DAY THREE
Group work on Mosi-o-tunya National Park:
• Purpose
• Exceptional Resource Values, and
• Significance Statement
PARK PURPOSE
Group One
• To protect and conserve the Victoria Falls and its associated natural resources, Zambezi River, islands, plants and animals, water catchment area and cultural heritage sites, and wildlife resources.
• To promote well controlled eco-friendly tourism - tourism which is environmentally friendly - conservation, education of local people and visitors, research into ecological systems, understanding of the unique geological process, and cultural activities of the local people.
• To ensure sustainable utilization of natural resources.
• To contribute to the national economy, especially in Livingstone.
Group Two
To preserve and conserve the biodiversity and unique physical features for enhancing recreation, education and scientific research.
Group Three
To protect, conserve and manage the Victoria Falls, Zambezi River, its gorges and islands, historical and cultural sites, wildlife resources and habitat for long term conservation, education, scientific research and eco-tourism.
EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCE VALUES
Group One
1. Victoria Falls - a World Heritage Site and one of the seven wonders of the world.
2. Unique geological process of formation and retreat of the Falls
3. Portion of the Zambezi River
4. Earliest traces of human occupation - European
5. The bridge over the Zambezi River
6. Park located in close proximity to urban setting
7. Only park with white rhino
8. Only park with breeding sanctuary for the Taita Falcon
9. Haven of local cultural heritage
10. One of the parks under transfrontier conservation
11. Highest concentration of recorded heritage sites
12. Only other park where Thornicroft Giraffe and Cookson Wildebeest are found apart from South Luangwa
13. Rare species of tree - Ebony/ Mukelete (Dalbergia sp.)
14. Zambezi Islands
15. Wildlife
Group Two
1. Comprises natural features of great aesthetic beauty and scientific value, e.g., the Victoria Falls, gorges and islands.
2. Has the only population of white rhino in Zambia
3. Has an ideal location, situated next to Zambia’s leading tourism destination, three international borders, accessible roads and good accommodation infrastructure.
4. It is a transboundary natural ecosystem with compatible legislation and management programmes on either side of the border.
5. It has a rich concentration of cultural resources - archaeological, anthropological and historical sites.
6. It provides good sport angling for species like the tiger fish and other bream species.
7. It has a number of rare and endemic floral species in the islands, rainforest and gorges.
Group Three
1. Victoria Falls
2. Zambezi River and its Islands
3. Gorges
4. Prehistoric, Cultural and Historic Sites
5. Migratory Elephants
6. White Rhino
SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTS
Group One
1. It has the Victoria Falls, which is a world heritage site and one of the natural wonders of the world.
2. It has a unique geological process of formation and retreat of the Falls.
3. It has a portion of the Zambezi River that has a spectacular combination of rapids and gorges which can be exploited for adventure tourism.
4. It contains some of the earliest traces of human occupation and development (early, middle and late stone age and iron age remains) as well as the earliest European settlements in Zambia.
5. It is the only national park in Zambia which is located in an urban setting, in addition to being in the tourist capital of the country and in close proximity to the natural wonder, the Victoria Falls.
6. It is situated at the hub of a regional transit area and can easily be accessed by air, road and rail.
7. It is the only national park in Zambia which has white rhino, an endangered species.
8. It is the only national park in Zambia which provides breeding sanctuary to the Taita Falcon, a rare bird species.
9. It is a haven of local cultural heritage and a melting pot of Zambian culture.
10. It is the smallest national park in Zambia.
Group Two
1. The park is located in Zambia’s tourist capital.
2. Though in size the smallest among Zambia’s national parks, it harbours the Victoria Falls, the country’s only population of white rhino and a concentration of diverse cultural resources.
3. Its transboundary nature provides an entire ecosystem suitable for wildlife migration and supporting the most dense elephant population in the country.
4. It is also the only declared world heritage site and peace park in the country.
Group Three
1. The Victoria Falls is a World Heritage Site and one of the natural wonders of the world, due to its unique geological formations.
2. The Zambezi River and its islands provide a spectacular combination of rapids and gorges, which are used for tourism, and it is also a home for various water animals.
3. The Gorges display a unique geological process of formation and retreat of the Falls and also provide important breeding grounds for the Taita Falcon and other birds.
4. The Prehistoric, Cultural and Historic Sites present a unique and rich history and preserve a rich culture of the area.
