هدف 22
ضمان المشاركة في صنع القرار والوصول إلى العدالة والمعلومات المتعلقة بالتنوع البيولوجي للجميع
ضمان التمثيل والمشاركة الكاملة والعادلة والشاملة والفعالة والمستجيبة للجنسين في صنع القرار، والوصول إلى العدالة والمعلومات المتعلقة بالتنوع البيولوجي من قبل الشعوب الأصلية والمجتمعات المحلية، مع احترام ثقافاتهم وحقوقهم في الأراضي والأقاليم والموارد والمعرفة التقليدية، وكذلك من قبل النساء والفتيات والأطفال والشباب والأشخاص ذوي الإعاقة، وضمان الحماية الكاملة للمدافعين عن حقوق الإنسان البيئية.
ضمان التمثيل والمشاركة الكاملة والعادلة والشاملة والفعالة والمستجيبة للجنسين في صنع القرار، والوصول إلى العدالة والمعلومات المتعلقة بالتنوع البيولوجي من قبل الشعوب الأصلية والمجتمعات المحلية، مع احترام ثقافاتهم وحقوقهم في الأراضي والأقاليم والموارد والمعرفة التقليدية، وكذلك من قبل النساء والفتيات والأطفال والشباب والأشخاص ذوي الإعاقة، وضمان الحماية الكاملة للمدافعين عن حقوق الإنسان البيئية.
Rationale
GSAP
Equitable inclusion of Indigenous & Local Knowledge (ILK) and participation by IPLC, women and youth in decisions that affect species conservation, and respect for their rights, increases their participation and commitment and enhances successful species outcomes.
Actions
Primary tools and resources
CBD voluntary guidelines on Traditional Knowledge and ILPCs
The UN Convention on Biodiversity has developed sets of detailed guidance on ILK. These include the Tkarihwaié:ri Code of Ethical Conduct to Ensure Respect for the Cultural and Intellectual Heritage of Indigenous and Local Communities Relevant to the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity; the Mo’otz Kuxtal Voluntary Guidelines for the development of mechanisms, legislation or other appropriate initiatives to ensure the “prior and informed consent”; and The Rutzolijirisaxik Voluntary Guidelines for the Repatriation of Traditional Knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Relevant for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity
IPBES ILK Approach
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has developed the IPBES ILK Approach to guide work on indigenous and local knowledge. The IPBES Global Assessment (GA) was the first global scale assessment to engage systematically with ILK and showed that existing knowledge is fragmented and lacks integration between social and natural sciences and that integrating different world views in requires increased dialogue and agreement. IPBES has established an ILK Task Force and Technical Support Unit.
Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing
The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity. is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity. It is a transparent legal framework for the effective implementation of the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, thereby contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The Nagoya Protocol sets out core obligations for its contracting Parties to take measures in relation to access to genetic resources, benefit-sharing and compliance. The Nagoya Protocol addresses traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources with provisions on access, benefit-sharing, and compliance. It also addresses genetic resources where indigenous and local communities have the established right to grant access to them. Contracting Parties should take measures to ensure these communities’ free, prior, informed consent, keeping in mind community laws and procedures as well as customary use and exchange. The Nagoya Protocol entered into force on 12 October 2014.
How to use
The Nagoya Protocol is available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Russian at: https://www.cbd.int/abs
Nagoya Protocol Factsheets on access and benefit sharing can be downloaded at: https://www.cbd.int/abs/factsheet
IUCN Standard on Indigenous Peoples
The Standard represents IUCN’s policy objectives with respect to indigenous peoples. It contains eight policy objectives for projects undertaken or supported by IUCN to support indigenous peoples and promote their role in conservation and management of sustainable resources.
The purpose of this Standard is to ensure that IUCN projects anticipate and avoid negative impacts on indigenous peoples or to minimise and/or compensate for impacts; take all rights and needs of indigenous peoples fully into account in project planning and implementation; and ensure that their customs, cultural and spiritual values, and perspectives on the environment are included.
