REWs pursued individual discussions with government representatives, which offered an opportunity to obtain a better understanding of social development plans.

Environmental project in the communities need economic resources to grow in size and depth. For this purpose it is critically important for the Endangered Wildlife Trust to network and partner with external partners like government departments and interest groups.

Monitoring and evaluation

Each REW submitted monthly reports on project progress in relation to activity time frames, deliverables and budget. The REW co-ordinator visited each project every second month to evaluate performance and provide assistance where needed. Bi-annual group meetings take place in the Headquarters in Pretoria and are usually combined with staff development activities for the REWs, relevant to their specific areas of work in their communities.

Since the beginning of this project, two more REWs have been added to the group in different communities. The EWT's Conservation Leadership Group is currently reviewing the global strategy and structure of the Trust in order to improve coordination and efficiency of its activities. This planning has been scheduled for early 2010.

Conclusions and Analysis

The ultimate goal of this project was to increase knowledge and awareness in communities about the wealth of biodiversity and environmental resources in their surroundings and the need to preserve them for the benefit of present and future livelihoods.

Through participatory community processes, the REW have enabled community representatives to identify environmental damage and the specific threats to their livelihoods. By enabling the community to formulate mitigating community-action projects, the REWs have set the foundation for sustained community buy-in and access to the necessary resources to start these small projects. These efforts will require continuous support and monitoring in order to grow and to generate tangible and sustainable impact.

Communities more engaged in preserving biodiversity and building sustainable livelihoods

Thu, 17 December 2009

REPORT 2: Endangered Wildlife Trust’s - Training Eco-Warriors in rural communities

This project has enabled five trained Rural Eco-Warriors (REWs) to launch sustainable living projects in their communities around Howick, Jozini, Barberspan, Dullstroom and Memel. The Endangered Wildlife Trust's (EWT) Rural Eco-Warrior Programme has been active in these communities for the past three years. The Eco-Warriors are part of the EWT’s conservation leadership group and are recognised as environmental role models in their communities. Their sustainable living project will initiate five community-based projects focusing on local environmental issues.

This report covers implementation activities from August 2008 to April 2009.

Outputs and impact

After the training received in the first project phase, four Rural Eco-warriors (REW) led a community workshop in each of their communities. The workshops served to identify and discuss specific environmental challenges faced by each community. More specifically:

• The workshop in Jozini, KwaZulu Natal, focused predominantly on illegal and unsustainable use of fever trees, whose bark is being used by medicinal plant harvesters and traditional healers.

• The workshop in Dullstroom, Mpumalanga, revolved around township tourism and the possibility of improving environmental and cultural heritage sites as tourist attractions.

• The workshop in Memel, Free State, involved the community of Zamani Township, who raised concern about the pollution of the nearby river, which was being used as a waste dump.

• The workshop in Howick, KwaZulu Natal, focused on the effects of pollution on a nearby wetland area near the community of Mpophomeni.

The identification of environmental issues by the community through facilitation by REWs as well as the consultation with local government structures has triggered an initial community response in the form of greening of community spaces and river clean-ups.

A training course for REWs took place in Memel, where each community project was reviewed and REWs received individual assistance. The workshop covered topics such as sustainable livelihoods; community vulnerability; understanding relevant organization policies and procedures; drawing up a six-month action plan; and conflict resolution strategies.

The project had substantial media coverage, which is an important tool for the purpose of raising awareness of environmental issues as well as the community solutions being offered. Three REW were subject of nine articles in six different national and international media platforms.

Expenditure

The cost of the project was R50, 000. All payments have been made.

Description	Total Budget	Total Expenses to date
Administration	3 000	3 000
Running costs	3 000	3 000
General Travel	4 500	7 343
Workshops	15 000	15 521.48
Training courses	9 000	10 635.79
Educational Resources	10 000	5 000
Media	1 500	1 500
Central Support	4 000	4 000
Total	50 000	50 000.27

The project overspent on travelling due to the unforeseen spike in petrol price at the end of 2008. Fortunately, those costs could be covered by savings made in the area of resource development, where resources were made available either free of charge or at cost by network partners, i.e. WESSA and Share-Net.

Challenges

One of the main challenges faced by the project was to ensure government buy-in and engagement in community workshops, particularly in the case of local municipal representatives. Local municipalities are crucial stakeholders as it is within their mandate to see that community projects are incorporated into the local Integrated Development Planning process. Therefore, REWs pursued individual discussions with government representatives, which offered an opportunity to obtain a better understanding of social development plans.

