Expression of Interest - South African

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Despite being one of the 17 megadiverse countries with many species found nowhere else, South Africa's pathway to sustainable development is still fraught with challenges. The country faces triple environmental threats, including biodiversity loss, climate change impacts, and pollution. Underlying barriers include a limited community participation and benefit sharing from conservation activities; outdated conservation strategies disconnected from productive landscapes, communal lands, and local communities' economic and socio-cultural interests; and limited financial resources and poor capacity for the effective management of conservation areas. The GEF 8 Mega Living Landscapes (MLLs) Project will drive innovative and transformative change to address some of South Africa’s most complex environmental, social, and economic challenges. It will pioneer the establishment of three groundbreaking Mega Living Landscapes (MLLs) that will conserve 2 million hectares of biodiversity-rich land through innovative contractual and collaborative partnerships, foster sustainable economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs, focusing on women and youth, elevate socio-economic empowerment via enterprise and skills development, build robust conservation management institutions, and bolster the conservation capacity and skills of partner organisations. The project is a core part of the South African National Parks (SANParks) implementation programme of Vision 2040—a forward-thinking strategy to redefine conservation by fostering inclusivity, sustainable development, and community engagement. In these MLLs the GEF project will, within six years, bring 2 million hectares of land under conservation –1,297,175 hectares being added to the Protected Area (PA) estate or under improved management within PAs, and 630,300 hectares of landscapes outside declared PAs under improved biodiversity management. Project Description Overview The Table below (referred to as Table B) indicates the strategic project components, outcomes (results), project outputs and indicative funds required. A narrative explanation follows the Theory of Change diagram provided later in the document. Table 1: Project Objective, Components, Outcome and Outputs Pioneer the establishment of three Mega Living Landscapes (MLLs) to conserve 2M ha of biodiversity rich land, foster sustainable economic opportunities for local communities, build robust conservation management institutions and demonstrate the Project Objective: transformative potential of the MLL concept. (in $) Component Trust Project Components Project Outcomes Project Outputs GEF Project Co- Type Fund Financing financing 1. Creating sustainable TA 1.1 MLLs established 1.1.1. MLLs formal governance structures, GEFTF 1,701,952 11,788,157 MLL institutional through inclusive stakeholder participation platforms and partnerships mechanisms and institutional and established, with effective representation and governance structures governance structures participation of local communities, women and youth in decision making and consultative initiatives. (MLL Hubs), vision and planning frameworks. 1.1.2. Unifying vision & Landscape level Framework Plans for each MLL participatorily developed and approved by MLLs governance structures. 1.2 Capabilities of 1.2.1. Bespoke leadership and management training, SANParks, MLL and ongoing coaching of SANParks in managing MLLs governance developed and implemented. members and management teams, 1.2.2 Capacity building programs delivered at local community landscape level for local leaders in MLL governance leadership increased structures, partner organizations, and management for effective teams on inclusive conservation including adaptive management of MLL. and biodiversity conservation management, biodiversity monitoring, ecosystem restoration, amongst others, to ensure successful implementation and effective management of self-sustaining MLLs. 2. Fostering and TA 2.1 Increased 2. 1.1. Portfolio of inclusive and sustainable socio- GEFTF 2,928,523 20,474,167 enhancing sustainable biodiversity-positive economic development initiatives developed and economic opportunities & sustainable socio- implemented, creating MLL-based opportunities for socio -economic economic local community enterprises, cooperatives and empowerment empowerment and livelihoods upliftment, with focus on women-led and development, owned youth-led initiatives. by local stakeholders and benefiting local 2.1.2. Capacity building and skills development in communities in the 3 SMMs establishment, employment, business MLLs. incubation and livelihood income, with emphasis on women and youth in local communities in the 3 MLLs. 3. Improving Inclusive Inv 3.1. Increased area of 3.1.1 