Bio-diversity

The project seeks to address the problem of over-exploitatation of the biodiversity in Lupane and Binga Districts through embarking on an intensive awareness raising exercise aimed at local communities, traditional leaders, Rural District Councils and NGOs. The awareness exercise will take the form of workshops held at both community and district level, production and distribution of posters and booklets on the value of the natural resources and undertaking study tours to sites, to various sites, to areas that have managed to put in place mechanisms for sustainable utilisation of the resources. The awareness raising process will culminate in the development of policy that will protect biodiversity in the two districts from over-exploitation. A second component will support protection of natural vleis and wetlands where ilala grows. In addition a formalised system of harvesting and management of ilala palm will be instituted and at least 300 weavers will be trained on intensive ilala production. The project beneficiaries will also be trained on craft production and marketing and a revolving fund to assist in the marketing of wares will be established. project objectives -to raise awarenes on the value of natural resource and the need to protect them -to create community institutions that will effectively manage the natural resources in their areas in an intergrated manner -to train communities on issues of best practice in natural resource utilization , production , marketing and policy formulation -to promot the conservation and propagation of illala palm -to faclitate the organized marketing of all natural resource in the two districts specific results -by the end of the project , the level of awareness on sustainable utilization of the biodiversity in the districts -at least 8ha of land fenced and improved illala species planted in each plot -all vleis and wetlands where illala grows fenced and protected -at least 300 weavers trained on intensive illala production -a formalised system of harvesting and management of illala palm established -detailed documentationon production and managementdevelped and disseminated project activities -conduct district -wide seminars at which qualified resource persons will present information about the role of biodivesity in a community -set up ward level and an apex management committee -conduct training sessions for all the clubs involved in the project -construct and equip a craft assemble and distribution centre in Lupane district -attending look and learn tours -training and policy frmulation

Zimbabwe