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Enhancing farmer resilience in Benin: Terra preta as sustainable and more effective alternative to expensive mineral fertilisers

A 2016 study found 90% of Benin’s soils, notably in Borgou, Alibori and Zou, have low to very low fertility, cutting yields and threatening food security. Volatile mineral fertilizer prices make inputs unaffordable without subsidies. Locally made biochar amendments such as Terra preta increase farmers’ resilience and cost less than half of subsidized fertilizer. Biochar, produced by pyrolysis of organic matter, corrects soil acidity and, when mixed with compost or fertilizer, forms Terra preta, which improves yields and carbon storage. GIZ’s ProSoil programme promotes Terra preta by turning corn cobs and cotton stalks into biochar using Kon-Tiki kilns, which burn pyrolysis gases to cut toxic emissions. Using local residues maintains soil organic carbon for 100 years and yields a positive emission balance. ProSoil backs LTA graduate startups and the women’s NGO AFVA, trains 2,226 gardeners and 30 startups in Terra preta production, but scaling is limited by low investment capacity and costly MRV for carbon markets.

Strengthen Resilience of Coastal Communities through Local Early Action Plan-Climate Change Adaptation

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.

Para el MAR: Strengthening MPAs Through Localized Approach to Achieving Philippines’ 30×30 Target

The MPA Support Network (MSN) is a multi-sectoral alliance established to strengthen and sustain the management of MPAs in the Philippines. In 2007, MSN launched the Para el MAR (PEM), a biennial national incentive mechanism that recognizes effectively-managed MPAs.

PEM has 4 categories: Outstanding Locally-Managed MPA, Outstanding Network, Outstanding NIPAS, and Best Mangrove Awards.

Contingents submit their assessment tools such as the MPA Management Effectiveness Assessment Tool, Network Effectiveness Assessment Tool, Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool, and means of verification for screening. Finalists present assessment findings and expert recommendations during the culminating activity which also serves as an avenue for benchmarking of best practices among MPA management bodies.  

Since its establishment, PEM addressed challenges on effective MPA management and sustainable funding for long-term protection. MSN has witnessed an upward trend in effective MPA management in the country especially among repeat contenders.

ecOcamp

The ecOcamp, developed by ecOceanica since 2021, is an immersive training program in marine research and conservation, implemented in collaboration with fishing communities in northern Peru. Through a field-based theoretical and practical experience, participants engage directly in marine megafauna monitoring, including aquatic censuses, sea turtle nesting surveys, whale shark registration and photo-identification, and fisheries assessments.

The program combines applied scientific training, participation in real research processes, and collaboration with artisanal fishers, fostering understanding of both ecological and social dimensions of marine conservation. It also integrates a citizen science approach, enabling participants to contribute to long-term scientific data collection.

Beyond capacity building, the model supports the financial sustainability of research activities and generates direct economic benefits for local communities, strengthening the link between science, community, and marine biodiversity conservation.

Calamianes Island Group MPA Network: Towards a Resilient MPA Network

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.

From Reef Builders to Conservation Leaders: Empowering Coastal Communities for Coral Reef Restoration in Tun Mustapha Park

Tun Mustapha Park (TMP), Malaysia’s largest multiple-use marine protected area (MPA), faces challenges in restoring and monitoring degraded coral reefs due to its remote location and limited technical capacity. Through the Coral Restoration Project, Sabah Parks and WWF-Malaysia partnered with coastal communities, equipping them with the skills to co-lead coral reef restoration and monitoring. Community members were trained in reef restoration techniques, maintenance of project site, ecological monitoring, and data analysis through the Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System (MARRS). Through continuous mentoring and hands-on experience, they progressed from restoration volunteers to citizen scientists, reef builders, trainers, and conservation leaders. Today, these communities independently manage restoration sites, secure external funding, educate visitors, and support the replication of coral restoration in other seascapes, demonstrating a scalable model for community-led marine conservation.

One Island, One Management: Collaborative Marine Protected Area Governance for Climate Resilience in Atauro Island, Timor-Leste

Atauro Island, Timor-Leste, hosts globally significant coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves within the Coral Triangle. To address biodiversity loss, climate change impacts, unsustainable resource use and fragmented governance, the Government of Timor-Leste, local communities and partners established the Atauro Island Marine Protected Area (MPA) using a ‘One Island, One Management’ approach. The 13,252-hectare MPA integrates scientific assessments, ecological connectivity principles and the traditional Tara Bandu marine tenure system. The island is managed as a single ecological unit through co-management involving government agencies, NGOs, traditional leaders, and representatives from villages. The MPA includes multiple No-Take Zones, sustainable use zones and ecosystem rehabilitation areas, enhancing biodiversity conservation, fisheries sustainability, shoreline protection and climate resilience. The approach contributes to national and global 30×30 targets while strengthening local stewardship and adaptive management

