Wednesday 18 December 2013

Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA):A Toolkit for National Focal Points and NBSAP Coordinators

Communication, Education  and Public Awareness (CEPA)

A Toolkit for National Focal Points and NBSAP Coordinators



USAID/Zimbabwe : Zimbabwe Biodiversity and Tropical Forest Assessment


USAID/Zimbabwe has undertaken this Biodiversity and Tropical Forestry Assessment to inform the
process of preparing their FY 2013 – 2015 transitional Country Development Cooperation Strategy and
ensure that investments across its entire bilateral portfolio address Zimbabwe’s conservation and
sustainability challenges to the maximum productive extent. The assessment adheres to the
requirements of sections 118 and 119 of the Foreign Assistance Act.

A two person team consisting of an NRM specialist team leader and a USFS silviculturist conducted the
assessment, complimented by the USAID/Zimbabwe acting MEO for portions of the field work.
Following ten days of preparation in the US, the team traveled to Zimbabwe, where they conducted
meetings and interviews with over 40 key persons and undertook a brief site visit between the dates of
January 30 and February 10, 2012. Following an outbrief with USAID/Zimbabwe staff, the team returned
to the United States where they prepared a document for review by USAID/Zimbabwe. After making
edits in response to comments from USAID/Zimbabwe, the team submitted a final for approval on
March 19, 2012.

Zimbabwe’s climatic and geological foundation favors neither a large timber industry nor widespread
crop agriculture. Savanna woodland interspersed with open grasslands covers much of the country, and
while woodlands are found on over half of the total area, nine tenths of these forests have little or no
commercial timber value. As to agriculture, about seven tenths of the country’s soils are sandy, light
textured and of limited inherent cropping potential. Limits in groundwater require a heavy reliance on
surface water, yet inadequate and erratic rainfall constrains crop farming across at least sixty percent of
the country. Climate change is expected to severely increase the water stress already evident, and the
aggressive promotion of maize has limited farmer access to a diversity of crop varieties necessary to
remain resilient in the face of climate variability.

Within these constraints, Zimbabwe’s five distinct ecoregions, nevertheless, provide habitats for an
abundant and diverse flora and fauna. Once internationally recognized for its conservation of threatened
wildlife, the country continues to provide habitats for over two hundred plants found only in Zimbabwe
and contains an important portion of the internationally significant Eastern Afromontane hotspot.
Zimbabwe is also responsible for the habitats of thirty eight vulnerable species, three of which, including
the black rhinoceros, are critically and globally endangered.

More at :


Tuesday 17 December 2013

WATER AND CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION

USAID. Bur. for Economic Growth, Education and Environment. Ofc. of Global Climate Change

'JULY 22-24, 2013, USAID E3 Offices of Global Climate Change and Water'

Originally a MS PowerPoint(R) presentation

Compilation of various MS PowerPoint(R) workshop presentations

Monday 16 December 2013

[ANFES] Designing Adaptation Initiatives Toolkit

Designing Adaptation Initiatives Toolkit

 

This guide supports the design of measurable, reportable and verifiable adaptation initiatives. It provides step-by-step guidance in designing climate change adaptation projects.

 

http://sustainableafrica.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/designing-adaptation-initiatives-toolkit.html

--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-You received this message because you are subscribed to "Africa Network for Environmental Justice and Sustainability(ANFES)" group.
 
-To post to this group, send email to
environmentalsustainability@googlegroups.com
 
-To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
environmentalsustainability+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
 
-For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/environmentalsustainability
 
-For more information, please visit:http://sustainableafrica.blogspot.co.uk/
 
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Africa Network for Environmental Justice and Sustainability(ANFES)" group.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.

Sunday 15 December 2013

Environment should play greater role in peacebuilding, UN reports

10 December 2013 – Natural resources – which, in many conflict-affected countries, fuel and finance armed groups – can also play a major role in bringing about sustainable peace, the United Nations today reported urging Governments and partners to integrate natural resource management in post-conflict reintegration programmes.

