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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.......................................................................................................I
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY......................................................................................................II
1.0 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................1
1.1 STUDY BACKGROUND.....................................................................................................1
1.2 CONCEPTUAL CONTEXT..................................................................................................1
1.3 TERMS OF REFERENCE....................................................................................................2
2.0 METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH.............................................................................3
2.1 KEY ISSUES IN DEVELOPING CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION PLANS.....................................3
2.2 METHODOLOGY..............................................................................................................5
3.0 CLIMATE CHANGE AND VULNERABILITY.........................................................8
3.1 CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND CHANGE IN SOUTHERN AFRICA..........................................8
3.2 CLIMATE CHANGE AND VARIABILITY IN MALAWI..........................................................9
3.3 VULNERABILITY TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN MALAWI.......................................................9
3.4 GENERAL ADVERSE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN MALAWI.................................10
4.0 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS IN THE WILDLIFE SECTOR..............................11
4.1 BACKGROUND...............................................................................................................11
4.2 COMMON THREATS TO PROTECTED AREAS IN MALAWI................................................14
4.3 IMPACTS OF DROUGHT ON WILDLIFE............................................................................16
5.0 POLICIES AND DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORKS................................................25
5.1 THE MALAWI POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY...........................................................25
5.2 THE MALAWI WILDLIFE POLICY...................................................................................25
5.3 THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN (NEAP)............................................28
5.4 THE TOURISM STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR MALAWI.....................................29
5.5 STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE POLICIES AND DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORKS..29
6.0 CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION MEASURES....................................................32
6.1 BACKGROUND...............................................................................................................32
6.3 BARRIERS TO IMPLEMENTATION OF ADAPTATION MEASURES.......................................45
7.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.........................................................47
7.1 BACKGROUND...............................................................................................................47
7.2 INTEGRATION OF WILDLIFE ADAPTATION MEASURES INTO POVERTY REDUCTION
STRATEGY...........................................................................................................................48
7.3 BROAD PARTICIPATION IN IMPLEMENTATION OF ADAPTATION MEASURES...................48
7.4 FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF ADAPTATION MEASURES...............49
7.5 POTENTIAL ADAPTATION PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS...............................................50
7.6 FUTURE DIRECTION......................................................................................................54
REFEENCES........................................................................................................................56
ANNEX I: TERMS OF REFERENCE AND SCOPE OF SERVICES................................60
ANNEX II: LIST OF PEOPLE CONSULATED.................................................................62
ANNEX III: DISCUSSION WITH THE NDAKWERA COMMUNITY-BASED
WILDLIFE ORGANISATION……………………………………………………………63
ANNEX IV: DISCUSSION WITH LENGWE NATIONAL PARK STAFF......................64
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study was conducted with support from the Global Environmental Facility
through the United Nations Development Programme. We acknowledge the Project
Manager, Mr. H. Dandaula, for providing guidance during the process of preparing
the document. We do also recognise the Environment Affairs Department in all
administrative services rendered to undertake the study.
On a special note, we are grateful to Lengwe and Liwonde National Park staff for
their contributions made to evaluation and development of specific adaptation
measures. Our gratitude particularly goes to Mr. P. Ndadzela, the National Park Zone
Manager for Lower Shire Protected Areas, and Mr. B Kumchedwa, of the Upper Shire
Zone for sparing time with the assessment team.
Finally, we thank the local community for Ndakwera Area Wildlife-Based Committee
in Chikwawa District. The community spent time with the assessment team to express
their views regarding their experiences in issues of climate change. We further
recognise the contributions of Pat Whithead, the manager for Sucoma Nyala Ranch
for contributions ion on the experiences in intensive management of wildlife.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report forms part of the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA)
document to allow the wildlife sector to undertake activities to adapt to the impacts of
climate change. Under the UNFCCC, the Global Environmental Facility (GEF)
through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was providing
financial support to Malawi to produce the NAPA document to implement a NAPA
project.