Partnerships, collaborative and inclusive GEFTF 3,194,752 22,335,455 Conservation in the MLLs PAs newly created, interventions implemented to facilitate new PA and area of existing declaration via stewardship, voluntary land PAs with improved acquisition processes, including technical effective assessments, safeguards, stakeholder engagement & management, legal processes. delivered through a new inclusive and 3.1.2 On the ground collaborative and coordination in collaborative implementation of MLL Plan activities to improve conservation model management effectiveness of existing Pas and in the 3 MLLs. improve management activities to benefit biodiversity outside of PAs. 3.1.3. Capacity building programs in inclusive conservation management institutions, community of practices delivered within and across the 3 MLLs. 4. Knowledge TA 4.1 Increased 4.1.1 Cross mega living landscape Community of GEFTF 198,616 1,388,583 management. awareness & Practice workshops to share knowledge & experience enhanced held. conservation knowledge and practices amongst 4.1.2 Knowledge management & communication SANParks, MLL products delivered. partners and local communities on inclusive conservation topics and experiences in the 3 MLLs. Component 5. Monitoring & Evaluation GEFTF 443,716 3,102,144 Outcome 5.1: Effective, informed, and adaptive project management. Outputs: 5.1.1 M&E reports, including project progress reports and midterm evaluations for corrective actions and adaptations 5..1.2 Annual lessons learnt workshops, between main stakeholders, held. Subtotal GEFTF 8,467,559 59,088,505 Project Management Cost (PMC) GEFTF 406,753 2,954,425 Total Project Cost GEFTF 8,874,312 62,042,930 PROJECT OUTLINE A. PROJECT RATIONALE A1 Background South Africa (SA) is one of the 17 megadiverse countries hosting most of the world’s biodiversity and has large numbers of species found nowhere else. South Africa's pathway to sustainable development is still fraught with challenges. The country faces triple environmental threats, including biodiversity loss, impacts of climate change, and pollution. Compounding these are persistently high levels of unemployment, poverty, and inequality. According to a World Bank Report released in August 2024, South Africa is the most unequal country globally, with a Gini coefficient of 0,67. These socio-economic and environmental issues are intertwined, creating a complex web of challenges threatening the integrity of South Africa's rich biodiversity. Further, the lingering effects of past race- based land dispossession also continue to play a role, and this is illustrated by the ongoing low levels of meaningful participation by local communities in conservation efforts who gain associated benefits. Additionally, unsustainable production and consumption practices characteristic of South Africa’s linear economic model also exacerbate biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, perpetuating a cycle of ecological and socio-economic decline. Considering South Africa's precarious trajectory towards sustainable development, the National Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment (DFFE) has strategically aligned its mandate with the National Development Plan's goals, which are to reduce unemployment, eradicate poverty, reduce inequality, and achieve a decent standard of living by 2030. The newly published White Paper on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of South Africa’s Biodiversity aims to conserve the nation’s rich biodiversity while promoting sustainable and equitable socio-economic development. It also emphasizes integrating environmental, social, and economic elements to ensure biodiversity conservation benefits current and future generations. South Africa is committed to meeting global environmental objectives, particularly the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Frameworks’(GBF) mission to “take urgent action to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity for the benefit of people and the planet” by 2030. The country will contribute to achieving its 30 x 30 target (GBF target 3), which requires that 13.35% of land and inland freshwater resources and 15.3% of its marine areas be added to the current conservation estate (refer Map 1 and Table 2 below). Map 1. Map of protected areas in South Africa. Table 2. The total contribution of protected areas in relation to the 30 x 30 targets. In line with these national sustainable development goals, the South African National Parks (SANParks) has introduced Vision 2040, a forward-thinking strategy that redefines conservation by fostering inclusivity, promoting sustainable development, and engaging the community. Vision 2040’s key pillars include creating Mega-Living Landscapes (MLLs) in areas of biodiversity importance and advancing economic development through