Learning and networking through site visit exchanges The Tropical Biology Association is creating opportunities to share learning and experience in sustainable conservation practices across the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot. Targeting conservation managers from eleven countries, the TBA has strategically matched Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) grantees in the region according to their mutual interests to provide them with value-addition learning through site visit exchanges. Site visit exchanges are useful approaches for information exchange, discussion of opinions and exploring new opportunities for collaboration. As part of a CEPF funded project, TBA is organising ten site visits and exchanges during 2015-16 enabling grantees to visit organisations working in similar regions to learn best conservation practices. This section profiles the exchanges, highlighting knowledge gained and lessons learned.

Eco-tourism for biodiversity conservation

Ethiopia - Kenya

Where Kijabe Environment Volunteers (KENVO) Kenya & Loita Hills, Kenya

Who University of Gondar & Sustainable Natural Resource Management Authority to Kijabe Environment Volunteers, KENVO, Kenya

What To explore and discuss the use of eco-tourism ventures for biodiversity conservation and livelihood improvement

When 18th July: KENVO, 19th – 24th July: Loita Hills

The visiting grantees were composed of two organisations represented by Yibeltal Walle and Sileshi Girma from University of Gondar and Tekle Jirane and Birhan Ali from the Sustainable Natural Resource Man-agement Authority. The exchange was organised to discuss and experience how various eco-tourism ventures could be undertaken to enhance biodiversity conservation and improve the livelihoods of local communities. The visit also aimed at providing the visiting grantees with an insight on the development of eco-trails and engagement of the local communities in eco-tourism ventures. They visited the Kijabe Environment Volunteers (KENVO) where they met Mr. Joel Mwaniki, a local guide attached to the ecotourism project. KENVO is a community based organisation with membership drawn from the local residents bordering the Kereita Forest. Joel explained about the eco-tourism project at the Kikuyu Escarpment forest and how they engage the local community. The four visiting grantees were keen to know about the development of the tourism circuits at the Kijabe escarpment, marketing strategies used, benefits sharing and the role of the local community in the project. Later, Joel accompanied the four to KENVO’s Osutua eco-lodge where they learnt more about the facilities and how visiting groups are engaged on site. Later on, the four travelled to the Loita hills to get first-hand experience and take lessons in the design of nature trails and involvement of the local community, marketing strategies and benefits sharing. They were hosted by Mr. Robert Ole Rerente, an experienced local guide. Mr. Robert accompanied by other lo-cal Maasai men, who acted as guards and potters, walked through the nature trail explaining how they se-lect the routes and the roles played by the local community

The visiting grantees on site with the local guides The grantees were also involved in other activities such as interaction with local communities on their role in eco-tourism activities along the nature trail and a visit to sustainable enterprises owned and ran by local community members to examine the benefits of eco-tourism ventures to the local community.

Grantees engage with local beadwork traders

The CRAG exchange

Tanzania - Rwanda

Where Kibira-Rusizi Landscape

Who The Nature Conservancy, Tanzania to the Association pour la Conservation de la Nature au Rwanda

What Development and implementation of the CRAG (Climate Resilient Altitudinal Gradient) concept for the Kibira-Rusizi landscape in Rwanda

When 6th – 10July, 2016

This site exchange visit was very important particularly for the visiting grantee, The Nature Conservancy, Tanzania. Dubbed as the CRAG visit, it provided a better understanding of the CRAG intervention plan (CIP) And the Kibira-Rusizi landscape which was important due to the fact that Ms. Modesta Medard who repre-sented the Nature Conservancy will be organising the Great Lakes Regional Conference in early 2017 where the Kibira-Rusizi CRAG will be featured. The host grantee, Mr.Serge Nsengimana is leading the CIP and had organised a technical workshop with regional experts from 6th to 8th July 2016 which provided a great platform to discuss the CIP and exchange information.

Participants of the CIP technical workshop

Apart from the workshop, the visit also involved other activities such as interactions with the local community involved in conservation projects, presentations and sharing of resources, meetings and con-sultations with project staff and visits to the sites where the host grantee conduct’s their conservation projects.

