OKAVANGO INTEGRATED RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PROJECT Conservation of Biodiversity

OKAVANGO INTEGRATED RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PROJECT Conservation of Biodiversity in Kuando Kubano Province Support for the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan in Kuando Kubango Draft Implementation Plan Overview Angola’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Planning project (NBSAP), approved on May 31 2006, characterizes national issues with respect to biodiversity, and identifies needed actions. Kuando Kubango is a key province for biodiversity protection in Angola and in the Southern African region. It contains the vast majority of the catchment area of the Okavango River Basin, which is an important basin for the water supply, biodiversity and tourism revenue generation of Namibia and Botswana. Due to 27 years of Angolan civil war that ended in 2002 and was heavily fought in Kuando Kubango, systems for the protection of biodiversity and natural resources in the province are weak. Important steps toward improving these systems will include verifying boundaries and classification of protected areas and hunting reserves, conducting inventories of biodiversity resources, training natural resource managers, and developing and implementing land use management systems. In September 2005, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) collaborated with NBSAP to sponsor a biodiversity workshop for Kuando Kubango through the Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) project. The workshop engaged stakeholders in identifying critical issues related to biodiversity and natural resources conservation in the province, including threats to biodiversity resources, and solicited their input regarding priority actions. Out of this, the Ministry of Urbanism and the Environment (MINUA) requested that USAID/IRBM help implement select actions that Angola’s National NBSAP Plan recommends. These include identifying areas of biological significance, conducting a biological inventory, assisting with the development of a draft management plan for a protected area, and supporting the development of a National Framework for protected areas management planning. IRBM, under the guidance of the Okavango River Basin Water Commission, proposes to assist NBSAP MINUA as part of the project’s objective to improve information systems for biodiversity and natural resource management. This will include work at two geographic scales: 1. For all of Kuando Kubango province, identifying biologically important areas, and 2. In a specific reserve, conducting training, inventory, and support of management planning guidelines. The proposed work also supports the overall goals of the Okavango River Basin Water Commission (OKACOM), a tri-country institutional body with a mandate to advise riparian states on river basin management. The program for Kuando Kubango specifically addresses OKACOM’s interest in “advising contracting parties on the criteria to be adopted in the conservation… of water resources in the Okavango River Basin,” and on “the prevention of pollution of water resources.”1 With respect to these points, of particular concern to OKACOM 1 Excerpt from the OKACOM Charter. and its technical advisory committee, the Okavango Basin Steering Commission, is ensuring that the rate of sediment flow through the river system remains environmentally healthy over time.2 Long-term management of sediment flows requires management of land cover and land use in the upper catchment areas of the basin. Objectives The proposed objectives of this support to the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan in Kuando Kubango are to: 1. Identify biologically important areas for conservation and improved management, 2. Improve the biological inventory of key protected areas within Kuando Kubango, 3. Demonstrate a process for protected area management planning, to inform National Guidelines, and 4. Enhance the capacity of government and civil society to inventory reserves and to conduct key aspects of management planning. Principles of Implementation 1. Support the existing plans and priorities of the Government of Angola. • Comply with priorities of NBSAP and other partner Angolan government institutions. • Operate under the guidance of a simple steering committee to ensure that decisions are appropriate to the Government of Angola. 2. Build capacity and add value to Angola’s environmental management. • Recognize that building capacity for Angolan counterparts to do the kind of work entailed in this scope is more important than simply completing work and obtaining information. • For each activity, ensure the active cooperation of at least one Angolan organization with a relevant mandate, government or non-government as appropriate. 3. Avoid duplication of efforts, but rather coordinate with complimentary activities as appropriate. • Several environmental programs may commence in Kuando Kubango in the coming two years, each with a succinct mandate and funding limitation. These include the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area initiative (KAZA), the Global Environment Fund/Environmental Protection and Sustainable Management of the Okavango River Basin Project, and Conservation International’s support to demine areas of the Luiana Reserve. Ensure proper coordination so as to leverage benefits, and to avoid overwhelming local authorities. Partners Following discussions with Government of Angola partners, the below approach to partnerships is recommended for final review and approval by the involved agencies: Government of Angola: • For the identification of Environmentally Sensitive Areas, MINUA may serve as the lead coordinating agency of the Government of Angola. • For activities relates specifically to Coutadas, IDF may serve as the lead implementing agency of the Government of Angola. 