AFRICAN NETWORK OF BIOSPHERE RESERVES (AFRIMAB) REPORT ON ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN SINCE THE 25TH SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COORDINATING COUNCIL OF THE MAN & THE BIOSPHERE PROGRAMME 26 TH MAB ICC SESSION JUNE 2014
Introduction The African Network of Biosphere Reserves (AfriMAB) formed in 1996 is currently composed of 64 biosphere reserves from 28 African countries in Sub- Saharan Africa. The network aims to promote regional co-operation in the fields of biodiversity, conservation and sustainable development through trans-boundary projects in biosphere reserves. Activity implementation is mainly based on the four thematic sub-networks: Zoning and improving biosphere reserve functioning; Biosphere reserves and local communities, stakeholders/social actors; Participation and income-sharing; Partnerships and Networking through trans-boundary biosphere reserves. This report presents an overview of regional activities undertaken since the 25th Session of the International Coordinating Council in May 2013. 1. AfriMAB Workshop on Biosphere Reserves in Limpopo Province, South Africa A workshop was organized by the UNESCO cluster Office in Harare from July 14 18, 2013 in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The workshop reviewed best practices in the management of the Waterberg and Vhembe Biosphere Reserves as a basis for promoting the MAB programme in non-member countries. Participants underscored the need for active engagement of the youth in the MAB programme and provision of support to engage countries which were not yet members of the network. 2. Third Session of the General Assembly was held under the Theme: The Role of Ecosystem Services in Boosting Green Economies in Biosphere Reserves, September 2013. The 3rd Session of the General Assembly was held in Accra, Ghana from September 24-27, 2013. With a participation of 115 delegates from 21 member states, UNESCO, KOICA, the Sub-global Assessment Network and the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation. The Assembly discussed the status of implementation of the Madrid Action Plan in member states, biosphere reserve nominations and periodic reviews with a Technical Workshop on Ecosystem
Services conducted by a representative of the Sub-Global Assessment Network. The recommendations of the workshop to members bothered on the need to: i. Develop strong collaboration between all the national MAB committees. ii. Identify key constraints that prevented the MAB Secretariat and the Regional Network from achieving some of the targets of the Madrid Action Plan. iii. Promote the participation of local communities and civil society organizations in BR initiatives. iv. Develop a strategy to strengthen the capacities of AfriMAB and BRs managers to manage BRs. v. Facilitate the inclusion of MAB programme and BR concept topics in relevant education curricula of member countries. vi. Evaluate the economic value of ecosystem services in BRs. vii. Promote internal policy dialogue on the value of ecosystem and its integration into national development agenda. viii. Establish more trans-boundary BRs. ix. Implement a green economy in biosphere reserve project in every country. x. Undertake extensive research and communication of research findings to facilitate the use of science to inform decision-making. xi. Develop AfriMAB policy briefs, manuals and guidelines on BR management. xii. Establish a database of volunteer experts. xiii. Adopt new technologies to promote BRs. xiv. Facilitate a strong inter-sectoral or ministerial synergy in our various countries to ensure sustainable development. xv. Establish a platform for continuous dialogue with the Executive and Parliamentary arms of Governments and all other relevant stakeholders. xvi. Adopt a regional approach to resource conservation. This would require that regional bodies such as AU, ECOWAS, WAEMU (West African Economic and Monetary Union), East African Regional Community, Central African States Economic Community and other economic groups are engaged to appreciate the importance of BRs. xvii. Strengthen synergies with Multilateral Environmental Agreements and other relevant conventions. xviii. Acknowledge the good collaboration between UNESCO/MAB and sub Global Assessment Network for the benefit of the AfriMAB General Assembly and encourage further collaboration between the WNBR and SGA Network. xix. Take into account that all BRs face challenges of natural resource exploitation, the Assembly thus called on AfriMAB to organize thematic
workshops to sensitize the various stakeholders in the use and management of biosphere reserves to attain sustainable development. xx. Promote alternative livelihood schemes for communities. xxi. Advocate for the integration of BR, ecosystem services and Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) concepts in national development Agenda. xxii. Strengthen AfriMAB capacities in the evaluation of ecosystem services for achieving green economics. xxiii. The General Assembly: Welcomes the proposition of Sao Tome and Principe to organise a workshop to discuss the implementation of green economy in biosphere reserves in Principe Island in 2014. xxiv. Request UNESCO to support the organization of a regional workshop to discuss further the threat of extractive activities such as mining to BRs and to present appropriate responses including cost benefit analysis of BRs. The Assembly also witnessed the handing over by the old AfriMAB Bureau and the election of a new one composed of Ghana (Chair), South Africa, Cameroun, Kenya and La Cote d'ivoire as well as the launch of the Green Economies in Biosphere Reserves Project, being implemented in three countries: Ghana, Nigeria and Tanzania with the support of the Republic of South Korea. Member countries agreed on the need for all countries to implement Green Economies project in each biosphere reserve. 3. Workshop on the Added Value of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves for Sustainable Development and Conservation A workshop to discuss the potential of Biosphere Reserves in Southern Africa, with a focus on Botswana was organized by UNESCO Cluster office, Harare in collaboration with AfriMAB, the Department of Environmental Affairs of the Republic of Botswana and the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation in Gaborone, 12 to 14 November 2013. Participants discussed extensively what biosphere reserves are as well as their integration in local and regional structures and their added value for sustainable development and conservation. Following this workshop, a feasibility study has been undertaken by Lesotho for its first biosphere reserve while Namibia has also conducted a feasibility study. An interim National MAB committee was formed in Botswana and which has since been converted into a fully functional committee.