Incorporating natural resources in peacebuilding efforts can help to mitigate potential conflicts, such as disputes over land or water, and give green jobs to former soldiers, according to a joint report released today by UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
“When helping former fighters and their communities to start new lives after a conflict, it is often critical to help them turn existing natural resources into economic opportunities,” said Jordan Ryan, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery.
“However, natural resources need to be managed properly as part of a well thought-out peace process,” he stressed in reference to minerals, oils, gas and timber.
According to ‘The Role of Natural Resources in Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration – Addressing Risks and Seizing Opportunities’, plans for the fair management and distribution of natural resources are usually excluded from peace negotiations and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programmes, which have become an integral part of the UN’s post-conflict peace consolidation over the last 20 years.

More at:

Saturday 14 December 2013

[ANER] Netherlands Fellowship Programmes (NFP)

--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
 
•You received this message because you are subscribed to the "Africa Network for Environmental Rights(ANER)"group.
 
•To post to this group, please send email to environmentalrights@googlegroups.com
 
•To unsubscribe from this group, send email to environmentalrights+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
 
•For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/environmentalrights
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Africa Network for Environmental Rights (ANER)" group.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.

[ANFES] Netherlands Fellowship Programmes (NFP)

--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-You received this message because you are subscribed to "Africa Network for Environmental Justice and Sustainability(ANFES)" group.
 
-To post to this group, send email to
environmentalsustainability@googlegroups.com
 
-To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
environmentalsustainability+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
 
-For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/environmentalsustainability
 
-For more information, please visit:http://anfes.blogspot.co.uk/
 
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Africa Network for Environmental Justice and Sustainability(ANFES)" group.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.

Wednesday 11 December 2013

[ANER] Apply for a journalism fellowship at Oxford University

--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
 
•You received this message because you are subscribed to the "Africa Network for Environmental Rights(ANER)"group.
 
•To post to this group, please send email to environmentalrights@googlegroups.com
 
•To unsubscribe from this group, send email to environmentalrights+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
 
•For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/environmentalrights
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Africa Network for Environmental Rights (ANER)" group.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.

[ANFES] Apply for a journalism fellowship at Oxford University

Apply for a journalism fellowship at Oxford University

 

http://sustainableafrica.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/apply-for-journalism-fellowship-at.html

 

--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-You received this message because you are subscribed to "Africa Network for Environmental Justice and Sustainability(ANFES)" group.
 
-To post to this group, send email to
environmentalsustainability@googlegroups.com
 
-To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
environmentalsustainability+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
 
-For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/environmentalsustainability
 
-For more information, please visit:http://anfes.blogspot.co.uk/
 
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Africa Network for Environmental Justice and Sustainability(ANFES)" group.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PARALLEL INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON SUSTAINABLE TRADE AND CONSERVATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS,


INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON MEDICINAL

AND AROMATIC MDICINAL PLANTS

 

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PARALLEL INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON SUSTAINABLE TRADE AND CONSERVATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS,

 RABAT, MOROCCO, 2-4 MAY 2002.

 

Workshop organised by Conserve Africa Foundation, London, UK

 

In collaboration with the Moroccan Network for the Valorisation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Rabat, Morocco and:

 

*Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM), University of Oslo

(UiO), Norway;

*Denzil Phillips International, London, UK

*International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada

*Essential Nutrition Ltd, UK

*The Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Rabat, Morocco;

 

THEME I: MEDICINAL PLANTS: USES AND SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION

 

The sustainability of medicinal plants is under threat from economic growth, urbanization and poverty and it is recommended that there be:

 

1. National Medicinal Plants biological inventories and in- situ and ex-situ conservation

 

The examples:

i.  Botanical Gardens Conservation International

ii. FRLHT India (medicinal plant conservation areas)

iii.TRAFFIC International

iv. The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF)

 

RECOMMENDATION:

 

*  Carry out more regular updating of inventories, species' status monitoring and conservation including cultivation, which does not conflict with the socio-economic status of wild-harvesting communities.

* Undertake community-based in-situand ex-situ conservation and management activities of ecosystems with high medicinal plant species diversity;

*Develop sustainable harvesting guidelines of wild medicinal resources;

*Identify and develop cultivation/propagation practices;

*Intensify documentation of the medicinal use of African herbs in form of monographs and/or pharmacopoeia. Information should include data on plants species, uses of plant parts, indications etc.

