Community capacity building training (sorting & grading)
AGAR
AGAR representative with Samburu community members
AGAR
Community capacity building training
AGAR
Community aloe formulation training
AGAR
Provision of sorting materials for gums and resins
AGAR
AGAR's main objective in capacity building, is to contribute to the improvement of living conditions of the rural communities in arid and semi-arid lands by promoting inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development through the enhancement of high potential agroforestry resources, in synergy with the local private sector and national agenda. We do this through trainings and seminars on environmentally sustainable agro-forestry value chains which community members are taken through:
Sustainable management of natural resources
Propagation, transplanting, harvesting and formulation of aloe and its products
Harvesting, sorting and grading of gums and resins
Provision of gum and resins haversting and grading tools
Provision of storage for gums and resins
Business principles and development
With these trainings the communities:
Build economic resilience because of alternative source of income
Build strong independent communities through provision of work opportunities,
Enhance the adaptation strategies to climate change,
Reducing the impact of desertification and deforestation and
Promotes women's, youth and people living with disabilities social inclusion in production processes
Availability of training knowledge and resources
Availability of existing farmers and collector who can be trained on vaue addition.
Availability of a ready market that demands quality products hence the training for quality raw materials.
Availability of ready man power
Availability of natural resources i.e land
Readyness to learn from the community
Embracement of the project by the communities, local governments and business partners.
Healthy partnerships with local communities can result to remarkable environmental and economical progess.
With all actors in a sector working together, big strides are made in the development of the gums and resins sector opening ways for better policies and regulations ensuring the quality management of non forest timber products.
For end good product, the plants and trees have to be taken good care of, so as to improve on the quality of the end product hence the big investment on capacity building .
New techniques have to be incorporated in farming and harvesting for quality end products
To incentivise conservation, the benefits must be locally meaningful and transparently distributed. Here, we worked with the communities to identify priority areas (healthcare, education and veterinary medicines) and translated points into benefits every 3 months. The village requested the benefits and the project sourced and delivered them. They were distributed at a large village celebration, where the programme was explained again. Then the number of points was reset to zero and the process began again.
Funding for the benefits, a process for ensuring that the benefits are meaningful and equitable for different groups of people. For example, in our area traditional pastoralists are often overlooked, so we ensured that a third of the benefits were allocated to them.
Transparency at all levels is vital. The images were scrutinised together, the points allocated together, and the village decided between themselves on their priorities. They chose their desired benefits, and the notice was displayed publicly in the village centre. The benefits bought and distributed were also listed publicly.
Planting of enhanced high potential trees of commercial interest such as Acacia Senegal for gum Arabic, Boswelia Neglecta for Frankincense, and indigenous aloe species (Turkanensis, Secundiflora) in the Kenyan Arid lands has helped with the improved management of natural resources by the community woodlands forest association members, which we helped to form, who act as the custodians of the environment, who are also trained on correct environmental management practices.
The recovery of local biodiversity and use of innovative agroecological techniques by the local communities in the arid areas enhances their adaptation strategies to climate change thereby reducing the impact of desertification which is brought about by widespread deforestation for coal burning as a diverse source of income apart from pastoralism which is the main source of income for people in the arid regions has left the communities be aid reliant in times of droughts.
Through our capacity buildings, the communities have been able to improve their skills on sustainable management of natural resources through the introduction of correct environmental practices, enhancing the adaptation strategies to climate change, reducing the impact of desertification and deforestation.
Availability of large parcels of land for restoration
Availability of plant species that can survive in arid areas and used for income generation.
Availability of techiniques and specialists who train how to restore their land.
Embracement of learning and collaboration from the locals.
Capacity building on correct way of farming, harvesting and collection of aloe and gums and resins raw materials.
Collaboration by our partners like county governments for allocating idle community land for ecological conservation.
Plant species endemic in arid areas can be used to conserve and restore the ecosystem.
Community members can ptotect their own ecosysytems with both indigenous and scientific methods of conservation.
Collaborattion between private and government actors can bring positive results in ecologial conservation.
Farming of indigenous species and tending to them can bring a diversified source of income.
Arid areas are rich in natural resources if they are well maintained can be used for income generation.
African wild dogs were the top spot, each of these 17 generated 20,000 points
Ruaha Carnivore Project
It is crucial to develop a process for linking wildlife presence to desired local benefits. Here, we worked with the communities to establish a points system, where each wild animal camera-trapped received a certain number of points. Species which were more threatened, traded or caused more conflict generated more points. However, all species over the size of small mammals generated points, to ensure that a wider diversity of species were conserved.
The community being interested and involved in the process, and having sufficient communty-wide discussions to ensure the system of allocating points is locally driven and understood.
Clear outlines were vital to avoid conflict, such as defining the rules for counting animals when the numbers were unclear, or when a single animal appeared to be getting photographed multiple times in succession. Discussing these issues with the community and clarifying them together was very important.
Our project is based on the premise that farmers want sustainability and are incentivised to achieve this. No farming operation will be viable in the long run unless it is done in an ecologically and economically responsible manner. Climate change has led to an increased frequency of drought, as well as an increased severity of drought in the western regions of South Africa. Stocking rates are effectively falling as a result of climate change, and this necessitates the need for farmers to diversify income in order to survive. Failure to change will have a devastating impact on biodiversity.
