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Sub-Saharan Africa:
Cape Verde Kenya Mozambique Namibia South Africa Southern Africa Tanzania Uganda - Mgahinga & Bwindi National Parks Uganda - Queen Elizabeth National Park Return to 'Where We Work' Page Cape Verde - Active Groundwater Monitoring Network Approximately 80 percent of the rainfall on the Cape Verde Islands is estimated to be lost to evaporation and runoff to the sea. If a portion of the “lost” rainfall can be stored as recharge to the groundwater system, a more sustainable water supply can be provided to support increased agricultural productivity. Community-based water management plans and the construction of various structures to help retain surface water runoff, will contribute to a sustainable water supply to support agriculture on the islands. In order to establish effective monitoring of the water-retention schemes in providing sustainable recharge to the groundwater system, a network is needed. Such a network includes wells, rain gages, and spring measurements. Monitoring of the water table with a network of existing wells, as well as monitoring spring discharge, will provide a measure of the success of the water retention and recharge schemes. It is desirable to have the monitoring done at a local level, so that the communities can “take ownership” of the program and will carry or adopt responsibility for the success of the program. Experience in designing and maintaining a monitoring network is lacking at the community level; therefore training and equipment must be provided. Specifically, DOI’s U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will:
For a more detailed understanding of this program, please refer to the DOI-ITAP Quarterly Report. Kenya - Completed Samburu Heartland:  The Samburu Heartland is located just north of the equator in the rain-shadow of Mt. Kenya. This is one of the few areas in Kenya where wildlife numbers outside parks have increased in recent years. DOI-ITAP assisted the African Wildlife Federation (AWF) in planning for management of this area. DOI-ITAP developed a framework for a general management plan for Samburu Game Reserve and the adjoining area. DOI-ITAP also consulted with stakeholders and advised them on outreach, budgeting and training needs.Funding: African Wildlife Foundation For a more detailed understanding of this program, please refer to the DOI-ITAP Quarterly Report. Mozambique - Active Gorongosa National Park: DOI-ITAP is working with the Carr Foundation in Gorongosa National Park in central Mozambique to help restore and conserve the park’s natural resources and help develop the site as a viable tourism destination. Because the National Park’s wildlife and landscape were significantly impacted during Mozambique’s long year civil war, the Carr Foundation has embarked on an ambitious long-term partnership with the Government of Mozambique to restore the area’s biodiversity and enhance ecotourism potential. DOI-ITAP is securing the technical assistance of DOI experts, as needed. Funding: Carr Foundation Natural Resource Tourism Development:  DOI-ITAP is working in Northern Mozambique to support the development of natural and cultural resource-based tourism opportunities. DOI-ITAP is primarily involved in technical assistance activities in and around Pemba Bay, a complex ecosystem that provides habitat for a wide variety of aquatic life. The DOI-ITAP team has recommended actions in four key areas to help in the future protection of the bay:
For a more detailed understanding of this program, please refer to the DOI-ITAP Quarterly Report. Namibia - Active Natural Resource Tourism Development In 2006, DOI-ITAP began working with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to provide technical assistance to the Government of Namibia (GoN). The GoN is working to promote tourism and natural resource conservation as part of its larger economic development and growth plan. The MCC enlisted the expertise of DOI to provide a due diligence assessment and technical assistance in several areas, including:
Funding: Millennium Challenge Corporation For a more detailed understanding of this program, please refer to the DOI-ITAP Quarterly Report. South Africa - Completed Richtersveld National Park Richtersveld National Park (162,445 hectares) is South Africa's newest park and is the only park in South Africa established through a contractual agreement with local communities. The Nama people work in partnership with the National Parks Board to maintain traditional pastoralism and promote and maintain the unique biodiversity in the Park. DOI-ITAP provided technical assistance on livestock grazing management for the Richtersveld Park staff, National Parks Research Unit scientists, and South African university scientists. In addition, the South Africa National Parks Board Scientific Officer in charge of this project visited the United States and learned about the Bureau of Land Management's policies and management practices regarding rangelands, livestock and vegetation monitoring, remote sensing, and GIS capabilities. Finally, DOI-ITAP provided equipment to help set up a Geographic Information System and a biological monitoring system in the Park. Funding: USAID/Global Bureau Working for Water DOI-ITAP provided assistance to the National Parks Board of South Africa to develop the Working for Water Project at Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa. The project promoted methods of curbing the invasion of non-indigenous species into the Table Mountain area of Cape Town. It is estimated that 600 jobs were created by this project. An independent, outside evaluation of this project showed that invasive alien vegetation had effectively been cleared, thereby improving the hydrology and biodiversity of a globally significant conservation area. The project also helped pioneer a model for development in which participants are left empowered to look for work, start a business of their own, or become independent contractors. Funding: USAID/Office of Southern Africa Affairs Southern Africa Environment Page DOI-ITAP provided technical assistance in launching a Southern Africa Environment website. The site provides extensive and current information on developments in South African environmental law and policy in a format useful to environmental nongovernmental organizations and community-based organizations, provincial and local officials, university and secondary school teachers and students, and the general public. The site was officially launched on June 1, 1996 as a follow up to the U.S.