National rare species conservation strategy of Russia (material for the International Rare Species Conservation Conference, Moscow, October 2000)
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2000
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Dry season wildfires are destroying the Tonle Sap Lake’s flooded forest and damaging its fishery. And a lack of resources meant that local communities could only watch their forests burn. In 2019 Conservation International began working with a few local fishing communities to address wildfire by providing them with basic fire suppression equipment. Since then, we have developed and are implementing Community Based Fire Management (CBFiM) in 17 communities. CBFiM is a wholistic community-based approach to fire management which aims to prevent and control fire and improve livelihoods, health, security, and conserve wildlands. CBFiM is based around the 5R’s approach:
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- Readiness – prepare for wildfire.
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Ecotourism in Hat Chao Mai – Ko Libong seascape: How it benefits people and nature
The development of ecotourism in Trang province, Thailand, has been driven by a combination of government policies, viral social media, and local entrepreneurship. The government-initiated conservation measures to protect endangered species, particularly dugongs, and ecosystems like seagrass beds, started with banning destructive fishing practices. This initially caused social conflicts among local fishers, but the government and community groups worked together to enforce these policies and find solutions.
A turning point came when a baby dugong named Mariam, rescued by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, gained widespread attention on social media. The viral video of Mariam sparked public interest in visiting Trang’s Andaman coast, leading to a surge in tourism.
Additionally, community conservation groups helped raise awareness about environmental protection, involving locals and tourists in conservation activities, and promoting sustainable tourism practices.
Establishing a team of Community Rangers to improve the management and protection of Rugezi Marsh, Rwanda.
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Building communities capacities to coexist with wildlife
In Assam, Northeast India, the Himalayan foothill forests provide essential habitat for the Asian elephant Elephas maximus. The natural vegetation in the region is moist deciduous forest, but this has mainly been transformed and now contains a mosaic of land uses and vegetation. These include rice cultivation, village settlements, commercial tea plantations and protected areas.
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Fostering coexistence through a poverty reduction approach
The Tarija region of southern Bolivia encompasses four ecosystems, including the critically endangered Inter-Andean dry forests. Much of the forest composition has changed as a result of intensive human intervention. Despite the severe fragmentation and habitat loss, the valleys are considered important centres for plant endemism, and it is home to the largest carnivores of South America, Andean bear Tremarctos ornatus, jaguar Panthera onca and puma Puma concolor. The area is prone to the effects of climate change with severe droughts
affecting agriculture, with up to 80 percent crop losses in 2015.
Following a regional assessment on the distribution of Andean bears in 2010, researchers received reports from local communities regarding Andean bears attacking and killing cattle in the Tarija region, with retaliation against the bears ensuing. Researchers were surprised by these reports as the presence of bears had not been documented in the area. However, in 2016, a camera trap study was initiated by Chester Zoo, Protección Medio Ambiente Tarija (PROMETA) and the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) and confirmed the presence of a reproductive population of Andean bears (mother and cub) in the region. These findings became the trigger to start the Andean Bears and People Project in 2018, a collaboration between Chester Zoo, PROMETA, WildCRU, Centro de Estudios Regionales de Tarija (CERDET), Instituto de Investigación y Capacitacion Campesina (IICA) and the Natural History Museum Alcides d’Orbigny.
Developing and evaluating a beehive fence deterrent through stakeholder involvement
The Elephants and Bees Project is part of Save the Elephants’ Human-Elephant Coexistence Programme, based in Sagalla, next to Tsavo East National Park in southern Kenya.
This case study highlights the process undertaken since 2001 to understand the effect honey bees had on elephants and to develop, evaluate and implement beehive fences at several sites in Kenya, from initial research-based studies on the effect of bees on elephants to the establishment of the Elephants and Bees Project.
Coexistence with large cats: Experience from a citizen science project
Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) is one of four parks in the world adjacent to a large metropolis, that occupies about 100 km2 with a minimum density of ~20 000 people/km2 and contains diverse wildlife such as chital Axis axis, sambhar Rusa unicolor, mugger crocodiles Crocodylus palustris, macaques Macaca mulatta and leopard Panthera pardus.
These incidents coincided with an increase in the number of leopards captured and translocated to the area. In 2011, discussions on addressing these issues were initiated with the authorities in the area.
