Protecting the Critically Endangered Lillie Cycad

The Lillie Cycad Reserve on Selati Game Reserve (South Africa) is a site of unique ecological significance as it is the sole natural habitat of the critically endangered cycad species, Encephalartos dyerianus. Cycads worldwide are facing extinction at the hands of poaching for the horticultural trade. Through a grant received via the IUCN, we were able to embrace technology and human resources for both remote and on-the-ground monitoring and have avoided unnatural losses of cycads to date since their deployment. The project enabled us to gain recognition and form a partnership with cycad specialists who are guiding us on a comprehensive drone monitoring survey. Using RGB and LiDAR technology, we hope to gain an accurate baseline population density, providing crucial insights into the species’ demographic trends and spatial distribution.

This project is part of the IUCN Save Our Species African Wildlife initiative, which is co-funded by the European Union

Visit page

Related content

Kajiado County Natural Resource Network: Improved Planning, Awareness and Scale-Up of FLR among communities

The Kajiado County Natural Resource Network (KCNRN) exemplifies a governance-led approach to scaling Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR). Registered in June 2022, the KCNRN unites over 25 member organizations under a shared framework for sustainable natural resource management. The network improves FLR outcomes through strategic planning, raising public awareness, and enabling collaboration among local actors, government institutions, and private partners. The network’s focus areas include wildlife, agriculture, rangelands, and community engagement, with an emphasis on sustainable land use and cross-sectoral learning. Innovative initiatives, like “Miti Festival,” highlight the network’s success in mobilizing resources and fostering public participation. This solution was implemented by WWF under the AREECA project, a Consortium financed by BMUV and composed of AUDA-NEPAD, FAO, GIZ, IUCN, the World Bank, and WRI. KCNRN’s strategic planning, financial policy, and governance structure provide a replicable model for scaling FLR.

Farmer Field Schools demonstrating conservation agriculture with trees to scale up soil conservation

In Ntcheu District, Malawi, a Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) project, supported by FAO, IUCN, WRI, GIZ and funded by BMUV, empowers local communities through Farmer Field Schools (FFS). Addressing challenges such as low community engagement, unsustainable land use, and economic pressures, the project leverages local leaders and lead farmers to build capacity and ownership of restoration practices. FFS blends traditional knowledge with sustainable techniques, demonstrating economic and environmental benefits that align with community needs. By providing hands-on training in agroforestry and soil conservation, FFS increases yields and offers alternative incomes, reducing reliance on deforestation-driven practices. Through strong support systems, continuous monitoring, and strategic alignment with local socio-economic goals, the project creates a replicable, resilient model that fosters both ecological restoration and socio-economic growth, enhancing resilience against climate impacts and safeguarding vital water resources.

System of rice intensification (SRI): A tool for enhancing the productivity of farmers and reducing the ecological footprint in the rice sector

SRI provides an agroecological and climate-smart solution by using less seed, water and fertilizer on soil that is rich in organic matter. SRI is grounded in four fundamental principles, which include promoting a rapid and healthy establishment of young plants, reducing competition among rice plants, creating fertile soils abundant in organic matter, and carefully managing water to avoid flooding and water stress, ensuring the optimal development of plants. To implement SRI, the Green Innovation Centers have developed, jointly with their partners, a cascade training strategy to disseminate the approach on a large scale. The experts train lead farmers, who supervise one or several groups of 20 to 30 producers each. Training involves practical comparison tests to demonstrate SRI in parallel to the conventional system. SRI involves six practices, ranging from land preparation and transplanting of seedlings to using organic fertilizer, weeding and harrowing, as well as irrigation management.

SME Training and Coaching Loop to support small and medium enterprises

The SME Loop responds to this need. It is a combined training and coaching approach and aims to enhance competitiveness, income, and the demand for labor. The SME Loop consists of seven phases and is implemented over a six-to-nine-month time span. After their selection, entrepreneurs follow two alternating classroom business trainings and several individual coaching sessions on business analysis, strategy formulation and business linkages among others. The SME Loop was recently adapted to the specific need of women led enterprises, start-ups and social enterprises.

More information and training material is available on the website of the International SME Loop Association e.V. (sme-loop.com).

SME Training and Coaching Loop

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are considered an engine for economic and social development. However, framework conditions for their development are often unfavorable and support is not tailored to the context and situation of the individual enterprise. Responding to this need, the SME Loop approach was developed, refined and scaled up by different projects implemented by GIZ and financed by BMZ. The SME Loop is a combined training and coaching approach. It aims at increasing competitiveness, generating income and boosting the demand for labour. The SME Loop is implemented over a six to nine month time span. It consists of seven phases of alternating individual coaching sessions and class-room business training. Service providers, financial institutions, political partners and other relevant actors have been associated during different stages of implementation to insure the sustainability of the achieved impacts.

Farmer business school (FBS): Entrepreneurship training to understand agriculture as a business.

