Introduction       |      Purpose and objectives      |       Benefits      |       Implementation     |      Documents

The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF), with support from the World Bank and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has secured a grant from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF-7) under its biodiversity focal programme for the project entitled: South Africa Biodiversity and Illegal Wildlife Trade. Stakeholder engagement is one of the central concepts of the project. The World Bank Environmental and Social Standards (ESS10) require that these documents are made available to project affected groups, local NGOs, and the public at large. Public disclosure of the documents is also a requirement of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) environmental and social procedures. As such, the project is engaged in continuous stakeholder engagement from identification to date and these will continue throughout implementation. A stakeholder mapping was undertaken, and stakeholder engagement plan has been prepared to guide the project.

The Government of the Republic of South Africa is already preparing the "South Africa: Catalysing Financing and Capacity for the Biodiversity Economy Project". A US$ 9 million operation financed through the grant of the (GEF-7) administered by the World Bank to leverage financial resources and improve capacity to implement the biodiversity economy and increase benefits from selected protected areas landscapes to local communities. The project will be implemented by Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF), South Africa National Parks (SANParks), iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority (IWPA) and South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) with the assistance of Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA) and Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET).

Purpose and objectives

The Catalysing Financing and Capacity for the Biodiversity Economy around Protected Areas Project seeks to leverage financial resources and improve capacity to implement the South African Biodiversity Economy Programme and increase benefits from selected protected areas (PA) landscapes to local communities.

The project will involve investments in: (i) building biodiversity economy nodes for community stewardship and livelihoods; (ii) growing the wildlife economy nationally to enhance communities' stake in wildlife conservation; (iii) project management. The project is currently at the preparatory/design stage and will be participatory and consultative.

Benefits of the project

The project's primary activities can be expected to yield multiple categories of benefits. Quantifiable benefits include: - restoration and conservation of terrestrial and aquatic ecological process and management of the Addo Elephant National Park, Greater Fish Reserve, the iSimangaliso Wetlands Park and the Kruger National Park as well as support for a number of local development initiatives, including employment and livelihood generating activities. Improved land cover due to rehabilitation efforts, reduced forest loss and encroachment, improved livelihoods/earnings/job opportunities for local people, increases in eco-tourism arrivals / earnings, and multiplier economic benefits from the jobs and tourism increases. Though it is not a primary purpose of the project, some carbon sequestration or reduced emissions could be expected (and quantified) based on improved agricultural and natural resource management practices and reduced encroachment on conservation areas. Less tangible benefits include strengthened institutions, habitat connectivity, greater economic opportunity, and improved environmental service delivery, such as water quality.

The project design builds on South Africa's National Biodiversity Economy Strategy (NBSEP), which seeks to balance biodiversity and natural resource protection with sustainable use for economic development and equitable distribution of benefits. The NBES sets out measures to develop the wildlife, biotrade, bioprospecting, and ecotourism sectors, aiming to create 162,000 jobs and generate USD3.19 billion in revenue by 2030.

 Implementation of the project

 The project's component one is designed to demonstrate DEFF's biodiversity economy nodes concept in the three project sites through (i) improving stakeholder coordination, more efficient use of existing resources, and alignment of investment; (ii) channelling funding and technical assistance to SMME development to improve economic activity and create jobs; (iii) improving benefit sharing by local communities through strengthened governance models; and (iv) expanding the PA estate through South Africa's stewardship program (details in Annex 10). Component one activities will be carried out in the Greater Addo-Amathole Node in the Eastern Cape Province, the Greater Kruger-Limpopo Node in Limpopo Province, and the Greater iSimangaliso Node in KwaZulu-Natal Province.

Component two is designed to share lessons learned from the three project nodes – between the nodes, at national level, and internationally through the Global Wildlife Program – for replication and scale-up. These activities will be carried out at the national level.

Specific activities to be financed include: training on business planning and business expansion; mentorship programs; and small grants for equipment and small infrastructure. Financing will include: technical assistance and extension services to communities to achieve the following: (i) design, implement, and monitor land-use management plans; (i) restore and/or maintain the veld for grazing productivity and ecosystem functioning; (ii) undertake infrastructure planning and development (e.g., in the form of a CDF); (iii) implement a system for sustainable off-take and harvesting rates and procedures, e.g. for timber, medicinal plants, game; (iv) equip youth as community monitors of ecosystem condition and functioning; and (v) manage potential human-wildlife interaction.

Biodiversity Stewardship and Economy Project newsletter

Issue 2, April 2024 [PDF - 2.57 mb]
Issue 1, December 2023 [PDF - 2.57 mb]

Fact sheet:

Biodiversity Economy Project: Realising the benefits of the biodiversity economy for communities within and around protected areas [PDF - 825,9 kb]

» Environmental and social management framework (ESMF), 12 May 2020 [PDF - 2.02 mb] 

»  Process framework, May 2020 [PDF - 1.02 mb]

» Stakeholder engagement procedures, 11 May 2020 [PDF - 777 kb]

» Rapid Impact Social Assessment, September 2024 [PDF - 695.7 kb]

» Labour Management Procudure, October 2024 [PDF - 626 kb]

Please contact Ms Nomusa Mbuyazi, the GEF 7 Grievance Officer, through the avenues provided below:

By email (preferred): ess@dffe.gov.za direct to GEF 7 Grievance Officer. | By word-of-mouth directly through any available Project Management Unit (DFFE, World Bank, SANParks, SANBI, iSimangaliso, contractors or third parties) who will report to the grievance officer

By post

Ms Nomusa Mbuyazi
GEF 7 Grievance Officer
Private Bag X447
Pretoria
0001

Hand delivery

Ms Nomusa Mbuyazi
GEF 7 Grievance Officer
Environment House
473 Steve Biko Road
Pretoria
0002

By sms: 066 082 1441 | By telephone: DFFE hotline: 086 111 2468