IUCN guidelines for gathering of fishers’ knowledge for policy development and applied use
Small-scale fisheries provide food security, livelihoods and income to millions of people but their management still presents a challenge to managers and other stakeholders due to problems in gathering suitable information and its incorporation in fisheries policy. Fishers are a key source of knowledge for assessment of both extractive capacity and value in small-scale fisheries, in addition to providing a broad array of cultural knowledge. The increasing recognition of the value of incorporating traditional fishing knowledge in freshwater, riverine, lacustrine and coastal and marine fisheries management is now evident in international conventions and published literature. The purpose of these guidelines is to make it easier for users to recognise and include fishers’ knowledge as an important data stream in resource management. The report includes details on the breadth of knowledge that can be gathered, how it can be gathered, and how this information can be applied to support sustainable fisheries policy and broader applications in society. It contains case studies from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and the Pacific.
Other tools and resources
Mise en place d’une plateforme de concertation au niveau communal pour faciliter la planification et la mise en œuvre des mesures RPF dans la préfecture de Tchamba- région centrale (Togo)
Dans le cadre d’une gestion inclusive de l’environnement, le Togo a établi des Commissions Communales de Développement Durable (CCDD) : des plateformes de consultation décentralisées pour améliorer la participation des communautés aux débats environnementaux. Ces commissions traitent aussi des questions liées à la RPF. F4F-Togo a soutenu la création des CCDD dans trois communes de la préfecture de Tchamba afin d’améliorer la capacité opérationnelle à réaliser des mesures RPF. Une CCDD est une plateforme multisectorielle composée du maire, des chefs de canton, des présidents des comités de village, des responsables des services déconcentrés, des groupements de femmes et d’ONG. Elle agit comme un comité de gestion de l’environnement en général et de la RPF en particulier. Ses membres sont des personnes ressources en matière d’appui conseil et renforcement des capacités, lui permettant d’évaluer les problèmes environnementaux, de proposer des solutions et de mobiliser des ressources.
Conflit homme-faune et gestion des espèces menacées dans les aires protégées du Haut Atlas central, Maroc
Dans le Haut Atlas central, il y a un déclin croissant de la biodiversité. Des actions pour la protection des espèces et des habitats ont été initiées. Dans le cadre d’un projet de développement, nous avons formé des braconniers pour devenir des guides touristiques. Nos efforts pour sensibiliser et éduquer le public ont créé une éducation à la conservation efficace et impliqué un certain nombre de personnes dans la surveillance de la faune. Nous avons également initié un projet visant à gérer les conflits homme-faune. Ce projet a accru la tolérance du public envers les animaux sauvages. Au cours des deux dernières décennies, nous avons mené un très grand nombre de recherches scientifiques sur plusieurs espèces et habitats. En parallèle, nous avons impliqué les autorités locales, régionales et nationales dans la protection des espèces et des forêts.
Leaders éthiques durables de la Fondation Karla Wheelock
Karla Wheelock, première Latino-Américaine à atteindre les sept sommets du monde, a cherché à émuler dans le cœur des jeunes du Mexique l’amour de la nature et l’engagement ferme à travailler pour améliorer et conserver les énormes richesses du pays. C’est ainsi qu’est né le Programme Líderes Éticos Sustentables [Leaders éthiques durables]. Le projet vise à associer des jeunes issus d’écoles à faibles revenus à la réalisation de projets destinés à améliorer la qualité de l’environnement et la vie dans leur communauté. Depuis 10 ans, ce programme transforme la vie de milliers de jeunes en les mettant en contact avec la nature et en transformant ces expériences en compétences pour devenir des agents du changement dans leur famille, leur école et leur communauté.
Les objectifs du programme coïncident avec ceux que le mouvement #Nature pour tous cherche à promouvoir, aussi Karla Wheelock n’a-t-elle pas hésité à ajouter son initiative à ce mouvement mondial.
