/Ai - /Ais - Richtersveld TFCA (ARTP)

Change activity: Community-based climate change adaptation awareness,

education and multi-stakeholder mobilisation
Progress:
The Namibian participant, namely Wayne Malcolm Handley engaged with the
Glencore Lead and Zinc Mine to the effect that it pledged and subsequently provided
funds to support cross-border CCA awareness and education activities. Prior to the
course, the Namibian participant had little knowledge of climate change and
adaptation. He expressed: Climate change! What climate change? I know that in
summer it is hot and in winter it gets cold for a few months, but by late September it
starts to get warmer again. And so the cycle continues as it has done for millions of
years. The initial audit that I conducted prior to attending Module One was done
without having much knowledge of the subject, whereas now that I feel more
confident I will redo this exercise in the near future, this will result in a more accurate
audit which should reflect the true situation (ibid).
Regarding mainstreaming climate change in management plans in /Ai-/Ais it was
noted that the Integrated Development Plan for the ARTP has a short section that
makes reference to the general prevailing weather conditions, but rather no mention
was made of climate change. The Park management plan was reportedly still in a
final draft form that was being worked on by the legal department and could
therefore not be accessed.
On the South African side the perception towards CCA-related management seems
to have completely changed from top-down solutions to a balance that respects
community input. The TFCA is seeking to explore the impact of livestock in the midterm as this is an expressed concern within park management and has been a
subject of post-graduate research (e.g. Hendricks, H.H. 2004. Semi-nomadic
pastoralism and the conservation of biodiversity in the Richtersveld National Park,
SOUTH AFRICA. PhD Thesis, University of Cape Town). This change in perception
has been expressed as a change from seeing communities letting their livestock into
Park management area as a problem needing application of regulatory measures to
remove them, to seeing it as a livelihood interest on the communitys part which
needs to be negotiated.
A literature review has also been conducted in South Africa (Rampedi, et. al.) to try
and understand the climate change issues and their connection to biodiversity
management and community livelihoods. The perceived biodiversity impact of
traditional nomadic pastoralism by Nama-Khoi communities appears to be the main
management concern in Richtersveld National Park as it is expected to worsen with
escalating climate change impact.
The issue of pastoralism within a region of high biodiversity harbouring some endemic
species remains contentious, but is here to stay. Pastoralism remains an untainted cultural
practise of paramount significance to the Nama-Khoi communities and dates back to
millennia. But guidance to the Richtersveld communities on the sustainable utilization and

management of the threatened resources is important, given the climate change trends and
projections (Handley, Joseph and Rampedi, 20141: pg 24).

The South African course participant Mr Rampedi took the working visit to the TFCA
and the community workshop as an opportunity to hand over the work to Ms Aletta
Joseph who is on the ground in Richtersveld, but still supporting from DEA office. Mr
Rampedi has since moved from DEA to the University of Limpopo to pursue further
studies as of July 2014, but continues to liaise with DEA.
The /Ai-/Ais Richtersveld TFCA climate change adaptation project can not only be
characterised by very good staff development on both sides of the frontier as a result
of the CCA course, but also excellent cross-border communication regarding CCA,
research-based enquiry (using both primary and secondary data on climate change),
stakeholder engagement and involvement of communities on the CCA project though
the latter has happened in different ways on the two sides of the border.
The Park managers in /Ai-/Ais Game Park and in Richtersfeld National Park have
had working communication channels already before the climate change adaptation
training course, however there was virtually no climate change adaptation discussion
in the park and in TFCA management plans and programmes. Using existing
structures, there has been enhanced cross-border collaboration catalysed by the
climate change adaptation course and project:
The contact made with cross border counterparts was relatively easy due to the fact that the
ARTP is fully operational and has all structures in place. The ARTP has a Joint Management
Board that has formal meeting twice a year and a Park Managers Committee that meets on a
monthly basis. I have frequent telephone, e-mail and face to face meeting with the
Richtersveld park manager and know the majority of his staff and we generally have a very
good working relationship. I have not had the opportunity to formally meet with the (South
African) DEA staff member appointed to work on this change project with me but we
communicate via alternative means on a frequent basis. In order to fill this gap a formal
meeting and site meeting to the ARTP will be required in the very near future.

The proposed meeting between the climate change adaptation counterparts across
the border eventually took place after many attempts and careful preparation. Mr
Handley, Mr Rampedi from Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) South Africa
and Ms Aletta Joseph from Richtersveld Park in South Africa met in Richtersveld and
had climate change adaptation awareness workshops with four communities in
Richtersveld together as a combined TFCA team in February 2014 (described as
first phase). It should be noted that at least 3 staff members out of the 2 trained are
actively engaged with the climate change adaptation project.

1 Handley, M., Joseph, A., and Rampedi, M. (2014). /Ai-/Ais Richtersveld TFCA Change
Project: Richtersveld Community Climate Change Awareness Campaign. Draft Report
compiled for: SADC REEPs Climate Change Adaptation in Transfrontier Conservation
Areas project, Feb 2014.

A
A, The community consultation workshop
facilitated by Mr Handley

B
B. Lekkersing Community participants rigorously
engaging in the workshop in a captivating
manner

Plate 1Two of four community consultations and awareness workshops in

Richtersveld (South Africa) with key facilitator from /Ai-/Ais (Namibia)
Joint meetings in /Ai-/Ais Game Park were not yet possible due to different
community dynamics a nomadic pastoral community comes into the park at certain
times, and a resident neighbouring community lives a large distance from the
international border.
However, the Namibian side has been very active in trying to ensure that climate
change adaptation is endorsed by the community resources management board. At
least 3 attempts have been made to table the issue, the first attempt was not
possible due to limited time and the second although poorly attended, approved the
project. A third was being planned. The persistence and commitment of the team has
been remarkable, as shown in the email below, and seems to be fuelled by small
gains which add up.
From: Wayne Handley [mailto:metroshpinah@iway.na], Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2014
9:52 AM, To: 'Tichaona Pesanayi', Cc: Aletta Joseph, Subject: Feedback on Namplace
meeting. Good morning Ticha and Aletta. This is just to give some feedback on the meeting
held with the members of the Landscape. Unfortunately the turnout was very poor and time
was limited. Based on this I gave a short introduction and requested a formal slot to do a
more formal presentation at the next meeting. The few participants were very keen and
approval was granted. Once I have the dates I will communicate to all and hopefully Alleta
will be able to attend as well. Sorry for the delay in making major progress, but we will get
there. Wayne. (Handley, August 13, 2014).

Phase 2 of the TFCAs climate change adaptation change processes will be

dissemination of information while phase 3 will probably focus on climate change
adaptation and mitigation actions.
As part of future support, it is recommended that the Project Anchor and Community
Liaison- People & Conservation Officer (Richtersveld National Park- South African
ARTP Component), Ms Aletta Joseph and/or Park Manager be exposed to some
formal training in climate change adaptation as they missed the process moderators
training course, and were not nominated to take part in the prior park managers
CCA course respectively. They could also be encouraged to take part in the
forthcoming IUCN trainings on Mutual Gains Approach to negotiation to take place
from October 2014 or February 2015. Ms Josephs involvement in community
environmental and awareness activities, including world and national environment
days, can be used as a carrier of climate change adaptation awareness campaigns
this has been encouraged.