By: Elisa Distefano
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| Photo 1: Programme areas |
A recently completed GEF project, “Integrated Ecological Planning and Sustainable Land Management in Coastal Ecosystems in the Comoros” supported long-term ecological restoration through the development and implementation of Integrated Ecosystem Management (IEM) plans in the three islands of Gran Comore, Anjouan and Moheli.
The grant was fully integrated into the IFAD National Sustainable Human Development Programme (PNDHD), and has contributed to reducing current land degradation trends by putting 1,052 ha of land under sustainable land management practices, replanting 384 ha of degraded forest and 4.5 ha of mangroves in coastal areas.
”Both the environmental awareness raising and the implementation of 6 IEM plans, which included 43 villages, are in the national interest and have had positive environmental and socio-economic impacts. Without the GEF intervention and the restoration of ecosystem services, the IFAD loan objectives would have been less sustainable,” saidMr Anllaouddine Abou Houmadi, GEF project Coordinator.
The GEF grant was also instrumental in commissioning a series of cartographic and feasibility studies for the creation of protected areas, to name a few:
The “Feasibility study for starting a locally managed marine Area (Anjouan)” provides a detailed ecological, socio-economic characterization of the Sima/Bimbini peninsula, the identification of conservation targets and the delineation of areas with potential alternative land use options .The study alsopresents the benefits and challenges of locally managing protected areas. Key recommendations include creating a legal framework that would allow villagesto act as managers ofprotected areas, along with reinforcing local organizations’ competencies. This exercise was complemented by the “Ecological and Cartographic Study for the protection of the Bimbini peninsula” which not only proposes the legislation and regulation of protected areas, but also presents a detailed environmental health and biodiversity status of the barrier reef, mangroves and sea grasses.
Photos 2,3:Current Marine reserve zoning and proposed PA zoning
The “Delimitation, zoning and ecological characterization of the Kathala Forest (Grande Comore)” study presents a description of the floristic richness of the area, the altitudinal succession of plant associations, an ethnobotanic investigation, as well as an inventory of the most exploited species. The study concludes with a demarcation of potential conservation zones, according to the IUCN protected area categories.
Photos 4,5:Changes in forest cover across 1969-2010 Distribution of some endemic plants in the proposed PA
Similarly, the “Ecological and Cartographic Study for the protection of the forest of La Grille (Gran Comore)” has carried out a socio-economic survey of neighboring villages, investigated the abundance and distribution of the most exploited tree species, and the taxonomic fauna and floristic richness. It is a useful tool to refine a protected area co-management plan for the area.
Photo 6:PA zoning
These studies will help UNDP to continue this important work in protected area development through the implementation of a new GEF project currently being launched[1].
[1]Development of a National Network of Terrestrial and Marine Protected Areas Representative of the Comoros Unique Natural Heritage and Co-managed with Local Village Communities