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FORMATION
VISION & OBJECTIVES
ACHIEVEMENTS
THEMATIC AREAS
RMSN CONCERNS
FUTURE PROSPECTS
DESIRED GOALS
FORMATION
GENESIS
The genesis of the RMSN can be traced back to a 1996 initial assessment mission in the field of range management. The assessment mission was funded by Novib (OXFAM Netherlands), while Horn-Relief, a Somali NGO operating mainly in Sanag region, carried out the assessment.
Latter on, as Novib was able also to provide technical assistances (through the services of a resource management specialist), the scope of the activity was redesigned and the project became ‘Somali Livestock and Natural Resources Assessment’
The findings of the assessment were discussed in a workshop attended by 30 technical specialists known for their interest in natural resources management issues, and representing local NGOs from all over Somalia. The workshop was held in November 1996 in the village of Buran - a village typical of the conditions of a Somali rural community with increasing stresses and decreasing resources.
The situation analysis showed, for example, that the land studied during the assessment presented all the conventional signs of unmanaged use: exploitation without planning. This fact made clear:
- That careful management was what is needed
- That planned management has a vital role to play in the future.
In the workshop, participants were also exposed to the nature and concepts of Analytical Thinking, the objectives of which were to provide participants with the bases:
- To understand how their natural resources have arrived in the state in which they were found
- To find causes rather than uselessly attack effects
- To propose and develop actual management plans on a region-wide scale.
Before the end of the workshop, the participants decided to have regular meetings and training in natural resources management. Thus, after the first training workshop, two more seminars were held. The last workshop, held in September-October 1997, was designed to complete the participants’ exposure to the most current practices and thought on natural resource management (land and marine).
At the end of the session, the group of participating Somali NGOs/Teams decided to evolve into a network: the Resource Management Somali Network.
They also created a vision of the future of Somalia with clear structure and guidelines based on the ecosystem; specified action steps to address specific needs; and they have made individual commitments to make their vision a reality.
A futuristic goal was defined and long-term objectives were identified (See Annex 1)
While the main programme objective of the network remains unchanged,
Resource mismanagement
the RMSN members deal also with diverse issues including, food security, peace, alternative energy sources, health, education, water, community training and awareness creation, income generation, and other relevant related issues
Holism and ecological vision are the glue, which keep the network together. In this respect, Resource Management International (RMI), in Arizona /USA, provides the main external advisors
With its strong interest in the institutional development of civil society organizations in post-war Somalia, Novib has shown, so far, long term commitment to support the RMSN and its members. Thus, Novib is the only funding partner of RMSN since its formation six years ago. It funds the activities of the network co-ordination and it channels, through the network, financial assistance to pay for the field-work expenses incurred by network-member organizations.
The RMSN consists of organizations and teams on regional/area basis, and to date (February 2005) the members of the RMSN (14) are:
The highest authority of the network is the General Assembly of network members. It is the network’s policy-maker organ.
A seven –member Board of Directors, elected once in every three years by the General Assembly during annual meetings, governs the Resource Management Somali Network. A network coordination office, based in Bossaso, facilitates communication among teams and with external and other stakeholders. .
The members expect the following benefits from the network:
1. Sharing knowledge/information
2. Stronger voice in lobbying and advocacy
3. Opportunity to explore new issues
4. Chance to identify needs of communities and to increase community involvement
5. Opportunity to develop common strategy for common goals
6. Chance to learn about differences between areas and communities
7. Learning about improvements in different settings
8. Mutual support which will improve motivation
9. Role model for younger generations
The Teams carry their messages to all levels of pastoral, semi-pastoral communities, farmers, fisheries, grassroots organizations, local authorities, and government agencies.
During the message transfer, the network–members use holistic extension model, guided by the Holistic Resource Management principles.
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VISION & OBJECTIVES
VISION STATEMENT
“We strive for wholeness in the management of our natural land and marine resources, bringing understanding and healing to regain a stable, productive ecosystem. Only in this way can human livelihoods improve and wildlife thrive, generating the foundations of Happy, Healthy, Peaceful and Just society”
OBJECTIVES OF RMSN
1. To improve quality of life of the community through the promotion of productivity and production systems that are sustainable.
2. To work with local communities and encourage management practices that conserve land and marine resources.
3. To increase public environmental awareness and advocacy through training, meetings, media, etc.
4. To generate environmental database and share information within the network with,policy/decision makers at national, regional and international levels as well as organizations with similar objectives.
