MPAH Newsletter

Eleven newsletters highlighting achievements and stories from the CEPF-funded projects were distributed to the learning network. These stories showed the strength of the partnerships established and the level of commitment by the projects in achieving their goals.

1. Issue 1 – Autumn 2013
2. Issue 2 – Spring 2013
3. Issue 3 – Summer 2013
4. Issue 4 – Summer 2014
5. Issue 5 – Winter 2014
6. Issue 6 – Spring 2014
7. Issue 7 – Autumn 2015
8. Issue 8 – Winter 2015
9. Issue 9 – Spring 2015
10. Issue 10 – Summer 2015

MPAH Case Study Series 

SANBI in partnership with Wildlands Conservation Trust compiled a series of case studies highlighting work done by projects in the hotspot. The case studies focus on important lessons from projects that led to great achievements, innovation, collaboration and opportunities for sustaining the gains made by the CEPF investment. The case studies were grouped into three sets focusing on biodiversity stewardship, local government and civil society and strengthening community conservation across the landscape. The individual case studies can be downloaded below. Some of these case studies are available in Portuguese.

Biodiversity Stewardship

This set of case studies highlights experiences gained from CEPF-funded projects working on biodiversity stewardship in the hotspot. These cases are a clear demonstration of how partnership with commitment ensures continuous improvement and expansion of protected areas in the hotspot.

• Factsheet on Biodiversity Stewardship
• Case Study: Nature Reserve: Umgano Project
• Case Study: Nature Reserve: Botanical Society Nature Reserves
• Case Study: Protected Environment: Mountain Zebra Wilderness Corridor
• Case Study: Biodiversity Agreement: WWF-SA Water Balance Programme
• Case Study: Biodiversity Partnership Area: uMzimvubu Catchment Partnership Programme
• Ten lessons from biodiversity stewardship in the MPAH

Local Government and Civil Society

The second set in the series highlights examples of where local government and civil society have worked together in the region. It looks at striking a balance between securing critical biodiversity while looking after the needs of the affected landowners and communities. Topics covered under this set include climate change response, urban conservation, ecological infrastructure and establishing biosphere reserves.

• Case Study: Local government and civil society: Climate change response in Alfred Nzo District Municipality (Portuguese version)
• Case Study: Local government and civil society: Urban conservation in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (Portuguese version)
• Case Study: Local government and civil society: uMngeni Ecological Infrastructure Partnership (Portuguese version)
• Case Study: Local government and civil society: Greater uMngeni Biosphere Reserve (Portuguese version)
• Local government and civil society: Partnering for biodiversity management and service delivery (Portuguese version)

Strengthening Community Conservation across the Landscape

The last set in the series looks at the strengthening of community conservation across the landscape. It highlights the co-ordination of community conservation activities with a focus on the restoration of ecosystems in the Afromontane forests and grasslands and the management of community based natural resources. This set has a footprint in the three countries namely South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique.

• Case study: Community-based natural resource management: Amathole region (click here for Portuguese version)
• Case study: Community-based natural resource management: Futi Corridor, Mozambique (click here for Portuguese version)
• Case study: Community-based natural resource management: Lubombo region, Swaziland (click here for Portuguese version)
• Case study: Community-based natural resource management: Ntsubane forest complex (click here for Portuguese version)
• Strengthening community conservation across landscapes in the MPAH (click here for Portuguese version)

These case studies are an important tool for communicating the impact and legacy of the CEPF investment with a wider audience. 

Audio-visual resource

Ozwathini: a case for community forest certification

This film showcases the small timber growers of Ozwathini in Kwazulu-Natal working hard to get their timber and plantation certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). With the support from CEPF, the FSC and an appointed mentor, these small growers have developed an innovative multifunctional landscape approach to meet the principles and criteria required by the FSC. The film captures the lessons, experience, questions and challenges of the Ozwathini small growers in a way that spurs debate, discussion, and innovation. The film was produced by Forest Green Media on behalf of SANBI.

Click here to link to the YouTube link for the film.

MPAH Sustainability Framework

In an effort to sustain the gains made by the CEPF investment in the MPAH, the Wildlands Conservation Trust and SANBI have developed a sustainability framework. This framework guides actions that support the sustainability of interventions in the hotspot. It focuses specifically on the funded projects and gives recommendations to Wildlands Conservation Trust on their future role in the region.