Strategic Planning Manyara Ranch Tanzania Land Conservation Trust Progress Report: November 2004
TABLE OF CONTENTS Section 1. Introduction..3 Section 2. Current Status Zoning and Long-term Strategies... 5 Section 3. Recommendations for Project Completion... 6 References 7 Appendix A Itinerary (Technical Support Trip).. 8 Appendix B Preliminary Zoning Classifications..9 Appendix C Preliminary Outline for Long-term Strategies.11 2
Section 1. Introduction On-the-ground technical assistance to the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) for strategic planning at Manyara Ranch, Tanzania, was provided September 6-17, 2004. Manyara Ranch is a new effort by national government to try an alternative approach for land and resource conservation and community development. AWF has agreed with national government of Tanzania to lead the effort of facilitating the Tanzania Land Conservation Trust in management of Manyara Ranch. Protection and management of the globally significant Kwakuchinja wildlife corridor is to be a primary goal of the Trust. In meeting this goal, Manyara Ranch will essentially link two major protected areas, Manyara Lake and Tarangire National Parks. Itinerary for the technical assistance trip is presented in Appendix A. Prior to the trip, Greg Schenbeck, wildlife management biologist and planner with U.S. Forest Service, compiled and reviewed published and unpublished information relative to conservation and community planning in developing countries. Since USAID has been and will likely continue as a significant contributor to this international assistance effort, their latest guidelines for biodiversity conservation (USAID 2003) were reviewed. Tanzania is also signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), so guidance on biodiversity and sustainable tourism development from CBD (2004) was also reviewed. All of this information was shared and discussed with AWF staff in Tanzania. Greg also contacted and requested assistance from two international resource management specialists prior to the assistance trip. Ron Sutter, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), an expert in conservation planning, agreed to consult on best practices for applying the 5-S Framework for Site Conservation Planning (The Nature Conservancy 2003) to the environmental and socio-economic setting at Manyara Ranch. The planning framework was developed by the International Program of The Nature Conservancy and is very similar to the AWF Heartland Conservation Planning (HCP) process already in place. However, it adds some additional technical support options. Dr. Jim O Rourke, Professor of Range Management at Chadron State College, Nebraska, and current President of the International Range Congress, was also contacted and agreed to consult on best practices for rangeland management and conservation. Dr. O Rourke has considerable experience in rangeland conservation in the Arusha District of Tanzania. He was actively involved in the Maasai Range Project during the 1970s and completed his doctorate in rangeland research in the Arusha District. His father, Mr. Joe O Rourke, was a rangeland conservationist for the U.S. Forest Service and provided technical range management assistance to Tanzania, Arusha 3
District, in 1973. Dr. O Rourke has also graciously made his family s technical library on the Maasai Range Project available for use by Mr. Schenbeck and AWF. Much of this information is highly relevant to strategic planning at Manyara Ranch. Greg also had the opportunity to discuss watershed management conditions and issues in the Manyara Lake watershed with Greg Bevenger, hydrologist, and Dan Svoboda, soil scientist, both with the U.S. Forest Service. They have been actively involved in a watershed assessment (African Wildlife Foundation 2004) in this area and have information that will be extremely valuable for strategic planning at Manyara Ranch. A considerable amount of progress has already been made towards strategic planning by the AWF staff. Clive Jones, Manyara Ranch Manager, helped draft much of this material and provided copies for Greg s review and consideration as strategic planning for Manyara Ranch moves forward. 4
Section 2. Current Status Zoning and Long-term Strategies Preliminary zoning classifications identified during the technical assistance trip are presented in Appendix B. The preliminary classifications are similar to those presented in earlier zoning documents developed by AWF (2000). The preliminary zoning classifications have been sent to Clive Jones for his review and comments. U.S. Forest Service staff assisted and participated in a workshop with the Community Steering Committee on September 13-15 in Mto wa Mbu. During the workshop, village leaders expressed interest in pursuing similar village zoning. The potential continued use of Manyara Ranch by local Maasai herdsmen for grazing and watering livestock may prove to be an incentive for encouraging more sustainable use and management of adjoining communal rangelands. Using Manyara Ranch to leverage conservation across a broader landscape warrants further discussion and consideration during strategic planning. A draft outline for a zoning and long-term strategic planning document was developed and discussed with AWF staff while in Tanzania (Appendix C). Some key messages and concepts are also included in the outline. This material has been sent to Clive Jones for his further review and comment. 5
