71387 Partnership for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development Supporting South Africa’s Cape Action for People and the Environment (CAPE) Program in the Cape Floristic Region Intr oduc tIon W ithin South Africa’s borders lie some of the world’s most diverse natural landscapes, rich mosaics of plant and animal biological diversity. South Africa is recognized as megadiverse1, one of a group of 17 countries that, together, support more than 70% of the earth’s biological diversity on less than 10% of its global surface. It is recognized as one of the world’s bio- logically wealthiest countries. Together, South Africa’s rich natural assets and heritage ‘leave ordinary behind’2. The Cape Floristic Region (CFR), falling largely into South Africa’s Western Cape Province, speaks to the unique nature of the country’s natural diver- ATLANTIC OCEAN G R E AT E R C E D E R B E sity. Stretching from the Cederberg mountainous areas in the north-west, BIODIVERSITY CORR south around the Western Cape coast and east up to the Nelson Mandela metropolitan area, the CFR represents less than 0.5% of the area of the Saldanha African continent but is home to nearly 20% of its flora and contains nearly 3% of the world’s plant species, making it one of the richest plant zones in the world based on density, diversity and endemism3. WEST COAST BIOSPHERE CORRIDOR Worcester The Cape Floristic Region’s natural environment harbors exceptional Paarl species diversity across a wealth of different habitats, each with its own Cape Town landscape, soil composition and climatic conditions, from high mountains Kleinmond CAPE FLATS KOGELBERG FLORA BIOSPHERE 1. The concept of “megadiversity� is based on the total number of species in a country and RESERVE the degree of endemism at the species level and at higher taxonomic levels. Worldwide, 17 A countries are recognized as megadiverse: Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Democratic Re- BIODIVER public of Congo, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, the United States and Venezuela. This map was produced by the Map Design Unit of The World Bank. The boundaries, colors, denominations and any other information 2. South Africa tourism slogan; http://www.southafrica.net/sat/content/en/us/us-home. shown on this map do not imply, on the part of The World Bank Group, any judgment on the legal status of any territory, or any endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. 3. A species is said to be endemic when it is found only in one place or specific region. The rate of endemism indicates that certain world regions are unique for their fauna and flora and represent particularly valuable conservation areas. http://www.unesco.org/mab/doc/ekocd/ chapter10.html. IBRD 38559 GABON RWANDA KENYA CONGO D E M. RE P. BURUNDI S OU TH A F RI CA INDIAN Cabinda OF C ONGO OCEAN (Ang.) TA NZA NIA COMOROS BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND AN G OL A ZA MBIA MALAWI Mayotte (Fr.) SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ZIMBABWE MOZAMBIQUE PROJECT AREA (CAPE FLORISTIC REGION) MADAGASCAR N AM I B I A BOTSWANA FINE-SCALE BIODIVERSITY PLANNING PRIVATE LANDS STEWARDSHIP SITES N O R T H E R N C A P E ATLANTIC SOUTH AFRICA LESOTHO SWAZILAND MAIN CITIES OCEAN INDIAN OCEAN Cape Town PROVINCIAL BOUNDARIES Area of map Cradock Graaf-Renet ERG Beaufort West RIDOR Aberdeen E A S T E R N C A P E W E S T E R N C A P E G O U R I T Z I N I T I AT I V E B AV I A A N S K L O O F MEGA-RESERVE Uitenhage G A R D E N R O U T E I N I T I AT I V E George Port Swellendam Elizabeth Mosselbay AGULHAS RSITY INITIATIVE I N D I A N O C E A N MAY 2011 South Africa’s CAPE Program Area encompasses the Cape Floristic Region, which contains the Earth’s highest plant species density. SUPPORTING SOUTH AFRICA’S CAPE ACTION FOR PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM IN THE CAPE FLORISTIC REGION 1 SANBI The CAPE Program promotes improved management of biologically rich river estuaries. and semi-arid ecosystems, through moist east coast for- six floral kingdoms4, housing over 9,600 species of ests, unique wetland and river systems, down to aquatic plants, 70% of which are unique and specific to the CFR communities along the coastal zone. As its name sug- alone, and approximately 1/6 of which have been iden- gests, flora features prominently in the region. The CFR tified as threatened. It is also the only floral kingdom to is recognized as the smallest and richest of the world’s 4. Floral kingdoms are botanically recognized as regions of the world characterized by distinct groups of plants not found in the other areas. 2 PArtnErSHIP For BIodIVErSItY conSErVAtIon And SuStAInABLE dEVELoPMEnt be completely contained within one coun- CONSERVING THE CAPE FLORISTIC try. Together, this all serves to make the REGION CFR far from ordinary. Designing an Appropriate Conservation Strategy In addition, the unique biodiversity of Despite the government of South Africa’s interest in the Cape Floristic Region provides for a meeting the commitments of the international envi- multitude of essential ecological services ronmental conventions to which it is party, the relative and livelihood opportunities. With over emphasis on conservation of the natural environment 80 percent of the region under private at all levels of government in the 1990s, including dedi- ownership, any solution for the protec- cated funding, was low; greater emphasis was given to tion of this rich biodiversity would need redressing past inequalities and committing resources to include local communities, especially for national socio-economic development priorities. the landowners and land users. The Cape Nevertheless, recognition of the global significance Action for People and the Environment of the CFR’s biodiversity spurred the Government to (CAPE) program provides significant op- identify a means by which to urgently arrest the varied portunities for meaningful engagement pressures on the region. This decision coincided with with civil society for the protection of the a broad national effort to more effectively manage CFR. the country’s diverse and unique biological resources Like so many other of the world’s areas of through adoption of sound ecosystem management magnificent natural diversity and beauty, and sustainable development approaches. The Govern- the rich biodiversity of the CFR has, over time, come under threat, particularly the natural vegetation of the region’s lowlands. This has been due to increas- ing pressure from conversion of natural habitats to permanent agriculture and livestock farm- ing, rapid urban development, inadequate fire man- agement practices, over-exploitation of terrestrial and marine resources, and ecosystem-damaging incursions by invasive alien species. By the late 1990s, important habitats within the CFR had been significantly reduced. As a result, the CFR was added to the list of the world’s SANBI most threatened biodiversity hotspots. The Cape Floristic Region is renowned for its exceptional concentration of unique plant species, found nowhere else. SuPPortInG SoutH AFrIcA’S cAPE ActIon For PEoPLE And tHE EnVIronMEnt ProGrAM In tHE cAPE FLorIStIc rEGIon 3 ment therefore, approached the Global Environment of South African agencies, were involved in the analytic Facility (GEF)5 to solicit funding support. process that underpinned the CAPE 2000 Strategy’s development. The main goal was to build a sense of The Cape Peninsula Biodiversity Conservation Project, ownership for the strategy and thereby lay the founda- funded by the GEF and implemented through the World tions for the long-term sustainability of the program. Bank, allowed for the first steps to address the conserva- tion needs of the region to be taken. One component of Ultimately, a spatial plan that identified the CFR’s prior- the project, implemented from 1998–2000, targeted the ity areas for conservation intervention was produced, development of a long-term strategy to conserve biodi- with an associated series of systemic program activi- versity in the Cape Floristic Region and the preparation ties that were to be undertaken in three phases over a of a related action plan focused on the strategic priori- 20 year period. The overall goal espoused in the CAPE ties identified. The CAPE 2000 Strategy that resulted, Strategy stated that, “by the year 2020, the natural en- also