*Support programmes encouraging the preservation of genetic resources and the expansion of regional and international genetic resource institutes (gene banks), botanical gardens to include medicinal plant collections

*Support regular monitoring and assessment of trade on wild population and marketed plants

 

2. PLANT ECOLOGY AND BIOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE HARVESTING METHODS

 

The examples

 

i. Mount Cameroon Project for sustainable harvesting - Prunus africana

ii. Kwazulu Natal Provincial Government for sustainable harvest training

 

RECOMMENDATION:

 

More training of collectors on plant ecology and biology and sustainable harvesting methods

 

3. 'Sustainable harvest' labelling

 

The examples

i. UK Soil Association for draft Wild Harvesting Certification

ii. WHO for draft medicinal plant Sourcing GMP

iii. Devil's claw in Namabia

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

Development of international 'Sustainable harvest' labelling.

 

4. Fair Trade systems.

 

The examples

i. Rain Forest Foods

ii. WELEDA of Switzerland

iii. FAIR of Denmark

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

*Social sustainability through the development of Fair Trade systems related to MPs.

*Find mechanisms to disseminate technical and economic information on the production and trade in medicinal plants from outside centres of herbal research and development

 

*Develop product specifications for key medicinals that are appropriate to different markets and end users

 

*Encourage regional co-operation between producers and processors of medicinal plants in order to reap the benefits of economies of scale needed for value added activities

 

* Develop trade promotion programmes that help local producers and exporters raise their profile on international markets

 

THEME II: TRADE, INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE, BIOPROSPECTING AND BENEFIT SHARING.

 

1. Legalisation of Traditional Medicine

* The governments are encouraged take responsibility of legalisation of traditional medicine;

* Create an institution to certify as traditional healers or herbalists;

* Establish specific conditions that persons have to meet to be certified.

 

2. Establishing a distinction between specialised and common knowledge in traditional medicine

- Common knowledge: Wide-spread knowledge, not secret, used by large number of people, as to which it is wide-spread agreement on the use of the species or set of species. This knowledge might more appropriately be designated as "public knowledge".

- In contrast to public knowledge of medicinal plants, specialised or secret knowledge held by one or a few individuals.

- Much of common or public traditional knowledge focuses on treatment of the most frequently occurring diseases and health problems in a particular region: such as gastro-intestinal diseases, respiratory conditions, malaria and skin infections.

 

* Those common species used to treat the most frequently occurring diseases in any particular region should be targeted for agro-ecological / horticultural improvement.

 

3. Establish Legislation for Access to Genetic Resources

 

Recommendations

* Countries should enforce their sovereign rights over genetic resources by authorising an institution to certify prior informed consent at the national level;

* In respect of local rights to genetic resources and medicinal plants, this national authority or institution should certify that prior informed consent of local and indigenous communities has been achieved as a condition for granting access;

* When establishing an institution authorised to grant access each country should apply a participatory process, ensuring that all stakeholders' interests are included in the discussions;

* By establishing such authority the "bioprospector" has a clear counterpart for concluding an agreement with local communities to carry out particular projects;

*Establishing such a legal system is a first step in balancing access to genetic resources towards intellectual property rights.

*Establish an appropriate mechanism for the effective involvement of indigenous and local communities in redefining and monitoring intellectual property rights in the context of traditional medicine.

*Collate and harmonise legislation pertaining to bio-diversity use and related indigenous knowledge

 

THEME I: RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY FOR PHYTOMEDICINES DEVELOPMENT

 

RECOGNITION, IMPROVEMENT AND PROMOTION OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE

 

I.EFFECTIVE INTEGRATION OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IN PUBLIC HEALTH CARE:

 

1. Integration of Health care

* Integration between traditional healers & medical doctors.

* Improving the state of the nation's health.

* Improving training methods.

* Improving quality.

* Benefits to patients.

 

2.Collaboration between traditional practitioners & medical doctors provides;

* Better links between the patients' medical doctors & traditional medicine practitioners

* Improvement through monitoring the performance of traditional practitioners

* Improvement of safety & quality of traditional medicine

* Increase in patients` confidence in traditional medicine

* Establishment of training methods for new practitioners

* Monitoring continual professional development for both parties

* Providing a basis for collecting data for medical statistics

* Establishment of associations are recommended to provide professional protection to traditional healers

*Ensure conservation of traditional knowledge & sustainable use of natural resources

*Facilitate organisational management of traditional medicine health care systems and ensure official

recognition

 

* Initiate open dialogue, collaborative initiatives, training, information exchange and dissemination in order to achieve complementary between traditional and modern systems

 

The example (Malian experience):

* Legalisation of the traditional medicine system.

