Implementation | PANORAMA

Building up: Implementation and Monitoring—role of self-analysis, fundraising and tools

Implementation is the desire of any plan. It is the “boots on the ground” that counts. A portion of the equation is developing a protected area enforcement plan. Equally important is the capacity to implement. To determine ability to implement, an organization must carry out a self-analysis. The plan can outline fundraising needs: capacity needs, equipment and tools. Additionally, an organization can have a buildup period for implementation showing donors the full picture of desired impact.

Adequate financing and resources are needed for implementation and monitoring. If you have these then tracking and monitoring provides the results needed to show the benefit of an enforcement plan.

The enforcement strategy is a plan, implementation is determined by other factors such as resources. The plan can be a fundraising tool as it clearly outlines desired state and needs.

Implementation

Monitoring

Documentation and dissemination of results

Local

National

Build collaborative environment

Strategic Enforcement Development Session

Belize Audubon Society

Enforcement involves more than just one organization. The entire process in development and implementation of an enforcement strategy must be participatory. Ultimately, stakeholders must be involved as they can have a positive or negative effect on outcomes. In this case local government agencies are crucial to be involved (i.e coast guard, police, military, government agencies). Equally important are community members of influence who can become stewards educating on legislation and the protected area rules ultimately to help reduce poaching. Additionally, the value of strong community support is the fact that they can become “eyes on the ground”.

All partners are to be equally valued in terms of input as this will affect implementation. Process of engagement and facilitation are key.

Ease of implementation of the enforcement plan is directly tied to having good partners and community support.

Transfer of knowledge on new methods of ecological restoration through seeding

One of the main objectives of the project was to transfer the seed bombing method developed by XGraines, and adapting it to the material, human and knowledge resources available within tribal communities. This action required the implementation of several training workshops, following a preliminary phase of identification of all locally mobilizable resources. The experiments were carried out directly with the participants, who were able to contribute to the implementation of the method in a co-constructed process that could guarantee the proper appropriation of this technique. A main local referent was trained throughout the process and will be able to pass on this acquired knowledge in the future within the community.

The tribe's representatives' interest in experimentation and their good understanding of the project's objectives is one of the main factors that favoured the project. The selection of participants who were already engaged in ecological restoration actions before the project demonstrates their commitment and willingness to improve and develop techniques in a field (reforestation and production) that is familiar to them.

The transfer of knowledge and learning process required multiple workshops and work sessions.

Inception phase

Implementation

Local

Strengthening livelihoods

Beekeeping equipment handed over to Ecogardes

Landing

The precarious living conditions of communities living on the outskirts of protected areas contribute to pressure on resources, which are often weakened and often a source of conflict. Setting up alternative activities helps to empower them and preserve resources. An inclusive and participatory approach was adopted when implementing the income-generating activities supported by the project. This process began with a diagnosis of wealth-generating activities, identification of beneficiaries, selection of activities on the basis of community proposals, development of project sheets and business plans for each activity sector, and provision of resources for their implementation.

The participatory approach adopted has given stakeholders greater responsibility in the identification, training and implementation process. The selection criteria defined were economic (profitability), social (food security, nutritional value) and environmental (low negative impact), with particular attention paid to women's MSEs in targeting beneficiaries.

Skills development has been carried out to support the long-term establishment of these activities.

At the time of diagnosis, one of the beneficiary groups had no experience of the chosen activity, and even less space to carry it out. However, it quickly established itself as the most dynamic after being allocated a plot of land by the commune.

The lesson learned is that women's access to land is a key factor in development. The same applies to organizational dynamics and beneficiaries' commitment to the activity.

Implementation

Local

Improving governance

AGM renewal of AMP Saint-Louis management committee

Thiombane

The project involved different categories of protected areas (national parks, marine protected areas and community reserves), each with its own specific governance model. The aim was to establish harmonized, participatory governance frameworks applicable to the different categories. To achieve this, a governance diagnostic document identifying priority actions was drawn up in a participatory manner, and a number of recommendations were put into practice in the field, including the strengthening of stakeholder participation.

Stakeholder mapping was used as a criterion for appointing

for appointing representatives of the various constituencies

governance bodies.

This criterion has helped to improve the participative governance of the PAs.

The current context of changes in natural resource management calls for greater openness towards communities in category 2 protected areas. The project has experimented with the Saloum Delta National Park by facilitating the establishment of a consultation framework and a management committee where stakeholders are represented and participate in the decision-making and implementation processes, but these bodies are struggling to become operational.

The lesson here is that community involvement alone is not enough to implement adaptive governance in this type of protected area, as the willingness to share the power of authority with these communities is the only guarantee of success.