known as the Cape Action Plan for the Environ- vironment and biodiversity of the Cape Floristic Region ment, was designed to protect the rich biological heri- and adjacent marine environment will be effectively tage of the CFR. It identified the key ecological patterns conserved, restored wherever appropriate, and will and processes in need of conservation, as well as the deliver significant benefits to the people in a way that is principal threats and root causes of biodiversity loss in embraced by local communities, endorsed by govern- the region. In support of the region’s socio-economic ment, and recognized internationally�.6 development needs, the strategy also identified means by which to promote conservation as an engine for Objective 2020: Conserving the Cape Floristic growth by mainstreaming biodiversity considerations Region into the Future into the region’s production sectors. This first GEF investment in the Cape instituted good The process of formulating the CAPE 2000 Strategy participatory practices and the establishment of a re- involved extensive consultation and participation, gional ecosystem management framework that under- including systematic identification of all stakeholders in lay the development of the comprehensive action plan. the CFR who could influence biodiversity conservation The processes that enabled its preparation and adop- or be affected by it. Interested parties, including a range tion further served to inform a variety of subsequent investments in the Cape that sought to address specific 5. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is an independent funding mechanism that, since 1991, has brought together governments, international institutions, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector, to provide important grant financing to developing countries for projects across a variety of environmental areas, includ- ing biodiversity, with the aim of benefitting the global environment, as well as promoting sustainable livelihoods. 6. GEF Project Document. 4 PArtnErSHIP For BIodIVErSItY conSErVAtIon And SuStAInABLE dEVELoPMEnt SANBI The Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve includes one of the most species-rich landscapes in the CFR and includes mountain, coastal, and marine environments. long-term conservation needs outlined in the Strategy7. Development Program (UNDP). Implemented over a six The Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Develop- year period, and completed in 2010, it was designed ment (BCSD) Project was one such important invest- to support the first phase of the CAPE strategy. As part ment. Funded by the GEF, with significant co-financing of a broader GEF program package in the region, the provided by the South African Government and stake- Agulhas Biodiversity Initiative was supported by UNDP holders from the region, the BCSD project was jointly over the same period—a multi-stakeholder landscape supported by the World Bank and the United Nations initiative seeking to minimize the loss of threatened natural habitat on the Agulhas Plain. 7. Both the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF) and the Table Mountain Fund (TMF), which have received funding from the GEF, amongst other donors, have supported civil society activities to complement government-sponsored initiatives in support of the CAPE Program. CEPF funding also provided important support for preparation of the follow-on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustain- able Development Project. SuPPortInG SoutH AFrIcA’S cAPE ActIon For PEoPLE And tHE EnVIronMEnt ProGrAM In tHE cAPE FLorIStIc rEGIon 5 CAPE STRATEGy, PHASE I: THE BIODIVERSITy CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (BCSD) PROjECT Design The basis of the BCSD Project’s design was to encour- age conservation and sustainable use of threatened habitats and endemic species within the CFR’s diverse and vulnerable ecosystems, as well as to ensure that biodiversity conservation was mainstreamed into the socio-economic fiber of the region. Overall, its global environment objective was derived directly from the Mark Wing overall CAPE Program goal: to ensure that the conserva- tion of the CFR, and its adjacent marine environment, The CAPE Program has led to a sizable expansion of protected was secured by 2020 by laying a sound foundation for natual habitats within the Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve in Eastern Cape Province. future replication and scale-up of successful Project outcomes throughout the CFR, in line with the CAPE and through expansion of private land conservation, or Strategy’s 2020 vision. stewardship, agreements. The BCSD Project proposed to foster biodiversity Across the broader production landscape, the BCSD conservation based on an ecosystem approach that Project would lay the groundwork to mainstream con- promoted improved land management, sustainable use servation into a biodiversity economy through educa- and local community benefits. This approach was also tion and by developing partnerships with local commu- geared to curb, and eventually modify, inappropriate nities, landowners and the private sector to encourage land use decisions that perpetuated the conversion and support for, and uptake of, innovative biodiversity- fragmentation of natural ecosystems. Enhanced conser- friendly business initiatives. Integration of biodiversity vation management would help realize growth and de- considerations within the public and private spheres velopment opportunities and buffer key threats to the would involve incorporating conservation within land biodiversity of the CFR through expansion of traditional use planning systems, adapting watershed catchment protected areas; through land use re-designation and and fire management activities to align them with establishment of biodiversity mega-reserves in Ceder- biodiversity conservation objectives, and promoting berg to the northwest, Gouritz and Garden Route along biodiversity-friendly production systems including, the CFR’s southern coast, and Baviaanskloof to the east; amongst others, vineyards with intact natural habitat 6 PArtnErSHIP For BIodIVErSItY conSErVAtIon And SuStAInABLE dEVELoPMEnt corridors, sustainable production of wild and cultivated The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) rooibos tea, sustainable harvesting of cut wildflowers, was selected as the agency that would house and lead and production of badger-friendly honey and leopard- the project from its already established CAPE Coordi- friendly lamb (see back cover). nation Unit (CCU). The CCU supported the strategic alignment and layering of key funding streams into the region, including management of the BCSD project’s Structure complex design through partnership with three sub- executing agencies, each responsible for management Composed of six discrete components, the BCSD Project of site-based interventions in different project zones: brokered a broad approach to its conservation objec- Cape Nature (Cederberg and Kogelberg), the Eastern tives by working with multiple institutions and partners Cape Parks Board (Baviaanskloof ), and South African in an effort to impact relevant policies, programs and National Parks (SANParks) (Garden Route)8. The project practices to protect biodiversity across the breadth of benefited from the strong coordination and facilita- the Cape Floristic Region, both within its formal pro- tion role played by the SANBI CCU, and from a common tected areas and the broader production landscape. CAPE vision shared amongst the various executing The United Nations Development Program oversaw partners. implementation of the project’s institutional strength- ening and conservation education components, while the World Bank provided oversight management for the project’s coordination, management and monitoring FACTORS FOR SUCCESS component, as well as the protected areas, biodiversity Partnership for Institutional Sustainability economy and conservation stewardship, and watershed management components. The Foundations of Effective Conservation Management The Project received a total of US $11 million from the Given the highly ambitious program laid out in the GEF, US $2 million of which was implemented through CAPE Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Devel- UNDP and US $9 million through the World Bank. GEF opment project, an integral