Loon Translocation

NACOFA gathers community feedback on Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) and Natural Resource Management (NRM) challenges, such as degradation. It analyzes existing laws and policies to identify gaps and inconsistencies that hinder effective solutions. To empower its CFA members, NACOFA builds their capacity in policy advocacy, teaching them to influence policymakers, secure inclusion in consultative forums, and impact policy planning and implementation. Collaboration with government bodies like the Ministry of Environment, Kenya Forest Service, and County NRM departments addresses these gaps through policy reviews, amendments, and new regulations. NACOFA also formed coalitions with stakeholders to tackle policy issues. When governments are slow or resistant to change, NACOFA engages in horizontal advocacy by working within government oversight structures, such as Technical Working Groups and Forest Conservation Committees, to influence policy from within.

Propagation and regeneration of native plant species, such as the Red Pod Terminalia (Terminalia brownii Fresen), pose significant challenges, especially in developing countries where research is limited. Native to the semi-arid regions of East, Central, and West Africa, this drought-tolerant tree offers numerous benefits, including medicinal properties, timber, fuel, and materials for handicrafts. Despite its potential, the population of T. brownii in Kenyan drylands is rapidly declining due to deforestation, ecosystem fragmentation, and overexploitation. The lack of proper seed handling and germination guidelines has hindered the domestication and large-scale planting of this valuable species, affecting livelihoods and the sustainable development of drylands.

Wondong Wetland in Yangsan, Korea, is a rare habitat for Korea’s endangered plants, such as the Viola raddeana Regel and Pterygopleurum neurophyllum (Maxim.) Kitag.. In particular, it is known as the only habitat in Korea for Pterygopleurum neurophyllum (Maxim.) Kitag. Wondong Wetland is a wetland behind the Nakdong River that was once used as agricultural land and was restored to its natural state. However, as plants such as silver grass expanded, the population of endangered plants decreased due to competition. To expand the population of the two endangered plants, an event was held in February 2023 (winter season) with citizens to cut down grass, including silver grass, a competing species. As a result, the germination rate of the two plant species increased, and their habitat range expanded. Grass cutting was also carried out in February 2024, and it is planned to be carried out in the future before the germination period in February every year.

Mount Kenya, with its lush biodiversity and vital ecosystems, has been increasingly threatened by deforestation, habitat degradation, and the adverse effects of climate change. To combat these challenges, our project, funded by IKI small grants and implemented by Help Self Help Centre, focuses on the community-driven regeneration of native forests. This initiative is not just about planting trees; it’s about empowering local communities and ensuring environmental sustainability for generations to come.

Our solution begins with the heart of the issue: the people who live adjacent to the forest. These communities are directly impacted by the degradation of the environment and are pivotal to its restoration. We have trained over 1,300 members of Community Forest Associations (CFAs) in essential skills such as organizational management, leadership, and sustainable natural resource management. This comprehensive training equips them to actively participate in and lead conservation efforts.

The solution addresses the degradation of Lake Naivasha by focusing on sustainable land management and community-driven conservation. It combines forest conservation with community livelihood support, contracting Community Forest Associations (CFA) members to raise seedlings, which were paid for by National Alliance of Community Forest Associations)(NACOFA) after being planted on degraded sites. The Kenya Forest Service allowed community members to cultivate food crops alongside the young seedlings, boosting food supply, creating jobs, and protecting the seedlings. Stakeholder mapping and strong partnerships ensured cohesive efforts, while developing governance structures empowered local leaders to manage restoration. The project’s success demonstrates that conservation initiatives aligned with community livelihoods achieve higher success rates, offering a scalable model for ecosystem restoration.

As the most threatened vertebrate class on earth, amphibians are at the forefront of the biodiversity crisis, with the recognition of global amphibian declines and extinctions dating back several decades now. The current Amphibian Conservation Action Plan is adopting two strategies to address the goal of the amelioration of the amphibian crisis: the development of two complementary documents that work to 1) synthesise developments in major themes of amphibian conservation over the last 15 years, as in this document, and 2) summarise the key findings and recommendations to a broader audience in a user-friendly way (a practitioner document that will follow this synthesis document). The purpose is thus to provide the most up-to-date  evidence on threats and approaches to amphibian conservation, and from there identify gaps and priorities that can then be disseminated and adopted by stakeholders across the globe.