WWF Project Proposal 2007 - Main Text - Template

Proposal for Annual Plan 2008

WWF MAG Toliara 2008_main text2007-10-01Page 1

Proposal for Annual Plan 2008

WWF MAG Toliara 2008_main text2007-10-01Page 1

WWF Project Proposal 2008 – Southern Toliara Marine Natural Resource Management

executive Summary

Introduction

The three - year - project entitled “Southern Toliara Marine Natural Resource Management” proposes to support the traditional and small scale fisheries of the southern region of Toliara, from Anakao to Androka. The main beneficiaries of the project are the local communities along the coast, living on traditional fishing including men, women and children. In the framework of this project, capacity is built among the users of fish resources (permanent users and occasional ones, fishermen and non fishermen) in terms of socio-organizational structure and marine resource management, in order to establish and implement management plans for sustainable use of marine fisheries resources. This will be carried out in collaboration with the Fisheries Services (Service de la Pêche et des Ressources Halieutiques or SPRH), bringing the technical expertise, as well as other stakeholders permanently involved in fish production. The project is also aiming at providing opportunities and training to fishermen to enable them to monitor their fish catches. WWF Madagascar & West Indian Ocean Programme Office will manage the project, through a field marine coordination based in Toliara. To ensure long-term benefits from the project, coordination and synergy with other fisheries and marine conservation projects will be initiated on the basis of a jointly approved action plan.

Project background

The coastal zone of the southern region of Toliara (also included into the Southwest Region refering to the new administrative structure newly established in Madagascar) has long been recognized for its extraordinary beauty, and its exceptional natural ecosystem, many areas of which are still intact. The area is home to a rich diversity of biological habitats, including coral reefs, lagoons, mangroves, dunes and spiny bush and forests which are unusual vegetation dominated by densely spiny cactus-like plants. Many areas are still ecologically healthy, but some, such as coral reef, coastal lagoons, and mangroves, have been severely degraded by human activities.

The ecosystem between Anakao and Androka, in the south - western region of Madagascar, has been subject to pressures from the Vezo people, an ethnic group of traditional fishermen, who consider themselves to be the owners of the sea and as such, manage marine resource use by means of taboos and traditional norms based on empirical knowledge of the dynamics of this ecosystem.

The ecosystem has also been subject to pressure - either occasionally or seasonally but at quite significant degrees and likely to bring about irreversible degradation - from destructive fishing practices by farmers and/or cattle raisers who seasonally revert to fishing because of insufficient harvests and lack of other livelihood opportunities. These two groups of fish resource users (fishermen and non fishermen) are both economically vulnerable. The fishing population has no other means of subsistence than fishing. The others are increasingly indulging in fishing activities with inappropriate methods and techniques.

In such a situation, the ecosystem, already of a fragile type, is exposed to degradation due to the exploitation carried out by these two groups of socially and economically vulnerable users. This situation is worsened by the incapacity of fishermen to invest in more sustainable and profitable methods of fishing and by the accentuated occurrence of sedimentation threatening the coral reef.

Goal

The overall goal of this project is that local communities benefit from and contribute to the conservation of coastal and marine biodiversity in the southern Toliara region, Madagascar.

Indicators:

• Improvement of the fish catch
• Preservation of habitats
• Sustainable management of fisheries
• Improved source of revenues

Purpose

Sustainable use and participatory management of living marine and coastal resources in Southern Toliara is established, in collaboration with local fishermen, the Malagasy Fisheries administration, collectors, retailers and the local populations and authorities, by the end of year 2011.

Indicators:

• Number of COBs effectively using management tools: this number could not be quantified as it will be defined from the analysis of results from the output 2, expected to be achieved in 2008.
• Number of Fisheries management plans for a particular living resources implemented in pilot sites by end of year 2011.
• Existing database for traditional fisheries in pilot sites, with a monitoring mechanism, by end of year 2011.

• Increased average revenue of each fishermen's household in pilot sites by end of 2011.

