Zambia protected areas project affecting Mosi-oa-Tunya...

GRZ/GEF/UNDP
ZAMBIA PROJECT
PIMS 1937

RECLASSIFICATION AND EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF THE NATIONAL PROTECTED AREA SYSTEM (NPAS)


1. The main purpose of the project is to strengthen the NPAS
2. It is closely allied to the Zambia Poverty Reduction Strategy in respect of tourism development
3. The Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) is responsible for wildlife and the management of NPAS (including Game Management Areas (GMAs))
4. The Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) is responsible for monitoring the state of the environment, and in the 1990s had taken on responsibility for monitoring wildlife populations; and is also responsible for the Ramsar sites
5. The Government (GRZ) has sought assistance from GEF/UNDP to finalize and implement NPAS strategy
6. GRZ will, over the medium term, pursue the following interventions

• ZAWA will concentrate on the management of flagship parks with strong tourism potential: Mosi-oa-Tunya NP, Kafue NP, Lower Zambezi NP and Luangwa NP
• A NPAS reclassification exercise to identify priority areas
• GRZ will pass new legislation to exploit the biodiversity that are not presently possible by creating two new categories of NPAS
i) Community Conservation Areas (CCA) under the near total control of local communities for tourism development
ii) Safari Hunting Areas (SHA) - managed by ZAWA for their benefit, where safari hunting will be allowed. This will occur in part or all of NPASs, requiring a change in their legal status

“These two new categories will be developed and validated through a participatory process involving all key stakeholders.”
7. ZAWA will expand PPPs for old and new categories of NPAS
8. Strengthening of core systemic and institutional level capacities of GRZ
9. The project confirms a commitment by GRZ to the Convention on Biological Biodiversity and the Millenium Development Goals
10. Main Goal: A national NPSA system that comprises a representative sample of Zambia’s ecosystems is effectively safeguarded from human-induced pressures through effective management partnerships and serve s to make Zambia into a tourism destination of choice.
11. The project will be executed by The Department of Environment and Natural Resource Management (ENRM) in the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources (MTENR). WWF, Conservation Lower Zambezi, ZAWA and the Natural Resources Consultative Forum are listed as the main implementers
12. The project steering committee will be represented by the Permanent Secretaries of concerned ministries
13. A Project Coordination Group (Technical Advisory Group) will comprise of 14 individuals drawn from implementing partners etc and will advise on the day-to-day management.
14. A Project Implementation Unit, attached to ENRM, will implement the project (Project Co-ordinator and two internatonal experts in Pas and economics)
15. Two field demonstration units will be set up in Bangweulu and Lower Zambezi
16. Total budget $7 million

Like SEED, progress is uncertain and the NRCF has not yet been consulted, though it is mentioned as an implementer of the project
Ian Manning