Scaling-Up Sea turtle conservation through the establishment of a Local Marine Managed Area (LMMA) in Marereni

Lin’an Model Forest, located in northwestern Zhejiang Province, China, is rich in forest resources, with a forest coverage rate of 82.6% that covers 2,618 km² of woodland. Its dominant species include bamboo, pine, Chinese fir, hickory, and Chinese yew. Once dependent on unsustainable timber and bamboo harvesting, which led to ecological degradation and economic challenges, Lin’an transitioned to a sustainable forest economy through innovative cultivation of bamboo shoot and hickory. This shift led to its accession to the International Model Forest Network (IMFN) in 1999. Today, Lin’an is known as China’s “Hickory Capital” and “Hometown of Bamboo,” as well as a major producer of bamboo shoots. By leveraging e-commerce, regional branding, and community partnerships, Lin’an has enhanced product value, empowered farmers, and pioneered an innovative approach that integrates ecological protection with economic growth.

Nestled along the Kenyan coast, the Vanga, Jimbo, and Kiwegu Community Forest Association (VAJIKI CFA) focused on the sustainable mangrove conservation in Vanga Bay, Kwale in response to frequent cholera outbreaks that threatened the local fishing community due to pollution, deforestation and land use changes. 2004 Tsunami spurred them to use traditional knowledge in restoring degraded mangrove areas through planting initiatives. In Jimbo, salt mining in 1990s occupying about 10 hectares led to mangrove degradation, high salinity and stunted growth. VAJIKI CFA thus implemented a hydrological restoration approach after unsuccessful attempts to rehabilitate by planting. This solution involved training the community to restore natural water flow within the salt pans by creating a network of channels. This reduced salinity levels by improving water circulation, encouraging healthier mangrove growth. The successful restoration of channels revitalized the ecosystem and equipped community members with essential restoration skills.

African People & Wildlife’s Sustainable Rangelands Initiative restores northern Tanzania’s grasslands so livestock, wild herbivores, and predators can share shrinking forage. From 2019 to present, the organization has partnered with 50 villages to manage 324,000 ha and actively revive 8,100 ha through invasive-bush removal, erosion control, and flexible, data-led grazing plans. Elected grazing committees and habitat monitors record monthly pasture data on mobile apps; quarterly forums convert real-time evidence into rapid action that keeps corridors open and builds climate resilience.

An IUCN Save Our Species grant (2019-21) accelerated scale-up to 15 new villages, training 30 monitors and adding 253,700 ha under improved management. Using their own data, communities refined grazing zones, cleared 231 ha of invasive plants, and posted signed livestock corridors — showing how timely evidence can turn forage competition into collaborative stewardship.

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. Its aim is to increase the fish supply from sustainable and resource-friendly fisheries and aquaculture, thereby promoting a healthy and diverse diet.

To protect rural livelihoods, it is essential to restore fisheries resources. This requires a holistic approach that includes stakeholder engagement, a variety of skills, time, and other resources, as well as collaboration with other sectors such as agricultural development and water resource management. This solution explores the community-based approach to managing fisheries resources, highlighting the importance of voluntary community involvement. By employing participatory rural assessment techniques, the strategy fosters a strong sense of community ownership in fisheries management, which enhances the availability of fish and boosts income.

MBOMIPA Wildlife Management Area (WMA), a key conservation site in Tanzania’s Ruaha-Rungwa ecosystem, faced governance and management challenges, including unclear oversight roles and limited capacity. Supported by the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States through the BIOPAMA Programme, STEP and its partners implemented a project in 2023–2024 to strengthen the WMA. This included recruiting a professional management team, training 150 leaders (Authorized Association members, Board members, and village officials), and developing 10 governance tools. Key reforms focused on clarifying roles, improving financial oversight, and enhancing stakeholder engagement. These efforts led to significant conservation and economic gains, attracting two investors and increasing revenue by 25% compared to pre-project levels. Community benefits also grew substantially, with village dividends rising from $500 in 2023 to ten times that amount in 2024, funding schools, clinics, and women’s groups

Cambodia’s inland fishery is one of the world’s largest and provides food and livelihoods for millions. Over 500 Community Fishery Organizations (CFi’s) – local fishers with a government mandate – nominally manage over 1 million hectares of fishery resources. Unfortunately, even among the few CFi’s that function well, most are underfunded. Reliance on limited funds from their members and external grants results in sporadic CFi management. Conservation International has provided 15 CFis with conservation trust funds and supports Women’s Saving Groups with capital grants. Each CFi’s US$5000 trust fund is invested as an interest generating term deposit. Saving group grants range from US$1000 – 1500 and are loaned out to members to support their small business activities. The interest of both the CFi and Saving group grants provides CFi’s with a consistent supply of funds that allows them to manage their local fishery resources.