Outputs

The project aims at four outputs:

Output 1: An effective communication system between Fisheries Administration and local users groups in place and made operational, by the end of year 2008.

Indicators:

• Reporting/feedback system developed and implemented
• Number and frequency of reporting/feedback system
• Number of joint fieldtrips between local and district fisheries management authorities and local users groups

Output 2: An enabling environment for the sustainable management of traditional fisheries established, by the end of the year 2008.

Indicators:

• Common vision of sustainable use of living marine and coastal resources management at regional level developed
• Platform of agreement, including roles and responsibilities developed
• Biological and socio-economic baseline information to feed into fisheries management plans collected

Output 3: Community-based organisations (CBOs) actively and effectively involved in the sustainable use and management of living marine and coastal resources, by the end of the year 2011.

Indicators:

• Assessment of established local users groups and their representativity and functionality
• Appropriate and representative CBOs strengthened or established, active and operational
• Co-management arrangements and agreements developed between local communities and fisheries management authorities

Output 4: Small-scale alternative livelihoods creating positive socio-economic impacts in pilot sites, by the end of the year 2011.

Indicators:

• Number of sustainable alternative livelihood strategies developed in pilot sites
• Awareness raised on HIV/AIDS prevention and adaptation to natural seasonal vulnerability to droughts and cyclones.

Project implementation arrangements

In the Framework of this project, WWF Project Officer will be the project executant under the supervision of the WWF Madagascar & West Indian Ocean Programme Office (WWF MWIO PO) Conservation Director, with support from the Marine Programme Officer, whereas a Marine Coordinator will be hired to be responsible for all marine projects initiated by WWF MWIO PO on the field, in Toliara. He will have under his supervision a Team Leader based in the field to work with the fishermen associations. The Marine Coordinator and the Team Leader will implement field activities with technical support from the Fisheries Administration services in Toliara (SPRH) for all aspects of fisheries.

Budget

Proposed total project budget for 2008, detailing Norad’s direct project contribution (90 or 100 per cent of project funds) and Norad’s administration grant (8 per cent of 90 or 100 per cent of project budget). All figures are in NOK.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WWF MAG Toliara 2008_main text2007-10-01Page 1

WWF Project Proposal 2008 – Southern Toliara Marine Natural Resource Management

executive Summary

Abbreviations

1introduction and Project Background

1.1Area description

1.1.1Location and physiography

1.1.2The physical elements of the coastal area: between Anakao and Androka (North-South direction)

1.1.3Significant geographical and ecological data

1.1.4Administrative delineation

1.1.5Natural resources and biodiversity values

1.1.6Conservation areas

1.1.7Socio-economic Issues

1.1.8Cultural issues

1.1.9Institutional and legal issues

1.1.10Political Issues

1.2Threats, problems and opportunities

1.2.1Threats

1.2.2Problems

1.2.3Risks

1.2.4Opportunities

1.3Stakeholders

1.3.1Who make use or benefit from the resources?

1.3.2Who are responsible for the natural resources?

1.3.3Who has specific interests in the problems?

1.3.4Who has the most knowledge or the most competence to deal with the problems?

1.4Contribution to the implementation of national plans

1.4.1Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP)

1.4.2Environmental plans and strategies

1.4.3World Summit on Sustainable Development

1.4.4Millennium Development Goals

1.4.5New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)

1.5Global thematic programme, ecoregional targets or global policy initiatives

1.5.1Contributions to WWF’ s Global and Regional Priorities

2project achievements, lessons and deviations

2.1Describe the extent to which the expected results have been achieved during the last years

2.2Describe internal or external factors that have particularly affected project performance or the planning

2.3Describe significant changes in geographical and thematic areas of priorities or work in the project

3Project Goal and purpose

3.1Project Goal

3.2Project Purpose

4Project Outputs

4.1Output 1: An effective communication system between Fisheries Administration and local users groups in place and made operational, by the end of year 2008.

