Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP)

Change activity: Working towards reduced frequency of veld fires: a climate change
adaptation strategy for enhancing community livelihoods and reducing plant species
diversity loss in the GLTP
Progress:
The participants that represented GLTP, namely Ricardina Matusse (Limpopo
National Park, Mozambique), Hlalaphi Ursular Tivani (South Africa) and Henry
Ndaimani (Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe), did not know each other before
the training and met in the training for the first time. Since then they have been
communicating and sharing ideas regularly.
The team is exploring a number of intervention strategies that include rehabilitation
of the land (Kruger), reforestation through tree planting (Limpopo), reducing the
number of cattle and introducing rotational grazing while restoring soil-eroded areas
(Gonarezhou), and the introduction of alternative fuels to reduce and eventually
eradicate the use of charcoal use (Gonarezhou).
.
The Zimbabwean (Gonarezhou) component has seen good collaboration between
the project leader (Park) and the community. The community rejected the proposed
fire management project and requested park grazing for their cattle which were dying
from drought, and this has changed the project leaders focus likewise and increased
mutual trust. Actual implementation has however largely not started for various
reasons, one of them being flooded rivers. The Process Moderator, namely Mr
Evious Mpofu, has pledged to coordinate with the other Park managers and to
champion this community of practice.

Motivated by the process moderator training in which Mr Evious Mpofu participated

the following have been identified as the impacts of climate change on the park: food
security challenges and land degradation resulting from unsustainable use and
increasing drought. He said:
Initiatives under the theme reduction of poverty are designed to limit rural household
vulnerability to climate hazards and external shocks. The focus was on women groups living
close to the park boundary, possibility of establishing alternative source of livelihood apart
from rain fed agriculture and ways to improve current farming practice to climate-smart
agriculture (Evious Mpofu, et al 28 August 2014).

He also stated that the Gonarezhou National park has formed a partnership with
Sustainable Agriculture Technology (SAT). Land adjacent to the park has been set
aside for a community park. SAT will provide funding for establishment of the park
and the park will provide technical input. The park will be run by the community and
the money generated will be used to develop community projects. SAT has further
pledged to assist in the development of feed lots where cattle will be fattened to add
value before sale as a strategy for the communities to get higher return from their
livestock.
A workshop was held from 18 to 19 August 2014 to identify a research project that
can be carried in Chiredzi to improve community livelihoods. As a result of the CCA
training, Mpofu said We proposed that part of the research should (focus) on
climate change (adaptation) issues (Evious Mpofu, 28 August 2014).
He makes a close link between the capacity he has gained through the CCA course
and these small but promising developments.

Picture 2: One of several meetings held to engage communities on climate change issues and to come up with initiatives
to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change

Picture 3: On 17 July 2014 a regional steering committee meeting (Chipinge, Chiredzi and Beit Bridge) was held in
Chiredzi. Part of the discussions centred on climate change mitigation measures and a number of initiatives were
proposed.

The South African team has done climate change adaptation awareness raising
activities with community members and schools in villages in Mpumalanga Province
around the Kruger National Park from Acornhoek to Manyeleti from April 2014 to
date. This was a follow up from a meeting they had with Indunas and Chiefs in July
2014 where they were allowed to do these awareness raising campaigns and
meetings. They have made steps regarding addressing land degradation and bush
encroachment through clearing of bush by the community. Communities around the
Park have also started to enhance cattle control to prevent livestock jumping over
the fence into the park.
In terms of the Mozambican component it is reported that a new person has taken
over from Ms Ricardina Matusse (now based in Marine Park Bazaruto, Archipelago
National Park) on the Limpopo National Park side in Mozambique. The name of this
person has not yet been retrieved.
Some cross-border collaboration has taken place. The South African team has
been communicating with counterparts in Zimbabwe and invited Mr Henry Ndaimani
to come to South Africa but he is still to make arrangements. On the other hand the
South African team has travelled across the border to Gonarezhou and met with Mr
Ndaimani in August 2014 to coordinate efforts.
For purposes of networking, the whole TFCA team on the CCA project has been
introduced by email to Professor Edson Gandiwa (Dean of the School of Wildlife,
Ecology and Conservation, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe) who is
part of a group doing research in GLTP for networking with his team. His email
address is: egandiwa@cut.ac.zw.