Section 3. Recommendations for Project Completion AWF has already developed a strategic planning process for the Maasai Steppe Ecosystem and a five-year landscape strategy (African Wildlife Foundation 2003). This provides a strong basis for further conservation site planning at Manyara Ranch. To maintain momentum for conservation site planning, the following activities are suggested for a follow-up assistance trip to Tanzania and Manyara Ranch: Week 1 (AWF Headquarters Arusha) Finalize Manyara Ranch zoning strategy, Design a 5-S type planning approach modified to fit the social and environmental setting at Manyara Ranch, Prepare (training) for 5-S type workshop (Week 2), Week 2 Conduct 5-S type workshop (Location To Be Determined), Prepare draft strategic planning document (Clive and Greg at Manyara Ranch). It is recommended that prior to the technical assistance trip, AWF staff identify and contact key technical experts for their potential participation in a 5-S type workshop during the second week of the assistance trip. The types of expertise needed for the workshop and the feasibility of conducting a workshop needs to be discussed and evaluated. It is very possible that the Community Steering Committee and the Tarangire-Manyara Ecosystem Working Group (TMEWG), set up as part of the Heartland Conservation Planning (HCP) process, would be appropriate entities to assist in the identification of the site-specific conservation targets, goals, threats and intervention strategies at Manyara Ranch. An alternative approach to a workshop is for AWF and Manyara Ranch staff to use the Landscape Strategy Document Maasai Steppe: Five Year Strategy (African Wildlife Foundation 2003) as a basis to further develop site-specific strategic planning for Manyara Ranch. Regardless of the selected approach, careful evaluation of how to effectively engage village leadership is critical. 6
REFERENCES African Wildlife Foundation. 2000. Manyara Trust Lands, Tanzania management zone concept plan. African Wildlife Foundation. 2003. Landscape strategy document - Maasai Steppe: five year strategy (2003-2008). 32pp. African Wildlife Foundation. 2004. Lake Manyara watershed assessment: final report. 24pp +Appendices. Convention on Biological Diversity. 2004. Guidelines on biodiversity and tourism development. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Montreal, Quebec. The Nature Conservancy. 2003. The Five-S framework for site conservation: a practione s handbook for site conservation planning and measuring conservation success (Volume 1). The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, Virginia United States Agency for International Development. 2003. Biodiversity conservation: a guide for USAID staff and partners. USAID, Office of Environment and Natural Resources, Washington, D.C. 7
APPENDIX A Itinerary - Technical Support Trip (Greg Schenbeck U.S. Forest Service) September 4-5 (Travel to Tanzania) September 6 September 7 September 8 September 9 Introductions and briefing at AWF in Arusha Introductions at Manyara Ranch Visited headquarters facilities Field review/tour of northern portion of Manyara Ranch Visited commercial livestock herd facilities Visited Manyara Ranch School Visited new site for school Reviewed safari concession prospectus/proposal Discussed safari concession contract proposal with Clive Toured Manyara Ranch with safari concessionaire September 10 Met with Manyara Ranch staff and reviewed operations Returned to Arusha September 11-12 (in Arusha) Drafted preliminary zoning and strategies proposal September 13 Presented zoning and strategies proposal to AWF/FS staff Preparations for Community Steering Committee workshop Travel to Mto wa Mbu September 14-16 (at Mto wa Mbu) Workshop September 17 Close-out with AWF staff in Arusha 8
APPENDIX B Preliminary Zoning Classifications Manyara Ranch Management Area Allocations Descriptions and Standards Facilities/Structures administrative sites school safari lodge, etc. existing versus future construction Transportation/Utility Corridor roads (primary, secondary and primitive) trails (including designated recreation horse trails) utility lines, towers designated for existing and future expansion Community Shared Use managed and limited pastoralism ( or possible grass bank for emergency use) goats prohibited fuelwood excluded???? water access??? (possible water bank for emergency use only) could include seed bank for manual collection/harvest of native grass and forb seeds combined wildlife and livestock use maintains moderate residual grass biomass and ground cover and self-sustaining tree and shrub communities through the dry season (date?) across 50% or more of the area allocation Ranch Commercial Livestock Operation grazing area handling, breeding and confinement facilities water impoundments combined wildlife and livestock use maintains moderate residual grass biomass, ground cover and self-sustaining tree and shrub communities through the dry season (dates?) across 80% or more of the area allocation 9
Wildlife Focus/Emphasis Area Habitats and corridors for conservation target species/assemblages are maintained at high levels of suitability human disturbance is maintained at a level that is compatible with wildlife use and passage; wildlife are not displaced from preferred and traditional habitats by human activity; traditional and current rates and routes of wildlife migration/movement through corridors across the ranch remain essentially unaltered by human activity no additional structural developments unless specifically to enhance wildlife habitat for conservation target species/assemblages no new road or trail construction existing road obliteration as needed no off-road vehicle use except for administrative access by ranch personnel or law enforcement 10
