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

implementing this approach suggest that ten year actions often become redundant as the ecological,
political and socio-economic contexts change. Now GMP planning processes either opt for shorter
(five year) planning horizons (Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife 2005, ZAWA 2004) or retain ten year strategic
objectives but with shorter term (three year) rolling action plans (TANAPA 2005). The ten year-three
year planning model was chosen for the BMNP planning process as it has been adopted successfully
elsewhere in East Africa (TANAPA 2004, KWS 2006). In this model the objectives provide the
long-term vision and strategy for management and development of the PA, tackling current and
anticipated problems and threats. This framework determines what management activities and
resource inputs are needed over a two to three year timeframe to achieve the objectives. Annual
operations plans and budgets are then developed from these shorter term action plans for day-to-day
management of the park. The GMP also functions as an umbrella for other more targeted plans (e.g.
fire management plan, monitoring plan, tourism development plan), thereby ensuring that all park
developments contribute to the park’s overall management vision.
The BMNP Planning Process
To maximize the BMNP GMP’s chances for successful implementation, two planning principles
were agreed to a priori by involved stakeholders. These were: i) participative planning and ii) the
logical framework approach. These were adopted to ensure that the GMP would obtain the necessary
buy-in for implementation and contain clearly laid out actions to address the major threats to the
park. Every effort was made to adhere to these principles, which are described in more detail below,
throughout the planning process.
i. Participative planning: the plan was designed by stakeholders spanning BMNP
managers, implementation partners, local communities, local government, government ministries
and departments, tourism operators, NGOs and civil society organisations with interests or local
knowledge. Throughout the planning process, stakeholders were given the opportunity to discuss,
debate, and ultimately agree on the issues and problems faced by the BMNP and the solutions to
these issues. Consultations took place through key informant interviews in local communities (circa
500 individuals), stakeholder planning workshops (93 experts from circa 43 institutions) and direct
discussions with interested individuals, such as private companies, NGOs, government at all levels,
as well as researchers and tourists.
ii. Logical framework approach (LFA): The LFA provides an efficient, accountable and
logical rationale for planning. The main feature of the LFA is the explicit and logical linkages
established between the plan’s ten year management objectives and the management actions and
activities established in the three year action plan. The ten year strategy focuses at the impact level,
describing management objectives and management prescriptions that together seek to improve
the conservation status of the BMNP’s exceptional resource values and achieve the park purpose.
The action plan focuses at the implementation level, describing the management actions, which are
broken down into specific activities, to be delivered in the short-term to contribute to the management
objectives that will ultimately achieve the park purpose. The LFA ensure that the GMP can be
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