Okavango Delta World Heritage Site Research and Practice Team Lab

Okavango Delta World Heritage Site Research-Practice Team Lab is a collaborative multidisciplinary team founded in 2021 in the ICCROM-IUCN World Heritage Leadership Heritage Place Lab framework to bridge the gap between stakeholders that care for the site. In this process, the UNESCO Chair on African Heritage Studies and Sustainable Development of the University of Botswana and the Botswana National Museum Art and Gallery have partnered to develop a shared platform where researchers and site managers can co-produce collaborative research which informs the development of management policies. Our aim is to contribute to the protection and understanding of the Outstanding Universal Value of the Okavango Delta World Heritage Site through an ongoing research agenda that addresses the following areas:

1. Stakeholder synergy and participation

2. Climate change

3. Local cultural values

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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.

In 2004, a pilot project was established between Chester Zoo (then North of England Zoological Society), United Kingdom and EcoSystems – India, a regional non-governmental organization (NGO), to further learn about the conflict and determine the best way towards sustainable solutions with the impacted communities. This pilot phase became the catalyst for the Assam Haathi Project, which worked with local communities to understand the situation further and identify solutions for addressing the issue collaboratively. The project ran for 14 years, from 2004 to 2018, and conducted many activities to address the human-elephant conflict. This case study highlights a subset of activities that have been conducted by the Assam Haathi Project (hereafter “the project”).

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

The programme established a body of work for reducing the human-carnivore conflict by conducting participatory research with the impacted communities facilitated in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation at the University of Florida and the Guyana Conservation Initiative at the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens. This case study highlights the initial steps taken to understand the situation further to help inform future management.

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.

Regeneration of Mangroves and Mobilization of Local Populations, with a Particular Focus on Women and Indigenous Communities, in the Conservation of Ecosystems in the Lokoundjé District (Fifinda)

The Foundation for Environment and Development in Cameroon (FEDEC) implemented a project titled ‘Mangrove Regeneration and Mobilization of Local Communities, Particularly Women and Indigenous Groups, in Ecosystem Conservation in the Lokoundjé District (Fifinda),’ funded by GEF Small Grant from the United Nations Development Program. This initiative aimed to restore 4 hectares of degraded mangrove areas through the replanting of 6,000 mangrove seedlings and fostered community engagement, particularly among the Bakola/Bagyeli indigenous communities, in agroforestry activities. The project also introduced improved fish smoking ovens, reducing deforestation and enhancing local economies. Community education efforts, including the distribution of educational materials and radio broadcasts, raised awareness of mangrove conservation. The combined efforts have not only regenerated vital ecosystems but also empowered local populations with sustainable livelihoods and conservation techniques.

Introduction of artificial reef to reduce pressure on natural coral reef in gulf of Aqaba- Jordan

Background: The Gulf of Aqaba ( GOA) hosts an extraordinary amount of marine diversity with the existence of corals, reef-building coral, and an unknown number of soft coral species. It is stated that the coral reefs of Jordan are amongst the most diverse per m2 in the world.

The challenges: This unique ecosystem faces different challenges and threats, among these are the effects of tourism and the huge diving activities especially with the global interest in coral reefs in the Gulf of Aqaba which has encouraged tourists from worldwide to come to Aqaba and practice diving activities wildly,

The solution: as a solution to relieves the existing pressure, several artificial reefs were introduced in the GOA- Jordan; Cedar Pride Shipwreck, Hercules C-130, The Tank, and the Underwater Military Museum. Those artificial reefs have diverted some pressure away from natural reefs while still allowing visitors to enjoy diverse marine life. Additionally, they became a habitat for several coral and other marine species.

Restoration of Seagrass Beds Using Biodegradable Bioplastic-Based Eco-Friendly Planting Frames

The international community aims for carbon neutrality by 2050, recognizing the importance of “blue carbon” in marine ecosystems like seagrass beds. The Korea National Park Service is dedicated to enhancing carbon absorption through the restoration of eelgrass in Hallyeohaesang National Park.

Since 2018, restoration efforts faced challenges with initial transplantation methods showing variable success rates. In 2021, an eco-friendly planting frame using paper egg cartons was developed, but it was inefficient. The following year, biodegradable bioplastic frames were introduced, yet they were too light and restricted eelgrass growth.

In 2023, a new planting frame was created from biodegradable bioplastic with greater density, providing adequate space for eelgrass expansion. This frame was successfully used to restore seagrass beds along the Daegopo coast.