APPENDIX C Preliminary Outline for Long-term Strategies TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE Manyara Ranch Vision Manyara Ranch Goals and Objectives Introduction The people. The land, water and ecosystem services. The wildlife The stakeholders and partners The strategy Purpose and Need. Peripheral Communities.. Current Resource Conditions and Trends. Administrative and Operational Constraints and Limitations Governance and Institutional Constraints and Limitations Major Information Gaps Need for a Global Perspective Strategy Conservation Targets. Major Threats. Administrative Challenges. Interventions and Actions.. Monitoring and Adaptive Management Performance/Success Measures. Triggers and Thresholds. Literature Cited 11
Appendices Appendix A (Map of Manyara Ranch Management Zones) Appendix B (Manyara Ranch Technical Report). STRATEGY OUTLINE (And Some Key Messages) Common Vision Statement for Manyara Ranch Tanzania Land Conservation Trust Manyara Steering Committee Goals and Objectives Introduction Tanzania Land Conservation Trust Manyara Steering Committee Ranch Manager Goal 1.. Objective 1(a).. Objective 1(b).. Goal 2.. Objective 2(a).. Objective 2(b).. The people (includes land tenure setting) The land, water and ecosystem services (natural capital/capital assets) The wildlife (also natural capital/capital assets) Resident and migratory wildlife Kwakuchinja corridor The stakeholders and partners Introduce the strategy A new model for community empowerment, partnerships and wildlife conservation in Africa Conserve and secure the basic resources of soil and water 12
This strategy is a roadmap to a sustainable future for people and wild animals of the Maasai Steppe This strategy will help ensure that future generations will also have the opportunity to visit Manyara Ranch and gaze upon this magnificent assemblage of megafauna and biodiversity, a world-class spectacle. This strategy helps provide habitat connectivity between Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Parks through secure and well managed wildlife habitats and corridors on Manyara Ranch. Overview of strategy development and implementation process Built on a foundation of science and local experience and knowledge, both contemporary and traditional Step-down (integration) from Landscape Strategy Document Maasai Steppe USAID Guidelines Convention on Biological Diversity Guidelines Community/Stakeholder Workshop & Contacts Technical Workshop (TNC 5-S Process; results documented in separate technical report) Partnership Outreach and International Support Purpose and Need Peripheral Communities Marginalization and extreme poverty of traditional people Increasing rural population and a shrinking land base Land tenure issues Cultural issues associated with change from nomadic to more sedentary lifestyle Need for capacity building (including long-term benefits of Manyara Ranch primary school and enhanced environmental 13
educational opportunities for traditional peoples) (see watershed assessment report) Need for participatory conservation Need for conservation enterprise development Need for fair and equitable benefit sharing Current Resource Conditions and Trends Lake Manyara Watershed Assessment (degradation, erosion & desertification) Habitat and Corridors at Manyara Ranch Resident and Migratory Wildlife Livestock Administrative and Operational Constraints and Limitations Infrastructure Equipment Staffing (development/capacity-building for local range and wildlife management personnel) Project funding Governance and Institutional Weaknesses Land tenure issues New land law for village zoning Major Information Gaps The need for a global perspective of Manyara Ranch s world class biological diversity Strategy The Conservation Targets (Systems) Maasai Steppe Heartlands Ecosystem Composition, Structure & Function 14
(landscape scale / watershed level targets) Species Assemblages / Biological Communities Species (includes genetic-scale targets) Other eco-regional planning (TANAPA)??? Manyara Ranch (conservation integration-step-down & local targets) Ecosystem Composition, Structure & Function (landscape scale / watershed level targets) Species Assemblages / Biological Communities Species (includes genetic-scale targets) Major Threats Current (stresses and sources) - people and natural resource threats - how do you deal with attracting people to ranch boundary - population growth and shrinking land base Future (foreseeable) Interventions/Actions (possible categories for grouping the actual strategies) Community Capacity Building (includes establishing community hub, environmental education, staff training, population planning & forming community linkages and integrating sectors) Community Engagement (includes village zoning, village by-laws to control emigration, limited and managed livestock grazing management through agreements, participatory conservation) Land Area Allocation at Manyara Ranch (establishing area priorities through zoning and management standards for each zone) Manyara Ranch Administration, Operations, & Infrastructure (includes conservation finance, staff training and needs) 15
Ecosystem Management (landscape / watershed scale activities) Wildlife & Habitat Management and Conservation (includes anti-poaching activities, animal damage management, livestock-wildlife disease coordination, wildlife water development, etc.) Conservation Enterprise (includes fair and equitable benefit sharing, etc.) Policy Development & Reform (already underway = TLCT = Manyara Ranch is the flagship!) Social, Biological & Environmental Science (Research) Monitoring and Adaptive Management Performance / Success Measures (PIMA) Triggers & Thresholds (acceptable levels of change) 16