conservation, sustaining ecological services, community inclusion, and social justice. This vision thus ushers in a paradigm shift that reimagines a co-created new future for South Africa, in which people live in harmony with nature in Mega-Living Landscapes (MLLs), and nature is understood to be the bedrock of the economy. This vision calls for SANParks to discharge its mandate into the future to facilitate harmonious relationships between societal needs, human well-being, and environmental management requirements. To realise its aspirations will require a substantial shift in focus, scope, and implementation strategy, as well as the involvement of the DFFE, the private sector, national and provincial authorities, entities, local communities, women, youth, NGOs, and other broader stakeholder groupings. The Mega Living Landscape Programme aims to catalyse sustainable development, particularly in rural areas, by transitioning from the traditional approach to developing and managing protected areas collaboratively and fostering biodiversity conservation beyond the conventional protected areas. This new conservation philosophy focuses on creating expansive, interconnected landscapes that integrate national parks and other protected areas with productive lands in surrounding communities. The ultimate goal in pursuing the MLL strategy is for biodiversity to thrive at all levels in conserved and productive landscapes that sustain healthy ecological functions, provide spiritual, cultural, sustainable economic, and subsistence benefits, and deliver prosperity for people living in and around these landscapes. As a result, biodiversity degradation and loss should be reversed, and conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity should be a shared commitment among all who benefit from these landscapes. The SANParks will champion, lead, and play a facilitatory role in implementing the MLL strategy with multiple partners and with a commitment to meaningful participation and inclusion of local communities. SANParks identified eight large areas (see Map 2) in the country where it seeks to facilitate the establishment of Mega Living Landscapes, and the concept is explained as follows: • “Mega” thinking at a larger scale. • “Living” people and nature co-exist together harmoniously. • The “Landscape” consists of different elements, such as land and water, biodiversity, livelihoods, and heritage, which can be included as parts of the whole. Map 2: Location of eight potential Mega Living Landscapes identified by SANParks. Establishing the eight Mega Living Landscapes (MLLs) is a key strategy for achieving GBF Target 3 (dubbed “30 x 30”). The SANParks-led MLLs initiative aims to contribute an additional 12.3% (approximately 14 million hectares) to South Africa's land conservation targets. Table 3: Potential contribution of identified MLLs by SANParks to GBF Target 3 To progress the concept of MLLs from theory to practice, SANParks plans to pilot it in strategic areas nationwide with funding from the Global Environment Facility Replenishment Fund Phase 8 (GEF 8). In this way, the GEF 8 funding will contribute to SANParks' implementation of Vision 2040, which aims to deliver transformative conservation outcomes at its core. Implementing the three MLLs will also contribute to the government’s National Development Plan (NDP) and its strategic priorities for 2024 – 2029, as articulated in the national Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP). The MTDP priorities for the next five years are inclusive growth and job creation, poverty reduction, and building a capable, ethical and developmental state. The GEF 8-funded Mega Living Landscapes (MLL) project aims to establish a cohesive and sustainable development vision by developing, coordinating and integrating diverse activities across three pilot landscapes. This project will mobilise institutions, communities, and marginalised stakeholder groups and resources to demonstrate impactful MLL implementation, foster ecological connectivity within the selected landscapes and enhance coherence among collaborating partners and local communities. Each of the three selected MLLs will encompass national parks, other formally protected areas, other effectively conserved lands, productive landscapes and communal land, and these are: a) Greater Addo MLL, which covers parts of Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), Addo National Park, its adjacent marine protected area, Mountain Zebra National Park (near Craddock), and Camdeboo National Park (surrounding Graaff Reinet) in the Eastern Cape Province. b) Barberton/Makhonjwa MLL (part of the Greater Kruger), which extends from near Barberton to the south of Kruger National Park in the Mpumalanga Province. c) Eastern Grasslands MLL encompasses the formal declaration of Grasslands National Park