aspect of its design involved funding was complemented by important counterpart funding from a variety of national government agen- cies, the bulk from realignment of regular government 8. The project was designed in cooperation with the National program budgets to target the Project’s priority areas, Botanical Institute (NBI) who, early on in project implementation, and co-funding from other organizations, including became the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) with expanded national responsibility for safeguarding South Africa’s NGOs. This included not only co-funding of biodiversity biodiversity. Cape Nature (CN) was formed through restructuring of the Western Cape Nature Conservation Board (WCNCB). In the Eastern conservation priorities, but significant co-funding that Cape part of the CFR, responsibility for site specific activities for the Baviaanskloof mega-reserve was initially undertaken by an NGO, the addressed South Africa’s main development objectives, Wilderness Foundation (WF), a role that was transferred in 2007 to the newly-formed Eastern Cape Parks Board (ECPB), with ongoing techni- including poverty reduction and job creation. cal support provided by the WF. SuPPortInG SoutH AFrIcA’S cAPE ActIon For PEoPLE And tHE EnVIronMEnt ProGrAM In tHE cAPE FLorIStIc rEGIon 7 Partnership in Action Partnership with the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), a global program that since 2000 has provided grants to NGOs and private sector organizations to help protect the world’s biodiversity hotspots, enhanced synergies between the BCSD Project’s aims and CEPF projects in the area through consolidation of land stewardship, biodiversity and business, and learning initiatives. It also provided cru- cial planning support for the Gouritz Initiative biodiversity corridor along the Cape’s southern coast. The Table Mountain Fund (TMF) contributed to capacity-building by supporting the establishment of land stew- ardship positions in conservation-oriented government agencies, and played a key role in supporting civil society organizations in diversifying sources of funding to secure ongoing future work in support of the CAPE strategy. WWF-South Africa was engaged to provide support for the marine sub-component of the Garden Route Initiative as well as the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, an area of terrestrial and coastal eco-system that has been internationally rec- ognized within the framework of the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO’s) Man and Biosphere Programme. WWF-South Africa’s engagement allowed for the launch of a participatory planning exercise to zone the Kogelberg marine protected area (MPA), and to test the principles of co-management in the Kogelberg and Garden Route marine reserves, with the strong engagement of local fishermen. encouraging committed collaboration and building relationship-building between key implementation strong institutional support from the outset. Three of partners, procurement, financial management, monitor- the project’s components were geared specifically to ing and evaluation, as well as communicating results. these goals: strengthening the capacity of institutions The CCU’s role was crucial in launching the process that and stakeholders for strategic planning and effective established the foundations necessary to mainstream conservation management; enhancing inter-agency biodiversity considerations into broader planning and cooperation; and aligning executing agency and stake- programs by strengthening institutional capacity and holder efforts to conserve the CFR through partner- forming partnerships between conservation agencies ships. The process of reaching these outcomes was to and other sectors in the CFR, including planning agen- be managed through a coordinated portfolio manage- cies, local governments, communities, and the private ment process, involving program coordination, financial sector. The CCU also facilitated beneficial collaborative management, monitoring of results, and communica- partnerships with the Critical Ecosystem Partnership tion and promotion of project-related information. Fund (CEPF), the Table Mountain Fund (TMF) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) South Africa, which led The CAPE Coordination Unit (CCU) established in to support being provided for targeted civil society, SANBI was highly effective in coordinating the myriad private sector and local community interventions in project components and activities across the CFR, as- support of the project’s objectives and the broader suming responsibility for project planning, facilitating CAPE Strategy. 8 PArtnErSHIP For BIodIVErSItY conSErVAtIon And SuStAInABLE dEVELoPMEnt Clearly, involvement in steering the project’s imple- structured focus on marine protected area conservation mentation was broad, which created a solid sense of (see Partnership in Action box). ownership in the CAPE Strategy amongst the varied Advances in Policy and Financial Management range of stakeholders. This principle of partnership driving strategic planning and the adoption of good From a policy perspective, the BCSD Project has enabled practices, generated by the project, will continue to far-reaching policy interventions that are expected to influence the next phase of implementation of the CAPE have long-term positive impacts on the mainstreaming Strategy. At project completion, the CCU’s performance of biodiversity conservation in development planning was rated highly satisfactory by the World Bank. SANBI and actions within the CFR, as well as in other provinces will maintain the role of the CCU in the CFR through its in the country. In particular, the project supported bioregional approach to mainstreaming biodiversity tracking of management effectiveness throughout considerations. SANBI plays a coordinating and conven- the national protected areas system and bio-regional ing role in two other bioregions of South Africa—the planning as a basis for spatial development plan- Succulent Karoo and the Grasslands biome. ning. This informed the development of the Western Cape Provincial Spatial Development Framework, as The successful management structure of the project well as contributing environmental assessment and was also crucial in promoting the use of targeted adap- guidelines for biodiversity offsets within the context tive management to react to unforeseen constraints, of South Africa’s National Environmental Management new opportunities and changing conditions during Act. In terms of tracking management effectiveness, implementation. This allowed for re-orientation of activ- the project modified and strengthened the GEF Pro- ities, as well as re-allocation of funds, where implemen- tected Areas Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool tation delays were in evidence and more readily achiev- (PAMETT) so that it would better capture progress on able outcomes had been identified. An important use of specific national biodiversity threats and status. This has adaptive management was associated with the project’s now been rolled out by South Africa’s Department of planned freshwater, estuarine and marine conserva- Environmental Affairs as the South African Management tion activities. Delays under this component, caused by Effectiveness Tracking Tool (SA-METT) across all of the institutional capacity and budgetary constraints, were country’s national parks and provincial nature reserves. evaluated at project mid-term to be insurmountable, The SA-METT has also been adopted for use in metro- given the project’s time frame. This offered the CCU and politan protected areas under the jurisdiction of the project partners the opportunity to slightly restructure City of Cape Town. Data on management effectiveness activities to better support delivery of outcomes in this collected using SA-METT informs the Government’s and other project areas of intervention. This approach reporting on its protected areas program of work under included establishing new institutional arrangements, the Convention on Biological Diversity. such as engaging WWF–South Africa to support a re- SuPPortInG SoutH AFrIcA’S cAPE ActIon For PEoPLE And tHE EnVIronMEnt ProGrAM In tHE cAPE FLorIStIc rEGIon 9 Conserving Biodiversity for Climate Resilience Various biodiversity hotspots around the world are especially vulnerable