Promoting Climate Resilience through Traditional Sasi and Climate-Smart MPA Design in Ay and Rhun Islands, Indonesia

The Ay and Rhun Islands Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Maluku, Indonesia, demonstrates how climate adaptation and traditional management can be integrated into marine conservation. Part of the globally significant Banda Islands, the area supports diverse coral reefs, seagrass, sea turtles, napoleon wrasse, tuna, and marine mammals, including blue whales. The Coral Triangle Center (CTC), together with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, the Maluku Provincial Government, customary leaders, and local communities, conducted ecological and socio-economic assessments, stakeholder consultations, and participatory zoning that led to the MPA’s establishment in 2021. The design incorporates climate resilience principles, including protection of resilient reefs, habitat connectivity, replication, and upwelling systems, while revitalizing the traditional Sasi system. This science-based and community-led approach strengthens biodiversity conservation, food security, climate resilience, and effective ecosystem management.

Community-Based Whale Shark Ecotourism and Conservation in Saleh Bay, Indonesia

Saleh Bay (Teluk Saleh), West Nusa Tenggara, is one of the world’s most critical whale shark aggregation sites and the second most important in Indonesia after Cenderawasih Bay. Despite its ecological significance, only 23% of the whale shark hotspot area was formally protected. KI, in partnership with Sirkula Indonesia and local government, achieved a landmark milestone on 28 April 2026: the Governor of West Nusa Tenggara officially nominated a 73,165.05 ha Whale Shark Conservation Area; a legally binding first step toward full MPA establishment under Indonesian law. Simultaneously, KI is building an inclusive community-based ecotourism model with 9 community groups across 7 coastal villages in Sumbawa, Bima, and Dompu regencies. The solution integrates long-term scientific research, community grant disbursement, participatory MPA zoning, regulatory advocacy, and business development to ensure conservation benefits are equitably distributed. 

Wildlife farm management and policy advice to reduce risks to human health from wildlife products in Viet Nam

This initiative was part of the Support Project for the International Alliance against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade which was implemented in Viet Nam by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH together with the One Health Partnership Secretariat hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. 

The extensive wild animal farming and trade in Viet Nam poses risks of zoonotic disease emergence and spillover. To mitigate these risks, the project in Viet Nam aimed to enhance policies, strengthen the basis for responsible management of wildlife farms and improve the understanding on gaps in regulations and implementation including strengthening biosecurity in policy and legislation. Challenges are a lack of a uniform definition of what biosecurity exactly entails and the large variety of wildlife farm sizes in Viet Nam. A framework of seven biosecurity categories was proposed. This provides a base to assess gaps in legislation, to develop further policy as well as education initiatives. 

Agave Restoration Initiative: Restoring a Bi-National Agave Corridor for Migratory Bats and People

The Agave Restoration Initiative, led by Bat Conservation International, is the world’s first landscape-scale foraging habitat restoration effort for migratory bats. 

To offset agave loss and fragmentation across Mexico and the U.S. Southwest, the initiative is creating a climate-resilient, bi-national agave corridor that supports recovery of three pollinating bats, including the endangered Greater (Mexican) long-nosed bat, and rural livelihoods. The initiative unites 100+ partners (communities, Tribes, private landowners, NGOs, government agencies, researchers, and companies) across 14 states. 

We envision a connected, community-based agave corridor where thriving bat populations and resilient communities and rural economies reinforce each other. Our goal is to plant 500,000+ agaves and protect, restore, or sustainably manage 300,000+ hectares.

By coordinating across a migratory corridor, the initiative is pioneering a model to transform how we restore keystone plants and corridors for migratory species globally.

Standardising the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) for improved protected area management in Viet Nam

The Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) is a tool designed for measuring, evaluating and improving the effectiveness of law enforcement patrols and site-based conservation activities. It has also been designed to improve overall management effectiveness. Globally it is currently used across 1000 biodiversity sites in >65 countries. In Viet Nam, SMART has been so far implemented in over 60 terrestrial and marine protected areas. Since the launch of the first SMART version in 2013, GIZ and partners have supported the application of SMART in Viet Nam. However, the past 8 years of SMART implementation have seen the application vary from site to site and results cannot be easily compared.

Since 2021, the ‘Conservation and Sustainable Use of Forest Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services in Viet Nam’ (GIZ-Bio Project) has contributed to the national SMART roll-out and standardisation of SMART use in Viet Nam. The standardised data model, national guideline and training curriculum are ready for adoption of SMART in all PAs.