Walia Special Edition on the Bale Mountains (2011) - Zoologische ...

General Management Planning for the Bale Mountains National Park
Alastair Nelson
Frankfurt Zoological Society, PO Box 14935, Arusha, Tanzania
Email: nelson.alastair@gmail.com
Abstract
The General Management Plan (GMP) for the Bale Mountains National Park (BMNP) lays out a
vision for the development and management of the park over the next 10 years, and outlines specific
actions required to fulfil this vision over the next three years. The GMP was developed using a
logical framework approach and a variety of participatory processes, including (i) the Core Planning
Team (CPT) directed the planning process and made key decisions; (ii) technical working groups
composed of relevant national and international experts devised the main components and details of
each of the management programmes; (iii) stakeholder planning workshops and direct discussions
were conducted with individuals in private companies, NGOs, government at all levels, researchers,
tourists and international experts, and (iv) consultation took place through key informant interviews
in communities in and around BMNP. The planning process was built on previously summarised
background information and a problems and issues analysis conducted by stakeholders. Lessons
learned from the planning process and aspects of the way forward for successful implementation of
the GMP are discussed.
Introduction
With a total terrestrial land cover of 11.5%, protected areas are one of the cornerstones of the
world’s conservation efforts (WCMC 2007). Traditionally protected areas were established for
wildlife and scenic protection, were run by central governments for visitors, tourists and ecologists
and were managed in isolation of neighbouring communities, other local stakeholders or national
sectors. However, over the last 25 years the scope of protected areas has changed dramatically to
embrace ecological, cultural, and socio-economic functions and their role in national development
and poverty alleviation is increasingly recognized. The area of land under formal protection is an
indicator for Millennium Development Goal 7 (ensuring environmental sustainability) under Target
9 (integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and
reverse the loss of environmental resources) and is further encouraged under the widely endorsed
Convention on Biological Diversity (Programme of Work on Protected Areas adopted at the Seventh
Conference of the Parties). The diversity of reasons and users for which protected areas are now
established and recognised is captured by the scope of the IUCN protected area management
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