PROTECTING DUGONGS CONSERVING SEAGRASS CHANGE FOR COMMUNITIES The GEF Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project Project Progress Report Reporting Period From: 01 January 2016 To: 30 June 2016 1. PROJECT GENERAL INFORMATION National Project MG 4 Code &Title: Integrated approaches to enhance the conservation dugongs and seagrass ecosystems in Sahamalaza areas Project Partner(s): COSAP Sahamalaza Location (country, Country:MADAGASCAR region/ district and Region: SOFIA commune/ city/ District: Analalava village/ region etc.) Commune: Ambolobozo Of which areas under protection (please Sahamalaza marine and costal UNESCO Biosphere Reserve indicate the name 153,200 Ha of which 26,035 ha is Marine and Costal National Park and size of protected areas or locally managed marine areas, if applicable) Project start date 1/01/2015 Project intended completion date 31/098/2018 2. PROJECT PROGRESS 2.1. Narrative of project progress during the past semester by Project Activity1 1 Briefly describe progress made during the previous six months highlighting major outcomes/benchmarks achieved during the period. This report covers the progress made from January to June 2016. Output 1.1: governance structure The setting up of the governance structures allows the involvement of community members in the conservation and monitoring of dugongs and seagrass. A total of seven XXX workshops were planned respectively between 16 and 192 and 16 April 2016, 28 28 Mayand XXX April 2016 for Formatted: Not Highlight establishing these structures and “Dina” or local convention for natural resources and dugong conservation at Nosy Valiha, Lanamena, Ambararata-Antranonkira, Analamazava-Kobanivato, and Ankatafa, Marovato and Andaveno III. : The governance structures of these villagesAnkatafa and Lanamena regroup fishermen from two and and six small villages. The governance structure of: - Nosy Valiha is named VOROMAILALA“Dauphin” Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, 10 pt - Lanamena is named “CIGAL DE MER” Formatted: List Paragraph, Bulleted + Level: 1 + Aligned at: - Ambararata-Antranonkira is named “MIARADIA” 0.25" + Indent at: 0.5" - Analamazava-kobanivato is named “AKOMBA AMBARAMAZAVA” - Ankatafa is named “VOARO” - Marovato is named “MIFANKATIA” - Andaveno III is named “RAVIMAITSO Note: and Formatted: Font: Bold 1)- most of the new governanceits structures members are fishermen (more than 70%). Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, 10 pt 2)- before establishing the governance structure and “dina” an awareness activity was conducted in each village. Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, 10 pt 3)- A total of 7XXX structures representing 50 % XXX% of the expected results was reached at the end of first half year period of 2016. Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, 10 pt Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, 10 pt Output 1.2: capacity developed We continued to undertake the interview surveys in 10 intervening sites for assessing the knowledge gap related to dugong and seagrass in Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, 10 pt Sahamalaza area. This activity was a basic step before setting up the community-based monitoring program. In 2015, sightings of dugongs were Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, 10 pt reported to occur in the coastal waters of Berafia where large seagrass meadows are well developed. The members of “Dauphin”XXXX governance structure (in Berafia Island and “VOROMAILALA” governance structure in Nosy Valiha) received Formatted: Not Highlight theoretical and practical training on dugong and seagrass monitoring in 24, 25 and 26 May 2016. Furthermore, 4 existing XXX governance structures received theoretical training on habitat monitoring from Sahamalaza National Park technical staffs in February 2016. Output 1.3 : Integrated coastal management The recent dugong sightings reported by interviewees during the interview sessions were shared with Madagascar National Parks Sahamalaza for updating the existing management plan of the park in May 2016. Output 2.1: Management Information related to the existing alternative revenues of the communities was collected through the interview surveys utilizing the CMS questionnaires in ten villages. Agriculture is the common alternative activity of the communities for earning additional sources of revenues after that the apiculture project. Additionally, we planned workshop to identify the alternative livelihoods to reduce fishing pressure; the majority of 2 communities opted for promoting ameliorated rice culture Concerning the local convention, we organized a workshops at Nosy Valiha, Lanamena,Ambararata, Analamazava, Ankatafa, Marovato and Andaveno III between 12 and 16 April 2016 to 28 May 2016. A draft (in local language) of eacha local convention for the protection of