4. Training Workshop on the Development of a Management Manual for African Biosphere Reserves, Accra Ghana, May 13-16, 2014 Between May 12 and 17, 2014 the AfriMAB secretariat co-hosted a training workshop organized by the German National Commission for UNESCO and supported by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, BFN. The project to develop a management manual for Biosphere Reserve managers of AfriMAB and ArabMAB is in line with the recommendations of the previous bureau and supported by the German Government. The drafting of the manual was led by three authors from Ghana, Benin and Egypt. The training workshop was a follow-up to a previous workshop in Mombasa, Kenya in February 2013, at which managers across Africa discussed and agreed on the outline and contents of the manual. 30 experts from 9 African countries and Germany discussed the draft version of the Management Manual for UNESCO biosphere reserves in Africa. Taking up the results of Mombasa, three authors from Egypt, Ghana and Benin elaborated a first draft of about 150 pages over the course of one year. Both technical and interactive work group sessions were combined with field observation and sharing of experiences to discuss in detail the contents of the manual. The workshop concluded with an appreciation by participants of the progress of the manual project and its contribution to strengthening MAB implementation in Africa. It is expected that the manual will be revised with more case studies and best practices to emphasize the added value of biosphere reserves as compared to other protected areas. An online review process is expected to follow the revision of the draft. 5. Publication on the Role of African Biosphere Reserves in Sustainable Development The National Department of Environmental Affairs of South Africa with the support of Cape Nature and Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO, coordinated the publication of a book titled: "AfriMAB, Biosphere Reserves in Sub-Saharan Africa; Showcasing Sustainable Development. The book features 21 stories from biosphere reserves across Africa and is expected to improve the knowledge base for management and enhance collaboration and exchanges.
6. Green Economies in Biosphere Reserves The three-year project with funding from KOICA commenced in 2013 in the Bia Biosphere Reserve, Ghana, East Usambara Biosphere Reserve, Tanzania and Omo Biosphere Reserve in Nigeria. To date, stakeholder consultations and baseline surveys have been conducted. The project is expected to support 300 persons in each biosphere reserve with sustainable biodiversity businesses as means to reduce dependence on the resources of the biosphere reserves. 7.0 Trans-boundary Biosphere Reserves Two major feasibility studies for transboundary biosphere reserves were conducted: 1. TRIDOM in Central Africa (Congo, Gabon and Cameroon) 2. Lake Chad (Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria Central African Republic And Libya 8. Biosphere Reserve Management Structure in Ethiopia The on-going project on products marketing and management structures supported by the German Government in Ethiopia is expected to conclude in 2014. 9. Collaborations The period under review saw increased collaboration amongst member states. It is hoped that this will be improved upon. 10. Sustainable Financing for AfriMAB Following a request to the MAB secretariat, at the 3 rd session of the AfriMAB General Assembly, a study and concept note on AfriBiofund was undertaken. A trust fund is to be established to support regional activities in African biosphere reserves with particular focus on development and logistic functions. The study financed by voluntary contributions from African MAB national committees.
11 Engagement of More Youth in MAB Activities A Facebook page was opened as an attempt to reach more of the young generation and engage them in MAB activities 12. Planning for the Next Biennium AfriMAB anticipates enhanced collaboration among member states and increased cooperation with donors to implement more projects on ecosystem assessments and valuation through Payments for Ecosystem Services. Following a request for invoicing from UNESCO, the bureau anticipates a more regular payment of national contributions to provide a good support base for activity planning and implementation. 12. Acknowledgements AfriMAB acknowledges the following partners for the good will and technical support: UNESCO MAB Division of Ecological & Earth Sciences Korea International Cooperation Agency German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) German National Commission for UNESCO (DUK) Ministry of Water and Environment of Limpopo South Africa Cape Nature and Cape WineLands Biosphere Reserve, South Africa South Africa Department of Environmental Affairs UNESCO Cluster Office, Southern Africa Environmental Protection Agency of Ghana. Ghana National Commission of UNESCO