2 As emphasized by OBSC in a July 7th, 2006 OBSC hydrologic data task force meeting, and on numerous other occasions. Draft implementation plan for support to NBSAP in Kuando Kubango 2 • • • A simple steering committee will help to guide major action plans and decisions. This steering committee will be appointed by MINUA, and is likely to include one person from MINUA and one person from IDF . The Governor of Kuando Kubango or his appointee will be informed of and will approve of all major decisions related to implementation, including the implementation plan. The Angolan Army and/or Police based in Kuando Kubango may be engaged to the extent deemed appropriate by MINUA, IDF, the Local Government of Kuando Kubango, the Army and the Police. Other organizations and individuals: A series of steps are underway to finalize selection of non-government partners. These include: • With approval of this action plan, submit it to a short list of potential partner organizations and individuals, established with the input of government counterparts, to solicit their interest (see Appendix I). • Following presentation of this implementation plan at a the MINUA meeting to present the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan to donors and the private sector on August 24, 2006, follow up with select private sector attendees to seek their potential interest in collaboration. • Conclude discussions and negotiations with key international partners identified for involvement in this endeavor, including: o Harry Oppenheimer Okavango Research Center: for satellite imagery analysis leading toward identification of ecologically sensitive areas o The United States Forest Service: for establishing a field guide on key tree species, providing training in species identification and growth characteristics, and providing training on conducting a basic inventory. The first two partnerships must be secured with funding commitments. Draft implementation plan for support to NBSAP in Kuando Kubango 3 Activity 1. Identification of ecologically sensitive areas of Kuando Kubango a. Background In order to preserve the biodiversity and natural systems of Kuando Kubango and the Okavango River Basin, it is important that resource users make informed decisions. A map of ecologically sensitive areas (including areas of particular biological significance), including an explanation of the nature of importance for each, can be a useful tool for planning and education. While resettling and developing a province newly liberated from war, the Angolan government, private industry and communities alike can use this information to inform decisions and planning regarding use of river basin resources in important Angolan catchment areas of the Okavango River Basin. At the stage of writing this action plan, IRBM and partners have taken steps toward identifying biologically important areas in Kuando Kubango. These include identifying criteria for biological significance, vetting these criteria with a limited audience of regional conservation specialists, conducting interviews and participatory environmental appraisals in select communities, and conducting a preliminary forest assessment, including a fly over. Satellite imagery analysis will be an important next step in this series of work, which may be used to establish a recent vegetation and vegetation change analysis, to locate wetlands and ecotones, and to locate bare erosion-prone slopes and other riparian areas lacking vegetation. Ultimately, an easily readable map of the biologically important areas of the Okavango River Basin, indicating location and reason for importance, will be reproduced and provided for use as an educational and planning tool. b. Overview of proposed tasks for identification of ecologically sensitive areas • Establish criteria for ecologically sensitive areas in Kuando Kubango, including areas of particular biological significance. • Gather information about threats to the natural resource base, and geographic location of those threats3 o Conduct Participatory Rural Appraisals in select areas along the river o Solicit input on environmental threats at Provincial NBSAP workshop o Conduct a preliminary forestry assessment for the province o Review background documentation on biodiversity in the Angolan portion of the Okavango River Basin • Analyze satellite and photographic imagery, building upon what has already been done, and in coordination with future Government of Angola plans.4 o Identify location of wetlands o Identify extent and location of stands of key species o Compare current status with land cover change analysis already completed Areas identified through work thus far include those where people are building along sloping river banks or are likely to build along river banks into the future, areas where there is extensive slash-and-burn agriculture or potential for extensive expansion of slash-and-burn agriculture into the future, areas that are centers of charcoal production, areas around towns and along roads, and areas (to be determined if any exist in Kuando Kubango) with threatened or endangered species. 