-South Africa Binational Commission. The site may be found at www.saep.org. Funding: USAID/Global Bureau Water Convention DOI-ITAP personnel helped the South African Department of Water and Forestry Affairs develop a strategy to implement major initiatives in water conservation, demand management, and water law with the goal of achieving more equitable distribution of water. In addition, DOI-ITAP supported a workshop on best management practices on water conservation. Funding: USAID/Africa Bureau For a more detailed understanding of this program, please refer to the DOI-ITAP Quarterly Report. Southern Africa - Completed Four Corners:  In the African region called "Four Corners," four countries meet near the Zambezi River and the spectacular Victoria Falls: Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia. A series of parks and game reserves dot the landscape, yet the corridors for migrating wildlife to move between them are not secure. With four sets of laws and policies, coordination among the four countries for management of the watershed and the wildlife is needed. Fostering this coordination and developing a coherent circuit for tourists as well as corridors for wildlife are priorities under the African Wildlife Federation's Four Corners initiative funded by USAID/Regional Center for Southern Africa (RCSA). DOI-ITAP assessed the project and provided recommendations to address project needs.
For a more detailed understanding of this program, please refer to the DOI-ITAP Quarterly Report. Tanzania - Active Protected Area Management:  Since 1997, DOI-ITAP has partnered with USAID/Tanzania to provide technical assistance to the Government of Tanzania (GOT). The objective of this partnership is to sustainably improve natural resources management in a number of Tanzania’s protected areas, including national parks, game reserves, and marine protected areas. This assistance supported USAID/Tanzania’s 1997-2003 Country Strategic Plan (extended through 2005), within the mission’s Environment and Natural Resources Strategic Objective.Over the 8 years, DOI-ITAP has provided a wide array of technical assistance and training, focusing on such areas as:
Geographically, the majority of DOI-ITAP’s work has been conducted in conjunction with the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) and the African Wildlife Foundation (an NGO) to improve management in the Tarangire-Lake Manyara Complex in northern Tanzania. DOI-ITAP has also more recently worked with the Tanzania Wildlife Division and Africare (an NGO) to improve natural resource law enforcement in the Ugalla Game Reserve in west-central Tanzania. And finally, DOI-ITAP has worked with the Tanzania Coastal Management Partnership to help improve the protection of the Tanzania’s coastal resources. Funding: USAID/Tanzania For a more detailed understanding of this program, please refer to the DOI-ITAP Quarterly Report. Uganda - Completed Mgahinga & Bwindi National Parks:  Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks, in southwestern Uganda, are home to the remaining 600 or so mountain gorillas left in the world. Both parks also have a wide variety of animal and plant life and both offer excellent hiking in spectacular scenery. Both parks are pockets of wilderness surrounded by densely populated farmlands. Most conservation problems are a result of conflicts over the use of resources -- the community and wildland interface. DOI-ITAP provided technical assistance related to tourist infrastructure, park interpretation and fire management to African Wildlife Foundation’s (AWF) projects in Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks.
Funding: African Wildlife Foundation For a more detailed understanding of this program, please refer to the DOI-ITAP Quarterly Report. Uganda - Completed Queen Elizabeth National Park:  An international biosphere reserve, Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of Uganda's oldest and most visited national parks. It encompasses a wide range of species and habitats, including forest, grassland, wooded savanna, volcanic craters, lakeshore, and a wetland that is protected by the Ramsar Convention. DOI-ITAP worked to improve Queen Elizabeth National Park visitor services and to increase revenue generation through tourism. It trained and equipped field personnel within Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and Peace Corps Volunteers to engage in park interpretation and to conduct basic biological inventories and monitor user impacts. DOI-ITAP also worked to promote conservation education programs in targeted communities near selected protected areas, including community-level initiatives which encouraged park-compatible economic development adjacent to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The DOI-ITAP visitor satisfaction survey was the first standardized questionnaire used throughout Uganda’s national parks.Funding: USAID/Global Bureau For a more detailed understanding of this program, please refer to the DOI-ITAP Quarterly Report. | |
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