Engaging local researchers in science planning (MTMNM)

Engaging local researchers in science planning (MTMNM)

A programme to assess and promote monument- related scientific research and exploration within the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument (MTMNM) was proposed by Presidential Proclamation 8335 to better understand its diverse environments – from subtropical coastal waters, numerous hydrothermal vents, underwater volcanoes and lakes of liquid sulfur, to bubbling vents of liquid CO2 and diverse coral communities – many of which are considered unstudied due to the technical difficulties in accessing them. Forums, webinars and Google hangouts, are being explored to bring together researchers and stakeholders located all over the world.

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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.

Promoting Satoumi Community Co-Management through Resilience Assessment: A Case Study of Chenglong Wetlands (Nantou, Taiwan)

Located along the western coast of Taiwan, Chenglong Wetlands was originally farmland. Since 1986, multiple typhoons have caused levee breaches and seawater intrusion, leading to farmland abandonment and its gradual transformation into grassy wetlands. Through joint efforts by the government, academia, civil groups, and local communities, the wetlands have been preserved as habitats, for water purification, and for disaster prevention. Environmental education and art have further revitalized community culture, creating a landscape that blends human and natural elements.
The Nantou Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency introduced the concept of Socio-ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes (SEPLS) and organized resilience assessment workshops (RAWs) centered on community residents. These workshops assessed environmental, economic, and social resilience, clarified key local issues, and explored ways for economic activity and ecological conservation to coexist, embodying the spirit of a Satoumi community.

Ecosystem Restoration through Community Engagement, Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve (ITBA) -Saudi Arabia

ITBA spanning 91,500 km², is one of Saudi Arabia’s largest and most ecologically diverse protected areas, encompassing sand dunes, wadis, steppes, plains, plateaus, and floodplains. Declared 2018 after decades of degradation, its vegetation cover was below 4%. The Reserve adopts a community-based approach for ecosystem restoration through developing sustainable rangeland management programs and active reforestation initiatives. ITBA has since shown remarkable recovery. Surveys identified 235 plant species, 10 mammals, 30 reptiles, 184 birds with nine globally threatened species. Restoration efforts include planting over 775,000 native trees, reintroducing of 460 wild animals including Arabian oryx, sand gazelle, ostrich, and houbara. Satellite monitoring shows vegetation density rising from 3.6% in 2020 to 9.4% in 2025, with wadis and depressions most productive. Rangeland condition has shifted toward recovery, benefiting biodiversity and over 12,000 herders who save SAR 17.6 million per season.

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

Plan national de conservation des cycadées de la Colombie

Le plan de conservation des cycadées de la Colombie vise à ce que d’ici 2025 les cycadées soient reconnues comme groupe emblématique pour la conservation, et que des stratégies soient mises en œuvre pour assurer la viabilité à long terme des espèces menacées. La Colombie présente une très grande diversité et s’est dotée d’une stratégie nationale pour la conservation de certaines plantes. Les cycadées sont les plantes les plus menacées de la planète, et la Colombie est le pays le plus riche en zamias, une famille de cycadées.  Le plan de conservation constitue une initiative interinstitutionnelle qui s’articule autour de 4 volets : 1) acquisition de connaissances, 2) communication et éducation, 3) prise de mesures de conservation et 4) élaboration d’outils de gestion. Il reste des défis importants à relever, mais les progrès sont encourageants et montrent comment, en favorisant la conservation d’espèces emblématiques, il est possible de contribuer à la conservation globale de la biodiversité.

Portal de Zoologia de Pernambuco

Le Portail de Zoologie est un projet collaboratif dans lequel des outils issus d’Internet et de la cartographie permettent aux habitants, étudiants, enseignants, chercheurs, étudiants universitaires de contribuer à la diffusion de photos et d’informations sur les espèces sauvages trouvées à Pernambuco. Puisque la nature ne reconnaît pas les frontières administratives, il est possible de signaler l’emplacement des espèces de n’importe où sur la planète! L’objectif principal du Portail de Zoologie est de montrer toute la richesse de notre biodiversité. Et comment elle reste encore très méconnu. Et personne de mieux pour nous montrer cette diversité que les gens du monde entier qui sont curieux et aiment photographier la nature et partager leurs connaissances.

Les camps dans la nature « Héroes del Triunfo »

Mapastepec est une petite ville côtière située entre deux réserves de biosphère d’importance mondiale : El Triunfo, dernier grand vestige des forêts de nuage au Mexique, et La Encrucijada qui est une zone humide de réputation mondiale et un site RAMSAR.

Malgré sa proximité avec les réserves, la population locale ne connaît pas la nature environnante et les services environnementaux offerts par les réserves. Elle n’apprécie pas la biodiversité de la nature des environs, et ne fait donc rien pour la conserver.