to climate change, including ecosystems within the CFR and the Succulent Karoo. Climate change also poses a threat to achieving poverty reduction and development goals. Natural forests, grasslands, freshwater, and marine and other natural ecosystems provide a range of services, often not recognized in national economic accounts but vital to human welfare: regulating water flows and water quality, flood control, pollination, decontami- nation, carbon sequestration, soil conservation, and nutrient and hydrological cycling. Enhanced protec- SANBI tion and management of these habitats can provide Urban sprawl in the City of Cape Town has left small fragments cost-effective, proven, and sustainable solutions, to of highly threatened biodiversity on the Cape Flats. One of these lessen the harmful impacts of climate change and fragments is the Edith Stephens Wetland Park, which lies between two major highways but is nonetheless an oasis for people as well as help vulnerable communities to adapt. nature. The scaling up and rolling out of innovations made through the BCSD Project at a national level in South been used successfully to justify increased agency Africa has been a notable success of the project. This budgets which correspond with expanded roles and has included work on models and tax incentives for responsibilities. Project-funded business plans associ- conservation stewardship, on business and biodiver- ated with the management of fire, non-native inva- sity initiatives and on fine-scale biodiversity planning. sive species and watershed catchments have helped The experience of the CAPE partnership was a crucial leverage resources from national programs, such as input in developing South Africa’s National Biodiversity Working for Water and Working on Fire, for work on Strategy and Action Plan and setting implementation high-priority biodiversity sites in both the Western Cape priorities for the National Biodiversity Framework; it also and Eastern Cape provinces. Ultimately, it is somewhat strengthened the process of developing national policy difficult to determine discrete results and outcomes of and legislation for biodiversity and protected areas. project interventions versus other activities undertaken in support of the CAPE strategy. However, this strategic With a view to the future financial sustainability of the blending of project funding with that provided through CAPE 2020 vision, the project helped develop a series co-funding (from both government and non-govern- of financial strategies for some of the executing agen- ment sources) is itself a form of mainstreaming that is cies involved in its implementation. Those developed likely to carry project results forward for replication in for Cape Nature and the Eastern Cape Parks Board have 10 PArtnErSHIP For BIodIVErSItY conSErVAtIon And SuStAInABLE dEVELoPMEnt future public budget programming and institutional expensive and time-consuming endeavor. Land stew- processes. ardship arrangements provide a cost-effective means by which to engage landowners to commit to the conser- The Tools to Build and Grow vation and management of biodiversity on their own The project also demonstrated the value that access lands. The project developed best practice guidelines to targeted management tools, such as fine-scale for conservation stewardship programs with private spatial planning, and approaches, such as working in landowners and communities and established a num- partnership, plays in raising the relevance of biodiver- ber of agreements under the auspices of Cape Nature. sity considerations within rural, peri-urban and urban During the project’s tenure, the partnership committed spheres. At project completion, 31 out of 34 municipali- to implementing the conservation strategy in the CFR ties within the CFR were using fine-scale mapping to grew from 18 to 23 signatory partner organizations, and mainstream biodiversity into their municipal planning built significant public interest in the CAPE Program. and development objectives. This will be a key area This was evident with a 90% increase in the number of of ongoing intervention in future phases of the CAPE recipients of the program’s monthly e-newsletter—now Program. numbering nearly 4,000. Another important area of intervention that relied on The project was also instrumental in building the capac- strengthened institutional capacity and cooperation ity of individuals and programs to strengthen institu- involved the work done by the project with private tions involved in biodiversity conservation through landowners and communities through land steward- education: ship arrangements. The expansion of protected areas through acquisition of privately owned lands can be an Shutterstock, LLC The Orange-breasted Sunbird Nectarinia violacea is one of the numerous animal species that occurs only within the Cape Floristic Region. SuPPortInG SoutH AFrIcA’S cAPE ActIon For PEoPLE And tHE EnVIronMEnt ProGrAM In tHE cAPE FLorIStIc rEGIon 11 „ Three capacity-building programs, focused on results which, in turn, have served to inform the stewardship, biodiversity conservation mentoring development of workbooks for an Eco-Schools and environmental education, trained over 170 program and a Teacher’s Handbook. These materi- individuals. As spin-offs from the mentoring course, als will be used by a teachers’ network that spans Cape Nature and the City of Cape Town went on to the countries of the Southern African Development set up their own mentoring programs. SANBI and Community (SADC). The university also maintains the Wildlife Society of South Africa (WESSA) entered a biodiversity hub that blends its work on teacher into partnership to expand the offering of the and community engagement with the networking, environmental educators’ course, and the steward- training and capacity building initiatives overseen ship course is now being offered nationally by the by SANBI. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. „ Lastly, sub-regional networks for conservation edu- „ A series of Project Developers’ Forums, Landscape cation have been set up in the western, southern Initiative knowledge exchanges, and five Partners’ and eastern Cape provinces, with associated plans Conferences were organized during project imple- developed for their ongoing institutional sustain- mentation. These provide useful opportunities for ability in the post-project period. exchanging lessons and experiences from different site interventions, thereby encouraging cross- pollination with the diverse perspectives of govern- PARTNERSHIP LEADING TO ment agencies, NGOs and local communities. ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITy „ A free, online information management system, Expanding the CFR’s Protected Areas Network the Biodiversity GIS (B-GIS) was developed and is Nearly 40% of the GEF funds approved for the project being maintained by SANBI using regular budget were allocated to the expansion of protected areas in funds. B-GIS has published 26 biodiversity plan- the CFR and the establishment of freshwater, estuarine ning products on its site and now boasts nearly and marine protected areas. The project was successful 3,000 registered users, ranging from environmen- overall in its goal, growing the area of terrestrial habitats tal consultants to municipal planners. The South of high biodiversity value under conservation manage- African State Electricity Corporation (ESKOM), for ment by expanding the CFR’s traditional protected areas example, is exploring how B-GIS may contribute to through establishment of three large protected area its planning for expanded power generation and complexes, or mega-reserves, linked by connecting bio- transmission. logical corridors running from the mountains, through „ Rhodes University has produced a vast body of the lowland habitats, to the sea. educational materials generated by the project’s 12 PArtnErSHIP For BIodIVErSItY conSErVAtIon And SuStAInABLE dEVELoPMEnt Options for Stewardship Commitment LEVEL 3 — NATURE RESERVE Priority areas adjacent to statutory reserves OR su ciently large to be self-contained ecosystem Contains critically important species, habitats Duration: minimum 30 years; preferably in perpetuity Includes legal declaration as a Nature Reserve under NEM:PA Act, Sect. 23 (Protected Areas Act) LEVEL 2 — BIODIVERSITY AGREEMENT LEVEL 2 — PROTECTED ENVIRONMENT Suitable for any conservation-worthy lands Applicable in large landscapes requiring some form Focus on improving management of speci c of conservation management, but where other forms biodiversity features/elements of land use are not restricted Contractual legal status; minimum period of 10 years Legal declaration under NEM:PA Act, Sect. 28 (Protected Areas Act) LEVEL 1 — CONSERVATION AREA Voluntary conservation area, single sites, properties Any natural land suitable; stepping stone to enhanced conservation in future Includes Natural Heritage Sites, private Nature Reserves and conservancies Flexible opt on with no period of commitment; registered with a conservation agency Priority areas adjacent to statutory reserves OR su ciently large to be self-contained ecosystem Source: Cape Nature brochure, “Conservation in Landowners’ Hands.