GRANT FACT SHEETOceans Alive: Strengthening management and expanding coverage of Marine Protected Areas in the South-West Indian Ocean

WILDTRUST, in cooperation with Africa Foundation, will increase marine conservation efforts in Mozambique and South Africa, which currently only have about 2% and 5%, respectively, of their continental Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) under formal spatial protection. Both countries are currently facing escalating ocean threats including resource extraction, foreign industrial fishing, and climate change impacts, compromising food security and resilience in the region. Through capacity building, infrastructure development, and wildlife monitoring this project will deliver improved management of existing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) at two ecologically connected marine biodiversity hotspots; iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site in South Africa, and at the Vamizi Community Sanctuary and surrounding Vamizi-Quifuki-Metundo Island Complex in Mozambique. Simultaneously, the project will expand and improve zonation of these protected areas to include deeper offshore areas and previously unprotected critical habitats for threatened grouper, ray and shark species, and support consultation and designation processes. WILDTRUST and Africa Foundation will furthermore support sustainable local economic development through job creation, capacity building, enterprise development opportunities and social infrastructure development. Delivery of socio-economic benefits for communities is conducted in a manner that is enduring and tangibly links such benefits to the proximity and assets of the respective MPAs.

This project aims to deliver expanded formal protection

and improved management at two regionally important and ecologically connected marine biodiversity hotspots in South Africa and Mozambique, whilst acting to address social and economic challenges for the coastal communities living around these sites.

Project duration June 2019 – July 2023

Country/ies South Africa and Mozambique

Lead organisation Wildlands Conservation Trust (WILDTRUST)

Partners Africa Foundation (AF)

Total project costs € 4,205,025

Blue Action Fund grant € 2,997,995 (71%)

Match funding € 1,207,030 (29%)

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South Africa Mozambique

Vamizi

MetundoQuifuki

iSimangaliso

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KEY TARGETS

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Published by Blue Action Fund, August 2019

Newly created MPAs: 40 km2

Effectively managed MPAs: 11,605 km2

Number of beneficiaries: 4,500

MPA GOVERNANCE

▶ Creating new protected areas ▶ Creating MPA management plans ▶ Management plans adaptive to climate change▶ Monitoring, control and enforcement▶ Data collection and mapping▶ Training of protected area staff ▶ Gender empowerment for MPA governance

SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS

▶ Creating sustainable employment opportunities▶ Job Training▶ Sustainable tourism▶ Economic empowerment of women

SPECIES CONSERVATION/SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES

▶ Fisheries control and enforcement▶ Data collection on fisheries ▶ Conservation measures for turtles▶ Conservation measures for other vulnerable, threatened and endangered species

ACTIVITIES & AREAS OF WORK

HABITAT CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION

▶ Protection of coral reefs▶ Restoration of coral reefs

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