One of the objectives of the Northern Vosges Regional Natural Park’s new charter is to ensure the continuous monitoring of characteristic species of some Northern Vosges habitats (rocks, forests, orchards, waterways, wetlands). The charter aims as well to work towards strengthening the lynx population and acceptance by the inhabitants, at a transboundary level.

The lynx parliament brings together all the stakeholders concerned by the lynx on the territory of the Park. In that way, each actor made proposals to improve lynx acceptance.

The Safe Islands for Seabirds project took place in Corvo island and Vila Franca do Campo Islet  (VFCI) in São Miguel island in the Azores. It was a pioneer project for the conservation of seabird colonies trough habitat restoration and control and eradication of invasive alien species (IAS).

This project assessed the impact of predators on seabird reproduction and tested several methods in order to reduce that impact. One of the most innovative solutions was a pest-free fence installed in the “Corvo Biological Reserve”, that was cleaned from predators and restored to the natural habitat. Also, habitats were restored in a higher altitude  reserve and at the restricted area of VFCI. Habitat restoration allowed seabirds a better access to the burrows, but also artificial nests were built to increase nesting availability.

Education and awareness rising were also of high importance for the project. In the after-LIFE, restored areas were regularly maintained and educational actions continued.

The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) has been extinct in mainland Britain since the 16th century. The Scottish Beaver Trial was the first licensed mammal reintroduction project in the UK, establishing a beaver population of Norwegian origin in Scotland’s Knapdale forest. However, the population was small, with low genetic diversity threatening it with extirpation. The Scottish Beavers reinforcement project was designed to mitigate this risk. Following extensive public consultation and genetic sampling, the project released 21 beavers of Bavarian origin with more, different genetic diversity to Knapdale between 2017 and 2020. The reinforcement was a success, with subsequent monitoring finding increased breeding and new lochs occupied. Additionally, genetic sampling has indicated significantly higher genetic diversity in the population compared to before the translocation, improving the population’s resilience. The project has acted as a template for other translocations and informed Scotland’s Beaver Strategy 2022-2045.

The Ibex Protected Area is one of Saudi Arabia’s premier conservation areas of international significance. In terms of its mammal diversity, the protected area has been the focus of a key conservation and reintroduction program of the Vulnerable Nubian Ibex (Capra nubiana).  The area also inhabits important populations of the Arabian wolf (Canis lupis) and Arabian gazelle or idmi (Gazella arabica). A ten-year monitoring program was implemented for the Nubian Ibex as an umbrella species indicating the overall health and functionality of the ecosystem encompassed within the protected area. This continuous monitoring enabled the site management to identify the overall trend of the population and assess natural and anthropogenic factors influencing it. The monitoring program is undertaken by a multidisciplinary team including wildlife specialists, law enforcement officers, local community experts and guides, all working in coordination with the Protected Area manager.

The conservation efforts in Cheorwon, Gangwon-do, are a collaborative initiative by local farmers and various organizations, including the National Nature Trust, Cheorwon Crane Protection Association, and others, to preserve endangered crane habitats. These efforts have led to a notable increase in crane populations, thanks to sustainable agricultural practices, ecotourism, and community-driven conservation activities. The National Nature Trust plays a pivotal role, supported by legal frameworks and financial mechanisms, in managing conservation assets like ‘the Cheorwon Crane Land.’ This multifaceted approach integrates ecological preservation with local economic development, showcasing a successful model of conservation that promotes the coexistence of human and wildlife interests.

Located in the central part of the Kopetdag Range in the Ahal Province of Turkmenistan and spanning an area of 497 km2, Central Kopet Dag Reserve incorporates two sanctuaries and two natural monuments.

This Reserve is the most important stronghold in Turkmenistan for the conservation of the Persian leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor) and recently the presence of the Pallas cat (Otocolubus manul), a relatively rare small wild cat, rediscovered. The Reserve is the gateway between Iran and areas to the north and west into Kazakhstan for the Persian leopard. Since 2018, thanks to the collaboration between protected area staff and international partners, an effort is underway to establish baseline information on all cat species, the status of their important prey (the Urial and Bezoar goat), and to identify threats, including the impacts of the border fence with Iran. Twenty camera traps have been deployed that to date have enabled to identify several Persian leopards as well as record the Pallas cat.