* Validation of traditional medicine efficiency & safety.

* Integration of traditional medicine & conventional medicine by mutual education.

 

RECOMMENDATION:

 

The meeting recommends the setting up integrated health systems

 

II. Research Developments and Technology

 

* Small scale manufacturing technology exists

* Improves and standardises Traditional Medicines

* Many advantages to patients

* National Formulary can be developed

* Quality control can be gradually developed

* Good integration possible with other groups and stakeholders

 

The example (Kenyan experience)

Mobile Pharmacy Training Production unit supplied to (SAMTECH) Kenya

 

RECOMMENDATION:

 

*Establish pilot/small scale herbal processing units.

*Develop Quality Control /Quality Assurance mechanisms to enhance the quality, safety and efficacy of herbal remedies sold on the local market

*Support for technology transfer in the field of medicinal plants and herbal medicines

*Develop standardisation procedures that are adaptable to the community level to address the issues

 of efficacy, safety and quality of phytomedicines.

 

 

CAPACITY BUILDING:

 

*Information dissemination, networking, education and awareness raising programs

(e.g. Phytomedica International Network, Communities gardens and nurseries development)

*Co-ordinating and catalyzing the existing activities relating to medicinal plants and traditional health systems at the regional level.

 

 

Follow-up:

 

-Identify donors who could provide support in formulating, designing and implementing projects at the national level in the area of sustainable use and conservation of priority endangered medicinal plants.

 

-Continue open discussions through the Phytomedica List serve in order to involve other stakeholders in identifying priority actions, challenges and constraints relating to the implementation of the above recommendations.

 

 

Note: The Symposium was divided in academic sessions and workshop sessions and was attended y by 200 participants from 40 countries (Africa, Europe and  South and  America) representing Academic and Research Institutions ,NGOs, private companies, governments and some International Organisations such as IDRC, FAO, ICRAF, etc.

 

For more information

Contact: 

ROLE AND IMPACT OF MARKET FORCES ON MEDICINAL PLANT USES AND CONSERVATION

ROLE AND IMPACT OF MARKET FORCES ON MEDICINAL PLANT USES AND CONSERVATION



PROBLEMS:      §Demand / Supply Imbalances     
§Ultimately impact on environment
§  No control over market forces



OBJECTIVES:   §To monitor/regulate and organise market forces
                                for sustainable conservation through recognition
                                and support of traditional; medicinal plant trade



STRATEGIES:   §Draft supportive legislation
§Create national/regional/international regulation
§Regulate market force
§  Encouragement of land provision for medicinal plant cultivation
§  Small business protection



CONSTRAINTS/NEEDS
§Lack of information
§Lack of capacity
§Lack of co-ordination
§Lack of political will
§Competition
§Poor pricing (standardization)
§Socio-economic factors



ACTIVITIES:     §Monitor the market forces and evaluation
                             §Create awareness
§Create an enabling environment
§Business training : capacity building
§Encourage local communities cultivation at various
levels through training (e.g.home gardens with both         food and medicinal plants)
§Develop ecological medicinal garden as training    centres
§Establish nurseries to encourage dissemination to             provide people who want to cultivate medicinal plants



MAIN ACTORS:         §Local communities
                             §Governments
                             §Chamber of Commerce
                             §Botanist/Universities/National Centre for Seeds
                                (Research Institutions)
                             §Banks
                             §Financial Institutions

§Private Sector (plants suppliers both local and international

        Develop networking to facilitate regional-1-

SALIENT FEATURES OF THE WORKSHOP

TOPIC 1


1.1       PROPER IDENTIFICATION, DOCUMENTATION OF MEDICINAL
PLANTS


1.2       Sustainable conservation and use of biodiversity
 (medicinal plants)

Monitoring and assessment of wild population and
marketed plants

Recommendations:
·      Community gardens
·      Initiate media programmes for awareness
·      Collection of genetic resources
·      Policy formation

1.3
·      Use community based participatory research method  to identify existing (threatened) cultural practices that promote sustainable use, management and conservation of medicinal plants.