4.2Output 2: An enabling environment for the sustainable management of traditional fisheries established, by the end of the year 2008.

4.3Output 3: Community-based organisations (CBOs) actively and effectively involved in the sustainable use and management of living marine and coastal resources, by the end of the year 2011.

4.4Output 4: Socio-economic environment of the local population is improved in the intervention area, by the end of the year 2011.

5Project implementation

5.1Overall approach / Implementation strategy

5.2Activities

5.2.1Activity 1.1- Reinforce the collaboration between the regional SPRH and local users groups or CBOs with regards to natural resources management and sustainable use

5.2.2Activity 1.3: Make alive the information sharing mechanism through the mobilisation of fisheries actors, and the flow of living marine resources management and use regulation information.

5.2.3Activity 2.1: Carry out baseline scientific, socio-economic and anthropological studies used as decision making tools for the fishery administration in close collaboration with local living marine resources users groups.

5.2.4Activity 2.2: Make the results available to feed the establishment of regional common vision, strategy, action plan, and management tools in the intervention area.

5.2.5Activity 2.3: Through a participatory approach, facilitate the approval and validation of the common vision, strategy, action plan, and management tools amongst the SPRH and local users groups.

5.2.6Activity 2.4: Establish a project communication plan to let all actors involved know about the project gradual development.

5.2.7Activity 3.2: Support the structuring of these CBOs based on the current socio-economic and the governance situations.

5.2.8Activity 3.3: Develop the organizational and technical capacity of CBOs in sustainable resource management

5.2.9Activity 3.4: Organise educational environmental campaigns with multiple targets based on gender considerations

5.2.10Activity 3.6: Organise endowment of existing equipments to CBOs (fishing gears)

5.3Project implementation arrangements

5.3.1Project organisation

5.3.2Local cooperation partners

5.3.3Relationship with Other Relevant Initiatives

5.4Main beneficiaries and target groups

5.5Sustainability and exit strategy

5.5.1Sustainability criteria

5.5.2Exit strategy

6budget

6.1Project budget

6.2Other donors’ contribution to the Project

7Assumptions and risks

7.1Assumptions

7.2Risks

8Monitoring and evaluation

8.1Monitoring and indicators

8.2Reviews and evaluations

8.3List of Appendices

WWF MAG Toliara 2008_main text2007-10-01Page 1

WWF Project Proposal 2008 – Southern Toliara Marine Natural Resource Management

Abbreviations

1 introduction and Project Background

1.1 Area description

1.1.1 Location and physiography

The area of intervention of the project lies from Soalara, in the North, to Androka, in the South. It covers approximately 3,700 km2 and is located between 23o34’S - 25o07’S; and 43o05E – 44o10’E.

Figure 1. Map of the project intervention area: the Southern Region of Toliara.

1.1.2 The physical elements of the coastal area: between Anakao and Androka (North-South direction)

a) Islets in Anakao:

(i)Nosy Ve

(ii)Nosy Satrana- cemeteries, a community heritage;

b)Islets in the surrounding of Androka:

(i)Nosy Vorona – community heritage, an island surrounded by reefs.

(ii)Nosy Manitsa – community heritage, an island surrounded by reefs.

c)Roads

(i)One relating the site of Beheloka (in the south district of Toliary II) to Ambatry (in the East, district of Betioky) and Itampolo (in the South, Toliara II) ;

(ii)One relating Itampolo (Coastal area in the South West of Toliara II) and Ejeda, (a commune in western Ampanihy)

d)Rivers: Linta flowing upwards inland until Ejeda

e)Lake: Tsimanampesotsa, the first Ramsar[2] site in Madagascar

f)Tsimanampetsotsa National Park (dry and spiny forest and lake): Currently, its total surface is 43,200 ha and deemed to raise between 150,000 and 200,000 ha after a planned extension in 2007.

g)Internal accessibility: the human dwellings are generally constituted by scattered hamlets with a distance varying from 2 to 4 dozens of kilometers between them. The rural roads are sandy and access by bicycle and even by motorbike is quite difficult.