in the Eastern Cape highlands. Amongst the conservation tools to be deployed are stewardship mechanisms and other compatible land use interventions, with active participation from landowners and communal land users. At the MLL level, comprehensive interventions will be meticulously implemented to foster holistic and sustainable development. These efforts will align visioning processes, strategic planning, sustainable financing, and ongoing assessments to ensure impactful outcomes. Institutional mechanisms and governance structures will be strengthened by enhancing operational capacity, promoting robust governance practices, empowering local leadership, and ensuring sustainability. Concurrently, the project will drive economic growth, promote socio- economic inclusion, empower women and youth, and improve access to finance and markets. Additionally, conservation management institutions will be bolstered, conservation knowledge and practices will be enhanced, and conservation capacity will be increased, all while promoting inclusive community participation. These integrated interventions will collectively advance the three core MLL project components, leading to resilient and thriving ecosystems, empowering communities, and ensuring sustainable progress. The MLL initiative will have a national impact at and beyond the selected three sites. Within the three MLLs targeted sites, the quality of life of local people and communities will improve. Further, additional land for biodiversity conservation will be secured while progressively, biodiversity loss will reverse and improve ecosystem functioning, which delivers valuable ecological services. For SANParks, MLL implementation lessons from the pilot will inform the establishment of five new MLLs, which aim to double the 4.6 million hectares SANParks currently protects and conserves. Nationally, cumulative learnings and insights gained from these three MLLs will inform the future model for the design and development of MLLs and demonstrate an “all-of-society” approach to undertaking biodiversity-centric sustainable development. A sister project funded by the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF), “Reimagining National Parks for People and Nature—Leveraging Durable Financing Mechanisms for Mega Living Landscapes (MLL) to achieve Target 3 in South Africa (GEF ID 11588),” will also support components of the MLL initiative, creating enabling conditions for durable financing by developing landscape-level Investment Frameworks and securing long-term financing mechanisms in the three MLLs. Implementing this GEF8 project will be coordinated and synergised with the sister project funded by the GBFF, forming an integrated MLL initiative. The theory of change underpinning this GEF 8 MLL project is that creating Mega Living Landscapes (MLLs) will demonstrate that the outdated conservation mindset of separating people, nature, and culture—historically entrenched by apartheid policies—is no longer optimal for establishing Protected Areas (PAs), conserving ecosystems and preventing the loss of biodiversity. This project will show that well-connected, functioning ecosystems foster thriving biodiversity and enhance local communities’ livelihoods, well-being, and resilience. By catalysing pro-nature economic development, these initiatives aim to retain or improve biodiversity and ecosystem services while benefiting local communities and the private sector. Creating MLLs will drive inclusive economic growth by integrating biodiversity and conservation-linked opportunities into local economies, promoting equitable and sustainable community benefits. This approach will foster resilient community-led enterprises, generate employment, enhance social cohesion, improve market access, and stimulate inclusive economic growth through biodiversity value chains and conservation-linked initiatives. The long-term impact will be well-connected, functioning ecosystems that result in thriving biodiversity and increased livelihoods, human well-being, and resilience within three Mega Living Landscapes. A2 Current Situation and Future Scenarios Project Geography The GEF-funded MLL project will focus on three areas of the country where the planned interventions align with and contribute to achieving the priorities of the NDP, the MTDP, the White Paper on Biodiversity, and SANParks Vision 2040 regarding the delivery of social, environmental, and economic dividends, particularly to local communities, women, and youth. The project will expand areas critical for conservation and contribute to meeting Target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Geographically, the MLL project sites are situated in provinces and regions of the country that are home to the most impoverished communities and have hitherto not derived meaningful socio-economic benefits from