International Cooperation for the Aldabra Clean-up Project

Tons of plastic are accumulating along the coastline of Aldabra, threatening sea and coastal fauna such as hawksbill and green turtles, which are vulnerable to both entanglement and ingestion. The combination of Aldabra’s isolation, the difficulty in accessing its remote beaches, and the increasing volume of marine plastic pollution have called for international cooperation.

In May 2018, a collaboration between the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF), the Queen’s College of Oxford University, Seychelles Coast Guard and Seychellois volunteers was launched. Over a period of 5 weeks, 25 tons of marine debris were removed from the southern coastline of Aldabra, including fishing gear, bottles, and flip-flops. The expedition costed $231K and it is estimated that up to $5 million is required to completely clear Aldabra’s accumulated waste.

The project has provided an initial framework and baseline data for the future removal of accumulated marine debris around the atoll and further fundraising is needed to complete this action.

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Nature Tourism at Abu Hills (Rajasthan, India): Conservation and Livelihood

In line with the three pillars of sustainability, we developed globally applicable site-specific socio-ecological-economy models. One of our four models is called Abu Model. The idea behind this model was the protection of the Green Avadavat or Green Munia, categorized ‘Vulnerable’ in IUCN Red List.

Taking advantage of the interdependency of tourism and the environment, we focused on the flagship species of Abu Hills, consisting of the Green Munia and several other fauna and flora species. A group of local youth closely associated with nature was identified, including bird trappers and poachers. Their traditional local knowledge was valuable to modern scientific knowledge and empowered them. Thus, the nature related skills of the local youth were linked with the livelihood options. This approach fostered the conservation actions towards the protection of habitats and target species.

Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust (PONT) – an innovative partnership enhancing conservation and cooperation

PONT is a transboundary conservation trust fund established in 2015 with funding from MAVA and BMZ/KfW. Their aim was to support the increasing environmental needs of the Prespa-Ohrid region to respond to the lack of sufficient funding for conservation efforts. In 2023, the PONT Focus Region is a Biodiversity Hotspot covering 1.6 million hectares in Albania, Greece and North Macedonia with further room for geographical expansion. The region has exceptional habitat diversity, supporting viable populations of endemic and rare species. Connectivity corridors help consolidate the landscape elements to ensure species movement between areas under protection (PAs). To ensure sustainable conservation and effective management of PAs, cooperation within and across borders is crucial. PONT has secured long-term financing (~€3 million/year drawdown until 2040), which is additionally used to leverage co-financing of activities. Grants support conservation objectives and capacity development. Shared services reduce administrative costs.

Our Blue Future – A Multi-stakeholder Initiative for Inclusive Sustainable Blue Economy (ISBE) in the Western Indian Ocean

Healthy marine and coastal ecosystems are essential for food security, livelihoods, and wealth for the 60 million people living along the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). However, unsustainable use of marine and coastal resources puts ecosystems and economic development at risk.

Our Blue Future (OBF), a multi-stakeholder initiative for advancing inclusive sustainable blue economy (ISBE) in the region, is working with its currently 24 partners across the region and sectors to catalyze innovation and achieve long-term environmental and socio-economic impact.

An ISBE is defined as one in which countries and people can derive a source of value and wealth from diverse, productive, and resilient ecosystems while simultaneously protecting, maintaining, and restoring them to provide social and economic benefits.

OBF is becoming an inclusive, well-resourced, highly effective public–private–civil society transformation network that helps empower communities, governments, and businesses to foster an ISBE.

Beavers in Knapdale: Scottish Beavers Reinforcement Project

The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) has been extinct in mainland Britain since the 16th century. The Scottish Beaver Trial was the first licensed mammal reintroduction project in the UK, establishing a beaver population of Norwegian origin in Scotland’s Knapdale forest. However, the population was small, with low genetic diversity threatening it with extirpation. The Scottish Beavers reinforcement project was designed to mitigate this risk. Following extensive public consultation and genetic sampling, the project released 21 beavers of Bavarian origin with more, different genetic diversity to Knapdale between 2017 and 2020. The reinforcement was a success, with subsequent monitoring finding increased breeding and new lochs occupied. Additionally, genetic sampling has indicated significantly higher genetic diversity in the population compared to before the translocation, improving the population’s resilience. The project has acted as a template for other translocations and informed Scotland’s Beaver Strategy 2022-2045.

SMART: A digital monitoring system for effective management of protected areas

Nech Sar National Park is one of Ethiopia’s oldest protected areas, conserved for its diverse flora, fauna, and unique landscapes. However, unsustainable use of resources poses a significant threat to the park. The absence of standardised protocols and systems for recording illegal human activities and threats hinders the effective use and management of the park. The poor enforcement of planning, decision-making and resource allocation processes further fuels the issue.

To address these challenges, the BMZ-funded and GIZ-implemented Biodiversity and Forestry Programme introduced the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART). SMART is a tool that simplifies and enhances data collection, analysis, and reporting in protected area management. It supports various conservation activities such as protection of biodiversity, law enforcement, natural resources utilisation, and tourism management. With its easy-to-use features, SMART offers powerful options for effective management and protection of natural resources.