5. To explore alternative energy sources that are environmental friendly
6. To support communities in resolving resource based conflicts.
7. To monitor and document environmental changes in the network coverage area.
WORK APPROACH
Holistic Resource Management (HRM) is the chosen approach used by member organizations of the Resource Management Somali Network
It is about how decisions are made; it is about the ability to make decisions that simultaneously consider economic, social and environmental realities; and it uses a framework for organizing management and decision-making.
HRM is grounded on the thesis that sustainable resource management is possible only if all interacting ecological, economic, and social factors are taken into account in the management process.
HRM starts with a process of discussion and negotiation during which resource users set a common goal made up of three interacting parts.
i) Their desired quality of life,
ii) The production to attain the desired quality of life,
iii) A version of the landscape and ecosystem that will sustain the necessary production.
NETWORK FORMATION
The genesis of the RMSN can be traced back in 1996 initial assessment mission in the field of range management.The findings of the assessments were discussed in a workshop attended by 30 techinical specialists known for their interest in natural resources management issues,and representing local NGO’s from all over somalia./somaliland,promoting better management of natural resources in Somalia/the horn of Africa.
After a number of regular meetings and trainning in natural resources management,the group of participating somali NGO’s decided to evolve in to a network:theResource Management Somali Network. The founding workshop was held in november 1996 in the village of buran.
NETWORK GOVERNANCE
The highest authority of the network is the General Assembly of Network members .A seven member board of directors ,elected once in every three years by the general assembly governse the resouce management somali network.A Network coordination office ,based in bosaso, facilitates communication among member organisations and with external and with other stake holders.
THE PROBLEMS
The situation analsis showed that the land & marine resources studied during the assessments presented all the conventional signs of unmanaged use,exploitation without planning.
There fore, for RMSN members became clear:
1.that careful management was what is needed
2.that planned management has a vital role to play in the future
NETWORK MEMBERSHIP AND NETWORKING
TheRMSNconsists of nationwide organisations
The members expect the following benefits from the network:
*sharing knowledge/information
*strong voice in lobbying and advocacy
*opportunity to explore new issues
*chance to identify needs of communities and to increase community involvements
*opportunity to develop common strategy for common goals
*chance to learn about differences between areas and communities
*learning about inprovements in different settings
*mutual support which will improve motivation
*role model for younger generations
HOLISTIC GOAL
Improving quality of life,increase forms of production and improve future resource base .
Strategies and instruments
Holistic Resource Management (HRM) is the chosen approach used by member
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ACHIEVEMENTS
The RMSN has entered its 8th year in 2005 as a distinct entity and during this period the following accomplishments were achieved:
-The practice of converting the remnants of Somalia’s Acacia forests into charcoal(see pictures) has been challenged in the Northern regions
- The illegal capturing of wildlife has been checked in some areas
- In many local areas the catastrophic soil erosion is being tackled with community action.
- Grazing management is a term of immediate concern to many pastoralists
- Public education campaigns have reduced the nuisance of free -blowing plastic bags in Bossaso
- Teachers, girls and women are receiving resource management training in their school /training curriculum in Mudug region
- A nightly radio talk-show debates land management in Mogadishu
- School-age children form teams to build rock dams in Buran
- Organized inclusive grazing planning is being started at Ga’an libah / Buroa area and in Haji Ali village in Cadale district
- Marine resources are being evaluated and monitored and illicit fishing publicized
- Resource management training seminars have been shared across-border with Ethiopia and the Sudan
- The network received the prestigious Goldman Environmental A ward,
- And lately community management of grazing land established at Duud Cad in Togdheer
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THEMATIC AREAS
GENERAL : Natural Resource Management and Management practices of Production systems in Somalia, including Livestock , Farming, Wood production, Tree Gums, Honey Production, Traditional Plant uses, Wildlife, Fresh Water Fisheries and Marine Fisheries.
SPECIFIC: Land Management, Energy and Alternative Energy sources, Conservation of Biodiversity, Water Management, Resource Based Conflicts, Awareness Creation, Lobby and Advocacy, Woodland/Forest and Forest Products, Marine Resources Management, Land Degradation, etc.
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RMSN CONCERNS
Background Information: Before the collapse of national institutions, environmental management in Somalia used to fall within the jurisdiction of five ministries ,namely Livestock, Forestry and Range; Marine Transport; Fisheries; Agriculture; and Minerals and Water Development.