Reducing human-carnivore conflict through participatory research
The presence of forested islands creates edge habitats for many wildlife species, such as jaguar Panthera onca, tapir Tapirus terrestris, capybara Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris, harpy eagle Harpia harpyja, to name a few. The human population density in the region is very low (0.4 people/km2), with communities consisting of predominantly indigenous Makushi and Wapichan people, with mixed populations including Guyana’s nine indigenous groups. The primary livelihoods in the region are subsistence fishing, farming and hunting.
The Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme in Guyana (hereafter “the SWM Programme”) aims to ensure that “wildlife, ecosystems and their services are conserved and the living conditions, food security and cultural identity of rural villages are improved”. Under one component of the programme, local beneficiaries led by the Rupununi Livestock Producers Association (RLPA) had identified that
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Co-developing a community camera trapping programme to deliver benefits of living with wildlife
The Rungwa-Ruaha landscape in United Republic of Tanzania at nearly 50 000 km2 is one of the most important wildlife areas in Africa and it supports one of the world’s largest remaining populations of lions Panthera leo and globally significant populations of African wild dogs Lycaon pictus, cheetahs Acinonyx jubatus, leopards Panthera pardus and spotted hyaenas Crocuta crocuta.
Lying adjacent to the southern border of the unfenced protected area is village land, forming an important habitat for large carnivores, especially in the wet season. The landscape is also an important movement corridor for pastoralists linking rangelands, which result in the region having very high rates of human-wildlife conflict. Research in the area found that over 98% of people reported problems with wildlife, with livestock depredation cited as the main concern.
Despite the initial data showing high levels of conflict, prior to 2009, there had been little targeted research on human-carnivore conflict drivers, dynamics and mitigation in the Ruaha landscape. To help fill this gap, and also to provide more information on large carnivore ecology in the area, the Ruaha Carnivore Project (RCP) was founded in 2009. In 2020, RCP merged with work being done in Kenya and Zambia to form Lion Landscapes, one of the largest locally-based carnivore conservation organizations in the world.
GEOfood
GEOfood is a global initiative that promotes food sourced and produced within UNESCO Global Geoparks. It emphasizes the connections between local food, food traditions, and the geological heritage of the region where the food is produced.
The initiative aims to support sustainable development by encouraging responsible food production, protecting biodiversity, and promoting local economic impact. Only recognized UNESCO Global Geoparks can use the GEOfood brand, ensuring that the raw materials come from within or near these geoparks.
GEOfood ( www.geofood.no) is a global brand that promotes food sourced and produced within UNESCO Global Geoparks. It emphasizes the connections between local food, food traditions, and the geological heritage of the region where the food is produced
Here are some key aspects of the GEOfood brand:
- Local and Sustainable: GEOfood products are sourced locally within geoparks, supporting sustainable agricultural practices and local economies
- Educational Value: The brand helps raise awareness about the i
Reviving Nature: The Cleanup Success Story of King Abdulaziz Royal Nature Reserve
Set over an area of 28,345 km², the King Abdulaziz Royal Nature Reserve (KARNR) is situated northeast of Riyadh, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Extending to the Al-Arma Mountains and down to several meadows, valleys, and reefs, it mostly encompasses two regions: Rawdat Al-Tanhat, Al-Khafs, Noura, Al-Hqaqa, the western portion of the Al-Summan plateau, and the Ad-Dahnaa’ desert.
In 2018, the reserve was created to protect plant and animal species, and preventing poaching, overgrazing, and logging. Various kinds of plants, animals, and microbes cohabit in the reserve’s varied landscape, including valleys, meadows, plateaus, mountains, plains, and dunes, among other features.
One of the significant achievements in the reserve has been the large-scale cleanup campaigns. Recently, a massive operation successfully removed 55,390 tons of waste from various reserve parts. This effort was part of a broader initiative to maintain the pristine condition of the environment and to ensure that the habitats remain conducive for wildlife.
Planting a Million Seedlings for a Sustainable Future
Nestled among the rolling hills and vast landscapes of King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, the Authority was established to restore and rejuvenate this precious ecosystem, focusing on our vision to plant a million seedlings in collaboration with the National Center for Vegetation Development and Combating Desertification, enabling life to breathe into our environment. As stewards of nature, we recognize the pressing need to combat climate change, restore biodiversity, and secure a sustainable future for generations to come.
For decades, King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve has been a sanctuary of natural beauty, yet it has faced challenges such as deforestation and habitat degradation. Recognizing these threats, we embarked on an ambitious afforestation project. After months of meticulous planning and sustainable thinking, we proceeded with our endeavour from selecting native species resilient to our climate to preparing the fertile ground for their growth.
