Environmental policy and administrative management

BACKGROUND the Matobo Hills World Heritage Sites is a landscape that offers a unique combination of natural and cultural capital of exceptional aesthetic, scientific, and educational significance. its natural landscape comprises of scenic geological formations that create micro environments and habitats that are home to a wide range of important flora and fauna. numerous rock paintings, rock shelters, historical buildings, burial sites, religious sites and various artificats depict the time depth and cultural diversity that are worthy of mention and preservation. this natural property covers a total area of 3100km2. 2050km2 of the area is the matopos national park while 1050 km2 covers communal areas. PROJECT RATIONALE the strategic project seeks to address the following problems: * lack of appreciation of the value of the world heritage site status *poverty and food insecurity *land degradation and loss of biodiversity *decline in tourism *exclusion of communities in the management of the MHWS. This is with the view of meeting the following MDGS: goal 1, goal 3, and goal 7. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT *To improve the knowledge and awareness of the MWHS`s natural and cultural capital in 90% of the local community and to interested persons and organisations at ;local and national levels through availability of information by the end of the first year of project implementation. *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 schemes by the second year of the project. *to enable communities to reclaim degraded lands in the catchment areas of sewondo and dondobili dams through training in catchment management techniques and to deal with the problems of deforestation, gully erosion by the second year of project implementation. *to improve the quality of ecotourism in the MWHS through capacity building of communities managing the sites, and refurbishment of the tourist infrastructure and facilities by the second year of project implementation. KEY ACTIVITIES * sustainable craft production, mainly for women *various cropping technologies and use of wetlands *various livestock technologies *agro forestry *beekeeping *biogas units and chingwa stoves installation *various soil conservation and rangeland reclamation activites for intergrated catchment management. OUTPUTS *improved and sustainable supply of forest resources for household and marketing purposes *reduced pressure on forest resources for firewood *improved lighting and energy for school communities *increased stability in schools establishments and administration *improved knowledge of irrigated cropping among farmers in the project area and beyond. *increased income from sale of surplus grain *increased livestock production and soil fertility *increased household income from honey and wax products *improved rangeland condition. OUTCOMES * 50 % increase in alternative livelihood options for the local communities *25% improvement in biodiversity in the matobo area. *50% improvement in community food security and household nutrition *40% of degraded lands restored * 30% of identified gullies reclaimed.

Zimbabwe