� Under the project, the total land area under formal versity is located, were achieved thanks to the develop- conservation agreements doubled to over 1.9 million ment of the biodiversity stewardship model. To date, hectares (ha), covering the Cederberg, Kogelberg, South this resulted in the signature of 65 stewardship con- West Lowlands, Garden Route and Baviaanskloof, as well tracts between Cape Nature and land owners, of which as the Gouritz, where funding was provided through 31 are Contract Nature Reserves, 16 are Biodiversity the CEPF. Within these areas of project intervention, en- Agreements and 18 are Conservation Areas. The high- dangered and critically endangered ecosystems under est tier of stewardship agreement, the Contract Nature conservation increased by 282% to over 61,000 ha. Reserve, is backed by supportive tax policies, which the BCSD Project also helped to influence. Major advances in conservation stewardship of private lands, where much of the CFR’s most threatened biodi- SuPPortInG SoutH AFrIcA’S cAPE ActIon For PEoPLE And tHE EnVIronMEnt ProGrAM In tHE cAPE FLorIStIc rEGIon 13 While the project design had also included establish- ment of new marine, estuarine and freshwater reserves, Why Build Biological it became clear mid-way through the project’s imple- Corridors? mentation that this goal was overly ambitious. Limited Protected areas, and the unprotected habitats that capacity and budget cuts in key partner institutions lie between them, are often fragmented and isolated, posed important challenges to achieving targets and making it difficult to sustain wider viable ecosystem processes. By linking conservation efforts across larger had led to ongoing delays in implementation. As previ- geographic areas through networks of protected areas ously mentioned, the project’s effective and collabora- and interspersed landscape management systems, tive management structure allowed for rapid adaptive called biodiversity corridors, larger ecosystem pro- cesses can be more easily managed and monitored, management solutions to be formulated, leading to re- thereby facilitating the existence and conservation of alignment of activities in areas where they would best higher levels of biodiversity. serve project goals. This resulted in a more narrow focus being applied to improving participatory planning for marine clusters adjacent to the Kogelberg and Garden and technical support provided by the NGO Wilderness Route. WWF–South Africa was engaged to lead par- Foundation. ticipatory planning in the Kogelberg marine protected area zone and to pilot co-management principles in the The Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor (GCBC) Kogelberg and Garden Route marine reserves. Lessons stretches 1.8 million ha, from the mountains to the sea. learned during the design of the framework for partici- Its lowland areas are under severe threat due to conver- patory integrated coastal zone management planning sion to agricultural production, namely potatoes and now serve to inform, as a minimum requirement, the cultivated rooibos tea. A multi-stakeholder steering development of other marine protected areas along committee, composed of government agencies, includ- South Africa’s coastline. ing Cape Nature and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture’s Land Care program, landowners, commu- nities and NGOs, formed the governance structure for Experiences from the Mega-Reserves the GCBC. This structure also promoted partnerships The project supported site-based interventions in three that helped to catalyze support for key activities, includ- key mega-reserves: Greater Cederberg Corridor, in the ing identification of priority biodiversity conservation north west of the Region, with management support areas through local government supported surveys, provided by Cape Nature; Garden Route, along the consolidation of key stewardship sites within the corri- southern coast of the CFR, in partnership with SAN- dor, adoption of best practice guidelines for potato and Parks; and Baviaanskloof to the east, in cooperation rooibos production, and enhancing livelihoods in the with the Eastern Cape Parks Board, with management GCBC through establishment of a biodiversity economy. 14 PArtnErSHIP For BIodIVErSItY conSErVAtIon And SuStAInABLE dEVELoPMEnt Cape Nature Conservation Launched Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor In 2004, Cape Nature, through the Cape Action for People and the Environment (CAPE) partnership, launched the Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corri- dor (GCBC). This corridor crosses the Cape Floristic Region hotspot in South Africa and extends into the South African portion of the Succulent Karoo hotspot. “This groundbreaking initiative developed from a conservation ethic that uniquely recognizes the lived-in, worked-in nature of an extended landscape,� said the project coordinator for the corridor initiative. This biodiversity corridor was a first for South Africa. It incorporates a variety of land uses, and places empha- sis on both the natural and cultural resources of the Cederberg area. Under the Cape Program’s Stewardship initiative, eight Zeekoevlei residents now share responsibility for conserving 15 percent of the world population of Cape Flats conebush (Leucadendron levisanus). www.cepf.net/news/top_stories/Pages/aug122004_ capenature_cederberglaunch.aspx The latter is being supported with community-led initia- tives such as donkey cart tourism, along with the clear- national parks and provincial reserves, and over 60,000 ing of non-native species and wetland rehabilitation ha under contractual stewardship agreements. An addi- underwritten by the Working for Water and Working for tional 280,000 ha or more fall under voluntary conserva- Wetlands programs. tion agreements, 100,000 ha of which are biodiversity and business properties that have received support The mega-reserve incorporates two major corridors– from the CEPF. Sandveld and Cederberg–of continuous natural habitat made up of land under various forms of management: The BCSD Project also provided resources to strengthen national and provincial protected areas, private reserves the Kogelberg Biodiversity Reserve. The Kogelberg was and stewardship arrangements. Within the Cederberg the first Biosphere Reserve to be declared in southern domain, over 600,000 ha, a third of its total area, is Africa and forms part of UNESCO’s world-wide network now under conservation, governed by environmental of Biosphere Reserves. The Kogelberg is one of the most management plans. This includes over 250,000 ha of florally diverse areas of the CFR, home to nearly 1,900 SuPPortInG SoutH AFrIcA’S cAPE ActIon For PEoPLE And tHE EnVIronMEnt ProGrAM In tHE cAPE FLorIStIc rEGIon 15 recorded plant species, many unique to the area, and habitats, promoting biodiversity stewardship with important protected water catchments. The project landowners, and growing employment opportunities initiated stewardship agreements with a number of pri- within a biodiversity economy through training and ority landowners in the area, which allowed important by encouraging entrepreneurial interest in sustain- threatened habitats to be brought under protection. able natural resource use and management, as well as sustainable tourism. Work undertaken in the Kogelberg’s marine zone was outsourced to WWF–South Africa who, working with The GRI successfully expanded its system of protected BCSD project proponents, developed a participatory areas, primarily through