Recommendation:
                       
·         To undertake participatory/studies in this regard.
·         Promote and enforce equitable sharing of benefits arising from the exploitation of local knowledge.
·         Implementation of articles 8(j).


Recommendation:
·      Undertake research on policy issues related to article 8(j) of CBD in order to make it applicable within the African context.

-2-

1.5
·      To promote better cooperation and collaboration between the two systems.

1.6       Perceptions and Attitudes:

·   Mutual recognition and clear consciousness of both medical
          systems so that they can operate in equal relationship.


TOPIC 2

PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH AND INVOLVEMENT OF LOCAL COMMUNTIES AND TRADITIONAL HEALERS


2.1       PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH APPROACHES FOR
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

·      Develop and implement participatory research methodologies (PRM)


            Recommendation:

·      Organize training sessions in participatory research, methodologies for all stakeholders.


2.3       VALIDATION (LABORATORY) OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE/ MEDICAL
PREPARATIONS AND PRACTICES

·      To develop acceptable methods to validate traditional medicine.
·      Collection and documentation of methods for validation of traditional medicinal practices.

RECOMMENDATION:

To collect,document and implement methods of validation of traditional medicine practices and products.





-3-

2.4       PREPARATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF WRITTEN NATIONAL
PHARMACOPEA OF MEDICINAL PLANTS THROUGH INVOLVEMENT
OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS

·      To establish a broadly accessible pharmacopoeia to assist all those concerned with medicinal plants.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
·      Establish a coordinating body/ “steering committee
·      Establish a multidisciplinary research team
·      Evaluate the OAU pharmacopoeia ‘s relevance/adequacy for the country (e.g. in terms of species coverage; coverage of the major applications of the various plants)
·      Identify and collate key sources of other relevant information (databases; other pharmacopoeia)
·      Conene key actors involved: through a national workshop/meeting
·      to identify key areas for research
·      to agree on and implement the national work plan
·      to set up regional groups.

2.5       BIOPIRACY, BIO-DIVERSITY PROSPECTING & CONSERVATION IN
THE DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS FROM TRADITIONAL MEDICINES

RECOMMENDATIONS:

·      To establish equitable terms of trade pertaining to medicinal plants.
·      Develop benefit sharing models.
·       Increasing value-addition production of phytomedicines at local and regional levels.


TOPIC 3


3.1       STANDARDIZATION

Development of Standardization procedures that are adaptable to the
situation(s) at community level to address the issues of efficacy, safety
and quality of phytomedicines.  In this respect, to also include capacity
building amongst African research institutions.
-4-

3.2       RECOMMENDATIONS:
·      To monitor/regulate and organise market forces for sustainable conservation through recognition and support of traditional medicinal plant trade.

3.3       Collate and harmonize legislation pertaining to Biodiversity use and
related indigenous knowledge systems.



TOPIC 4

4.1       To facilitate organizational management of traditional medicine health
 care systems.

4.3       Initiate networking, training and information exchange and disseminate in
order to achieve complementarity between the two systems. and international
cooperation in medicinal plants, traditional medicine and
pharmacopoeia research and development and to link up with
other medicinal plant programmes in other region (eg. TRAMIL
etc.).


2.         All research programmes in traditional medicine and medicinal
plants should have a gender component.


3.         As a follow up to the workshop convene a regional meeting in order
to sensitize interested donors and other international organizations
to the plan of action in view of possible support and to examine

closely policy issues in this area.

READ MORE RECENT NEWS AND OPINIONS

WASH news Africa

News from Friends of the Earth

IUCN - News

Institute of Development Studies News

Human Nature - Conservation International Blog

Energia: News

Traditional Knowledge Bulletin

Water Conserve: Water Conservation RSS News Feed

Water Supply and Sanitation News

FAO/Forestry/headlines

InforMEA

Sustainable Development Policy & Practice - Daily RSS Feed

IISD - Latest Additions

IISD Linkages

Climate Change Headlines

DESERTIFICATION

Human Nature - Conservation International Blog