From OUTCCF@orca.upe.ac.za Wed Nov 2 02:58:50 PST 1994 >From OUTCCF@orca.upe.ac.za Wed Nov 2 02:58:50 1994 Received: from mx5.u.washington.edu by wells.u.washington.edu (5.65+UW94.4/UW-NDC Revision: 2.30 ) id AA34912; Wed, 2 Nov 94 02:58:50 -0800 Received: from dolphin.upe.ac.za by mx5.u.washington.edu (5.65+UW94.10/UW-NDC Revision: 2.31 ) id AA26634; Wed, 2 Nov 94 02:58:41 -0800 Received: from orca.upe.ac.za by dolphin.upe.ac.za with SMTP (5.65/25-eef) id AA00277; Wed, 2 Nov 94 12:58:03 +0200 Return-Path: Message-Id: <9411021058.AA00277@dolphin.upe.ac.za> Received: from ORCA/MAILQUEUE by orca.upe.ac.za (Mercury 1.1); Wed, 2 Nov 94 12:57:44 GMT+0200 From: "Mr C Fabricius" Organization: University of Port Elizabeth To: CONSBIO@U.WASHINGTON.EDU Date: Wed, 2 Nov 1994 12:57:04 GMT+0200 Subject: LIVESTOCK GRAZING IN PARKS: POLICY X-Confirm-Reading-To: "Mr C Fabricius" X-Pmrqc: 1 Priority: normal X-Mailer: Pegasus Mail v3.21 Dear fellow user I have recently been tasked to formulate official policies for livestock grazing in protected areas for the Provincial conservation department in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The Eastern Cape Province is one of the poorest in the country, and is underdeveloped. It contains amongst the most unspoilt areas in Africa, but only 3.5% of its area is formally conserved. Unlike other protected areas in Africa, the protected areas in the Eastern Cape are fenced and do not contain resident humans (except staff). Many of the nature reserves are alongside disadvantaged rural communities who farm on communal land. These communities have recently made aggressive demands for grazing, to the extent of invading some of the protected areas and settling livestock in them. These demands must be seen against a background of unjust distribution of land following 40 years of white domination. It is clear that a "blanket" livestock grazing policy for all protected areas will not be feasible, and that some kind of decision support system needs to be developed to handle each case individually. The protected areas vary tremendously in size, complexity and the profiles of the neighbouring communities. The key factors will be 1) which variables / factors to incorporate in the system and 2) how to link these factors together to improve rational decision making. Amongst the factors to consider are * the size of the protected area; * the human population density surrounding it; * the rainfall / primary production of the area; * the economic potential of the protected area for tourism or wildlife utilization; * the availability of alternative land for grazing; * the potential for other development projects peripheral to the protected area; * the sensitivity or resilience of the ecosystem; * the intrinsic conservation value of the area. MY REQUESTS: * COULD YOU ASSIST BY MODIFYING THE ABOVE LIST? * COULD YOU PERHAPS PROVIDE ME WITH EXAMPLES OF SIMILAR POLICIES FOR OTHER AREAS / COUNTRIES? * DO YOU KNOW OF EXISTING DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS WHICH COULD BE ADAPTED? * THIS IS PARTLY A JOB FOR A RESOURCE ECONOMIST, BUT THEY ARE A RARE BREED IN AFRICA. ANYONE INTERESTED? EXTERNAL FUNDING NEEDS TO BE FOUND BECAUSE OF THE SMALL GOVT. CONSERVATION BUDGET. * IS ANYONE INTERESTED IN JOINTLY OR INDEPENDENTLY DEVELOPING THE DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM OR SOME OF ITS MODULES? I'M SURE THAT IT WON'T BE DIFFICULT TO FIND FUNDING, AND THAT THE SYSTEM WILL HAVE BROADER APPLICATION THAN THE EASTERN CAPE OR SOUTH AFRICA. * SOME MONITORING NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE. I WILL APPRECIATE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR PROPOSALS. My sincere thanks CHRISTO FABRICIUS (Senior Scientist, Integrated Conservation and Development) P S. In the interim each case is handled ad hoc, through a combination of "quick and dirty" research, local consultation and negotiation. In my opinion, dealing with these issues has strengthened the relations between conservationists and rural communities and will lead to the improved management of protected areas. (Any crisis which forces conservationists to get their act together is a blessing in disguise). ********************************* Christo Fabricius (Ecologist) * Cape Nature Conservation * P/Bag X1126 ********************* 6000 PORT ELIZABETH Phone (0)41-3902179 * SOUTH AFRICA Fax (0)41-337468 * ***************************************************** .