Micro, small, and medium agribusiness enterprises provide incomes, jobs and feed the growing population. However, entrepreneurship, despite its importance to empower farmers for business and equitable participation in sustainable economic growth, remains a marginalized field. The FBS approach has been developed by GIZ in 2010 together with partners and with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) as well as the World Cocoa Foundation. FBS training strengthens agricultural smallholders’ business skills for more income from diversified production. During five subsequent morning sessions, male and female producers discover that agriculture

is business and how to improve it. Different public and/or private stakeholders pool resources to implement FBS training. By doing so they reduce risks of business and open access to a wider range of services and new business opportunities. In practice, FBS complements agricultural extension and financial services.

Training for Post Harvest Loss (PHL) Reduction

More than 30% of the world’s food is lost between the field and the plate, which threatens food security. PHL have been addressed in almost all country packages of the Green Innovation Centers. In 2020, a so-called “PHL Booster” has been launched in 8 country packages targeting various value chains. Women play a major role in post-harvest activities and are specifically targeted. The post-harvest management (PHM) is generally part of training approaches on Good Agricultural Practices and Farmer Business School. However, specific training material has been elaborated in some countries. The training not only refers to technical solutions, but also assesses the perceptions of stakeholders along the whole value chain and identifies critical loss points to locate the most effective entry points for successful interventions.

The main implementing organizations are partners from the public and private sector and training centers in the countries.

Adapting to climate change: Innovative techniques in the smallholder aquaculture sector

In response to challenges faced by small-scale aquaculture farmers due to climate change, the Global Programme Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture (GP Fish), implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), developed adaptation strategies for the sub-sector to mitigate these impacts. These strategies include the intermittent harvest method, the implementation of agroforestry practices, and digital climate information systems.

Gender transformative approach to promote women in fisheries and aquaculture

The Global Programme Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The aim of the programme is an increase of fish supply from sustainable and resource-friendly fisheries and aquaculture to boost a healthy and diverse nutrition. Sustainable production and processing techniques are promoted along the value chain in order to create jobs and income, with a special focus on youths and women. Local organisations are strengthened in their capacities to carry on programme interventions on a long-term basis. And policy advice is contributing to favourable framework conditions for a sustainable development of these sectors.

To recognize and address the unique needs and contributions of women in fisheries and aquaculture, the Programme took into consideration several gender transformative approaches. The experiences, practices and impacts of these are shared in this solution.

Saving the lions of the Mpem-Djim National Park, Center Cameroon

Lions appear to have dispersed over 400km to Mpem-Djim National Park (MDNP), in the Centre Region of Cameroon, an almost miraculous natural reintroduction in a rainforest-savanna mosaic. Lions and people are both adapting, and several livestock depredation events have occurred and proved challenging. This project on saving the lions of the MDNP was achieved by combining surveys of the local population, information gathered by local authorities, calling stations and camera trap techniques. Sensitization has been done in the targeted villages, and the local communities have been capacitated in boma techniques using local material like dry straw, earth brick, and tarpaulin. Since the start of the project activities in the area, human lion conflicts have been reduced by about 65% and the local communities are increasingly becoming tolerant to the presence of lions in the area. A major lesson learnt is that the participative approach in project implementation remains the most effective approach.

From bare to cover: Kasale Community roll up sleeves to dress up the deforested Mvai Forest Reserve

In Ntcheu District, Malawi, a Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) project, supported by FAO, IUCN, WRI, GIZ and funded by BMUV, empowers local communities to conserve Mpira Dam Catchment. The catchment is essential for the ‘life ‘of Mpira Dam which is source of drinking water for Ntcheu as well as surrounding Districts. The catchment is source of rivers that feed into Mpira Dam. Mpira Catchment also harbors the famous Mvai Forest Reserve. The reserve is 5600 ha. The reserve is divided into five blocks for ease of management. However, the blocks got deforested through unsustainable practices such as charcoal making and farming. Through the Forest Landscape Restoration under the Alliance for the Restoration of Ecosystems and Landscapes in Africa AREECA, the blocks committees and surrounding communities were strengthened to manage the reserve at block level through natural regeneration. One such block is the Kasale community who embarked on a journey to conserve the Kasale Block of 1400 ha.

Multi-Stakeholder Engagement for Improved Management of the Mvai Forest Reserve in Ntcheu District, Malawi

The AREECA project addresses severe encroachment and degradation in Mvai Forest Reserve, Malawi, to protect vital natural resources. A multi-stakeholder approach, initatiated by FAO and IUCN, was used to tackle encroachment drivers, including firewood collection, charcoal production, and farming expansion, which threaten Mvai’s ecosystem and the Mpira Dam’s water supply. Key interventions involved degradation mapping to assess impacted areas, the establishment of a Chief’s Forum to coordinate governance, the formulation of stricter by-laws with local enforcement, and demarcation of reserve boundaries with community input. Additionally, woodlot creation and alternative livelihoods such as banana, pineapple, livestock farming and bee keeping were introduced to reduce pressure on the forest. This collaborative approach, involving local chiefs, government bodies, and surrounding communities, has led to a reduction in encroachment and provided sustainable economic alternatives.