Collaboration, Cooperation and Coordination in Protected Area Strategic Planning

Abstract

Strategic planning involves decision makers at different levels discussing key issues of an organization in a structured manner. The structured steps include developing initial agreement for the strategic plan effort which provides the role and responsibilities of the team, the timing of reporting, processes and membership of the team. With the plethora of actors with different roles and responsibilities to ensure a successful production and implementation of an organization strategic plan; the need for collaboration, cooperation and coordination (3Cs) is imperative which must be champion by a sponsor. Protected areas for wildlife conservation found themselves in the category of organizations operating in a shared environment. Community collaborative wildlife management has emerged as one of the strategies to ensure wildlife resource sustenance (Larsen, 2006; Jachmann, 2007) because it is difficult to have on the spot policing. Gbele Resource Reserve (GRR) is a wildlife protected area in an environment of fringe communities having competing stakes with wildlife resources through poaching amidst wildlife law enforcement by the managers of the reserve.

Key Words: collaboration, cooperation, coordination, conservation, poaching, wildlife

Collaboration, Cooperation and Coordination in Protected Area Strategic Planning

Strategically planning by projecting into the future prospects of an organization needs careful analysis of the situation in relation to the ideal state (the vision of success). The need for strategic planning is found in the benefits that the organization can derive (Bryson, 1988; McNamara 2013). Bryson stated benefits of strategic plans are realized by organizations if leaders direct their efforts towards achieving the planned strategies. Strategic planning is not done in a vacuum, but in the political, social, technological and economical context of society.

Nutt (2008) presented three issues to be considered when preparing for a strategic plan. They are what trends and events are influencing the organization; issues attached to significance of the trends and events; and those questions that determining the routes to the future. The envisioning of an ideal future of the organization by decision makers must be borne out with the numerous barriers of uncertainties that could militate against achieving the desire outcomes. With the daunting task, McNamara (2013) recommended forming a good team to facilitating the strategic planning process. The team members must cut across all stakeholders of the organization taking cognizance of both external and internal factors affecting performance.

To be able to achieve these, planners must plan the planning process (McNamara, 2013) by involving major stakeholders. Bryson (1988) also asserted the process of developing a strategic plan requires a sponsor who will facilitate the process to legitimize it in the organization. Thus there is a need to have one who will champion the cooperation, collaboration and coordination (3Cs) processes especially for organizations which mandate is in a shared environment. Protected areas for wildlife conservation found themselves in the category of organizations operating in a shared environment. Gbele Resource Reserve (GRR) is a wildlife protected area in an environment of fringe communities having competing stakes for wildlife resources through poaching amidst wildlife law enforcement by the managers of the reserve.

Gbele Resource Reserve (GRR) Profile

GRR is a wildlife reserve under the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission of Ghana in a predominantly Savannah ecosystem in the northern part of Ghana. The Reserve was established in 1975 by the Wildlife Reserves (Amendment) Regulation of 1975; L.I. 1022 (Consolidated Wildlife Laws, 2002). GRR has a total land size of 565sqkm and it lies between latitudes 10.22° and 10.44° N and longitudes 2.03° and 2.12° W. It has employee strength of 38 with males dominating the organization staff strength (only two females). Group hunting, water pollution from fishing and livestock invasion especially cattle are the major illegal activities that occur in the reserve. There are about 20 fringe communities in a radius of about 25km from GRR boundary line whose activities directly affect the ecological integrity of the reserve.

GRR Mandate, Mission, Vision and Activities

GRR mandate is to protect and conserve its ecosystem in its original form to ensure environmental quality. Its mission and vision are derived from the larger Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission of Ghana. The mission statement reads: “To work effectively with others to ensure sustainable management and development of Ghana’s wildlife resources and their habitats, so as to optimize their contribution to national socio-economic development” (Wildlife Division, 2009). This mission statement is a realization of an organization operating in a shared environment, hence the need to work with others. The vision is to “leave future generations and their communities with richer, better and more valuable forest and wildlife endowments than inherited” (Wildlife Division, 2009). A vision of wildlife resources sustenance to guarantee organizational continuity. Law enforcement is a key strategy by which wildlife mandate are achieved (Jachmann, 2007). Notwithstanding, GRR also relies (as in other protected areas) on creation of wildlife development enterprises such as ecotourism, subsistence hunting (for bushmeat) and trophy hunting as strategies to achieve its mandate. Getting public value establishes why GRR continuous existence is important through such strategies.

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