5. The park provides a corridor for movement of migratory elephants.
6. The white rhino are the only ones in Zambia and provide a major tourist attraction.
COMMENTS
1. Group 1, exceptional resource values: A participant clarified that the giraffe species in the park is not Thornicrofts but Wankie Giraffe and comes from Wankie. Another participant disagreed and said there were both types in the park. There was need to verify this.
2. Include the park’s contribution to the national economy in the park purpose.
3. The park is unique in being in a very competitive region, with a lot of competition from neighbouring parks across the borders. It was pointed out that this can have both negative and positive effects.
4. The park purpose must be eye-catching and not misleading, e.g. some of the statements portray the Zambezi River as being only in the MOT National Park. This was disputed and it was felt the Zambezi River should stand out in the purpose as well as in the exceptional resources, even if only a portion of it was in the park, as it affected the Victoria Falls. It was emphasized that the Zambezi River and the Falls were the sole of the park, and could not be left out.
5. A question was raised about how big the newly proposed Lusaka Park would be, and whether it would become the smallest park in Zambia. It was explained that this was to be an urban park near Lusaka, following the idea of the Nairobi Park in Kenya, with the main purpose of income generation. It would attract tourists who did not have time to visit the larger, more distant parks. It was not known how big it would be. It was proposed that meanwhile it could still be stated that the MOT park was currently the smallest.
6. Group 2 should have included the Victoria Falls in its park purpose, since it is a unique feature.
7. Exceptional resource values should simply have been listed, not necessarily elaborated on.
8. Group 1 should have included the wildlife resource in the park purpose.
9. Group 1 said that the Victoria Falls was one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Which are the other six? It was explained that there was no official list and therefore it should simply be stated that it was one of the natural wonders of the world.
10. It was pointed out that wildlife resources were not unique to the park, so should not be an exceptional resource value unless specific species are mentioned, such as the White Rhino and the Taita Falcon.
11. It was clarified that the Ebony tree (Dalbergia sp.) was not rare, but actually common in many parts of Zambia. There was need to study documents which listed the rare and endemic species.
12. There was a query as to whether the park actually had the highest concentration of cultural heritage sites, as this had not been scientifically established. It was clarified that it had the highest concentration of recorded sites.
13. There was some discussion on exceptional resource values as to whether they had to be unique to this park alone. The workshop guidelines stated that resource values that capture the essence of why the area was designated as a protected area.
Way Forward
It was explained that the (ZAWA) planning team would put all the points from the group work together to come up with a draft document.
Group work on Problems, Issues and Concerns and Management Objectives to deal with these
A. What are the NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT challenges, issues and concerns of the park? What are the management objectives and desired future conditions?
1. Problem: High rate of road kills of animals
Objective: To introduce speed control measures including increased signage and use of speed traps in order to reduce the number of road kills.
2. Problem: Inbreeding of some animals
Objective: To reintroduce animal species which have very low numbers or show signs of inbreeding.
3. Problem: Littering
Objective: To initiate a programme in conjunction with the Livingstone City Council for proper waste management near park boundaries.
4. Problem: Habitat destruction
Objective: To review international conventions on elephant culling
Objective: To control and monitor tourism development to reduce habitat destruction
Objective: To increase human resource capacity for increased patrolling of the park.
Objective: To work together with neighbouring countries in carrying out research on elephant movement and creation of transfrontier parks.
5. Problem: Uncontrolled bush fires
Objective: To put in place a fire management plan to include fire breaks, education, staff training and fire patrols
6. Problem: Soil erosion
Objective: To put in place soil erosion control measures such as revegetation, provision of gabion wires, scour checks/terracing, and improved drainage systems along roads.
7. Problem: Poaching
Objective: To increase human resource capacity for increased patrols.
8. Problem: Inadequate research
Objective: To initiate various research programmes including studies on biodiversity, effects of inbreeding, elephant movements, productivity, population age structure, disease prevalence and soil fertility
9. Problem: Water pollution
Objective: To introduce stiffer punishments for tour operators found pollution the rivers, which may include revoking of operating license.
Objective: To collaborate with Southern Water and Sewerage Company on control of sewage pollution of Maramba River.
