Aamozish-e-Mahol

The majority of marginalized households of forest fringe villages of Sundarban are dependent upon firewood for cooking. Burning firewood in traditional cook stove creates enormous indoor air pollution which directly effects women and children. Considering the gravity of the situation we have already installed more than 2500 Improved Cook Stoves (ICS) which is reducing firewood consumption by 30%. A single ICS may save minimum 900 kilograms of firewood annually (3 kilograms /day/family of 04 members x 300 days use/year), thus it reduce 1728 kilograms CO2 emission per annum. In it’s lifetime (10 years) a single ICS reduce 17280 kilograms of CO2 emission. ICS reduce indoor air pollution and improve the health condition of women and children. Due to reduction of cooking time, rural women may involve in other economic and social activities. ICS helps to protect the green covered area too. With minimum investment ICS may provide multiple benefit for rural marginalized community.  

Women fishers and wives of Blue Swimming Crab (BSC) fishermen in Indonesia play important roles in the BSC fishery, yet their contributions and concerns are often overlooked in fisheries management. Limited communication skills and opportunities to express aspirations remain major barriers. Since 2021, Coral Triangle Center (CTC), Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), and Photovoices International (PVI) have supported women in Lampung and Central Java through training on BSC ecology, trade chains, and business canvas development; strengthening public speaking through photography and Training of Trainers; and creating spaces for women to speak and share through photo exhibitions and learning exchanges. By combining knowledge, confidence-building, and structured dialogue spaces, the approach strengthened women’s capacity to engage with decision-makers. As a result, women gained confidence, stronger family support, and government recognition. In 2024, women in Lampung were formally included in the provincial BSC Management Team.

Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake, a globally important fishery and carbon store, is rapidly losing flooded forests to deforestation, wildfire, and invasive species. Since 2010, Conservation International has worked with Community Fisheries to restore these habitats through nursery planting, direct seeding, and assisted natural regeneration. The work has revived 10 gallery forest species, including six globally threatened species, while supporting biodiversity such as the endangered hairy-nosed otter and the return of the fishing cat after more than a decade without confirmed records in the area. The program also strengthens community stewardship, stores carbon, and creates income opportunities for marginalized communities.

Continued support is needed because communities face limited experience, resources, and large-scale degradation. CI works with them to improve restoration techniques, study tree ecology, and identify effective ways to recover this unique ecosystem before degraded areas are overtaken by invasive shrubs and weeds.

 Developing countries like Nepal heavily rely on biomass fuels, contributing to climate change and health problems. In seeking to mitigate climate change, electric cooking technologies have emerged as a viable solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation while improving household ambient air quality and public health. PEEDA launched this project to combat climate change and improve health. The communities and policymakers were sensitized to adopting clean and renewable energy for cooking. Technical demonstration, live cooking sessions and the  radio jingles has been used in  creating the demands of electric stoves. Over 900 households has been supported with electric stoves and compatiable cookware in the Baiteshwor Rural Municpality. For sustaining the use of stove, 11 local technicians has been provided electric stove repair trainings.  Further at policy level,  Municipal Energy Plan (MEP) for this municipality has been developed to include the adoption of electric cooking over the next five year

Strengthening Resilience of Coastal Communities through the Local Early Action Plan-Climate Change Adaptation (LEAP-CCA) is a community-driven initiative in Mabul Island, Sabah, aimed at reducing climate change vulnerabilities through practical adaptation measures.

Located within the Coral Triangle, Mabul Island is rich in marine biodiversity but highly vulnerable to sea level rise, coastal erosion, wave levels during monsoon and typhoon. These threats affect critical ecosystems, fisheries, tourism, and local livelihoods.

Through collaboration between local communities, government agencies, NGOs, and tourism operators, vulnerable resources were identified and targeted adaptation actions developed. These include rainwater harvesting systems, coral restoration, and improved tourism management. The initiative has strengthened community awareness, improved local participation in climate action, and enhanced the resilience of ecosystems and livelihoods.

The Calamianes Island Group Marine Protected Area Network (CMN) is an inter-LGU alliance of Busuanga, Coron, Culion, and Linapacan in northern Palawan, established in 2017 to jointly manage and conserve shared marine resources. Covering 44 Marine Protected Areas with a total of 44, 213 hectares, the network safeguards vital ecosystems such as coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves. 

The CMN was created to address pressing issues including Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, climate change, habitat degradation, and overfishing. Through coordinated governance, strong advocacy, community engagement, and multi-sector partnerships, it strengthens marine protection, sustainable fisheries, and enforcement efforts. As a result, the network has improved ecological conditions, increased fish biomass, enhanced climate resilience, and generated socio-economic benefits through ecotourism and community-based initiatives, while promoting inclusive participation among local stakeholders.