Restauración de sistemas ancestrales de manejo del agua en los Andes como una adaptación al cambio climático – Miraflores, Perú
La comunidad de Miraflores y el Instituto de Montaña implementaron una medida de Adaptación basada en Ecosistemas (AbE) en alianza con la Reserva Paisajística Nor Yauyos-Cochas y la UICN. Nuestra solución de adaptación combinó el conocimiento tradicional y local con la ciencia más reciente, y comprendió tres componentes: (1) Fortalecimiento de la institucionalidad y la organización comunal, (2) Fortalecimiento de capacidades y conocimientos locales e (3) Infraestructura verde-gris. Trabajando con conservacionistas, ingenieros y antropólogos, los miembros de la comunidad de Miraflores decidieron restaurar un antiguo sistema de gestión del agua diseñado por sus ancestros y que data de hace 700 años. Este sistema renovado es un híbrido de infraestructura verde y gris que aprovecha al máximo la ingeniería antigua y la ciencia moderna. Pudimos restaurar el flujo de agua a los pastizales y mejorar el manejo del ganado y pastos, una adaptación clave al cambio climático.
Des moyens de subsistance résilients et une protection contre les inondations et sécheresses grâce à la gestion durable des ressources naturelles
Le projet « Réserve de biosphère transfrontalière du Delta du Mono » vise la protection et l’utilisation durable de la biodiversité et des services écosystémiques dans le Delta du Mono en contribuant au développement durable surtout des communautés locales. L’introduction des mesures de gestion durable des ressources forestières et halieutiques contribue à augmenter la résilience des populations locales en face des défis climatiques existants tels que les inondations et la sécheresse.
Gobernanza para la adaptación en la cuenca compartida del río Sixaola
La cuenca binacional del río Sixaola, compartida por Costa Rica y Panamá, fluye hacia el mar Caribe. El área tiene una gran biodiversidad y riqueza cultural con una población afro-descendiente e indígena mixta. Las comunidades enfrentan vulnerabilidad social y carecen de capacidades de adaptación. El área se ve acentuada por el aumento de la fragmentación del hábitat, los cambios en los patrones de lluvia y el aumento de la incidencia de fenómenos meteorológicos extremos, particularmente inundaciones, que afectan a la vida local
La solución combina 4 elementos para fortalecer la gobernanza transfronteriza y mejorar la capacidad de adaptación al cambio climático, trabajando de cerca con la Comisión Binacional de la Cuenca del Río Sixaola (CBCRS) y maximizando la participación pública para aumentar su efectividad y consolidarla como plataforma de referencia de gobernanza.
YAWI SUMAK: La Bicicleta como una herramienta de comunicación ambiental.
Yawi-Sumak es una combinación de palabras indígenas, Yawi significa: saladero, un sitio en el bosque donde las aves y otros animales se reúnen para ingerir sales minerales y Sumak significa: bonito, grandioso. A través de un ciclopaseo ecológico con más de 300 ciclistas, se muestran las acciones que implementan autoridades ambientales, gobiernos locales y la comunidad en la conservación y uso sostenible de los recursos naturales. Esta herramienta de comunicación innovadora e incluyente permite a la población urbana tener una experiencia vivencial al conocer la belleza escénica, servicios ecosistémicos y especies paraguas, así como también la riqueza cultural de los grupos étnicos que habitan en la región: Shuar, Saraguro y Mestizos.
La iniciativa se pudo replicar en el Programa Regional AbE Ecuador para fomentar el ecoturismo comunitario en Membrillal, Manabi y se ha constituido en el ciclopaseo más importante del país. Fue presentada en el foro mundial de la bicicleta en México 2017.
Los planes de vida como una herramienta básica de articulación en el territorio de la Reserva Comunal Machiguenga
La Reserva Comunal Machiguenga alberga gran diversidad biológica y cultural,habitada por las comunidades nativas de las etnias Matsigenka, Ashaninka, Kaquinte y Yine-Yami, quienes son los guardianes del bosque y de sus riquezas desde tiempos ancestrales. El buen vivir de estas poblaciones necesita la articulación de los diferentes niveles de gobierno y actores locales, por ello los planes de vida, son las herramienta clave que permiten articular su visión de futuro con las actividades del Estado, la sociedad civil y el sector privado.
Las comunidades socias del Ejecutor de Contrato de Administración “MAENI”(ECA MAENI) que cuentan con PDV son Chakopishiato, Koribeni, Poyentimari y Tangoshiari elaborados con el soporte del equipo del ECA y la Jefatura de la RC Machiguenga.
