Different waves of Ebola killed gorillas in many important areas in Central Africa, including Odzala National park, Congo. Even worse, 2 habituated gorilla groups disappeared and left the park without this important source of potential income. The idea arose to habituate gorillas in a nearby community zone. GRASP provided matching funds to a community conservation project, and since 2012 tourists can see western lowland gorillas in the Lossi Interzone.

In Paraguay we have managed to combine the vision of biodiversity conservation with the restitution of ancestral lands of the Mbyaguarani indigenous people. What we have called “socioenvironmental condominium” is a sample of what can be achieved between environmental organizations and indigenous peoples. Our goals are common and can be achieve by working with those who better understand conservation in situ: native peoples.

 Ajloun Reserve covers 12 sq km from the remaining fragile and fragmented forest patches northern Jordan. The most important component of RSCN’s solution to integrate the local communities in its conservation programs was nature-based low impact ecotourism. We developed eco-tourism infrastructure and facilities (cabins, restaurants, trails) to attract nature lovers to stay overnights in the area, which only received limited numbers of day visitors before the establishment of the reserve. We linked the reserve with the surrounding historical and cultural attractions creating benefits and alternative income to the local communities, and assisted in the rehabilitation of local houses located along the hiking trails as stop points for food and beverage.  Our ecotourism product depends on natural and cultural resources, low level of technology with low negative impact on nature respecting the sites carrying capacity. 

Lack of data on artisanal fisheries landings is a common element in tropical countries. The Participatory Monitoring Program includes the gathering and synthesis of biological information by organized groups of artisanal fishers. Multi-year data gathered by the fishers is presented and discussed with the community to highlight information on species, minimum sizes, volumes, trends and seasonality in the captures.  This process has resulted in significant changes in fishing practices and management.

An endnote bibliographic database was created to synthesise Australian Indigenous Biocultural Knowledge (IBK) from existing publicly available documents. This is now available in one place at www.aibk.info for people to search what IBK exists and in what areas (spatially) via an interactive map. Case studies of IBK are also showcased on this website.

Fisheries governance involving fishers in the Caribbean region, promotes the participation of fishers in fisheries management processes and allows for the inclusion of the knowledge, experience and interest of fishers into fisheries policy and law. Problems associated with management regimes that excluded fisher participation include fisher marginalization, negative impacts on fisher livelihoods and related social, economic, food and nutrition issues.

Community outreach and engagement strategies for the management of mangroves have been promoted in the Gulf of Tribugá, seeking the well-being of the local communities, the preservation of their culture and the protection of natural resources.

SGNP is amongst the most visited protected wilderness areas in the world (1.2 mio. entry tickets being sold on a yearly average). In spite of this, public awareness about SGNP has been very low. I have teamed up with the management of SGNP on a wide spectrum project to reach out to many people and get them involved in the park. We initiated an education and awareness campaign with website, print media etc., for the public (through overnight camps, guided walks etc.) and decision makers.

In 2007, following an attempt to blast a road in the heart of the mountain known as Jabal Moussa, the Association for the Protection of Jabal Moussa (APJM) NGO was established to protect the mountain from increasing pressures, within challenging socio-economic and political contexts. APJM negotiated and funded a lease contract with religious endowments to rent large swaths of the mountain, and Jabal Moussa was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2009. Inspired by the Man and Biosphere Programme, APJM launched a community-based ecotourism program the same year, engaging several local community members. From a previously neglected and threatened area, Jabal Mousa became a well conserved touristic destination, welcoming 20,000 visitors in 2017, and increasingly contributing to the wellbeing of its local communities. Despite the very fragile law enforcement framework, Jabal Moussa is today thriving due to the engagement of the local community and the support of the general public.

The activity based Junior Ranger program is hosted in almost all American national parks. Many parks offer young visitors the opportunity to join the National Park Service “family” as Junior Rangers.

Youth complete a series of activities at a park visit, share their answers with a park ranger, and receive an official badge and certificate. Junior Rangers are typically 5 to 13 years old, but all ages are welcomed!

The WebRanger program lets the user become a Junior Ranger from anywhere. Users will have the opportunity to set up their ranger station online and participate in over 70 activities.

Several factors contributed to the consolidation of the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve in Ecuador. One of them was the empowerment of indigenous organizations to establish “Use and Management Agreements” with the State. Besides that, the government defined policies for the conservation of protected areas, such as the Socio Bosque Program, the National Environment Fund, and investments in sustainable tourism. Finally, the availability of funds and technical assistance from international cooperation was key to support an initiative integration across borders (Colombia–Ecuador–Peru).