Conservation Success and Management Strategies in Saudi Arabia's Ibex Protected Area: A Case Study of the Nubian Ibex Monitoring

The Ibex Protected Area is one of Saudi Arabia’s premier conservation areas of international significance. In terms of its mammal diversity, the protected area has been the focus of a key conservation and reintroduction program of the Vulnerable Nubian Ibex (Capra nubiana). The area also inhabits important populations of the Arabian wolf (Canis lupis) and Arabian gazelle or idmi (Gazella arabica). A ten-year monitoring program was implemented for the Nubian Ibex as an umbrella species indicating the overall health and functionality of the ecosystem encompassed within the protected area. This continuous monitoring enabled the site management to identify the overall trend of the population and assess natural and anthropogenic factors influencing it. The monitoring program is undertaken by a multidisciplinary team including wildlife specialists, law enforcement officers, local community experts and guides, all working in coordination with the Protected Area manager.

Cranes over Cheorwon, cultivating conservation and community: results from the Nature Coexistence between farmers and cranes

The conservation efforts in Cheorwon, Gangwon-do, are a collaborative initiative by local farmers and various organizations, including the National Nature Trust, Cheorwon Crane Protection Association, and others, to preserve endangered crane habitats. These efforts have led to a notable increase in crane populations, thanks to sustainable agricultural practices, ecotourism, and community-driven conservation activities. The National Nature Trust plays a pivotal role, supported by legal frameworks and financial mechanisms, in managing conservation assets like ‘the Cheorwon Crane Land.’ This multifaceted approach integrates ecological preservation with local economic development, showcasing a successful model of conservation that promotes the coexistence of human and wildlife interests.

Apiculture to engage communities in fighting bush fires, provide income and protect biodiversity – Kilum-Ijin Forest, Cameroon

The project provides an innovative model for biodiversity preservation based on community action to increase the production of Oku White Honey, conserve the forest, and develop markets for finished products benefiting the local populations living in and around high biodiversity areas. We promote biodiversity conservation by regenerating degraded forest biodiversity with native bee-loving and economic trees, which will help increase the quantity of honey produced. The project also strengthens the Oku White Honey value chain by improving the quality of the finished products and developing robust markets. This program helps organize bee farmers, leads to job creation, and increases the revenue of the local population. The development of this green value chain reduces pressure on natural resources, encourages communities to support conservation efforts, builds capacity among community leaders, including women, and improves the livelihoods of the population.

International Alliance against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade

With increasing global human activity encroaching on wildlife habitats, growing demand for wildlife consumption & expanding global trade, the risk of pathogen spillover from wildlife to humans is escalating. There is not a simple answer on how to prevent this & not a single person who could do it alone. The only chance we have is to work together towards this as a common goal with a holistic, cross-cutting & synergistic approach.

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Updating the management plan of Mangabe Reserve and assisting local communities through improving infrastructure and facilities

The Mangabe protected Area is a 27,346ha Reserve established in the Alaotra-Mangoro Region, eastern Madagascar in 2015. It aims to preserve some of Madagascar’s endemic and Critically Endangered species from extinction, while maintaining key ecosystem services for human wellbeing. Through the IMET assessment of the Mangabe Reserve in January 2020, infrastructure and facilities and assistance for the communities got the lowest scores. All these issues could be resolved if the Reserve’s management plan was updated and all the roles, responsibilities and processes are clarified in this document. Therefore, updating the management plan was the first priority. The second priority action was related to improving infrastructure, equipment and facilities. As a result, the five year (2022-2026) management plan of the Mangabe Reserve has been updated and communities’ assistance was responded to through the purchase of two motorbikes, building of three information centers, and the improvement of the Mangabe campsite.

YILNAC Network Accompagne les jeunes autochtones dans la Restauration des forêts communautaires par la plantation et la gestion rationnelle d’arbres traditionnels en Territoire de Mwenga

Les jeunes autochtones vivant en Territoire de Mwenga font face à la surexploitation et la dégradation très avancée des forêts communautaires et cela impacte négativement les populations autochtones dans le sens que les jeunes autochtones se concentraient aux activités de recherche des chenilles comestibles en Territoire de MWenga. Actuellement, des forets communautaires sont malheureusement surexploitées, dégradées, frappées par les changements climatiques et dépourvues de sa biodiversité.

Pour remédier à cette situation, Young Indigenous Leaders for Nature and Climate (YILNAC Network) a réalisé ce projet d’Accompagnement des jeunes autochtones dans la Restauration des forêts communautaires par la restauration de 260 hectares en essences traditionnelles et la gestion rationnelle d’arbres traditionnels à travers l’encadrement de 180 jeunes autochtones en Territoire de Mwenga .

Ce projet a été appuyé par Climate Change Africa Opportinuties (CCAO).

The development of a resilient sustainable finance plan for the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (C-CAM) to support the implementation of management actions in the Portland Bight Protected Area (PBPA), Jamaica

The Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (C-CAM) manages the globally important Portland Bight Protected Area (PBPA) home to threatened and endemic species including crocodiles, the Jamaican Iguana, and three fish sanctuaries. Government subventions, fundraising, and eco-tourism declined due to COVID-19. Funds were sought to maintain core staff salaries; support patrolling and monitoring; provide training and supplies to protect staff from COVID-19; restart educational activities at our Portland Bight Discovery Centre and restore some revenue for C-CAM and the local communities. We started updating the strategic plan to ensure sustainability and adaptation and completed the organization’s financial audit to ensure transparency. The impact of COVID19 also highlighted the need to focus on developing a robust financial sustainability programme to build the resiliency of our operations. Towards achieving this goal we updated C-CAM’s funding plan which will be the platform for the programme.