incorporation of lands retired marine management plan for Betty’s Bay. While some from plantation forestry. It also expanded the scope of progress has been achieved in the Kogelberg’s marine the renowned Garden Route National Park through con- zone, including focused environmental education solidation of the Tsitsikamma, Wilderness and Knysna efforts, overall project results with respect to marine Lake sections with various mountain catchments and protection have demonstrated that the conservation areas of native forest and fynbos (a native shrub-based of aquatic biodiversity remains a challenge in the CFR ecosystem found only in the CFR). Here again, partner- and that further attention to the marine environment is ships played a strong role in achieving project out- merited in future. comes, bringing together conservation agencies with private landowners, NGOs and sectoral associations to The Garden Route, which runs along the CFR’s south- promote the use of planning tools. This resulted in valu- ern coastal zone, possesses a rich diversity of natural able fine-scale mapping of critical biodiversity areas, habitats of high biodiversity value, stretching from the which has subsequently been adopted by SANParks’ Tsitsikamma Mountains, across important estuaries, Planning Unit for replication around the Greater Addo down to its coast’s fragile marine areas. Its lands are Elephant National Park in the neighboring Eastern Cape under increasing pressure from agricultural production, Province, in the preparation of targeted invasive species over-fishing, the spread of non-native species, urbaniza- maps, and in the development of integrated fire man- tion and tourism. The latter activities are threatening agement plans in concert with Fire Protection Associa- areas of the most critically endangered biodiversity and tions in the region and beyond. scenic landscapes through development for tourism and high-value residential housing. The Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve, which lies on the eastern edge of the Cape Floristic Region, is a conserva- Implementation of the project’s Garden Route Initiative tion landscape of protected areas and agricultural lands (GRI) was overseen by SANParks. Strategic work car- spread over more than 400,000 ha. The Baviaanskloof ried out under the GRI included application of system- is recognized for its natural beauty, cultural heritage atic fine-scale biodiversity planning, consolidation of and biological diversity, housing representative species protected areas, particularly in key lowland and marine 16 PArtnErSHIP For BIodIVErSItY conSErVAtIon And SuStAInABLE dEVELoPMEnt from each of South Africa’s seven biomes9. The vision to the newly formed Eastern Cape Parks Board (now behind the Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve was based on Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency, ECPTA) while the principle of “keeping people on the land in living maintaining a role through provision of technical and landscapes�10. Much of the land within the mega-reserve administrative support. WF promoted a broad natural is marginal and not suited to crop production, leaving landscape vision for the Baviaanskloof that included its inhabitants reliant on livestock farming and tourism strictly protected land under public management and to earn a living. private lands under conservation stewardship contracts brought together under the umbrella of common Wilderness Foundation (WF), an NGO, launched the management planning and land use zoning standards. BCSD project’s site intervention activities in the Baviaan- Early on, WF was successful in leveraging supporting skloof, handing over management responsibility in 2007 resources from the CEPF to encourage small-scale civil society business initiatives to support the social and economic development of local communities. The result has included sustainable bee-keeping, training of na- 9. ‘Biome’ is a scientific term used to describe areas on the earth with ture guides and the introduction of biodiversity-friendly similar climate, plants, and animals. They are large geographical areas populated by distinctive plant and animal groups and ecosystems, citrus production practices in the Gamtoos Valley region adapted to that particular climate and environment. of the Baviaanskloof. In addition, local NGOs, including 10. Cape Action for People and the Environment (CAPE); http://www. WF and Living Lands, working with local farmers, pro- capeaction.org.za/ The sustainable harvesting of wildflowers, such as these protea bunches in the Flower Valley (Western Cape) destined for export, provides a powerful economic incentive for landowners to maintain the native fynbos vegetation. SANBI SuPPortInG SoutH AFrIcA’S cAPE ActIon For PEoPLE And tHE EnVIronMEnt ProGrAM In tHE cAPE FLorIStIc rEGIon 17 The Agulhas lighthouse symbolizes the iconic destination that is the southern tip of Africa, where three oceans meet (Indian, Southern and Atlantic) and where conservation, agriculture, and the local municipalities are combining forces to develop an innovative model of landscape-scale conservation that extends beyond the boundaries of protected areas. Shutterstock, LLC 18 PARTNERSHIP FOR BIODIVERSITy CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT moted the planting of spekboom, a thicket biome spe- natural environment to provide benefits for all forever cies with high carbon sequestration value, as a means to within the Overberg�. The initiative has continued be- restore overgrazed landscapes. Participants in the effort yond the life of the UNDP-managed project and is cur- hope to gain revenue through payment for ecosystem rently coordinated by a Steering Committee overseen services in future, especially through voluntary carbon by staff from the Flower Valley Conservation Trust. It is markets. Government funding, provided by the Working supporting partners cooperating strategically to make for Water Program, supported the restoration efforts, sure that benefits flow to the local economy, through given Baviaanskloof’s importance as a water catchment activities such as responsible nature-based tourism and for the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Area. the sustainable harvesting of the natural vegetation. Ongoing support from local landowners has been At the start of ABI only 14% of the Agulhas Plain expressed for land stewardship in Baviaanskloof, and was conserved under legally binding arrangements. the ECPTA continues to work on the establishment of Through agreements with landowners and the expan- conservation arrangements that would allow for valley sion of the Agulhas National Park, this figure now stands slopes to be built into the mega-reserve as wildlife cor- at 37% (102,000 hectares), with at least 40% of this area ridors in future. privately owned. The project has provided the frame- work for an innovative model of biodiversity steward- In parallel with the BCSD, another landscape initiative ship in which 23 landowners, assisted by SANParks and was supported on the Agulhas Plain, funded by the with financial support from the German Government, Global Environment Facility through UNDP from 2005 to have applied collectively for Protected Environment 2010. The Agulhas Biodiversity Initiative supported the status. These landowners continue to work portions of establishment of a multi-stakeholder partnership that their land, while setting aside valuable wetlands and integrates and coordinates efforts to minimise the fur- fynbos for conservation, and restoring ecosystems to ther loss of threatened natural habitats on the Agulhas support adaptation to climate change. Plain. The area of approximately 270 000 hectares near the southernmost point of Africa is a mosaic of agricul- tural land separated by stretches of rare and endemic PARTNERSHIP FOR A BIODIVERSITy coastal lowland fynbos and wetlands. ECONOMy Mainstreaming Biodiversity in the Production ABI builds on a partnership between South African Landscape and Sectors National Parks (SANParks) and Fauna and Flora Interna- Natural resource economists have estimated the total tional, and brings together conservation agencies, local economic value of the Cape Floristic Region’s authorities, government departments, conservancies biodiversity—including its flora and fauna, landscape and landowners, non-governmental organizations