4 3 IDF plans to contract Angola Alliance to conduct a land cover analysis (including change over time) for the country, which will form the basis of IDF’s forest inventory. Also, under HOORC, a student conducted a land cover change assessment for the Angola portion of the Okavango River Basin using remote sensing techniques. This work needs to be updated with an assessment of imagery from a recent year. Draft implementation plan for support to NBSAP in Kuando Kubango 4 • • • Prepare a map indicating ecologically sensitive areas, including those of particular biological significance, delineated by cause of classification (e.g. threat of erosion, presence of rare or endangered species, etc.) Vet the map with this program’s reference group in Angola, and with a regional reference group. Produce and provide the map as a tool to government and non-government entities at a local, national and regional level. Activity 2. Selection and scoping of the focus area for inventory and illustrative management planning process. a. Background Most of the remaining activities of this plan for Kuando Kubango will be conducted in one focus protected area within the province. This includes the on-the-job training of species identification, conducting of a biological inventory, and demonstration of a management planning process. This will enable partners to follow a range of steps toward management planning in one location, so that lessons can be gleaned and applied elsewhere in the province and country. The Government of Angola’s priorities regarding the selection of this area are of utmost importance. Following discussions with MINUA and IDF, it is proposed that the implementing team assess the viability of working in the Coutada do Mucusso as this focus area. b. Overview of proposed tasks for selection and scoping of focus area • Determine logistical viability of the area. o Road access, land mines, proximity to the posts of relevant Government of Angola employees. • Assess viability of the size, and determine if there is a need to work in a subset of the area. If so, define subset of the area. • Describe the biological, socioeconomic and physical conditions of the area. • Summarize settlement patterns, demographics, and socioeconomic conditions of communities and municipal centers. • Determine and describe the administrative structure and key contacts of municipal and district governments, especially those of Mavinga and Luengue. Identify staff and resources working with government administration, forestry, environment, military, police and social welfare. • Determine logistical options for the training activity (on species identification and inventory) that is to take place in the selected area, specifically related to options for lodging and transportation Draft implementation plan for support to NBSAP in Kuando Kubango 5 Figure 1: Parques and Reservas Parcial in Angola Adapted from a pamphlet of the Ministerio Da Agricultura e do Desinvolvimento Rural Draft implementation plan for support to NBSAP in Kuando Kubango 6 Figure 2: Okavango River Basin Draft implementation plan for support to NBSAP in Kuando Kubango 7 Activity 3. Preliminary assessment and inventory of the block of protected areas a. Background No recent flora or fauna inventory data are available for the Kuando Kubango Province. A simplified inventory of the province’s block of protected areas using remote sensing technology and aerial photography will provide useful information for important national decisions related to the zoning of these areas as part of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Initiative (KAZA), including location and extent of human habitation, land cover and land use. The approach to information analysis should incorporate the minimum information required for making decisions in land management planning. b. Overview of proposed tasks for preliminary assessment and inventory of the block of protected area • Review available aerial photography and satellite imagery, conduct interviews and review information to achieve the following: o Assess what is known about use of natural resources in the area: Current and potential extraction; current and potential human habitation, presence of threats or persistent stress to be reduced for species or habitats. o Assess what is known about biological value of the area: Species/habitats of conservation significance, including presence of wetlands. o Assess landscape value of the area Rock formations, water elements, beautiful or rare species, animal species, cultural/historical value, tourism value, variety of scenery, etc. o Assess location and extent of human habitation, human resource use and local government structures o Assess what is known about access to the area Prepare a simplified inventory and a map suggesting vegetative zones within the select area. • Draft implementation plan for support to NBSAP in Kuando Kubango 8 Activity 4. Training toward conducting a biological inventory a. Background This work seeks to address three key training issues related to enhancing the capacity for the Government of Angola to conduct a biological inventory in a select area. These include: • Species identification: Both for an inventory and for basic job effectiveness, it is important that people who will be involved in the management and monitoring of the area (government employees and community members) are able to identify and understand the basic characteristics of tree species. • Inventory: Since the end of Angola’s civil war, there has been very little opportunity for IDF and MINUA staff to learn about and to conduct physical inventories, which are important to the process of establishing long-term management plans. An intensive vegetation inventory is not practical at this point in time due to timing, budget, qualified personnel constraints, and land mines. However, to complement the national forest inventory being developed using satellite imagery, a simplified inventory training session will be a useful way to introduce IDF and MINUA staff to inventory methodologies, as there is currently no standardized process for on-the-ground resource data collection in Angola. It will also provide an opportunity for select staff to gain exposure to the process of conducting an inventory, and to see how this fits in with the overall management planning process. • Overview of entire process: When conservation staff and community members are aware of how the species identification, inventory process and management planning fit together, they will have a better understanding of how their work fits in to the overall picture of land management, and why it is important. The