10. Problem: Invasive alien plants (e.g. Lantana camara, Water Hyacinth and Prickly Pear)
Objective: To put in place a control programme for removal of invasive alien plants such as
11. Problem: Drought
Objective: To expand irrigation system and improve water distribution
12. Problem: Low primary productivity (vegetation)
Objective: To carry out research in soil fertility, plant productivity, animal carrying capacity and health of plant and animal populations.
13. Problem: Overgrazing
Objective: (same as in 12 above)
14. Problem: Low reproduction rate in white rhino
Objective: To carry out research into the reasons for low productivity
15. Problem: Noise pollution
Objective: To put in place aviation control measures in conjunction with the Civil Aviation Department.
16. Problem: Political interference
Objective: (No objective found)
Group 4
1. Problem: Encroachment - Human encroachment into the park, resulting in poaching, littering, collection of firewood and grazing.
Objective: To create a buffer zone by systematically relocating some households close to the park or shifting the park fence inwards.
2. Problem: Stray animals - elephants, monkeys, buffalos - in community land
Objective: To control movement of animals by erecting electric and chilli fences.
3. Problem: Uncontrolled wild fires
Objective: To control burning by fire breaks and sensitisation
4. Problem: Inadequate staff to enforce the law
Objective: Recruitment of more staff, staff motivation, implementation of staff health scheme and formation of Community Resource Boards (CRBs)
5. Problem: Sewer seepage and siltation
Objective: SWSC to upgrade their sewerage treatment plant
6. Problem: Increased elephant population
Objective: Introduce hunting quota and culling in open areas
Objective: Improve census/statistics
COMMENTS
1. Problem of Political Interferrence - suggestion: Appoint an independent board to look into park affairs. Another participant pointed out that no board appointed by government is totally autonomous/independent. It was also pointed out that ZAWA already had a board of directors, and that a local board for MOT NP was not feasible as it did not exist in the ZAWA structure.
2. It was pointed out that CRBs were not specific to Game Management Areas, but could also be formed in open areas.
B. What are the MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION challenges, issues and concerns of the park? What are the management objectives and desired future conditions?
Group 2
1. Problem: Poor coordination between stakeholders, e.g. ZAWA, NHCC, ECZ, Forest Dept, LCC and Curio Traders.
Objective: Introduce joint management programmes for stakeholders
Objective: Harmonise stakeholder legislation
2. Problem: Park encroachment, e.g. residential plots, village settlement
Objective: Formulate clear land use plans to direct city expansion and development
Objective: Enforce existing legislation and control development
3. Problem: Inadequate Trained Staff
Objective: Develop policies to ensure all staff are trained
Objective: Hire adequately and appropriately trained staff
4. Problem: Low Manpower
Objective: Recruit more staff
Objective: Improve conditions of service to retain them
5. Problem: Low Community Participation
Objective: Introduce policy to allow for direct community benefit
Objective: Improve/introduce extension services for information dissemination
Objective: Formation of local community structures for management
6. Problem: Development Pressure (Tourism Infrastructure)
Objective: Review the legal status of MOT NP
Objective: Designate development zones
7. Problem: Inadequate transport for management operations
Objective: Procure appropriate transport, e.g. land, water and air transport
Objective: Regular maintenance of existing operational fleet
8. Problem: Lack of communication field equipment
Objective: Procure appropriate communication equipment, e.g. GPs, Radio handsets, compass
9. Problem: Lack of interpretation and material for information dissemination
Objective: Establish information centre (through baseline research)
Group 5
1. Problem: Lack of security of park resources
Objective: Improve security of park resources
2. Problem: Inadequate transport and communication
Objective: Improve transport and communication
3. Problem: Inadequate manpower
Objective: Increase manpower
4. Problem: Inadequate residential and office accommodation
Objective: Increase residential and office accommodation
5. Problem: Poaching
Objective: Reduce poaching
6. Problem: Human and animal conflict
Objective: Reduce human and animal conflict
7. Problem: Proximity of compounds close to park
Objective: Relocation of surrounding human settlements
8. Problem: Waste Management
Objective: Improve and enforce waste management
C. What are the VISITOR USE AND EXPERIENCE challenges, issues and concerns of the park? What are the management objectives and desired future conditions?