and scenery and ecosystem services, such as water purifica- donors who are “working together to secure a healthy tion, erosion control and carbon sequestration—to be SuPPortInG SoutH AFrIcA’S cAPE ActIon For PEoPLE And tHE EnVIronMEnt ProGrAM In tHE cAPE FLorIStIc rEGIon 19 well over 10 billion Rand per year. The fynbos flower The introduction of best practice income-generating industry alone generates significant revenue each year activities that rely on the sustainable extraction and from exports and local sales. Tourism in the Western use of existing, native resources are demonstrating that Cape’s scenic landscapes is increasingly linked with they can effectively substitute for expanding cultiva- sustainable natural landscape management, with inter- tion, and thus help diversify agricultural production est growing rapidly in tourism packages that showcase and other farm management techniques to provide healthy natural ecosystems and abundant wildlife. better habitat for biodiversity on farms themselves. The project helped encourage a shift to biodiversity-friendly The BCSD Project, together with the Agulhas Biodi- agricultural production and reduced water use in the versity Initiative, promoted conservation as an engine CFR’s potato and rooibos tea industries. Such initiatives for sustainable development and economic growth are closely linked to, and comple- through promotion of market-based ment, government-led initiatives in mechanisms such as payment for Over the life of the BCSD proj- ect, in excess of 181,000 person- the Region—Working for Water and environmental services and support days/year of employment have Working for Wetlands—that seek to for small-scale conservation-related resulted from jobs associated with biodiversity conservation remove water-demanding non-native enterprise opportunities like bee- and protection activities. plant species and restore hydrologi- keeping, leopard-friendly lamb pro- cal functioning, thereby maintaining duction and local tourism routes and biodiversity and important water sources while creating trails that improve livelihoods and social conditions for new employment opportunities. local communities. Protection of species in fragmented landscapes increased during project implementation, Importantly, biodiversity considerations were success- thanks to public-private partnership conservation fully integrated by the Western Cape’s provincial plan- initiatives within the production landscapes. Important ning authority into provincial land use planning policy, policy reforms, intended to support the biodiversity and were streamlined into the spatial development economy, include new fiscal incentive mechanisms frameworks of 15 of the CFR’s 18 local municipalities. under the Revenue Laws Amendment Act passed in All these actions speak volumes for the long-term December 2008: a municipal rates rebate and a national sustainability of project outcomes and the potential for tax deduction, available to eligible landowners who the biodiversity economy to contribute positively to the engage in biodiversity conservation stewardship. achievement of the CAPE Strategy’s 2020 vision. 20 PArtnErSHIP For BIodIVErSItY conSErVAtIon And SuStAInABLE dEVELoPMEnt Biodiversity and Business in the Cape Floristic Region Various initiatives under the CAPE Strategy, supported by the BCSD project and funded through the CEPF, encour- aged more sustainable management of natural resources and mainstreaming of biodiversity in the CFR’s landscape by promoting biodiversity-friendly production systems in a variety of sectors including tea production, wild flower harvesting and wine production. Tea for Two Rooibos tea, made from the native rooibos plant, has a growing market both locally and globally thanks to the healthy antioxidants it contains and its lack of caffeine. As a result of its increasing popularity, farmers in the CFR began to convert large tracts of natural habitats to grow the plant commercially. In the Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor (GCBC) the Rooibos Biodiversity Initiative generated a sustainable production strategy for the industry. Rooibos grows naturally only in the Cederberg and Bokkeveld regions of South Africa’s Western and Northern Cape. In line with the CAPE Strategy, small-scale farmers in the region saw a business opportunity and formed a cooperative to harvest wild rooibos sustainably. Through financial support provided by the CEPF, members of the cooperative worked with scientists to increase their yield of wild rooibos by mapping the distribution and taxonomy of wild sub-species on 44 sites, exploring which varieties were longer-lived and more drought- and fire-resistant, and by monitoring the effect of their harvesting practices. Biodiversity conservation is factored into the production process in and around the land cultivated with wild rooibos, using buffer strips of natural vegetation between fields to reduce soil erosion. The cooperative now supplies a niche market of global consumers who pay a premium for organic, fairly traded products. To Your Health!: The Biodiversity and Wine Initiative South Africa is the world’s eighth largest producer of wine, with approximately 90% of its production occurring within the CFR. During the 1990s, the land under vineyards increased by 15%. Viticulture expansion, while economically profitable, was threatening critical plant habitats. With only 9% of lowland endemic vegetation remaining, conserva- tion became a concern. The Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI), a partnership between the wine industry and the conservation sector resulted. Together, they developed and promoted adoption of biodiversity guidelines for the industry, including the need for natural area set-asides on vineyard lands. The initiative also promoted changes in farming practices that enhance the suitability of vineyards and surrounding natural habitat for biodiversity. Wine producers and landowners who establish a contract nature reserve are eligible to qualify for significant property rate rebates. By 2010, wine grow- ers owners participating in the BWI had committed over 126,000 ha of natural habitat to conservation—this exceeds the vineyard cultivation footprint in the CFR of 102,000 ha. Wines of South Africa, the official marketing arm of the industry, began to promote the BWI approach in its marketing of South African wines. Furthermore, South African wine and brandy producers began expanding the BWI into wine producing areas in other threatened lowland habitats such as the Succulent Karoo Hotspot, particularly in the Olifants River and Breede River valleys. SuPPortInG SoutH AFrIcA’S cAPE ActIon For PEoPLE And tHE EnVIronMEnt ProGrAM In tHE cAPE FLorIStIc rEGIon 21 LESSONS LEARNED a participatory approach is recognized as best practice in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem manage- The Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Develop- ment efforts. ment project has been assessed as having established a solid foundation for the long-term conservation and The BCSD Project was successful in its bid to expand the sustainable use of the Cape Floristic Region and its area of terrestrial habitats of high biodiversity conser- adjacent marine environment, as laid out in the CAPE vation value under sustainable management through Strategy. This has been achieved by making effec- expansion of traditional protected areas, establishment tive use of funding to put in place policies and pilot of three mega-reserves, and the creation of connecting programs that emphasize the value of conservation biological corridors. Under the project, the total land of locally and globally important biodiversity and the area under formal conservation agreements doubled important linkages between healthy ecosystems and to over 1.9 million ha, with a significant portion cover- socio-economic development. This has, in turn, laid a ing highly threatened ecosystems. The BCSD Project’s secure foundation for further implementation of the achievements were successfully complemented by the CAPE Program’s over-arching 20-year conservation and CEPF-supported Gouritz Initiative, as well as the GEF- development strategy. Its next phase, targeting consoli- UNDP-funded Agulhas Biodiversity Initiative. dation of results and replication of successful models, In cooperation with interested stakeholders, the