trainings recommended below should include IDF personnel, local community members, the army and Koi-San peoples knowledgeable in tree identification and utilization (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes). Satellite imagery or orthophotos should be available as a prerequisite for the courses (from Activity 3, above). b. Overview of key tasks • Determine categories to inventory.5 • Identify existing training tools for species identification. • Establish compendium of key tree species. • Work with relevant Government of Angola agency to determine a methodology and protocol for conducting an inventory, taking minimum inventory needs for management planning into consideration.6 • Develop a field guide on the protocol and methodology for data collection procedures. • Establish a general sampling framework with an agreed upon vegetation classification and approach, that details the sampling transect locations, vegetation and fauna distribution, sampling intensity and overall sampling plan. 5 Categories will include trees and may, depending upon Government of Angola interest and partner commitments, include large mammals and one or more of the following: higher plants, medicinal plants, mosses, algae, macrofungi, plant communities, invertebrates, small vertebrates and birds. To the extent that the inventory include flora and fauna, it is recommended that the scientific teams on fauna and flora biodiversity work in concert, so that there is coincidence between the areas and transects visited by the zoologists and botanists. The inventory method should be determined by the density and species diversity/homogeneity within the area to be sampled. IDF has indicated a preference for the 10 meter grid sampling method. 6 Draft implementation plan for support to NBSAP in Kuando Kubango 9 • • • • Conduct field based training in vegetation identification, growth requirements, ecological characteristics, and non-timber utilization potential for key species. Prepare maps of the area, as produced from Activity 2. Conduct field based training in basic inventory methodologies, including GPS instrument training. Conduct rapid inventory for select area o Characterize the distribution of vegetation and certain taxa in the study area; o Produce baseline biophysical information that could be used by management planners, environmental impact assessors and legislative policy makers; o Conduct a threats analysis for the biodiversity of the area; and o Produce informational and data products (maps, lists, etc.) for management and educational purposes and possible economic analyses. Activity 5. Guidelines for management planning a. Background The experience of conducting a preliminary review of aerial and satellite imagery of the area, and conducting a rapid inventory, will provide useful information toward developing a management plan of the select area. Activity 4 takes advantage of the experience of the previous activities. It also seeks to demonstrate a process for community consultations on local people’s role in protected areas management. It is important that the land management plan should be designed to be a “living” document, one that can be amended over time as conditions or needs change. An interdisciplinary and participatory process is critical to ensure the various physical, biological, economic, and social aspects are considered. The GIS data layers and skills referred to in the GIS Interim Activity (above) will be particularly helpful to establishing base maps for the development of land management plans. b. Overview of proposed tasks * A specific approach to establishing guidelines for management planning must be agreed upon with the Government of Angola and Lead Implementing Organization for this Activity. Illustrative tasks include the following: • • • • • Gather information to describe the Existing Condition of (diversity and integrity) and threats to the main ecological systems Identify and meet with any existing concessionaires of the area, determine their management rights, responsibilities and plans Review satellite imagery analysis of the area Using information from the fly-over, map key species groupings Delineate Management Areas by dividing the land into separate, distinct sections. • Each management area would be managed for specific purposes/uses depending on the existing and desired conditions. • Ideally, these areas should have natural boundaries that can be readily distinguished such as stream channels, ridges, etc. • Permanent, man-made boundaries, such as paved roads, may also be used. Draft implementation plan for support to NBSAP in Kuando Kubango 10 • • • Conduct community consultations in a select sub-area that is appropriate for community engagement in natural resources management. Vet information with key stakeholders, including local communities. Particularly seek to fill important information gaps, and to acquire their input on desired conditions. Describe conditions in each management area by documenting recent quantitative and qualitative information/data. Identify the extent of human habitation and use in each area. Describe the Desired Condition of each management area by defining goals and objectives that will meet the needs for the specific uses allowed. These goals and objectives should be sustainable over the long-term while limiting or avoiding significant adverse direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts on the human, floral, faunal, and physical environments. Identify the Actions that may be allowed in each management area to achieve the desired condition. Consider the costs, benefits, and effects of the allowable actions for each action item that may be implemented. For each site-specific action proposed to occur, include local communities that may be impacted by the action in the participative process. • Draft implementation plan for support to NBSAP in Kuando Kubango 11