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Priročnik in orodja za presojo vplivov v kontekstu svetovne dediščine

As the World Heritage Convention celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2022, over 1100 sites around the world are recognized as World Heritage – places  that are so valuable to humanity that there conservation has been deemed our collective responsibility. Yet many of these exceptional places face  increasing pressure from diverse types of development projects within and around the sites. Assessing the impacts of such projects is essential to both prevent damage to World Heritage and identify sustainable options. This Guidance and toolkit explains the process for achieving these goals. Offering practical tips and tools including checklists and a glossary, it provides a framework for conducting impact assessments for cultural and natural heritage sites.

Sparśa Ambassador Program: Youth-Led Menstrual Health Education and Stigma Reduction in Nepal

This initiative is part of the Sparsa Solution, a Nepali non-profit organization that locally produces and distributes compostable menstrual pads with an absorbent core made from banana fiber. The Sparśa Ambassador Program trains young community members to deliver culturally sensitive menstrual health education in Chitwan, Nawalpur East, and Nawalpur West. Ambassadors—both male and female—are selected from their own communities and trained in MHM, SRHR, facilitation, and leadership. They design age-appropriate sessions for schools, using interactive activities, product demonstrations, and environmental messaging, and run dialogue-based discussions for adults to address myths, stigma, and sustainable product choices. Strong partnerships with schools, NGOs, and local authorities ensure legitimacy and reach. By combining youth leadership, tailored education, and local engagement, the programme improves knowledge, reduces stigma, promotes gender equality, and supports a shift toward eco-friendly menstrual products. 

Defining a Good Menstrual Pad: A User-Centered R&D Process in Nepal

This initiative is part of the Sparśa Solution, a Nepali non-profit company that locally produces and distributes compostable menstrual pads with an absorbent core made from banana fibre. The solution focuses on defining what makes a good menstrual pad, combining research, prototyping, quality assurance, and continuous user feedback. 

The process began with a nationwide study of 820 women and girls, whose insights shaped the pad prototypes. Pads were then developed in two phases: manually and later with machines, testing different material combinations to balance absorbency, comfort, and compostability. Internal testing protocols and certified laboratory analysis ensured hygiene and compliance with national and international standards. 

Feedback from users, collected through simplified surveys in Nepali and English, provides the basis for ongoing refinement of both pad design and packaging. By linking social research with technical innovation, the solution delivers pads that are safe, eco-friendly, and culturally acceptable.

From Fields to Forests: Integrating Nature into Kharagpur’s Agriscapes

The Sustainable Agriscapes for Future (SAF) project, led by IUCN and ITC, addresses ecosystem degradation in the Kharagpur Agriscape of Bihar, India through nature-based solutions. The Agriscape, reliant on forests and a lake, faces challenges such as deforestation, soil erosion, spread of invasive species, and unsustainable farming practices. Through spatial planning, the project delineated the Kharagpur Agriscape and developed Kharagpur Agriscape Plan aimed at conserving and enhancing natural ecosystems vital for supporting agriculture within the cluster. This included interventions such as women-led eco-nurseries, vermicomposting using  using invasive water hyacinth, and community pastureland for fodder. These nature-based, community-centered solutions enhance soil health, reduce pressure on forests, and empower women and farmers. Capacity-building, alternative livelihoods, and improved ecosystem services underpin this replicable approach for sustainable rural development.

Sparsa Business Model: Gender-responsive entrepreneurship and market access

This initiative is part of the Sparsa Solution, a Nepali non-profit organization that locally produces and distributes compostable menstrual pads with an absorbent core made from banana fiber.
The Sparsa business model, rooted in gender responsive entrepreneurship and strategic market access to ensure the sustainable distribution of biodegradable menstrual pads. As a nonprofit social enterprise, Sparsa integrates ongoing market evaluation, seasonal hiring practice, and active user committees at both factory locations to enhance responsiveness and community ownership. 

The model emphasizes adaptability across diverse geographic and cultural contexts and explores innovative marketing strategies such as distribution through women’s groups and community leaders. Internal and external feedback sessions are conducted to improve product quality and customer satisfaction. Strategic efforts include building a four-year financial plan, conducting market research and forming strong partnerships with NGOs, municipalities, schools, hostels

Building networks and relationships to strengthen and promote the compostable menstrual pad production in Nepal

This initiative is part of the Sparsa Solution, a Nepali non-profit organization that locally produces and distributes compostable menstrual pads with an absorbent core made from banana fiber.

To scale impact and ensure sustainability, Sparsa actively builds strong relationships with government bodies, grassroots organizations, and global partners. We engage municipalities, schools, and women-led NGOs to expand awareness, build trust, and ensure our solutions are locally relevant and widely accessible. We are a proud member of the Menstrual Health Management Partner Alliance (MHMPA) Nepal, enabling national-level advocacy and knowledge exchange. By completing all legal steps and aligning with government frameworks, we ensure full compliance and credibility. These partnerships—ranging from policy support to grassroots mobilization—have enabled Sparsa to extend its reach, foster innovation, and integrate menstrual health into broader development goals.

