PRESA partners at a training session held in Nairobi.

The coordination office wishes to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate the PRESA family for the success achieved in 2008 and the momentum that we have built for realization of 2009 targets.

In 2008, PRESA core team, the International Advisory Committee and its partners (both site-level and strategic) worked together to lay a sound foundation for the implementation of project activities in the future. These included building the right linkages and partnerships, undertaking capacity building at different levels, periodic dialogues with business leaders on linkages between ecosystem management and business as well as sharing information.

On project coordination, communication and data management, we have built a core team at ICRAF Nairobi Headquarters to jointly run the project with direction from members of the International Advisory Committee (IAC). IAC commended the PRESA core team and partners for progress made in 2008.

In 2009 we are using the 2008 lessons and experiences based on recommendations of this year’s IAC meeting to perform even better. In order to realize the 2009 outcomes, PRESA coordination is adopting a devolved and decentralized approach. This has seen our site-level partners facilitated to carry out PRESA related activities.

We expect that through the PRESA community of practice, Payments for Environmental Services innovators will share lessons and experiences on the design and implementation of reward schemes.

In 2009 we are building on our experiences in prototype mechanisms to design and implement REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation), biodiversity and watershed type prototype mechanisms in Usambara Mountains and Mt. Kenya East sites. Site-level partners are testing protocols developed in 2008. Through the Building Ecosystem Services Research Capacity in Semi arid Africa (BESSA) training, our researchers deepened their knowledge and skills for valuing ecosystem services, hydrological modeling, carbon measurement and monitoring at plot and landscape levels, and policy analysis (see the different sessions).

In order to realize our objectives, leverage co-finance and expertise we are working very closely not only with the International Fund for Agricultural Development loan portfolio programmes but with also an array of other donor-funded programmes, private and public sectors, farmers, farmers’ fora, and Water Resource Users Association. In Sasumua for instance, our research results are already being used to formulate a sub-catchment management plan, with ICRAF providing technical support.

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Finally the coordination office takes this opportunity to thank IAC members, site, national, regional and international level partners for their continuous support. We also thank you for your support and appreciation.