Development of an Action plan for the strategic construction of trails for Sapo National Park and the East Nimba Reserve

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Development of an Action plan for the strategic
construction of trails for Sapo National Park and
the East Nimba Reserve

• STEVE NAHDOE DAVIS
• BLAMAH SANDO GOLL
• Forestry Development Authority
• Division of Wildlife and National Parks
• Liberia

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INTRODUCTION

• Trails are important in PAM and we lack them
  within our sector. Therefore, it is necessary to
  commence a system of constructing Interpretive,
  research and recreational trails within the
  nations PA so as to create easy access to nature
  and realize income from Eco-Tourism.
• The sapo National park which first proclaimed by
  an Act of Legislation has not been stratified
  sufficiently to give visitors,staffs,and
  researchers the chance to travel and explore the
  insight of the biological and geological
  components it possessed. The above statement
  holds for the East Nimba Reserve also.This
  Reserve was proclaimed on October 14,2003 by
  another Act of legislation.Eventhough, both of
  them are not situated within the same vicinity
  but it is essential to have well defined trails
  establish.

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GOALS/OBJECTIVES

• To begin a system of interpretive, research and
  recreational trails construction in our protected
  areas.
• To enhance safer patrol by staffs.
• To promote eco-tourism activities such as
  camping,photographing,hiking etc.
• To generate adequate funds from eco-tourism.
• To provide employment for local inhabitants
  residing around the protected areas.
• To provide training for five PA staffs and five
  locals

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Barriers

• Lack of funds
• Insufficiency of equipments and tools
• Unavailability of trained manpower in trails
  construction and interpretation
• The failure of the National Government to promote
  eco-tourism activities
• Cost and maintenance needs

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Benefits

• Provide access for people to nature
• Increase government economic power
• It will help to improve the livelihoods of the
  local communities
• It will promote the visitors interest to enjoy
  the aesthetic beauty of the PAS
• It will help develop trails map for the PA
• It will ease patrol for PA staffs

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Activities Table/matrix
Activities Indicator of success Needed resources
Solicit funds Acquiring funds lobbying for fund from Donors such as (CI,FFI CIPAM
Purchase of equipments tools Equipments will be use and maintain funds
Recruitment of labor force Interested volunteer wagers Funds for volunteer wagers payment
Conduct in trail constructions and tools usage High knowledge of target population One trainer and funds for the work
Construction of trails and priority locations Increment of Eco-tourism activities Trained manpower,tools,equipments food and medication
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Cont
Activities Indicator of success Needed resources
Surveying of ideal trail locations Identifying features and analyzing cost and benefits of trails Trained manpower, equipment/tools, trails map
Printing and erection of signs indicators for each trail Education and interpretation Metal sheets,paint,nails,cements and manpower

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Negatively Impacted
Poachers Deter poachers from carrying out illegal activities
Loggers It will force them to pay conservation fees annually
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Positively impacted How impacted
Staff of PA Give the PA staffs more time to do their job and build capacity
Visitors/Tourists They will enjoy the beauty of wild and expose them learn the two PA ecosystems
Conservation partners It will make them allocate more funds for future projects if transparency exist.
Local people It will provide job and training opportunities
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Duration

• The project will be divided into two phases
• Phase one.Sapo national park trails
  construction (7months)
• Phase two.East Nimba Reserve trails
  construction(5 months)
• Expected Time to commence project
• Phase oneJanAug 2oo5
• Phase twosept.2005Jan. 2006

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Evaluation monitoring

• The Forestry Development Authority
• Conservation International
• CIPAM
• Others

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• Ta-To .. Thank you!