Conserving Critically Endangered rosewood and Endangered padauk species in Community forest Vietnam's Central Annamite

Rosewood (Dalbergia spp.) and Dipterocarpus macrocarpus are among the most logged and traded tropical timbers in Southeast Asia due to high demand from the luxury furniture market. Extensive illegal logging and trade have led to local extinction or severe population declines across its range. In response, we propose a community-based conservation program in the Central Annamites, Vietnam. The initiative includes establishing community nurseries, replanting rosewood in known habitats, and protecting remaining mature mother trees through the creation of Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) in community forests. This integrated approach will safeguard vital seed sources, support long-term species recovery, and actively engage local communities. In doing so, it will also create alternative income streams through seedling production, participation in restoration efforts, and access to carbon credits and other green financing opportunities.

The Nature Conservancy & National Geographic Society Externship Program

Together, the partners developed a program centered around a rigorous externship open to young adults ages 18-25 to equip them with the knowledge, tools, and relationships to seek solutions and take action in their communities around the globe. The program intentionally creates more opportunities for young people from all communities to prepare for careers in conservation and exploration. At the end of this eight-week experience, externs create an ArcGIS StoryMap presentation based on the local conservation issue they investigated. As the externship concludes, participants can apply for seed funding to begin enacting the solutions they identified in their communities. The program has addressed the challenge of inadequate leadership opportunities for global youth, by providing young adults from ages 18-25 with the opportunity to tackle global conservation issues, while gaining conservation skills.

สำหรับการประเมินผลกระทบด้านต่างๆ

As the World Heritage Convention celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2022, over 1100 sites around the world are recognized as World Heritage – places  that are so valuable to humanity that there conservation has been deemed our collective responsibility. Yet many of these exceptional places face  increasing pressure from diverse types of development projects within and around the sites. Assessing the impacts of such projects is essential to both prevent damage to World Heritage and identify sustainable options. This Guidance and toolkit explains the process for achieving these goals. Offering practical tips and tools including checklists and a glossary, it provides a framework for conducting impact assessments for cultural and natural heritage sites.

Multi-Stakeholder-Platforms for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture

Aquatic products, particularly fish, play a vital role in global food and nutrition security, driving the expansion of the fisheries and aquaculture sector and highlighting its economic significance. 

However, the sectors face multiple challenges, such as overfishing, degradation of aquatic ecosystems, unsustainable practices and inadequate policies. These issues not only threaten food and nutrition security but also jeopardise livelihoods of communities’ and individuals who depend on fish.

To address these challenges, the Global Programme Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture employed Multi-Stakeholder-Platforms (MSPs) as a key tool for fostering sustainable management. By bringing together diverse actors, MSPs draw upon expertise, experiences and perspectives and implement concrete measures. 

As a holistic and integrative approach, MSPs can be highly effective in fisheries and aquaculture through collaborating on joint solutions such as improved policies, better resource management, and stronger partnerships.

Training approaches and manuals

Small-scale aquaculture and fisheries play a critical role in global food security, livelihoods, and rural development, serving as a vital source of income, nutrition, and employment. The development of tailored training for capacity building and climate resilience ensures that operations can continue to thrive despite shifting environmental conditions. It supports actors along the value chain in minimizing the negative consequences of climate risks, thereby securing food and nutrition security, as well as livelihoods, for future generations. It also helps prevent illegal practices that could harm ecosystems.

Sustainable practices are essential not only for maintaining natural resources and biodiversity but also for increasing production efficiency. Well-designed training concepts translate complex technical information into accessible formats. This enables the standardization of practices across different regions, contributing to improved overall product quality and opening up new market opportunities.

Affordable Access to Solar Powered Cold Storages

Apple farmers in India face high post-harvest losses and market volatility. While cold storages and processing infrastructure have the potential to significantly reduce the amount of produce going to waste and improve market linkages, it is out of reach for most Indian farmers due to high initial investment costs. To address this, the Green Innovation Centres for the Agriculture and Food Sector – India (GIC) and CoolCrop Technologies piloted a ‘Cooling as a Service’ (CaaS) model in 2021 and installed solar-powered cold storages near farms. Farmers only pay a user fee while a service provider handles investment, installation and operations. The model reduces post-harvest loss by up to 30% and improves realised prices by avoiding forced sales during market gluts. Integrating the CaaS model with services like solarised sorting and grading as well as a mobile application that supports shelf-life prediction and market information has further enhanced farmers’ benefits. CaaS also reduces emissions and creates jobs in rural India.