Four ministries had a shared responsibility for terrestrial water development .Most environmental matters , however, were referred to two organizations within the Ministry of Livestock ,Forestry and Range: the National Range Agency(NRA) ,established in 1976 as part of the drought rehabilitation programme and the Central Rangelands Development Project(CRDP). The CRDP had jurisdiction in the central region of the country, while the NRA covered the southern and northern regions. Both were responsible for the conservation and development of range, forest and wildlife resources.At a international level, Somalia is not a party to the World Heritage Convention or the (Ramsar)Convention on Wetlands of International Importance and does not participate I the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAP)programme.
At regional level, Somalia has signed : the African Convention( Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ) which establishes several categories of protected area; the UNEP-sponsored convention for the Protection ,Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Eastern African Region; its Protocal concerning Protected areas and Wild Fauna and Flora in the Eastern African Region; and the similar UNEP-promoted Regional Convention for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environment.
A Law on Fauna(hunting) AND forest Conservation (law No.15) was promulgated in 1969 and amended five times in the following decade. The Law repeals and replaces the forest regulations of 1954 and the Game Ordinance of 1955. A complete ban on the hunting of wildlife was legislated in 1977(Law No.65). Marine fisheries legislation is covered in the Maritime Code(1959,amended 1966, 1967) of which Article 70 allows for the prohibition of fishing in certain areas. The most recent proposed draft legislation is the Wildlife Law 1990 with the accompanying Wildlife Regulations. Protected areas defined in this draft law include national reserve, national park, national conservation area, trans-frontier wildlife protection area, provisional national reserve and provisional national parks.
No institutes or university courses dealing specifically with environmental issues exist in Somalia .In a country as impoverished and as subject to erratic rainfalls and tribal conflicts as Somalia, environmental concerns are overshadowed by the problems of daily subsistence. The commercial and political expropriation of key seasonal riverine and rangeland grazing and watering points has been a major factor not only in localised resources degradation ,but also the expanding conflict that has characterised the 1980s and 1990s.
ECOLOGICAL ZONES: Somalia sits astride two biogeographic zones :Somali-Masai in the central and northern parts of the country(with Afromontane elements in the northern mountains) and a Zanzibar-Inhambane Regional Mosaic in the extreme south.
Vegetation consists predominantly of dry decidous bushland and thicket dominated by species of Acacia and commiphora in the central and northern regions with semi-desert grassland and deciduous shrubland in the north and along much of the coast. There is montane bushland and juniperus forest in the northern mountains and some coastal semi-evergreen bushland in the south ,as well as riverine forest patches on the lower Jubba River . Much of the north-eastern extremety is devoid of trees. In general , vegatation becomes more debse towards the south. A forested mountain escarpment (al Madow /Golis) runs parallel to the coast in the far north, opposite the gulf of Aden,the rest of the country is low-lying. The arid north has an annual rainfall of around 50 mm and the coastal regions, 50-150mm annually. The centre exceeds 400mm annually.
Land degradation and desertification problems.
Fragile ecosystems are important ecosystems with unique features and resources. Fragile ecosystems include deserts, semi-arid lands, mountains, wetlands, small islands and certain areas.
Desertification is land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry-sub humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities. The most obvious impact of desertification, in addition to widespread poverty ,is the degradation of Rangeland, including rangeland with a low potential for human and animal carrying capacity, decline in soil fertility and soil structure of the dryland areas constituting marginal rainfed cropland, and the degradation of irrigated cropland.
The priority in combating desertification should be the implementation of preventive measures for lands that are not yet degraded , or which are only slightly degraded. However, the severely degraded areas should not be neglected. In combating desertification and drought, the participation of local communities, rural organizations, local Authorities, non-governmental organizations and international and regional organizational are essential.
Urban Environment
Rural to urban migration pressures in Somalia are similar to those in most other African countries. The outcome is a serious catalogue of urban ills; overcrowding, insufficient water supplies, poor waste disposal and high urban unemployment.
Protection and sustainable use of forests.
The Forest situation in Somalia , is as a result of deforestation ,in critical stage and remains a matter of concern to RMSN.Forest growth in general is limited due to poor and low rainfall. With Juniperus and evergreen tract in the mountains in the north, forests cover was previously estimated as 14% of the land.
A few remnant of riparian forests comprising large track of land are still to be found along the Shabeelle and Jubba rivers and some coastal evergreen bushland is found in the south .Mangroves are also found between Saada Din island and Sba Wanak and in the three estuaries just north of the Kenyan border.Further large areas is covered by sparse savannah woodlands. The woodlands provide considerable resources and firewood, which is the main rural source, as well as material for hut construction and livestock enclosures. Important forest exports include frankincence, myrrh and gum Arabic.Traditional pastoralism over the centuries has preserved good vegetation cover in large areas of Somalia .
