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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.
The International Alliance therefore offers a solution by serving as an inclusive & interdisciplinary platform for stakeholders. It is a collaborative space to join forces to better understand & reduce the threat of pathogen spillover from wildlife trade & consumption, providing & communicating evidence, and supporting interventions. Thereby we reduce the risk, while improving health, equity & well-being for all species through a One Health approach.
IUCN Guidelines on Reintroductions and other Conservation Translocations
These Guidelines define terms and set out guidance on the justification, design, and implementation of any reintroduction or conservation translocation, including (i) reinforcement and reintroduction within a species’ indigenous range, and (ii) conservation introductions, comprising assisted colonisation and ecological replacement, outside a species’ indigenous range. The Guidelines focus on conservation translocations, namely a translocation that yields quantifiable conservation benefit. For this purpose, the beneficiaries should be the population or the ecosystem of the translocated species. Translocation needs rigorous justification. Feasibility assessment should include a balance of the conservation benefits against the costs and risks of both the translocation and alternative conservation actions. There are multiple risks in a translocation, affecting the focal species, their associated communities and ecosystem functions in both source and destination areas; there are also risks around human concerns. Any proposed translocation should have a comprehensive risk assessment.
How to use
- To download the guidelines: https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/10386
- To seek advice on translocations, and for details of training courses, contact the IUCN SSC Conservation Translocation Specialist Group at: https://iucn-ctsg.org/
- A comprehensive set of reintroduction case studies covering a wide range of flora and fauna is included in a series of books Reintroduction Perspectives. These are available to download at: https://iucn-ctsg.org/resources/
CPSG Species Conservation Planning Tools
The IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) has developed several tools and resources to support planning. Teams are available to support this approach, including the use of modelling tools. Training in species conservation planning tools and processes is available through a combination of in-person and online courses. Training results in a certificate of completion. Extended mentoring opportunities also exist.
The One Plan Approach: requires that all available resources, all stakeholders and all populations of a species, are considered in conservation planning process. This approach is particularly effective at bringing together ex situ and in situ wildlife conservation practitioners and tools. Through CPSG, teams are available to support groups to apply this approach, which may include the application of the IUCN SSC Ex situ Guidelines as well as databases and modelling tools produced and maintained through key partners such Species360 and the Species Conservation Toolkit Initiative.
Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA): is a specific approach that integrates population viability analysis (PVA) into stakeholder-inclusive, multi-disciplinary planning projects. The PVA element helps all stakeholders to understand more a species’ life-history, threats, and the likely efficacy of potential conservation strategies. Facilitator-modeller teams are available through CPSG, to support groups to apply this approach.
Assess to Plan (A2P): is a process designed to bridge the gap between Red List assessment and conservation planning, for speciose groups. Using Red List data, assessors and other experts identify pathways to conservation action for taxa assessed as Threatened or Data Deficient. Outputs include recommendations for further planning or action for multi-species groups of taxa that can be expected to respond favourably to the same kinds of conservation action taken in the same areas and/or by the same groups of conservation actors.
Planning Principles and Steps
This document was developed by the IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) to build global capacity to save biodiversity and share and understanding of what effective species conservation planning looks like. The document contains 7 fundamental principles and 8 practical steps, and presents a succinct philosophy and framework for good species planning based on CPSG’s over 40 years of experience in species conservation planning. USER GUIDE SIMPLE AND CLEAR USER GUIDE TO THE BASIC PRINCIPLES AND PROCESS OF