The grantees undertake a visit to a local hydropower plant

“The visit was very interesting on my side. I got the chance to network with a number of folks from around the region. Also the field trip was quite good especially seeing Lake Kivu for the very first time.

Many thanks.”

Ms. Modesta Medard African Great Lakes Project Manager, Africa Region

Incorporating PES for biodiversity conservation

Kenya - Uganda

Where Ngamba Island & Hoima District in Western Uganda

Who Nature Kenya and Kijabe Environment Volunteers to Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust

What Discuss Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) as a sustainable financing mechanism for biodiversity conservation

When 27th June – 2nd July, 2016

The site exchange was organised in order to give the two visiting grantees an insight into how to use Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) as a tool for biodiversity conservation. The host grantee is success-fully implementing the PES project in Hoima and Kibaale Districts in western Uganda where 342 Private forest owners were contracted for a period of 2 years. The project is aimed at protecting the wildlife corridors, providing the incentive to private owners to conserve their forests and interest more private forest owners to mitigate impact of deforestation. This came in handy for the two visiting grantees since Nature Kenya has received a grant to undertake a project on water PES scheme for Mt. Kenya watershed conservation and restoration.

Visit to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Through a series of site visits and awareness meetings, the grantees were able to share and exchange lots of knowledge including management tools for PES, how to mobilize, organize and engage the sellers, how to share the benefits between the key stakeholders among others. The site visit adopted integrated learn-ing methods that involved presentations and plenary discussions with the host organization, one on one discussions with project partners, interviews with private sector practitioners, project site visits as well as sharing of monitoring and evaluation tools. The exchange included activities such as briefings on the implementation of the PES project in Uganda, a site visit to Ngamba Island, a chimpanzee conservation and rehabilitation sanctuary, a Project site visit in Hoima and visits to the local stakeholders. Through this, the visiting grantees were able to learn that the PES scheme is not the only primary incentive to conservation and that it’s important to consider integrating additional effective approaches for the project to be successful.

Site visit to a local hydro power station

“ This visit offered me an opportunity to share experiences with our host as I was able to share my experience on community based tourism and advised the host on how they can establish ecotourism initiatives in Hoima

area including homestays.”

Leah W. Mwangi Project Manager KENVO

Conservation and livelihood improvement through beekeeping

Rwanda - Burundi

Where Nyungwe and Gishwati landscapes, Rwanda

Host Straightforward Development Services Limited, Rwanda

Guests The Association Rwandaise des Ecologistes (ARECO) – Rwanda, Association Protection des Ressources Naturelles pour le Bien-Etre de la Population au Burundi (APRN/BEPB) – Bu-rundi, Rural Environment Development Organisation - Rwanda

What To evaluate the relative effectiveness of apiculture as an integrated tool for income gen-eration, crop pollination and biodiversity conservation

When March 2016

This visit involved four organisations implementing projects funded by CEPF. The aim of the visit was to study the value of honeybees for sustainable livelihoods in the Nyungwe and Gishwati regions of Rwanda. The three day event consisted of discussions on the challenges and experiences of beekeeping develop-ment and biodiversity conservation. There were demonstrations on manufacturing hive by-products which can add value to the main hive products, and presentations by both the host and guests on their own pro-jects - highlighting success stories where challenges had been met. Finally, delegates enjoyed visits to con-servation areas in the host region.

A showcase on the process of honey and beeswax collection and packaging

This site visit was especially relevant due to the fact that two of the guest organisations (Rural Environ-ment Development Organisation and ARECO) are implementing projects similar to the host organisation. The projects focus on the use of beekeeping as a tool to encourage the local communities to conserve their natural environment. This was a wonderful opportunity for them to learn more about the host’s experiences and the challenges met during the implementation of the project. Key outcomes of the visit included improved knowledge on the link between bee keeping and biodiversity conservation, the importance of sensitization of people on conservation so as to achieve sus-tainability, a chance to learn and network among the grantees with the possibility of creation of future partnerships and how to overcome specific challenges when implementing different conservation pro-jects.

A visit to view the various types of honeybee colonies and the hives used by the host organisation to ensure maximum output of

honey and its by-products

“This visit provided an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences in different topics from bio-

diversity conservation to community enterprises. It was also an excellent moment for networking and building partnerships for further collaboration.”