biodiversity and heritage resources in the neighbouring formally conserved areas. The three MLL project sites are the Greater Addo, which is mainly in the southern Eastern Cape Province; Barberton – Makhonjwa MLL, (part of Greater Kruger) located to the south of the Kruger National Park and the near north/north-west of Eswatini; and the Eastern Grasslands which is in southern Drakensberg Mountains within the Eastern Cape and bordering Lesotho are shown in Map 3 below. The location of the three Project MLLs within South Africa is shown in the map below. Map 3: Location of the three Project Mega Living Landscapes identified by SANParks. Detailed description of the geography of each of the Mega Living Landscape sites selected Below are details of the specific locations, extent, biophysical characteristics, and heritage assets in each of the three planned MLLs. The Greater Addo Mega Living Landscape This MLL extends from the northern reaches of the Addo Elephant National Park northwards towards the towns of Cradock and Graaff Reinet. Middelburg is the northern extent, and Murraysburg, Aberdeen, and Steytlerville are the western extent (see Map 4). Map 4: Greater Addo Mega Living Landscape showing the GEF 8 project area in relation to the GEF 7 and broader MLL. The MLL will have a footprint of 3.5 million hectares, including 1,210,468 hectares of officially designated protected areas (Tables 4 and 5). It is situated at the intersection of seven distinct biomes: Nama Karoo, Albany Thicket, Grasslands, Fynbos, Succulent Karoo, Forest, and Azoonal vegetation. These areas are recognised as biodiversity hotspots and include two Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSAs). The two SWSAs partially within the MLL are groundwater-based: the Eastern Upper Karoo Strategic Water Source Area and a small Coega Aquifer Water Source Area patch. Table 4: Protected areas where interventions will occur in the Greater Addo Protected area name Type of protected area WDPA ID Area Date of declaration (Ha) Protected areas where GEF 8 interventions will take place Addo Elephant National Park National Park (IUCN category II) 875 152,355 3 July 1931 ha Mountain Zebra National Park National Park (IUCN category II) 877 20,247 2 July 1937 ha Camdeboo National Park National Park (IUCN category II) 4035 18,790 28 October 2005 ha Noorseveld Protected Protected Environment (IUCN V Protected 555570868 47,926 17 March 2014 Environment Landscape/Seascape) ha Compassberg Protected Protected Environment (IUCN V Protected 555563479 28,851 6 July 2012 Environment Landscape/Seascape) ha Mountain Zebra – Camdeboo Protected Environment (IUCN V Protected 555571010 892,754 5 December 2014 and 1 Protected Environment Landscape/Seascape) ha April 2016 Table 5: Other protected areas in the Greater Addo MLL Protected area name Type of protected area Camdeboo Private Nature Reserve Nature Reserve 19,373 ha 7 February 2024 Bergplaas Private Nature Reserve Nature Reserve 5,098 ha 8 May 2015 Agter Sneeuberg Private Nature Reserve Nature Reserve 16,053 ha 12 January 1995 Aberdeen Nature Reserve Nature Reserve 1,673 ha 12 February 1982 Somerset East Bosberg Nature Reserve Nature Reserve 2,698 ha 6 October 1967 High Karoo Park Protected Environment Protected Environment 4,671 ha 22 February 2021 Endangered and vulnerable species occurring in this region include the black rhino, Cape mountain zebra, eagles, and 13 species of endemic herpetofauna. The area holds significant heritage value, as shown by the evidence found of the early occupation of the Khoisan people, the first inhabitants of southern Africa. Additionally, it has high palaeontological value, with rock strata and fossil records dating back 230 million years. The Barberton-Makhonjwa Mega Living Landscape (part of the Greater Kruger) This MLL is centred on the Barberton Nature Reserve and Songimvelo Game Reserve, part of the Barberton- Makhonjwa World Heritage Site (see Map 5). It covers three biomes: forest, Savanna, and grassland, as well as biodiversity hotspots. Four Strategic Water Source Areas occur partially in this MLL: the Mpumalanga Drakensberg, Upper Usuthu, Mbabane Hills, and Upper Vaal Strategic Water Source Areas, which account for nearly 60% (888,190 ha) of the MLL. The MLL is a centre of plant endemism and is home to endangered and vulnerable species, including at least 80 endemic plant species and the black rhino. Map 5: Barberton-Makhonjwa MLL (orange) in the context of the Greater Kruger. The proposed MLL encompasses an area of approximately 1.5 million hectares, with 322,855 hectares of formally declared protected zones (see Tables 6 and 7). Table 6: Protected areas where interventions will occur in the Barberton Makhonjwa MLL. Protected area name Type of protected area WDPA ID Area (Ha) Date of

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