project will be resourced primarily through regular Government supported the development of a new conservation program budgets, with additional support from donors stewardship model for the CFR. The resulting landscape where possible. conservation stewardship programs, undertaken with The governance experience that was gained in manag- land owners, private sector interests and local com- ing this complex and multi-layered project, whose goals munities, have generated best practice guidelines. are embedded in a long-term strategic vision, bodes These guidelines are being adopted in the neighboring well for the future sustainability of both the project’s Eastern Cape Province, and have also been promoted outcomes and the overall ongoing management of nationally. The National Department of Environment the CAPE Strategy. The high level of involvement of Affairs sees biodiversity stewardship as the primary stakeholders and the partnerships this participatory mechanism for securing its national conservation tar- approach engendered between local, provincial and gets put forward through the National Protected Areas national government organizations, as well as with and Expansion Strategy. between NGOs, civil society, communities and private The BCSD Project succeeded in demonstrating that landowners, provided a voice for all interested parties. mainstreaming biodiversity conservation can be a The highly effective coordination and facilitation role valuable engine for socio-economic development by played by the project’s coordination unit provided a generating biodiversity-friendly business opportunities forum through which those voices could be heard. Such 22 PArtnErSHIP For BIodIVErSItY conSErVAtIon And SuStAInABLE dEVELoPMEnt Mike Powel The CAPE Program promotes the clearing of non-native invasive vegetation through public works programs, thereby generating much-needed employment that also enhances biodiversity conservation. SuPPortInG SoutH AFrIcA’S cAPE ActIon For PEoPLE And tHE EnVIronMEnt ProGrAM In tHE cAPE FLorIStIc rEGIon 23 for both the private and public sectors. Project-related United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural interventions effectively engaged the private sector and Organization: World Heritage Convention. http://whc. have improved prospects for local and disadvantaged unesco.org/en/list/1007/ communities in the region, many of whom now benefit World Bank Implementation Completion Report: Bio- from income-generation activities based on biodiver- diversity Conservation and Sustainable Development sity conservation, as well as from Government funds Project. Washington, D.C., April 2011. associated with extended public works programs such as Working for Water and Working for Wetlands, that created employment opportunities leveraged by the project’s efforts. Strategic mobilization of complementary funding through project partners such as the CEPF and TMF contributed importantly to increasing public aware- ness in the value of small-scale biodiversity-friendly and ecotourism income-generating opportunities. This has served to promote strong ongoing support for the CAPE Strategy at the local level. REFERENCES A-Z Areas of Biodiversity Importance, developed by the World Conservation and Monitoring Centre (WCMC), UNEP; http://www.biodiversitya-z.org/ PREPARED BY: Dominique Kayser, George Ledec, Kathy Mackinnon, and Claudia Sobrevila (World Bank) Cape Action for People and the Environment (CAPE); REVIEWED BY: Mandy Barnett and Aziza Parker (SANBI), http://www.capeaction.org.za/index.php?C=about&P=6 and Nik Sekhran (UNDP) GRAPHIC DESIGN: James Cantrell (World Bank) Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF); http:// PRODUCTION DATE: November 2011 www.cepf.net/ Cover image: Sustainable wildflower harvesting from conserved fynbos vegetation in the Flower Valley, Western Cape. (Photo courtesy of SANBI.) GEF Project Document. CAPE: Biodiversity Conservation Back cover image: The Cape Program’s “Leopard-friendly Lamb� initiative encour- and Sustainable Development Project. World Bank and ages farmers to use non-lethal means (such as trained dogs) to keep now-rare Cape Leopards from harming their sheep. (Photo courtesy of Cape Leopard Trust.) UNDP, 2004. 24 PArtnErSHIP For BIodIVErSItY conSErVAtIon And SuStAInABLE dEVELoPMEnt ABouT The WorLd BANk The World Bank’s mission is to help developing countries and their people to alleviate poverty. The World Bank also addresses global challenges in ways that advance an inclusive and sustainable globalization—that overcomes poverty, enhances growth with care for the environment, and creates individual opportunity and hope. To date, the World Bank is the largest international funding source for biodiversity in developing countries. www.worldbank.org ABouT uNdP The united Nations development Program (uNdP) is the uN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help people build a better life. The uNdP is on the ground in more than 165 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. www.undp.org/biodiversity ABouT The GLoBAL eNVIroNMeNT FACILITy The GeF unites 182 countries in partnership with international institutions, NGos and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. Today the GeF is the largest funder of projects to improve the global environment. An independent financial organization, the GeF provides grants for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants. Since 1991 the GeF has invested $9 billion in grants and leveraged another $40 billion in cofinancing for more than 2600 projects in 165 countries. www.thegef.org ABouT SANBI The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) is a public entity with special responsibility for biodiversity matters, established in 2004 through the signing into force of the National environmental Management: Biodiversity Act. SANBI is responsible for exploring, revealing, celebrating and championing biodiversity for the benefit and enjoyment of all of South Africa’s people. ABouT SouTh AFrICAN NATIoNAL PArkS South African National Parks (SANParks) is the leading conservation authority in all national parks in South Africa, responsible for 3,751,113 hectares of protected land in 20 national parks. SANParks manages a system of parks which represents the indigenous fauna, flora, landscapes, and associated cultural heritage assets of the country for the sustainable use and benefit of all. SANParks’ vision is to be the pride and joy of all South Africans and of the world. The focus for SANParks in the first decade of democracy has been to make national parks more accessible to tourists in order to ensure conservation remains a viable contributor to social and economic development in rural areas. www.sanparks.org ABouT CAPe NATure CapeNature is a public entity with the responsibility for biodiversity conservation in the Western Cape. It is governed by the Western Cape Nature Conservation Board Act 15 of 1998 and mandated to promote and ensure nature conservation, render services and provide facilities for research and training. ABouT eCPTA eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency is a public entity established in terms of the eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency Act, No. 2 of 2010. eCPTA aims to develop and manage protected areas and to promote and facilitate the development of tourism in the eastern Cape Province. ABouT The WILderNeSS FouNdATIoN The Wilderness Foundation is a non-governmental organisation that protects and sustains African wilderness and wild lands through holistic and integrated conservation, social and education programmes. The organisation has been a pioneer in using wilderness as a positive force for social change in South Africa, having taken over one hundred thousand political, business and community leaders, as well as historically disadvantaged youth, through programmes that allow participants to experience wild nature. ABouT The dePArTMeNT oF eNVIroNMeNTAL AFFAIrS, SouTh AFrICA The department of environmental Affairs (deA) is one of the departments of the South African government under the Ministry of Water and environmental Affaris. It is responsible for protecting, conserving and improving the South African environment and natural resources. The deA’s mission is to create a prosperous and equitable society that lives in harmony with our environment. www.environment.gov.za