Marc Ndimukaga - Straightforward Development Services, Rwanda

Closer cooperation across boundaries

Zimbabwe-Mozambique

Where Chimanimani Key Biodiversity Area, Manica, Mozambique

Who Birdlife Zimbabwe to MICAIA Foundation (a Mozambican conservation NGO), Mozambique

What Discuss options for improving conservation efforts of the shared Chimanimani KBA

When September 2015

Both organisations implement CEPF-supported projects in the cross-border Chimanimani Key Biodiversity Area (KBA). The exchange focussed on project implementation, discussing successful approaches and cre-ating a common vision for the development of joint activities to improve conservation throughout the KBA. The three-day visit consisted of a botanical survey of the Chimanimani area, capacity building sessions with communities involved in the project, stakeholder capacity building sessions, and meetings with regional stakeholders such as the Mozambique office of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and local research institutions on how to improve conservation practices.

A seed bank with a collection of important indigenous trees. This is part of the botanical survey work done by MICAIA

foundation in Chimanimani KBA

The emphasis was on showcasing the MICAIA foundation’s holistic approach in achieving a balance between biodiversity conservation and local livelihoods in the Chimanimani KBA. The spotlight was on ac-tivities such as seed banking to protect against the loss of plants and provide sustainable options for fu-ture use, and bee-fencing along the buffer zone to address human-wildlife conflicts and offer alternative livelihoods options. An important outcome of this visit was the development of a joint proposal for a cross-border project on alternative livelihoods and local capacity building that would be implemented across the Chimanimani KBA. This will play a key role in ensuring sustainable development though poverty alleviation and biodiversity conservation in the species rich area.

Milagre Nuvuga (MICAIA), Togaraseyi Fakarayi (Birdlife Zimbabwe) and Daglasse (MICAIA) sharing ideas for a joint concept note

“This whole experience had been really interesting, as it has opened the door to new knowledge. I have gained a different perspective on what has and hasn’t worked across the border in the shared KBA, and also, estab-

lished partnerships to help in the achievement of our common goals.”

Togarasei Fakarayi, Programme Manager, BirdLife Zimbabwe

How communities build sustainable livelihoods with bees

Tanzania-Malawi

Where Misuku Hills KBA, Malawi

Who Save Tanzania Forest (SATAFO) to Misuku Hills Beekeepers Association (MBA), Malawi

What Cross-country learning on the practical engagement of local communities in sustainable livelihood activities

When August 2015

Both organisations have integrated beekeeping as a sustainable and collaborative tool for biodiversity and livelihood enhancement in their conservation projects. This commonality brought together the two conservation organisations in a site visit exchange in August 2015. Hosted by the MBA in Misuku Hills Malawi, the main objective of this event was to encourage cross-country learning on the practical engagement of local communities in sustainable livelihood activities. The four day exchange included presentations, field visits to beekeeping groups, beekeeping sites and conservation sites managed by MBA. There were practical demonstrations on bee harvesting and group discussions on strengthening the honey value chain.

A practical session on honey and candles value chain and the various sustainability strategies employed by MBA

During the visit, participants from SATAFO shared how they conduct biodiversity surveys in their conservation projects, which serve as useful indicators of ‘species richness’ and conservation priorities of an area. This was of interest to MBA as they have limited knowledge on the identifying the species which merit conservation priority in the area.

Pendo Niyukuli (SATAFO) preparing for a demonstration on honey harvesting

Both organisations shared ideas on how to overcome common challenges and the actions that each would implement based on lessons learnt from the sharing experiences. The visit ended with a display of tradi-tional dances organised by the beekeepers association to showcase local culture and emphasise the im-portance of integrating community in conservation projects. “One of the take-aways from this exchange is how SATAFO can further strengthen the honey value chain by

establishing effective working groups and assisting the local communities to obtain better prices by harvesting and processing honey more skillfully.”

Pendo Niyukuli, Community Development Officer, SATAFO

These site visit exchanges were generously supported by Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, under the project ‘Systematic Evaluation of CEPF and Capacity Development of CEPF Grantees’