coastal habitats and migratory endangered species in the surrounding of these fishermen villagesNosy Valiha is available to be legally recognized via the commune authoritycourt (see attached). Output 2.2: The interview techniques using the CMS standardized questionnaires revealed the knowledge gap of the coastal communities concerning the importance of dugongs; this species is only valuable because of the taste of its meat referring to the responses from most of the interviewees. Consequently, we thought the need of empowering the capacity of COSAP members who will be in charge of the public raising awareness. Therefore, we elaborated teaching book on dugong and seagrass that is available in two languages (Malagasy and French). Furthermore, a total of 10 villages received informal educative sessions that were planned after each interview. We produced a thematic radio campaign for the public education on 7XXX March 2016 for the 10 villages of Sahamalaza area. “Radio Andrea Formatted: Not Highlight d’Antsohihy » is the only broadcasting station connected to the entire Sofia Region. The first theme of the educational program focused on the enhancement of dugong conservation. The program lasted for two hours every Tuesday at 3 o’clock pm. The responsible of environmental program of the radio station offers two hours monthly program for free for the communication and public education of COSAP Dugong Sahamalaza. Unfortunately, this radio station has a technical problem from April to Jun 2016. Now, the responsible of this radio station are fixing the problem. We will continue this program in the next time. Output 3.1 A protocol for community-based monitoring on dugongs was elaborated by Yvette Razafindrakoto, consultant hired by COSAP. The seagrass monitoring is conceived by Madagascar National Parks. The recent observation of dugongs combined with the occurrence of healthy and large seagrass habitat allowed us to identify the following sites for the community-based monitoring: - Ambatolava site (Est of Berafia island) Formatted: List Paragraph, Bulleted + Level: 1 + Aligned at: - Ankasetra site (West of Valiha island) 0.25" + Indent at: 0.5" Ambatobe site (in Sahamalaza bay) Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, 10 pt Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, 10 pt The following governance structures will be responsible of the monitoring of seagrass status and dugongs in the following areas: Dauphin, XXXXX Formatted: List Paragraph, Left Voromailala and Avotra (existing governance structure). The 20 existing community-based structures in COSAP participated in the protected area patrolling. They should monthly undertake 320 Person/Day of surveillance. During the last six monthsthe 960 Person/Day have been realized. Project Management 3 Quarterly financial report The project MG4 shared the project story by sending on times the five lines paragraph requested by the PCT for participating in the project communication. The project MG4 sent on times the revised workplan and logframe. 2.4.2.2. Project implementation progress2 Implementation status as of end Expected Describe any problems in delivery and any Outputs & Activities 3 of reporting completion date changes/mitigation action required. period expressed in % Output 1.1: Governance structures for community involvement in conservation and monitoring of dugong and seagrass ecosystems Activity 1.1.1: Establishment of community 30 April 2016 157.14.76% . based structure in 14 targeted villages. Output 1.2 Capacity developed for community-based stewardship (conservation and monitoring of dugongs &seagrass) Activity 1.2.1: Identifying the knowledge gaps 1 March-30 April 71,42% of dugong and seagrass 2016 Activity 1.2.2 Organization of meetings to the 1 April-30 May 037.5% Formatted: Not Highlight community-based structures and COSAP 2016 Formatted: Not Highlight members for training all of them for the monitoring methods Activity 1.2.3: Training planned with the May 2016 50% partner project MG2 for the participatory mapping of seagrass Output 1.3 Integrated community management plans (conservation and 2 Information provided in “Quarterly Expenditure Report” should be in line with output/activity progress reported in this table. 3 Outputs and activities as described in the project proposal or in any updated project revision. Expand table as necessary. 4 Implementation status as of end Expected Describe any problems in delivery and any Outputs & Activities 3 of reporting completion date changes/mitigation action required. period expressed in % monitoring of dugong and seagrass ecosystems) developed and piloted Activity 1.3.1: Analyze the dugong and April 0% seagrass data collected through the community-based monitoring Activity 1.3.2 Updating of Sahamalaza 1 May-30 June 100% Formatted: Not Highlight National Park management plan considering 2016