Bio-diversity

Background The area covered by the proposed project which falls within the Matopo World heritage Site covers 4 communal lands which comprises of8 wards and 38 villages within the 8 wards.The estimated total beneficiary population within the project area is 5497. The ecology of the MWHS has a number of flora and fauna that include the rare species.The woodland type found in the area include combretums, prerocapus, zizphus and kirkia.These interlace with exposed granite giving a scenic view.The vegetation includes kopje lichens and resurrection plant ,Myrantamnus flabellious. The fauna includes a number of amphibians, reptiles, fish beds and mammals.In the herbivore the Klipspringer is the most dominant while other herbivores such as black and white rhino are available in the protected area. Of the 43 protected bird specie ,35 are found in the MWHS. There is a rich cultural heritage evidenced by over 3 500 rock art sites.The prominent ones include the Silozwane, Bambata, the Nswatugi, the Pomogwe and the Nakhe caves.The cultural heritage of the site also includes important shrines such as the Njelele, Dula, Zhilo, Wiirirani and Manyanga.These shrines form an important part of the cultural, political and religious life of Zimbabwe. The MWHS has important historical sites such as the Rhodes Indaba site, the Moth shrine, the Mzilikazi wagon`s cave, and burial sites that include Cecil John Rhodes ` grave and King Mzilikazi`s grave. Important and beautiful landscapes of the MWHS include the Diana`s Pools, Matshatsha falls, Lumeme Falls, and Gabheni cultural village. The project seeks to address problems such as -lack of awareness of the World Heritage Site status -problems of poverty and food security -land degradation and loss of biodiversity -decline in ecotourism objectives The goal of the project is to improve the livelihoods of the Umzingwane community through an integrated partnership program that entails the documentation and marketing of the natural and cultural capital in the natural heritage site and surrounding environs, biodiversity conservation and improved livelihoods. specific objectives -to improve knowledge and awareness of the MWHS `s natural and cultural capital in 90% of the local community and too interested persons and organisations at local regional levels. -to improve the food security situation in 15% of the households in the MWHS through the construction of one dam and establishment of two irrigation schemesby the second year of the project. to enable the community to reclaim at least 15% of the degraded lands in the catchment areas of Sewondo and Dondobili dams through training catchment management techniques and to deal with the problems of deforestation , gully erosion by the second year of project implementation. -to improve the quality eco-tourism in the MWHS through capacity building of committees managing the sites, and refurbishment of at least two tourist infrastructure and facilities by the second year of project implementation. activities -carry out a reveiw of information from secondary sources on the site and compile a concise report of the natural capital and cultural heritage especially identifying key opportunities ,challenges and threats in the site . -conduct feasibility, design , construct 2 irrigation schemes at Sewondo and Dondobili dams .assess the Sewondo dam breach -allocate half acre plots and train at least 120 households in two irrigation schemes -train 120 farmers in improved cropping under irrigation to improve food security among the beneficiary farmers. -communities and leaders trained in land care/land reclamation and catchment management -5% of degraded lands in the two catchments rehabilitated/reclaimed -silt traps and other soil conservation works established -re-establish and train management committees of Diana`s pools and other tourist facilities. -refurbish tourist facilities at Diana`s pools and develop and operate new facilities at selected sites including village tourism. outputs -information from secondary sources n the site reviewed and cmpiled into a concise report of the natural capital and cultural heritage especially idenifying key opportunities, challenges and threats in the site. -improved food security among the beneficiary farmer due to better yeilds obtained from the irrigation schemes. -one dam Dondobili dam constructed by the end of the first year of project implementation -2 irrigation schemes constructed and operational at Sewondo and Dondobili dams. - at least 120 households allocated half acre plots in two irrigation schemes and trained in improved agricultural practices including use of OPVs -communities and leaders trained in land care and catchment management -15% of degraded lands in the two catchments rehabilitted /reclaimed -management committees of Diana`s pools and other tourist facilities established and operational impacts -improved incomes of the communities through improved tourist inflows and sustainable eco-tourism management -the level of erosion and siltation reduced through reduced runoff -household food security improved through the use of all year round cropping in the irrigation schemes. - communities and the leadership gain better understanding of their environment -improved management of the cultural and natural capital , improved incomes and better environmental management

Zimbabwe