Finding the way : a practical guide to the self-evaluation of sustainability projects illustrated with real examples from Latin America and Asia

In Masbate City, the Buntod Reef Marine Sanctuary once faced severe degradation from dynamite fishing and destructive practices driven by poverty and lack of livelihood opportunities. To address this, the Local Government Unit organized former illegal fishers into SAMAPUSI Inc. in 2008 through continuous dialogue and community engagement. The initiative focused on transforming fishers into “Sea Guardians” through capacity building, eco-tourism livelihood support, and community-based coastal enforcement. Members became active protectors and managers of the sanctuary, shifting from resource exploiters to conservation partners. The effort resulted in significant ecological recovery, including improved fish biomass and increased coral cover from 27.5% in 2002 to 57.11% in 2016. Socio-economically, members gained stable income that helped support their families and send their children to college. The initiative demonstrates that empowering communities is vital to sustaining marine ecosystems and improving livelihoods. 

The Empowering Women through Enterprise for Conservation solution is a comprehensive, community-driven initiative designed to strengthen marine conservation efforts while improving local livelihoods on Omadal Island in Semporna. The project is rooted in the understanding that healthy marine ecosystems are essential for the well-being of coastal communities, yet these ecosystems face increasing threats from destructive practices such as fish bombing, turtle poaching, and pollution. 

A key challenge addressed by the solution is the limited participation of women in conservation and community decision-making, despite their significant roles in supporting household incomes and local economies. To bridge this gap, the initiative works through the Women’s Association of Omadal Island (WAPO), equipping women with skills in enterprise development, financial management, and organizational leadership. 

Through sustainable, conservation-linked enterprises, women can generate income while actively contributing to environmental stewardship

Prior to its designation as a Managed Resource Protected Area, El Nido was declared a Turtle Sanctuary in 1984, due to its vital role as a habitat for marine turtles to mate, nest, forage, and develop. All five marine turtle species found in the country have been recorded there, with three species, namely, green, hawksbill and olive ridley, nesting on its beaches. Despite this, these species remain threatened by rising sea levels, high temperatures, predation, poaching, fisheries interaction, and coastal development—all contributing to mortality without sustained intervention. In response, the El Nido Marine Turtle Conservation Network (ENMTCN) was created in 2017 to promote a collaborative, science-based approach for turtle conservation in El Nido. Since then, it has saved over 2,000 nests, released more than 150,000 hatchlings, rehabilitated 10 strandings, led a campaign against motorized vehicles in beaches, sustained 4 years of incubation temperature monitoring, and engaged thousands of locals and tourists. 

This solution applies a bottom-up, community-led approach to establishing MPAs by involving local communities in every stage of decision-making. In coastal areas where trust and support for MPAs are often limited, this approach ensures that protection measures are built with the community. 

The process includes ecological assessments, public consultations and hearings, presentation of the proposed area’s status and expected benefits, and gathering community opinions, concerns, and suggestions. If the proposed MPA does not sit well with the community, concerns are identified, openly discussed, and the proposal is refined or adjusted before proceeding. Communities are then further engaged through training in monitoring, leadership development, and participation as Bantay-Dagat or members of the management body.

This approach builds trust, encourages informed decisions, strengthens stewardship, improves compliance with regulations, and increases long-term community support for MPAs and other marine conservation initiatives

In the mountains of the Kyrgyz Republic, biodiversity conservation is closely linked to the natural resource use practices of local communities, particularly pasture management and hunting. Areas outside formally designated protected areas are especially vulnerable. Despite their ecological importance and economic value to communities, these territories often lack formal protection, systematic monitoring, and adaptive management mechanisms.

Officially designated in 2025, Baiboosun is a specially protected natural area of local significance and one of the first formally recognized community-managed micro-reserves in Kyrgyzstan. What began in 2019 as a voluntary community initiative responding to declining wildlife populations evolved into a legally institutionalized conservation model covering more than 20,000 hectares of high-mountain, subalpine, and alpine ecosystems. Micro-reserves can help support Kyrgyzstan’s commitment to protect 30% of its territory by 2030.

The GIZ project ‘Biodiversity Conservation and Poverty Reduction through Community Based Nut Forest and Pasture Management’, implemented from 2015 to 2023 in southern Kyrgyzstan, piloted a participatory pasture management approach. Livestock breeding is the main source of income for the local population. The pressure on pastures is increasing annually due to misuse and constant growth of livestock (+3% per year). Intensive grazing also damages the unique walnut forest, which covers an area of 13,000 ha. Due to grazing in the forest, damage to the forest is expressed in the loss of seedlings and ageing of the forest due to lack of regeneration. During the project, a plan for participatory pasture management was developed by involving residents in the state forest fund. A platform for general discussion of pasture issues called District Pasture Commission was also established. During 8 years the platform has shown its high efficiency in solving conflict issues.