As Botswana is grappling with dwindling interest in the Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) policy implementation, the project provides opportunity to pilot how a low scale tourism venture could operate in a City environment. The project process has also provided the Francistown City Council with a platform to discuss and understand potential benefits that could be derived from tourism of which there has been very little awareness. It is hoped that the information will influence them to have green policies in their future developments. This follows indications that some councilor’s deliberations have made the reports points of reference for the development of the City. Furthermore these reports will go a long way to advise similar processes in other areas, hence policy impacts.
Deliberate gender sensitive measures would be developed to ensure equal and effective participation by both females and males in the project. Such measures would include the harmonization of the management structure of the project as well as enterprise development activities that are envisaged.
Planning gef grant
Funding remains a great challenge and if the project is qualifying for a medium size project, the opportunity will be taken.
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
In Botswana conservation issues have been largely relegated to rural areas close to protected areas with a few urban centres such as Orapa, Jwaneng and Gaborone having a few case studies driven by other the Council or corporate organizations. This is a totally different and new project which adopts a holistic approach in environmental management by ensuring a fair contribution by the community, private sector, non-governmental organizations and the govern both at local and central government levels. The diverse roles of the aforementioned stakeholders and others that will be identified through the scooping exercise will be covered explicitly in the management plan. It is therefore believed that this approach is in line in promoting public awareness on the global environment.
Replication of project activities
It is highly possible that the project will be replicated in Francistown and other parts of the country where eco-tourism ventures have gained momentum. The Botswana Tourism Organization and the Department of Museum, monuments and relics have indicated interest in facilitating similar processes at the proposed Francistown Educational Park. Currently there is very little tourism attractions in Francistown and the information produced provides adequate information for the decision makers to see light and possibly encourage tourism developments in the City.
Planning non gef grant
KCS has been approached by the council for further fund raising elsewhere and the process has commenced in 2013. However the council will also be fundraising within its structures.
Linkages gef projects
The city of Francistown is located in the North-Eastern part of the country, an area which has not seen much action in relation to conservation initiatives as compared to other regions that are as richer in archaeological-environmental issues as it is. But nevertheless the status quo is progressively changing as they are several small, medium and even potentially larger project coming up in the area. GEF Small Grant Program has so far funded and it is most likely to continue funding several projects under the auspices of environmental conservation. Among other projects is the Mazibakufa Trust project; where the Community of Jackalase 1 has been funded to start by building the Trust offices in their efforts to build eco-tourism venture around the historically rich hills in the midst of the Botswana Zimbabwe Boarder (Ramokgwebana boarder); the other project is the Mantenge Trust project, The Famous Domboshaba ruins all of these are potentially viable GEF projects. It is on these basis that one would not dispute any linkages to any project or possible projects in future or currently on the process of implementation. The fact is there is still much that need to be done and that leaves the door wide open for all possibilities.
Notable Community Participation
The project aims at pioneering an ecotourism approach in an urban set and therefore defining “community” in such a complex society has always remained problematic. In addressing the problem, the project has identified current active users of the project area being the hill hikers, the two karate club and the Pentecostal church as the interim societal sectors that will be actively at the inception of the project. Since the project area falls under the communal land use zone, other stakeholders will be taken on board as the project progresses.
Policy Impact
The project has a great potential of impacting in the country’s policy of economic diversification which amongst others have identified tourism as a sound and viable economic option in diversifying the country’s economy. As mentioned above this a new approach to CBNRM and once successful may impact on the existing CBNRM guidelines.
Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
The project recognizes the importance of community participation from its inception through its life span. This is aimed at ensuring that the community needs and aspirations are adequately incorporated in the project in addressing livelihoods needs. Further more, the project has a strong entrepreneurial skills development targeting communities and it thus focuses on poverty alleviation issues.
Inovative Financial Mechanisms
The reintroduction of the klipspringer which is an endangered species is aimed at attracting and retaining local and international tourism in the City of Francistown and the surrounding settlements. This will be coupled with the viewing of rock rabbits, pythons, a number of rock lizards species and mountain tree species.
The project has a potential of ensuring shared generated revenue through the development of the Greater Francistown Tourism Plan to take on board important historical sites within vicinity of the City. Dombo shaba ruins, mphotophotho at Mathangwane, Kalakamati rock paintings, Ladysmith and Tati gold mines are some of the sites.
Project sustainability
This project represents the initial stages of a process to build the Nyangabwe Hill Eco-tourism recreational Centre for the city of Francistown. It was anticipated that the council will take over the process after this initial stage but the movement has been very slow. However since the creation of the task force where this project is part of the Agenda, indications are that the project will be implemented in the future. KCS has been made part of the task force and we continue to attend the meetings where we have been asked to continue fundraising for part of the project components. It is further anticipated that the task force will oversee the implementation of the project activities and since it is mostly made up of the city council staff, task force will remain sustainable entity to ensure the project successes.
Capacity - Building Component
This will be a pilot project and it will go along way in empowering the Francistown City Council especially the Parks Division on managing an ecotourism project in an urban setup and to as well explore measures that will serve as alternative tourism attractive sites. The same goes to the community members who will have the opportunity of being exposed to ecotourism approaches and initiatives for the managing the project.
Capacity building will not necessarily be limited to the management of the project. It is anticipated that other direct and indirect activities on the project could mushroom thereby enhancing the socio-economic ability of the community. These include development of craft shop and city guiding concept amongst the populace.
Project Results
Activities
Activities Performed under this Agreement:
• Conduct a feasibility study.
• Development of the management plan
• Capacity building to mobilize and identify areas of community participation and training.
Results:
Describe to what extent the objectives of the Agreement were accomplished:
The Feasibility study was conducted and the report was produced with management and business plan on 18 August 2009, this “Feasibility, Viability Management and Business plan for Nyangabwe Hills” report has been presented several times to stakeholders, including submission of the report to the GEF/SGP.
The Nyangwabwe Hill management plan was finalized and was presented to stakeholders where it was discussed and adopted.
A very successful workshop was held in Francistown at Marang hotel on the 19th to 20th November 2009, where a lot of issues pertaining to the project were discussed and finalized. The workshop proceedings were also produced and among actions that came from the workshop was enactment of the Francistown Tourism Development Task force. This became the steering committee to oversee project implementation. It’s composed of several stakeholders including Kalahari Conservation Society.
Describe the immediate benefits received by the participants and/or the recipient communities:
• The feasibility study and the management plan exposed potential avenues that the Francistown community could utilize to improve their livelihoods through an eco-tourism project.
• The study exposed illegal activities that could be detrimental to the protection and sustainability of the hill if continued, hence devised short term mechanism to stop illegal activities. .
The project gave the Francistown City Council a platform to meet conservation oriented organizations in the City and discussed its tourism potential.
• Describe long-term benefits:
The reports are available for public consumption and currently they are a good reference point to the various stakeholders in the City as they are detailed and in most cases providing formation on running tourism facilities. It is envisaged that once the facilities are constructed, both the community and the City council will accrue funds from the levies and the services provided. There is also a potential for to create employment creation.