Environmental project in the communities need economic resources to grow in size and depth. For this purpose it is critically important for the Endangered Wildlife Trust to network and partner with external partners like government departments and interest groups.

Monitoring and evaluation

Each REW submitted monthly reports on project progress in relation to activity time frames, deliverables and budget. The REW co-ordinator visited each project every second month to evaluate performance and provide assistance where needed. Bi-annual group meetings take place in the Headquarters in Pretoria and are usually combined with staff development activities for the REWs, relevant to their specific areas of work in their communities.

Since the beginning of this project, two more REWs have been added to the group in different communities. The EWT's Conservation Leadership Group is currently reviewing the global strategy and structure of the Trust in order to improve coordination and efficiency of its activities. This planning has been scheduled for early 2010.

Conclusions

The ultimate goal of this project was to increase knowledge and awareness in communities about the wealth of biodiversity and environmental resources in their surroundings and the need to preserve them for the benefit of present and future livelihoods.

Through participatory community processes, the REW have enabled community representatives to identify environmental damage and the specific threats to their livelihoods. By enabling the community to formulate mitigating community-action projects, the REWs have set the foundation for sustained community buy-in and access to the necessary resources to start these small projects. These efforts will require continuous support and monitoring in order to grow and to generate tangible and sustainable impact.

Training of rural eco-warriors progressing well

Fri, 20 March 2009

“The Rural Eco-warrior training was very beneficial for me, as it provided all of us with skills to chair and facilitate some aspects of the training without much pre-planning from our side,” – Rural eco-warrior from North West province.

REPORT 1: Endangered Wildlife Trust’s training of rural eco-warriors will benefit local environment

This project enables five trained rural eco-warriors to launch sustainable living projects in their communities around Howick, Jozini, Barberspan, Dullstroom and Memel in the North West province. The Endangered Wildlife Trust's rural eco-warrior programme has been active in these communities for the past three years. The rural eco-warriors are part of the Endangered Wildlife Trust's conservation leadership group and are recognised as environmental role models in their communities. Their sustainable living project will initiate five community-based projects focusing on local environmental issues.

Impact

• A teacher and community leader workshop was held to facilitate links between the local municipality and a secondary school, and to motivate teachers to set up eco-projects.
• Five rural eco-warriors were trained, developing their skills in workshop facilitation and management of environmental programmes in their communities.

Activities

• A teacher/community project leaders’ workshop was held in Vrede (Free State) in May 2008.

In May 2008 a training course was held for the rural eco-warriors group. Topics comprised:

• Current programmes and projects
• Administration processes – including reporting systems and efficient administration processes
• Working with other NGOs/conservation organisations
• Working with municipalities
• Developing and running teacher/community project workshops
• Community-based involvement and processes
• Proposed projects for the next six months
• Conflict situations
• Illegal environmental activities within communities
• Poster presentation for fieldworkers’ day
• Five media articles were produced by various publications during the project period.

Expenditure

The cost of the project is R50,000, with R26,748 still to be paid.

Description	Total Budget	Total Expenses to date
Administration	3 000	1 500
Running costs	3 000	1 800
General travel	4 500	5 343
Workshops	15 000	5 273
Training	9 000	4 986
Educational resources	10 000	2 000
Media	1 500	-
Central support	4 000	2 350
TOTAL	50 000	23 252

Challenges

The primary challenges were co-ordinating the timing of the funding, and the logistics of running the community workshop and the rural eco-warrior training.

Monitoring and evaluation

Once they have started their projects, each rural eco-warrior will submit monthly reports on project progress in relation to activity time frames, deliverables and budget. The rural eco-warriors’ co-ordinator will visit each project every second month to evaluate performance and provide assistance where needed. Bi-annual evaluations of each project will be compiled.

Conclusions

One of the main reasons for ongoing biodiversity loss in rural areas is a lack of awareness and capacity at community level. Sustainable living hinges on community members, their leaders and educators understanding the value of biodiversity and possessing the knowledge and skills to actively address environmental issues at a local level, for the benefit of their livelihoods and their immediate environment.

The sustainable living project aims to establish a model for environmental action within communities. This includes consulting and working with the community to identify a local environmental issue and using a hands-on approach to deal with the concern. Through working together, the project aims to inspire future community-action projects.