Desertification and deterioration of resources, have however , become serious in recent years as a result of growing concentration of people and livestock around settlements and permanent water points. Sand dunes encoachment into highly areas is also h potentially catastrophic. The need for agricultural land, particularly near rivers where irrigation is possible poses a threat to forests.Degradation and subsequent removal of existing forest cover to supply domestric fuelwood needs typically starts around villages, camps and livestock watering points, From these points, the areas of denuded land radiates outward over ever-increasing distances. The environmental situation was further complicated by the increasing trend of charcoal production throughout Somalia , particularly from the period of 1997.
The most preferred tree for charcoal production , Acacia bussei, is also highly important as livestock fodder.The Savannah woodlands were under increasing pressure from overgrazing abd cutting to meet domestric energy needs ,thus there is a need for an urgent measures to curb the situation and initiate sustainable land use and sustainable forest management practice.
Effective management and protection of biodiversity, Although three protected areas were officially recognized in Somalia , there has been no formal protection of these areas, since the breakdown of the central government in 1991. With such an incomplete protected areas systems, current conservation activities in Somalia are inadequate for long-term preservation of its biodiversity.
A massive increase in conservation actions and targeted funding throughout the country is essential not only in its own right but also to provide the environmental and social sustainability necessary to restore environmental governance and policies.
RMSN long-term perspective:
1.contextual link between Environment and sustainable development 2.Food security through sustainable land use
Special emphasis on:
Land manaement practices -Appropriate technology -Alternative energy sources -Traditional knowledge -Knowledge about environmental change/environmental resource loss -Environmental data and information.
Capacity-building for environmental stakeholders.
There is a strong need in field of collaboration having discussion on how to assist RMSN become more engaged in Global civil Society Forum, given the fact of the crucial role of civil society, because , for proper implementation and for the purpose of it(policy) getting public acceptance, there is a need to take into account, the civil society views prior to the final policy making process .For the civil society to make an informed decision, there is a need for capacity-building for both the environmental stakeholders and actors , speciaaly in Somalia case.
Establishment for Environmental legal framework for Somalia
There is a need for a plan to synchronise strategies between multilateral agencies institutions,UN agencies International NGOs/Donors and RMSN to facilitate direct role in the policy development and to serve as a voice in the field of Advocacy for the establishment of Environmental legal framework for Somalia and to serve as activists advocating for policies and strategies in the world Environment, in general and Horn of Africa in particular.
Establishment for environmental governance framework
-There is an obvious need for re-establishment of state structures to purposely deal with environmental governance. Stakeholders like RMSN would appreciate being part of advisory sector in initiation of such venture ,in the formulation of Environmental policy etc. RMSN, with support from multilateral agencies institutions,UN agencies International NGOs/Donors can serve as a link between the state and Regional and international bodies in the issue of establishment of environmental governance framework and drafting of policy papers, for appropriate application of Environmental governance.
Establishment of Resource centre
The establishment of resource centre as a jointmultilateral agencies institutions,UN agencies International NGOs/Donors/RMSN venture will be an ideal strategy to boost the capacity and the effectiveness of the organizations dealing with environment and communities they are working with in Somalia . The organizations will be able to share resources, information and expertise for the benefit of natural resource management , biodiversity conservation and community development
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FUTURE PROSPECTS
Despite the achievements of the network over the past six years, the need for continued work by the network remains very apparent.
Continuous upgrading of our understanding of the environment and the factors threatening it as well as enhancing our efforts towards planned management of the natural resources are fundamental to achieve RMSN goal to reverse the resource mismanagement and the environmental mistreatment we are witnessing throughout the country.Any RMSN future prospect must reflect a short-term plan and a long-term perspective. In the first case, organized and vigorous actions are required to stop vested interests reaping huge profits from the wasteful exploitation of forest and marine resources.
These actions must include:
- Challenging the massive charcoal burning activities taking place in the Southern and Central regions of Somalia
- Checking the illegal trade of wildlife in Southern Somalia.
- Denouncing the ruthless exploitation of marine resource by international trawlers.
- Mounting charcoal campaign within and without the country.
- Expending community action to establish management areas
- Conservation of endangered species and sustainable use of fisheries.
