Bio-diversity

Preliminary phase: Planning and Engagement All relevant stakeholders such as the local tribal leadership, iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority, forest management and other NGO s in the area will be reintroduced to the project and let them know that the project has received the funding and will begin to roll out the project. A series of formal meeting will take place to also reintroduce the project to the potential beneficiaries of the project. Through these meetings all aspects of the project will be discussed and the questions answered. Brain storming will take place and new ideas that the wood carver bring to the project will be added. This will help create an aspect of ownership of the project and make it not seem like it is being forced upon them.Through these meeting research will be conducted to establish which species (and quantities) are being used in the woodcarving industry. Operational phase: Craft market to be built, tree purchasing, seed collection, propagation and planting A series of workshops will take place at kwaManukelana Indigenous Art and Tree Nursery. These workshops will cover indigenous seed collection and propagation. Due to the time of the year certain seeds will not be able to be collected. In that case pictures will be used and seeds collected previously will be used. These workshops will the theoretical and practical in nature. A target of around 4000 seeds to be collected will be set. One of the workshops will be actually planting trees in the forest. The trees will be brought from Manukelana and delivered on-site. Sites where the trees are to be planted will be identified. A one year plan will be drawn up so that the trees are planted in a constructive manner. This will also assist with monitoring and evaluating the project. Tourists who visit St. Lucia are generally nature enthusiasts. They are also the main customers who support the informal curio market. They are not educated about the damage they do by supporting un-environmentally friendly wood carving business along the side of the road. Therefore the need to educate the public is essential. Project leadership will attend St. Lucia Tourism meetings and present the project to them. Brochures and pamphlets will be distributed to them to pass on to their clients. The brochures will explain the project and let the tourists know about working group of wood carvers who practice sustainable business and harvesting. Therefore the wood carvers who take part in this project will benefit by receiving more clients. This will in turn also help to persuade the wood carvers to join the group. The market place for the participating wood carvers will be developed. Marketing, branding and signage will be put in place. The back area of the market place will be used for propagating trees. Surplus trees can also be sold to the public. A wood carver working group constitution and code of conduct will be drafted. Those members who do not participate and break the code of conduct will not be allow to sell their crafters at the market place, and will therefore looselose out on valuable business.

South africa