VISUAL DIARY

VISUAL DIARY OF ESPA

Below are images with captions that captures the #ACE_EPSA team’s reflections on different elements, stages, and findings of the ESPA project. Be sure to follow the hashtag #ACE_ESPA on Twitter to keep up to date with the latest from the #ACE_ESPA project.

September 2017: #ACE_ESPA investigates governance in protected areas in one of their rapid evidence assessments

: 2017.09.04 What is the impact of different governance structures in protected areas on ecosystem services and multidimensional poverty alleviation in Sub-Saharan Africa? This is the question asked by #ACE_ESPA’s first rapid evidence assessment. The emphasis of this question is on the governance of protected areas (PAs), which makes it essential to have an understanding of what a protected area is as well as the definition of governance. Good governance is a measure of how far certain principles and values are adhered to, as well as how custom-made it is to its particular setting. – Charity Chisoro

: 2017.08.28 IUCN defines a protected area as “a clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values.” What I found particularly interesting and very helpful was how they “unpack” this definition. There is a detailed explanation for each word and phrase and the use of examples as a way of further clarifying the concept. Governance is “a set of processes, procedures, resources, institutions and actors that determine how decisions are made and implemented.” It refers to principles, policies and rules regarding decision-making, all clearly relevant in the case of protected areas – Charity Chisoro

: 2017.09.06 Most people tend to use the concepts management and governance interchangeably because their assumption is that they are the same. However, I found it quite fascinating to gain an understanding that there is actually a difference between these two concepts. On one hand, management consists of the “means and actions” to achieve set goals (i.e. what you do in order to achieve particular goals). On the other hand, governance involves the aspect of who will be the decision maker and how they will implement decisions to meet the set objectives. It is also about the individuals who hold power, authority, responsibility and accountability. – Charity Chisoro

17 – 18 August 2017: Department: Environmental Affairs (DEA) Biodiversity and Evidence Indaba

The #ACE_ESPA project co-manager Dr Erasmus launched the evidence map on the links between interventions related to ecosystem services and poverty alleviation in Africa at the DEA Biodiversity and Evidence Indaba. Laurenz Langer – project co-manager – was active on Twitter, along with a number of ACE partners. Below are a selection of tweets from the day. – Natalie Tannous.

: Dr Erasmus launching the #ACE_ESPA evidence map.

May – June 2017 #ACE_ESPA is getting ready to start our rapid evidence assessments

: 2017.06.14 Engaging with literature on interventions and outcomes has enabled me to learn a lot regarding the ecosystems services and poverty alleviation. An important lesson that stood out for me was the dilemma that is faced regarding biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction. Poor people in the rural areas rely on firewood as a source of fuel but at the same time, they are required to conserve trees as a way of promoting sustainability. This left me with me a question: “what is the efficient way of conserving natural resources without disadvantaging the vulnerable?” #ACE_ESPA – Charity Chisoro

: 2017.06.03 A blog written #ACE_ESPA project co-manager Dr Yvonne Erasmus invites African decision-makers who are part of the Africa Evidence Network to vote for the most important of five environmental questions. The #ACE_ESPA team will use rapid evidence assessments to answer two thematic questions, the research for which will be drawn from the evidence map. – Natalie Tannous

: 2017.06.20 The progress thus far has led to a select few potential synthesis questions. Now we’re left with an important decision to make regarding the direction the #ACE_ESPA project will take! – Zafeer Ravat

: 2017.06.12 Understanding the links between multidimensional poverty and water is important in addressing the challenges of diminishing water quality and quantities, to avert future crises. The discussions around water conservation should therefore focus on identifying innovative solutions for water conservation within local communities and raising awareness on importance of water in poverty reduction. – Mary Opondo

: 2017.06.10 Have you told the #ACE_ESPA team which environmental question is in line with your policy priorities? Get your answers in before the June/July deadline! – Natalie Tannous

April – May 2017 #ACE_ESPA engaging with Africa decision-makers using the interactive evidence interface

: 2017.05.15 The first official tweet from ACE to publicly launch the interactive evidence interface on ecosystem services for poverty alleviation in Africa. This is the product that we would engage various decision-makers with over the next few weeks to determine what the thematic synthesis questions for the rapid evidence assessments would be. #ACE_ESPA – Natalie Tannous

: 2017.05.19 The farmer got their first harvest and we, likewise got our first product of the project, which is the evidence map. The farmer is holding a bundle of their harvest and we have bundled together the literature in the form of an evidence map: our first victory as an ESPA team! #ACE_ESPA – Charity Chisoro

: 2017.05.20 A visual representation of the geographic coverage of the evidence on ecosystem services for poverty alleviation in Africa. The white represents a complete deficit of evidence with red indicating minimal evidence and dark green representing the most evidence. #ACE_ESPA – Yvonne Erasmus

: 2017.05.21 This image is a reflection of the various interventions and outcomes covered by the evidence map on ecosystem services and poverty alleviation in Africa: behind the scenes was the rigorous screening process of abstracts from articles and coding that resulted in the vibrant display of evidence. #ACE_ESPA – Mary Opondo

January – March 2017 First quarter of #ACE_ESPA ends with an evidence map!

: 2017.03.06 Before embarking on the development of the evidence map for the UJ-ESPA project, I expect the literature on the relationship between ecosystem services and poverty to be like this image: the services provided by nature go largely unnoticed although they are completely relied on. #UJESPA – Natalie Tannous.

: 2017.03.13 The UJ-ESPA team decide to take a team photo! Back row, from the left: Laurenz Langer (project co-manager), Mary Opondo (review team researcher), Natalie Tannous (review team lead), Zafeer Ravat (review team researcher), Charity Chisoro (review team researcher), and Dr Yvonne Erasmus (principal investigator and project co-manager). #UJESPA – Natalie Tannous

: 2017.04.13 The first stage of the ESPA project is complete – we have an evidence map! The next stage of the UJ-ESPA project is to consult with our decision-making partners on the map to set the four questions for synthesis. Exciting times! #UJESPA – Natalie Tannous