- Integrated coastal zone management (ICZM)
Specific activities will include:
Active and direct participation to Regional Campaigns (charcoal, livestock ban, pastoral rights
- Launching of a network Newsletter
- Supporting communities in resolving resource-based conflicts
- Enhancing mangrove planting techniques
- Reaching more people to train in Holistic Resource Management techniques
- Making linkages with external actors
- Collecting and disseminating progress made on technical work undertaken on the ground
The RMSN long-term perspective will be dominated by two main themes:1. (Contextual) link between environment and sustainable development
Food security through sustainable land use In this respect, special attention will be paid to:
- Land management practices
- Appropriate technology
- Alternative energy sources
- Traditional knowledge
- Knowledge about environmental change and environmental resource loss
- Factors that have caused and/or continue to cause the loss of environmental resources
- Sharing environmental data and information with all stakeholders including policy/decision makers.
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DESIRED GOAL
1. QUALITY OF LIFE:
peace, justice, equality, prosperity, human rights, freedom, health, education, wealth, democracy, solidarity, self-reliance, confidence, stability, security, sustainability, non-violence.
2. FORMS OF PRODUCTION
(to support the defined quality of life) Clean food, peaceful atmosphere, clean water, plentiful food and water, understanding, communication, negotiation, trust, reconciliation, love, honesty, acceptable, awareness, transparency, openness, professionalism, accountability, respect, sustainable resources, confidence. Infrastructure, common interest, money resistance, fair, good education, courts, jobs, opportunities, technology, academics, healthcare, equality, liberty, rights for children, animals, elderly, women etc.
3. LANDSCAPE DESCRIPTIONS
(to support forms of production)
Natural landscape: plentiful. Clean, high quality, available, perennial, covered soil surface, functioning water sheds: optimum live, multi storied, multi aged, feeds are fresh tasteful, nutritious, abundant with great variety, small farms (one family or extended family) predominate: they are environmentally friendly, healthy forest, rangelands, wildlife, life cracks, steams, clean ocean, clean rivers, wetlands exist, livestock are present, soil is fertile, humus, productive sustainable.
Human landscape: healthily skilled, well-rounded, education/training creative, happy supportive, motivated, hopeful, dynamic, multi aged, aware self responsible and accountable, flexible, initiative, confident, diverse, openness drug free, resourceful, productive self-discipline, cooperative, trust worthy, decisive.
Economic landscape: industry, exports, technology, infrastructure, resources, security, access, sustainability, professionalism skilled lab our force, investors (including foreign) environmentally friendly industry, diversification of wealth base, use planning for, fair laws, population in board, critical analytical thinkers.
Effective management and protection of biodiversity
Although three protected areas were officially recognized in Somalia , there has been no formal protection of these areas, since the breakdown of the central government in 1991.
With such an incomplete protected areas systems, current conservation activities in Somalia are inadequate for long-term preservation of its biodiversity. A massive increase in conservation actions and targeted funding throughout the country is essential not only in its own right but also to provide the environmental and social sustainability necessary to restore environmental governance and policies.
RMSN long-term perspective:
1.contextual link between Environment and sustainable development
2.Food security through sustainable land use
Special emphasis on:
Land manaement practices -Appropriate technology -Alternative energy sources -Traditional knowledge
-Knowledge about environmental change/environmental resource loss
-Environmental data and information
Capacity-building for environmental stakeholders .
There is a strong need in field of collaboration having discussion on how to assist RMSN become more engaged in Global civil Society Forum, given the fact of the crucial role of civil society, because , for proper implementation and for the purpose of it(policy) getting public acceptance, there is a need to take into account, the civil society views prior to the final policy making process .For the civil society to make an informed decision, there is a need for capacity-building for both the environmental stakeholders and actors , speciaaly in Somalia case.
Establishment for Environmental legal framework for Somalia
There is a need for a plan to synchronise strategies between multilateral agencies institutions,UN agencies International NGOs/Donors and RMSN to facilitate direct role in the policy development and to serve as a voice in the field of Advocacy for the establishment of Environmental legal framework for Somalia and to serve as activists advocating for policies and strategies in the world Environment, in general and Horn of Africa in particular.
Establishment for environmental governance framework
-There is an obvious need for re-establishment of state structures to purposely deal with environmental governance. Stakeholders like RMSN would appreciate being part of advisory sector in initiation of such venture ,in the formulation of Environmental policy etc. RMSN, with support from multilateral agencies institutions,UN agencies International NGOs/Donors can serve as a link between the state and Regional and international bodies in the issue of establishment of environmental governance framework and drafting of policy papers, for appropriate application of Environmental governance.
Establishment of Resource centre
The establishment of resource centre as a jointmultilateral agencies institutions,UN agencies International NGOs/Donors/RMSN venture will be an ideal strategy to boost the capacity and the effectiveness of the organizations dealing with environment and communities they are working with in Somalia . The organizations will be able to share resources, information and expertise for the benefit of natural resource management , biodiversity conservation and community development
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