We are incentivising farmers to protect biodiversity through the adoption of more sustainable farming practices, e.g. grazing rest, correct stocking rates and habitat restoration activities. While these lead to fewer, but better quality animals, the farmer still experiences a loss of income. We help the farmer compensate for this through the adoption of non-farming activities such as ecotourism.
Through continual engagement with the farmer, we are able to address concerns as they are raised and ensure that the farmer perceives active engagement in the partnership as an incentive to improve his farming operation.
The region has an existing tourism industry which can be leveraged upon. Known as the ‘bulb capital of the world’, the area is well known and relatively close (a 3.5 hr drive) to an international airport. However, this season lasts approximately 2-months, and this project seeks to extend tourism operations throughout the year.
The farmer needs to be open to tourism as a means of generating tourism income.
The project has immediate potential to generate additional revenue and can be custom designed to suit the infrastructure and abilities of the farmer.
Choose projects which are quick to implement and quick to show results. This will booster partnerships and improve the chances of other promises being fulfilled.
Farmers are not keen on paperwork and administration and often require support in this area, especially as it relates to the new venture.
It is very important to demonstrate that the incentive is working as this underpins continued collaboration. Celebrate the small successes.
In South Arica we are fortunate to have a very progressive legislative programme for conservation on private land. The Biodiversity Stewardship framework allows for the voluntary declaration of private lands into the protected areas network following a clearly defined process. As the process is well established, it is relatively easy to implement it and commitments are well understood. However, governmental conservation agencies have constraints on their capacity and rely on NGOs such as the EWT, to facilitate the process of identifying suitable properties, engaging with willing farmers and/or landowners, and developing the associated tools such as the farm management plan and annual plans of operation.
Landowners sign an agreement with the provincial conservation authorities formalising the declaration into the title deed of the property. This framework largely results in a win-win as biodiversity is conserved, the country is better able to meet its conservation goals in terms of multi-lateral agreements, and the farmer has a more sustainable farming operation to support his livelihood. Subsidiary benefits can be accrued to local communities through entrepreneurship opportunities. To pursue our conservation exchange, we merged this framework with other agreements between the farmer and the EWT.
The NGO has funds and resources on the ground to engage with farmers / landowners.
A good understanding by the landowner of exactly what they are committing to and the long-term expectations they need to meet. This should be based on clearly defined contractual terms.
Landowner willingness to participate in the Biodiversity Stewardship Programme.
Willingness to change farming practices.
Ability of NGOs such as the Endangered Wildlife Trust to support the farmer over the longer term.
Good relationships with local members of the provincial government.
A contractual framework is important as it clearly defines what is expected. Keep contracts short and to the point – the focus must be more on roles and responsibilities than about legal enforceability.
It can take time to have property declared under the Biodiversity Stewardship Programme due to departmental signoff processes. It is, therefore, important to ensure that the farmers understand the delays and where the process is at.
Rather than focus on the Biodiversity Stewardship process, focus on enabling the framework around improved management and the necessary support to get there.
It goes without saying that change cannot take place unless based on sound partnerships that have clearly defined roles, responsibilities and deliverables. Changing farming practices is challenging as these ingrained practices have been passed down for generations. The EWT is able to assist the farmer to bridge the gap between traditional farming techniques and the skills required to transition toward nature-based tourism models.
We found it essential to select farmers who are open to change and then to build their trust through the provision of proven deliverables and mutual respect. Roles and responsibilities need to be clearly outlined and defined in order to speed up the operationalisation of projects and avoid misunderstandings. Our project set holistic goals that supported the farmer and his family, the farm workers, the conservation of biodiversity and provided a unique experience for the outdoor enthusiast.
Building lasting and open partnerships are one of the hallmarks of this project. It is part of the foundation for our success.
Trust
Open channels of communication
Clarity on what parties want
Willingness to collaborate
Realistic projects that are well thought out and can realistically provide the expected benefits.
Trust and partnerships are built on regular contact.
Communication must be open and honest.
By ensuring that a staff member was on site we could build trust more rapidly. Having an EWT staff member in the area to provide extension services was of critical importance.
Finding willing partners that are enthusiastic is critical to success.
Providing constant support and encouragement – if you promise to do something it has to be done.
Ensure that there is a reciprocal situation where the farmer also has responsibilities to perform at his own cost – this leads to a more vested relationships where it is in everybody’s interest to ensure the project is successful.
Elephant captured on one of the village camera-traps
Ruaha Carnivore Project
To ensure that local benefits are tied to wildlife presence, the first step is enabling communities to monitor wildlife on their land. Each village selects two 'community camera-trapping officers' who are trained and employed to use camera-traps, which they place at what they think are the most wildlife-rich areas of their villages. Camera-traps are checked every month and images shown in the village to raise awareness.
The community needs to want to engage with the programme, and take ownership at all levels. There needs to be sufficient funding for the equipment and salaries.
There needs to be widespread discussion with the community to understand the programme, so that camera-traps are not damaged or stolen. The wider engagement, by showing the images in the villages, was also very important for raising interest and awareness about conservation.