Implementation

Local

Support for training results in the field

Multi-parameter kit

Sgt Ndione

This block highlights the project's strategy for deploying the various skills acquired in training managers in the field. To this end, the sites' operational resources have been strengthened in terms of these new technologies (drone and trap camera equipment), as well as equipment for monitoring marine biodiversity (precision scales, experimental fishing net, capture net for birds, multi-parameter kit for monitoring water quality).

With regard to IMET, the project supported the sites in the participatory process of data collection, as well as ensuring that the objectives and recommendations formulated in the sites' planning documents were taken into account.

The acquisition of equipment following the training sessions was a key success factor, as one of the recommendations made by participants at the end of the training workshops was to make this equipment accessible for the operationalization of field activities.

The use of the IMET tool in the field and the updating of the management plans followed a participatory dynamic involving the key stakeholders to ensure that the various concerns were taken into account.

Thanks to the involvement of managers, the technical characteristics of the fishing nets acquired are adapted to the ecological conditions of the protected areas.

With regard to the multi-parameter kits, the project has capitalized on the experience of the first endowments, which were not sustained due to a lack of technical support for the beneficiaries, which is why these considerations have been taken into account through training in use and maintenance techniques prior to handover.

Implementation

Local

Skills enhancement

Drone pilot training workshop

Sgt Ndione

A major capacity-building component was developed for beneficiaries to improve biodiversity management in the protected area network. The aim was to improve the ecological monitoring system and the level of knowledge about species and habitats through the adoption and integration of new technologies (drones and camera traps).

Community expectations were taken into account as part of these training courses, to ensure the sustainability of income-generating activities for their benefit.

Ecological monitoring managers were the main targets at site level, while at central level, Geographic Information System managers from the two beneficiary departments were involved to better implement and centralize the data collected in the field.

Practical case studies on protected areas served as an exercise in action-based learning.

As far as local stakeholders were concerned, the themes were adapted to the needs identified in order to respond to their concerns.

The choice of targets adapted to the training themes gives better results in terms of the beneficiaries' ability to share their experiences in the field. Experience has shown that targets who had prerequisites on the proposed themes shared their feedback in the field immediately after the training.

The list of logistical problems identified in the field, such as equipment updates and the incompatibility of computers and smartphones with the equipment (drone, camera, software), made field practice difficult.

As a lesson learned, there is a need to manage logistical aspects with the targets to avoid hitches in the field in order to reinforce the effectiveness of the training.

The main lesson learned from skill-building for communities is that they benefit more from iterative and participative training sessions than from theoretical ones.

Implementation

Local

rapport_formation_drone_vf.pdf

Adopting and adaption

Interacting with local chief

Francis Sakala

community meeting

Francis Sakala

This process involved peer-to-peer learning among the different sites of the project beneficiaries, to learn from one another, adopt some good governance practices and adapt to their local situations such as how to structure good benefit-sharing mechanisms.

The beneficiary communities shared similar governance challenges, and sometimes the same landscape and were familiar with common issues. Through sharing of the lessons at the various sites and joint implementation and peer-to-peer interaction were an important part to share the success stories and challenges.

Governance challenges are similar across sites in Zambia and require enacting national policies and legislation to support efficient community-led conservation. Community based natural resources management approaches are crucial to successful management of protected areas.

Implementation

Monitoring

Documentation and dissemination of results

Local

Subnational

Information booklet Luano GMA

Project blog

Action Planning, communicating, and support.

Action planning meeting

Francis Sakala

This building block assisted in developing actions to address the governance challenges, communication of information, training, and ensuring ongoing mentorship and coaching for the Community Resources Boards in the implementation of governance actions. The key issue of this stage was creating opportunities for having a shared vision and collective actions.

Good stakeholder participation, and support by the government and the traditional leadership. The participatory nature of the tool allows broader collective action planning and assessment.

It requires proper planning and identification of key governance issues to be analyzed and acted upon. Usually, you would want to focus on relevant governance issues such as gender equity, participation, and information sharing.

Information booklet Luano GMA

Project blog

Stakeholder engagement and collaboration

stakeholder meeting

Cecilia Banda

Enhancing governance and conservation in biodiversity protected area management requires robust stakeholder participation and collaboration by all the actors in the protected areas. This was key as the shared resources made it possible to accomplish the project implementation within the schedule and timeframe. This process also involved stakeholder analysis and their contribution to the governance of the site. Shared vision planning and established mechanism for continued coordination.

Good stakeholder participation, and support by the government and the traditional leadership. The participatory nature of the tool allows broader collective action planning and assessment.

Stakeholder participation helped to pull resources together and a joint action agreed and made implementation much easier. It requires proper planning and identification of key governance issues to be analyzed and acted upon. Usually, you would want to focus on those governance issues that are relevant such as gender equity, participation, and information sharing. The process became expensive especially the implementation of other activities due to a high number of stakeholders.

Information booklet for Mufunta GMA

Project blog