1.1.3 Significant geographical and ecological data

a.) Relief

Coastal plain between the Plateau Mahafaly cliff and the Mozambique Canal is covered with quaternary dunes of different generations, live or fixed dune, stoned sand. Low sandy plains typify the coastal line of the southern Toliara region with dunes commonly occurring near the shores. The shoreline is formed by the edge of the uplifted limestone plateau undulating from 150 – 250 m in altitude. Further south, the coastal plain abruptly appears, reaching more than 10 km in width before meeting the abrupt escarpment of the Mahafaly Plateau. The coastal plain is sandy, mostly only 5 – 10 m in height, but as much as 15 – 20 m in some areas. For the most part the dunes are stabilized by vegetation, but some of the larger systems are mobile.

b.) Climate

Semi-arid climate and very low level of rainfall with a yearly average of 350mm, except during the occurrence of cyclones when precipitations can reach 600mm. The area is faced with deficiency as far as water is concerned.

c.) Reefs

From Toliara down to Anakao (South Soalara), the reefs have a relatively steep seaward slope, descending rapidly to sandy bottoms of 10 to 15 m. This slope has no spur and groove structures and has a very active coral life, as does the edge of the reef flat.

From Anakao to Beheloka, the seaward slope of the reef showing a slight gradient towards the open sea has no more coral life. It looks like an embankment linked to the sand bottom in front of the reef by a slope that is not always regular and may be interrupted by shelves.

Between Beheloka and Lanivato, the reef is very narrow and the channel separating it from the shore is again very shallow. The coastal reef then disappears at Lanivato. Further south there is no proper coral formation, but only a low-water platform formed in a sandstone-limestone foreshore. Reefs appear only about ten kilometres south of Itampolo and even further south near Androka.

The project intervention area lies in the Mozambican Channel, which separates Madagascar from Africa. The Mozambican Channel has the characteristics of a continental sea; it is always warm, and in summer consequently becomes a centre of low pressure. In this very narrow sea, the meeting of the two main currents, a warm one along the African coast, flowing from north to south, and a cooler one, flowing along the Madagascar coast from south to north, generates many counter-currents and frequent convergences, whose effect is to slow down the atmospheric circulation above the sea, and hence to contribute to raising its surface temperature.

1.1.4 Administrative delineation

The southern Toliara region comprises two districts: Toliara and Ampanihy, in which there are four communes from the North to the South: Soalara, Beheloka for the district of Toliara and Itampolo, Androka for the district of Ampanihy.

1.1.5 Natural resources and biodiversity values

The project intervention area is part of the Toliara coral reef system, the world’s third largest coral reef, which lies on more than 300 km along the coast of Toliara. The Toliara reef system comprises a wide variety of marine and coastal habitats including barrier reefs (18 km long), fringing reefs, reef cays, mangroves, sea grass bed, shallow lagoons and abyssal slopes that fall to a depth of more than a kilometre. These different environments are home to more than 6,000-recorded species of reef- and lagoon-dwelling fish, invertebrates, and algae. This wide variety of habitats are home to hundreds of species of algae, 12 species of sea grass, more than a hundred species of hard corals, more than 700 species of reef fishes, about 10 species of marine mammals, 5 species of marine turtles, and the prehistoric fish, the fable “Coelacanth”. The Coelacanth is virtually unique in the animal kingdom, and is considered as a 400 million year old "living fossil" fish. Thought to have gone extinct with dinosaurs, 65 million years ago, the Coelacanth was discovered alive and well in 1938. This living fossil fish is still captured along the coast of Toliara by fishermen nets, particularly near the Saint Augustin where a deep marine canyon is observed. All the five species of marine turtle are categorized on the IUCN Red List as endangered or critically endangered. Although the extraordinary species richness recorded, many other groups still remains unstudied such as molluscs, sponges, brittle stars, sea squirts, feather stars, etc.