GOLA FOREST PROGRAMME

1. GOLA FOREST PROGRAMME Challenges and Opportunities in Up Scaling to Transboundary Peace Park for Sierra Leone and Liberia Sharing Experiences on Transboundary Forest Management: MRU Workshop Freetown 18 October 2010 David Zeller

2. Gola Forests History Proclaimed as forest reserves 1926 - 1963; Logged over with varying degrees of management between 1960 - 1989; Conservation Concession framework signed 2002. Gola Forest Conservation Concession Project 2004-2006 Gola Forest Project – phase II 2007-2012 Across the River Transboundary Peace Park 2009-2013

3. Gola Forests Values Last remnant of Upper Guinea Moist Tropical Lowland Evergreen Forest Unique species; Ecosystem Services; Climate Change mitigation.

4. Gola Forests Importance Important Bird Area (IBA); Biodiversity Hotspot; Important Chimpanzee Area; Global 200 Priority Eco-Region (WWF)

5. Gola Forests Biodiversity

6. Gola Forests Administration Two regions (provinces); Three districts;

7. Gola Forests Community Seven Chiefdoms; 475 Villages; 130,470 people;

8. Community

9. Gola Forests Innovative Management From commercial forest reserve to protected National Park; Conservation Concession approach; Community cooperation, participation and benefits; Sustained Financing; Partnership.

10. Gola Forests Partnership

11. Gola Forests Threats Illegal logging; Poaching (bush meat trade); Mining; Settlements; Farming; Smuggling.

12. Transboundary Cooperation Protected Area planning and management cannot be site specific, but must be at broader national and even regional scale. Plants and animals do not recognise national boundaries, nor do the forces that threaten them. Rivers are often shared by more than one country. Winds, rain and atmospheric currents do not recognise political frontiers.

13. Transboundary Cooperation

14. Transboundary Cooperation

15. Transboundary Cooperation

16. Gola-Lofu Peace Park

17. Corridors

18. Across the RiverA Transboundary Peace Park for Sierra Leone and Liberia

19. Transboundary Cooperation Security of Biodiversity; Peace and Stability; Sustainable Regional Development; Benefits.

20. Transboundary Cooperation HOW? IUCN management guidelines on TBPA’s Identify and promote common values; Involve and benefit local communities; Obtain and maintain support of decision makers; Promote and coordinate cooperative activities; Achieve coordinated planning and protected area development; Develop cooperative agreements; Work towards sustainable funding; Monitor and assess progress; Resolve tension and conflict.

21. Transboundary Cooperation Pitfalls Lack of roads and other communication impede interchanges; Conflicting laws may reduce effectiveness; The need for cooperation may slow decision making and response times; Cultural differences may cause misunderstanding; Language barriers may have to be overcome; Differential commitment and resources may lead to a dominant/weak situation; Different levels of professional standards of staff may impede partner twinning; Differences in authority granted protected area managers may produce difficulties in cooperation; Technical incompatibilities may impede cooperation; Conflict or political tension can make transboundary cooperation difficult or even impossible.

22. GOLA PEACE PARK Objectives Support long-term cooperative conservation of biodiversity, ecosystem services, and natural and cultural values; Promote landscape level ecosystem management through integrated bio-regional land-use planning and management; Build trust, understanding, reconciliation and cooperation between countries, communities, and other stakeholders; Prevent or resolve tension over access to natural resources; Sharing of biodiversity and cultural resource management skills and experience; Promote more efficient and effective cooperative management programmes; Promote access to, and equitable and sustainable use of natural resources, consistent with national sovereignty; Enhance benefits and promote benefit sharing across broader community.

23. GOLA PEACE PARK Benefits A larger contiguous area will better safeguard biodiversity; Promotes ecosystem or bioregional management; Facilitates recolonisation of large range species; Effective pest species control; Joint research programmes can eliminate duplication, enlarge perspectives, standardise methodologies and share expensive equipment; Poaching and illegal trade is better controlled; Nature based tourism is enhanced More cost effective joint training of staff and greater diversity of staff with different experiences. Greater ministerial support and obligation; More attractive to donor community.

24. SYNERGIES GOLA PEACE PARK Cross border consultation initiated; Assessment of biodiversity values done; Forest management capacity effectiveness being addressed; Communities organised and involved; Sustainable financing strategy under development

25. GOLA PEACE PARK SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS • Cross border movement of staff (Support/Reinforce, Hot Pursuit, Exchanges, Training); • Tourist movement; • Protection under TREATY; • Carbon Trading regulatory framework • Technical Coordinating Committee • form key working groups: • Community Interest • Joint Management Plan • Legislation • Wildlife Diseases • Tourism • Security • Customs and Immigration • Common Database • Private Sector involvement in development

26. KEY CONCERNS GOLA PEACE PARK PROTECTION BY INTERNATIONAL TREATY; SUSTAINABLE FUNDING; CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT; GOVERNANCE (National strengthening + MRU framework;

27. (Africa)... is the greatest show on earth. It might be the last show, but it’s the biggest.... Peter Beard

28. Gola Forest Programme Funded by

29. Thank You “TANKI”