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.

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Community-based gorilla tourism

Different waves of Ebola killed gorillas in many important areas in Central Africa, including Odzala National park, Congo. Even worse, 2 habituated gorilla groups disappeared and left the park without this important source of potential income. The idea arose to habituate gorillas in a nearby community zone. GRASP provided matching funds to a community conservation project, and since 2012 tourists can see western lowland gorillas in the Lossi Interzone.

Concessions for managing the impacts of oil and gas exploration in Uganda

Strategies have been developed and implemented in Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park (MFNP),to achieve a critical balance between newly discovered oil for extraction and maintaining the extensive biodiversity in the area. National agencies,companies and PA managers jointly developed strict guidelines which must be adhered to during the exploration phase and beyond. Biodiversity surveys and mapping and biodiversity surveys helped identify sensitive areas avoid.

Community Use Zones (CUZ)

Sabah Parks, Malaysia, uses community use zones (CUZ) as an innovative management concept. In CUZ, indigenous communities are allowed to carry out traditional activities under the supervision of the Parks Authority. Needs of local communities and conservation objectives are balanced, by encouraging communities’ participation in park management and preserving their culture. Eco-tourism development, handicraft, beekeeping and other programs provide job opportunities.

Community-based natural resource management: The Event Book System Namibia

The Event Book System is an example of sustainable Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) used in many communal conservancies throughout Namibia, which allows communities to contribute to decision making in natural resource management. The main contributing factors facilitating sustainable CBNRM programmes include community involvement, multi-level implementation, simplification and standardization of methods and motivation of local community members.

Market research data used to facilitate visitor experience

Parks Canada utilize surveys, monthly research panels and purchase data from market research firms to better understand what tourists want and expect during a visit to a protected area. In collaboration with the Canadian Tourism Commission and Environics Canada, the agency has identified 9 distinct experiential user types who visit Canadian parks, such as a ‘Personal History Traveller’, which are then used to ensure visitors enjoy memorable and tailored experiences.

Formalizing transboundary protected area governance

South Africa and Namibia have formulated a ‘Joint Operation Strategy’, a treaty signed by both governments, which oversees the management of Richtersveld National Park (SA) and Ai/Ais Hot Spring Game Park (N). The strategy ensures that management plans, community involvement and income generation projects for the parks are collaboratively planned and all decisions must be reached unanimously through joint governing boards and committees.

Murray Darling Basin Plan

Through a deliberate strategy of getting Parliament votes and media attention, the Murray Darling Basin Plan was passed through Federal Parliament in 2013. The Darling River is one of the largest in Australia and runs from north to south. The Darling River flows into the Murray River and had been reduced to a trickle at the mouth due to big ag’s water usage for irrigation. A consortium of community members spent 10 years getting this plan passed.

Forest conservation through building on indigenous knowledge

In Paraguay we have managed to combine the vision of biodiversity conservation with the restitution of ancestral lands of the Mbyaguarani indigenous people. What we have called “socioenvironmental condominium” is a sample of what can be achieved between environmental organizations and indigenous peoples. Our goals are common and can be achieve by working with those who better understand conservation in situ: native peoples.

Marine protected area learning site for the Coral Triangle

The high ecological importance of the three islands of Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia located in the heart of the Coral Triangle Center is used for developing a MPA learning site. It addresses the lack of formalization of natural resource management and inadequate protection of marine biodiversity with main institutional strategies to foster platforms for on-the-ground learning and sharing of knowledge and skills about tropical marine conservation.

Coral Gardening for Climate Change Adaptation in Vanuatu

SPC/GIZ in partnership with Vanuatu’s Nguna-Pele Marine and Land Protected Area Network, is implementing a coral reef climate change adaptation project focused on coral gardening. Damaged coral reefs are restored, thereby contributing to climate change adaptation and eco-tourism revenue. Overseas visitors are invited to join in this planting activity, which allows them to contribute to a local development issue.

Fish Forever in Brazil: Solution for community-based fisheries management

As coastal development increases in Brazil, artisanal fishers struggle to protect their resources. By leveraging the government-created Extractive Reserves’ (RESEXs) legal structure and working with government, local fishers’ organizations, and communities, Rare’s Fish Forever program in Brazil has 1) established community-led governance and authority over artisanal fisheries; 2) designated managed-access fishing areas, combined with no-take reserves; and 3) improved participation of fishers and communitiy members in fisheries management and decision-making.

Restoration and Community Co-Management of Mangroves (RECCOMM)

The solution aims at increasing the health of the mangrove and associated ecosystems and reducing vulnerabilities of coastal communities to climate change. It focuses on ecosystem restoration and local capacity building for habitat conservation and increased socio-economic benefits.

Technical components:

Replanting of mangroves
Sustainable mangrove management, including cultivation of fast growing alternative species
Introduction of beekeeping as a sustainable alternative livelihood
Promotion of ecotourism