Group 3
1. Problem: Visitor Expectations not fully met
Objective: Meet visitor expectations
2. Problem: Stiff competition with other parks
Objective: Offer better products
3. Problem: Local people excluded
Objective: Increase accessibility for local people
4. Problem: Not aggressively advertised
Objective: Aggressively advertise the park
5. Problem: Littering
Objective: Eliminate littering
6. Problem: Unfriendly customer care services
Objective: Provide adequate and friendly customer care services.
Group 2
Main visitor use is non-consumptive, e.g.
• Rafting
• Canoeing
• Kayaking
• Abseiling
• Bunji jumping
• Game viewing
The above activities should be conducted in and environmentally friendly manner.
Issues:
1. Safety and security
2. Health and medical services
3. Tourist accommodation
4. Transport , e.g. road and air
The above components are pre-requisite to provision of satisfactory visitor experience.
COMMENTS
1. Group 2 should have looked at what are the problems concerning visitor use and experience and then looked into the objectives to deal with these problems.
2. It was emphasized that the security of tourists was bad in the park
3. There was need to harmonise certain objectives, e.g. some recommended increasing local access and others recommended reducing it.
D. What are the LOCAL COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT challenges, issues and concerns of the park? What are the management objectives and desired future conditions?
Group 4
1. Problem: Local community not involved in management and decision making
Objective: Create an outreach programme for local communities to sensitise them on the value of the resource.
2. Problem: Absence of buffer zone - causing human/wildlife conflict
Objective: Create a buffer zone to reduce human/wildlife conflict
3. Problem: Presence of elephants and monkeys
Objective: Fencing of the park, introduction of hunting quota for elephants, encourage chilli fencing, drive stray animals back to the park.
4. Problem: Lack of resources for local community - wood for fuel, timber, curios, etc.
Objective: Shed off part of the park to the community and the community to compensate by contributing some community land.
5. Problem: Lack of alternative water points for domestic animals for local communities
Objective: Construction of dams and sinking of boreholes outside the park for communities.
6. Problem: Lack of alternative routes between Mukuni Village and Livingstone Town, but through the park
Objective: Create a bypass road
7. Problem: Lack of community appreciation on value of the park
Objective: Sensitisation of local communities
Objective: Agree on management and benefit sharing mechanism
Group 2
1. Problem: No buffer zone
Objective: Create buffer zone
2. Problem: Human wildlife conflict
Objective: Reduce human wildlife conflict
3. Problem: Poor relations between ZAWA and community
Objective: Improve relations
4. Problem: Vandalism, littering in park, trespassing, building houses close to park
Objective: Enhance cooperation among stakeholders.
5. Problem: Health hazard and safety of animals and humans
Objective: Reduce health hazards and increase safety
6. Problem: Increased poaching and snaring
Objective: Reduce snaring and poaching
COMMENTS
1. Creating a buffer zone - is it feasible?
2. Does the council have a resettlement plan?
3. The group should have critically analysed the problems to come up with more useful objectives.
E. What are the HERITAGE RESOURCES MANAGEMENT challenges, issues and concerns of the park? What are the management objectives and desired future conditions?
Group 5
1. Problem: Crumbling walls of field museum
Objective: Reinforce the walls, enhance protection and fire detection
2. Problem: Erosion of cultural heritage sites
Objective: Reduce erosion
3. Problem: Vandalism by humans (removal of plaques)
Objective: Prevent vandalism
4. Problem: Destruction by animals
Objective: Reduce destruction
5. Problem: Lack of community participation
Objective: Create awareness and encourage community participation
6. Problem: Conflicting legislation
Objective: Harmonise legislation
7. Problem: Lack of benefit to local communities
Objective: Put in place resource sharing modalities
Group 1
1. Problem: Vandalism (removal of metal plaques from national monuments)
Objective: To increase public awareness e.g. through improved signage
2. Problem: Damage by elephants
Objective: (no objective found)
3. Problem: Lack of interpretation and publicity of sites
Objective: To collaborate with NHCC to provide more information about the sites.
4. Problem: Little collaboration between ZAWA and NHCC
Objective: To ensure implementation of the memorandum of understanding, which is already in existence.
5. Problem: Increasing tourism development within the World Heritage Site.
Objective: To monitor and control development and adhere to the UNESCO convention on the same.
COMMENTS
1. Reducing vandalism - removal of plaques - a suggestion was made to change to plastic ones, as ZAF had done on their war memorial.
2. A participant felt there was still need for a lot more development in the park if it was to be self sustaining.
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