Bio-diversity

The project is designed to address the issue of biodiversity loss and consequent ecosystem improveshment at important sites within settled lands due to unsustainable resource extraction and or the conversion of sites and areas of high biodiversity importance to agriculture or other uses. 23 sites in three districts have been priotised for conservation action because of their exceptionally high biodiversity importance,allied to levels of threat from agricultural and other activities. These sites are located in Binga, Guruve and Muzarabani districts and collectively total 23 620 ha in area.The selected sites represent key components of a range of Zambezi Basin ecosystems including dry forests, riverine woodlands,wetland ecosystems and transition zones between medium and low altitude ecosystems. The sites also form reservoirs of diversity for several biological groups including small mammals, birds, reptiles and lepididoptera.Maintenance of the sites will contribute to the continued intergrity of ecosystems and ecosystem processes, and therefore to human wellbeing. The project objectives are -development and implementation of sustainable community based strategies for the conservation of 23 sites of high importance to local, regional and global biological diversity. -improve local and district understanding and monitoring of biological diversity. -monitor effectiveness of site conservation strategies. -produce and publish project findings and methodologies for replication. The results produced by the project include 1. 23 specific areas under site -specific conservation strategies,incorporating strategies for sustainable livelihoods linked to sustainable site utilisation. -values added to benefits accruing from other specie , resources and NRMprojects, including wildlife conservation and utilisation- projects. 3. increased community and local authority understanding of GEFSGP/Zambezi Society approaches to biodiversity and biological sustainability. 4. local community"ownership"of site maintenance strategies, sustainable livelihood strategies, and economic, cultural and social benefits. The activities involve conserving biological diversity of project sites and areas and training of local community members so as to improve local and district understanding and monitoring of biological diversity. The results from this project include; -biological degradation and or conversion to agriculture halted at 20 sites. -conservation strategies for sites drawn up and implementation initiated for 20 sites. -district level booklets produced and distributed. -three biodiversity monitors trained and operatioal -community leaders aware of ,understand,and are suppotive of Zambezi Society objectives and philosophies.

Zimbabwe