Mangroves are uniquely valuable coastal wetlands forming the natural transition zone between land and sea. They are preserving biodiversity, mitigating against climate change and sustaining livelihoods. However, they are globally degraded and are therefore a priority for ecosystem restoration.
Madagascar contains Africa’s fourth largest extent of mangroves with various species providing critical ecosystem goods and services to coastal communities and supporting rich biodiversity. Unfortunately, Madagascar’s mangroves are being rapidly degraded and, in some areas, completely deforested.
The Global Project Forests4Future (F4F), launched by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), uses a low-cost Community-Based and Assisted Natural Mangrove Restoration method in the Diana region (Madagascar) to restore degraded mangrove ecosystems. This technique allows tidal currents and seedling (propagule) establishment in more inland located and degraded mangrove ecosystems using excavated water channels.

Pathfinding elephants are moving through human-dominated landscapes, often across international boundaries. By doing so, they play a vital role in connecting Protected Areas (PAs) but also encounter Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) that threatens lives and livelihoods. Our solution proposes a long-term strategy to conserve elephant corridors whilst incorporating the socio-economic needs of the people that share the landscape with them. GPS tracking of elephants across two transfrontier conservation areas flags where linking corridors exist and thus where to focus resources. We use innovative cafeteria-style experiments to understand which elephant-unpalatable plants would offer lucrative alternative income streams to farmers living in those HEC hotspots. Lastly, we combine food security and people’s safety by deploying Rapid Response Units and soft barriers to protect subsistence crops. This phased strategy enables the protection of bioregions to achieve biodiversity objectives at landscape scale.

The Bonelli’s eagle (Aquila fasciata) is a flagship species in the Mediterranean, although it is vulnerable in several parts of the region. In Catalonia, the Wildlife Service of the Government has estimated 85 breeding pairs, one of them in Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac Natural Park. Park managers have faced challenges in understanding and monitoring the species’ reproductive behaviour and its relation with different threats and pressures within and outside the park.

Tech4Nature Spain developed a monitoring programme to understand how visitors and other external factors affect the eagle’s breeding and mobility behaviour. A technological architecture using cameras, GPS trackers and the Axis Station software was put in place along with metrics and alerts to ensure a better monitoring infrastructure and prevention capabilities. This solution can be replicated in other protected areas, be applied to other species and even other phenomena such as wildfires.

Biodiversity actions can create carbon sinks which and open up a way to bring these CO2 Certificates onto market. In this Tech4Nature pilot study, we calculated the amount of CO2 sequestered through management activities for Capercaillie (an endangered bird species in Switzerland) in the Schwägalp – Bruggerwald forest reserve.

The goal of this pilot study is to test the assumptions made in the newly developed Green List Standard for Carbon (GLS+). GLS+ is an independent Standard but 60% of the indicators are based on the existing IUCN Green List Standard for protected and conserved areas to achieve effective, equitable, and successful conservation outcomes.

The Tech4Nature Pilot is run on real data generated through a biodiversity intervention in the year 2021 to favor the locally endangered Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) but was only testing the potential for CO2 certificates without creating them.

On Cozumel Island, Quintana Roo, Mexico, black coral (Antipatharia) is used for crafting items sold to tourists. This rare species, used by Cozumel artisans, is endangered. Corals are crucial for marine ecosystems, providing homes and refuge for various marine species. The collection of black coral for crafts contributes to the degradation of these habitats, negatively impacting marine biodiversity and ecosystem balance. Black coral is extracted at a depth of 180 feet, carved, polished, and used for jewelry sold to tourists.

Coral reefs worldwide are in critical trouble due to pollution, overfishing, ocean acidification, and climate change. Corals grow only a few millimeters a year, and their slow growth and reproduction rates make it difficult for them to regenerate as they are depleted.

Mexico has a marine protection system, but corruption in the country can harm nature. Awareness campaigns for tourists are needed, as Cozumel and Cancun are among the most visited beaches annually due to tourism.

The world’s largest coral reef system, the Great Barrier reef, is an extremely biodiverse habitat. The corals that comprise the reef are the backbone of the ecosystem that many marine animals depend on. Ocean currents drive the population dynamics of corral and the entire reef system. Connection of fishing zones to no-take zones and connection between inshore and offshore habitats along with zones of high larvae dispersal would be the most effective way to conserve the delicate reef habitat. Without data on larvae dispersal, it was critical to determine the best spots for connectivity. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP) was substantially rezoned and expanded in 2003, based on systematic planning principles. Eleven biophysical operating principles (BOPs) were devised to protect representative examples of each of the GBR’s 70 bioregions. The maintenance of connectivity was also an explicit goal of the marine park – both the total size of the no-take marine reserves and their individual locations were considered.