« Héroes del Triunfo » est un groupe d’éducation environnementale qui organise des camps pour les enfants de Mapastepec en vue de leur permettre de se rapprocher de la nature, d’établir un lien avec elle, d’apprendre à l’aimer et de changer radicalement le rapport qu’ils entretiennent avec elle, en remplaçant par exemple leur lance-pierre par un guide d’observation ornithologique, et en partageant leurs découvertes avec leurs familles et leurs amis.

Yaxcabá : théâtre de marionnettes comme stratégie d’éducation environnementale dans les communautés éloignées.

Les jeunes dans les zones rurales de la Reserva de la Biosfera El Triunfo (réserve de la biosphère El Triunfo) n’ont pas de véritables possibilités de se développer, la majorité migrent ou fondent une famille à un âge précoce. Des groupes d’éducation environnementale, généralement en provenance de la ville de Tuxtla, viennent dans ces communautés. Cela comporte des coûts de déplacement et de logistique élevés. La troupe YAXCABÁ s’agit d’une troupe locale de jeunes qui, par le biais du théâtre de marionnettes, produit des œuvres destinées à l’éducation environnementale et partage des histoires sur la conservation de façon efficace et productive avec les enfants et les adultes de la réserve. De plus, ils offrent une possibilité aux jeunes de développer des habiletés et d’acquérir des connaissances.

Yaxcabá est un groupe de jeunes qui a su se transformer, se dépasser et changer les comportements afin de préserver une des régions les plus riches en biodiversité de la planète.

Programme de #GuardaparquesVoluntarios – une stratégie de collaboration et de conservation de la nature

La Asociación Defensores del Chaco Pyporé (l’association défenseurs du Chaco Pyporé), au Paraguay, œuvre dans le domaine de la conservation des zones sauvages protégées et de la responsabilisation de la jeunesse au Paraguay. Une partie de son travail consiste à diriger l’initiative Voluntaria de Guardaparques (gardiens de parc bénévoles) et la campagne #SoyGuardaparque (je suis gardien de parc).

L’objectif principal de l’initiative consiste à reconnaître le travail des héros de la conservation et à impliquer la société civile dans la conservation de la nature en insistant sur la jeunesse.

Cette initiative a été créée en 2017 et, à ce jour, a réuni un total de 200 gardiens de parc bénévoles.

The Nature Conservancy’s Nature Lab

The challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change are here now, and they’re impacting people and nature across the globe. Educators, parents and caregivers need ways to not only teach young learners about these challenges, but to show how they can be part of the solution the Earth needs. That’s why The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and its 1000+ scientists created the award-winning online learning platform, Nature Lab, to leverage technology to bring conservation to life in classrooms, home settings and more. Nature Lab has addressed the education challenges of inequality in access and participation, limited or inaccessible resources, and infrastructure and technology development. Nature Lab helps K-12 students experience the wonders of nature, learn about places and people around the world, and see how they can take action for the challenges facing the planet. High-quality videos transport students to diverse landscapes and interviews with renowned scientists offer youth a chance to see themselves as agents of change. 

Management and Protection of the Coastal Wetlands in Yancheng, China

The Jiangsu Yancheng Wetland Rare Birds National Nature Reserve has the largest and most intact intertidal ecosystem on the western coast of the Pacific and the eastern edge of the Eurasian continent. It serves as an important stopover for water birds on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and protects the largest wild red-crowned crane wintering population in China. Over the past 40 years, the reserve has carried out extensive work in coastal wetland and wildlife protection, scientific monitoring and research, publicity and nature education, and the transformation of the value of ecological products. It has continuously improved its construction and management level, made unremitting efforts in the practice and demonstration of protection, development, and support functions, and effectively protected the biological and cultural diversity within the area. It plays an important role in maintaining ecological security and showcasing ecological image.

Engineering the Production of Compostable Menstrual Pads Using Plant-Based Fiber as the Main Absorbent Core

This initiative is part of the Sparsa Solution, a Nepali non-profit organization that locally produces and distributes compostable menstrual pads, which have an absorbent core made from banana fiber.,
Conventional fluff pad production machines are either manual-making them labor-intensive and unhygienic-or fully automated, which requires high upfront investment and is often incompatible with eco-friendly materials. To overcome these challenges, engineers from NIDISI, Sparsa, and Grit Engineering developed a semi-automatic, low-cost system tailored to local Made in Nepal.
Built with limited resources, the system produces 3,500–4,000 pads per day and includes:

  • A paper shredder for uniform fiber cutting;
  • A custom mattress-making machine for the fluffy absorbent core;
  • A modified pad assembly machine that seals different layers using ultrasonic sealing and compostable glue. 

This setup enables safe, small-scale production while reducing plastic waste and supporting menstrual health for the benefit of women and the environment.