Study Objectives and Approach
The primary objective of this study was to produce a wildlife sectoral document,
which would form an integral part of the framework for the implementation of a
NAPA project. Among others, the specific objectives of the NAPA project included:
(i) identification of a list of priority activities; (ii) formulation of priority projects for
adaptation; (iii) building capacity to adapt to longer term climate changes; and (iv)
raising awareness about the urgency to adapt to adverse effects of climate variability
and climate change.
The wildlife assessment team undertook the study on the basis of terms of reference
as follows: (i) to synthesize available information on adverse affects of climate in the
wildlife sector and (ii) to assess vulnerability to current/recent climate variability in a
participatory manner. This was achieved through a literature review, a participatory
rural appraisal, and evaluation and development of mitigation and adaptation
measures, and formulation of potential adaptation projects.
Climate Change in the National Context
Climate change and variability have been recognised to influence the economic and
social well-being. Climate variability has serious impacts. Various sectors have been
impacted and Malawi being a landlocked country and dependent on natural resources,
particularly agriculture is virtually vulnerable. The country's natural resources and the
eco-tourism industry are severely impacted but there is potential to reverse this.
A review of the wildlife sector in Malawi has been undertaken. About 10% of Malawi
lies under protected areas. Poaching, encroachment and effects of climate change all
are major and potential threats to the sector. Local communities living around the
protected areas on the other hand, bear damages caused by problem animals from the
parks. These animals respond to habitat changes inside protected areas, which might
be resulting from climate change impacts.
Existing Policies and Programmes
There are several national policies that are related to rural development and have a
bearing on the management of wildlife as would be in implementation of adaptation
measures. However, the current policies and programmes inadequately address the
issues of climate change. The Malawi Poverty Reduction strategy recognises that
sustainable wildlife management and tourism are among pro-poor activities in which
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the local people can be involved to improve their socio-economic conditions.
Concurrently, the Wildlife Policy exists to promote participation among the local
people and other important stakeholders in wildlife management. Management of
wildlife resources is also weaved in the National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP),
which recognises problems in different environmental sectors and draws an action
plan to address them. At a lower level of planning, District Environmental Action
Plans were developed to complement the NEAP. To make these plans responsive to
climate change, this study recommended integration of strategies and activities that
would enable the wildlife sector to adapt to anticipated impacts of climate change.
Stakeholders Participating in Wildlife Management
The Department of National Parks and Wildlife is the main government authority
responsible for the management of wildlife. The Department has since 2000, a policy
of Collaborative Management with its stakeholders. The local communities are the
major stakeholders.
Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Wildlife
Various studies have shown that global warming will adversely impact wildlife and
their habitats. Aspects of climate, particularly rainfall, have an important role to play
in the ecology of wildlife. Rainfall affects patterns of annual migrations of some large
mammals. Elephants concentrate near watering points in the dry season and spread
out in the wet season. The survival of young and old age groups of elephants may be
affected by longer dry seasons. Severe droughts can cause species die-offs such as
that of nyala in 1979-80 in Lengwe National Park. Studies have also shown that the
primary production is related to rainfall and secondary production of herbivores
increases as a function of rainfall. Fire has many other advantages to wildlife but its
application requires proper planning.
Adaptation Options to Climate Change in the wildlife sector
Several mitigation and adaptation measures have been presented as a way forward to
contain the situation. The pros and cons of these measures have been looked at.
Procedures for development of plans for protected areas and non-protected areas have
been outlined. Issues to be considered in fire management, provision of watering
points, animal breeding and animal translocations have been presented. Projects in
community ranching and elephant research and monitoring are recommended for the
National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA).
Conclusions and Recommendations
Drawing on findings from the literature review and discussions with staff in the
Department of National Parks and Wildlife, and local communities, this study
provided various lessons and recommendations. The lessons are framed into four
categories: 1) integration of adaptation and mitigation measures as part of the national
strategy of poverty reduction 2) the compelling need for wide participation in
implementation of adaptation measures 3) setting mechanisms for sourcing financial
resources for project implementation 4) the need for programmes to raise public
understanding and awareness of climate change issues 5) proposed potential projects
for adaptation to climate change. Based on these conclusions a range of
recommendations were made as follows:
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