Los PDV se basan en 3 pilares para:
- Auto-reflexionar acerca del estado actual de la comunidad,
- Pensar y planificar el futuro de la comunidad y
- Conectar con actores externos a fin de alcanzar sus metas.
Surveillance maritime participative au sein du Parc National du Banc d’Arguin
D’une étendue de 12000 km2, le Parc National du Banc d’Arguin (PNBA) est l’un des plus vastes parcs nationaux d’Afrique. Il constitue un écrin de reproduction de la courbine, de maturation du mulet jaune et de beaucoup d’espèces d’oiseaux et de poissons migrateurs. Le parc abrite également de vastes prairies d’herbiers marins. Une autre caractéristique exceptionnelle du PNBA est la présence en son sein des Imraguens, une population de pêcheurs du désert, qui bénéficient d’un droit exclusif d’accès à la ressource halieutique dans le cadre de leur pêche traditionnelle pratiquée à bord d’embarcations à voile latine appelées ‘lanches’. L’importance du PNBA en termes de biodiversité et de patrimoine culturel exige de garantir son intégrité socio-écologique. Conscients de cette situation, les gestionnaires du PNBA et la Délégation à la Surveillance des Pêches et du Contrôle en Mer (DSPCM) – aujourd’hui Garde Côtes Mauritanienne (GCM), ont mis en place dès 1999 un dispositif de surveillance maritime participative.
El Manejo sustentable y participativo en el ordenamiento de actividades marinas para la preservación de especies en la Reserva de la Biosfera El Vizcaíno
El Santuario de Ballenas El Vizcaíno es un lugar muy importante para la protección de la ballena gris, especie que ha estado en peligro de extinción.
Este área es objeto de actividades pesqueras y turismo con embarcaciones, las cuales coinciden con las rutas migratorias de las ballenas.
Para que este hecho no altere su hábitat, se han implementado medidas como:
- Monitoreo biológico semanal.
- Análisis etológico en un sistema de zonas diferenciadas por actividades.
- Trabajo conjunto con las empresas de turismo a fin de que su actividad no altere el proceso biológico de ballenas/ballenatos.
- Implementación de la Norma de Emergencia de 1996 con los lineamientos y parámetros para su protección y conservación.
Las medidas han permitido avanzar en pos de la conservación de la ballena gris e impulsando el desarrollo económico de la región y la participación de la sociedad civil.
Innovación tecnológica en la pesca y conservación
La innovación, con base en la tecnología smartphone, ha cambiado drásticamente la manera en que podemos empoderar a las comunidades pesqueras y registrar información. Apps en los smartphones, Web-Apps en línea y las páginas web, permiten a un número ilimitado de usuarios acceder y participar en estudios científicos, analizar datos, contribuir y recibir información. Esto permite a la ciencia operar en escalas y velocidades previamente imposibles.
En esta solución, se presentan diferentes herramientas tecnológicas, utilizadas para fines de conservación y pesca sostenible, promoviendo la inclusión digital y modernizando al sector pesquero. Para ello, se creó una aplicación móvil (PescaData) para registrar datos pesqueros, intercambiar servicios y productos, y conectar a las comunidades pesqueras. Además, se impartió el primer curso en línea en idioma español sobre ordenamiento pesquero y se creó una plataforma para evaluar reservas marinas.
PARQUE NACIONAL CABO PULMO: PARTICIPACIÓN PARA SU CONSERVACIÓN
Ante el constante deterioro causado por la pesca sin control, y con ayuda de académicos, hace 25 años los habitantes de la comunidad de Cabo Pulmo, México, decidieron dejar de pescar y cambiar de giro enfocándose en el turismo sustentable. Los primeros 14 años del Parque vivieron la necesidad de regular mejor las actividades humanas, hasta que en el 2009 se publica el Programa de Manejo. Sin embargo, algunas reglas definidas en este aún eran poco específicas para las actividades turísticas. Ese año se comienza a trabajar en un Programa de Uso Público (PUP), para establecer estas reglas. El PUP se ha construido en colaboración con la comunidad, académicos, prestadores de servicios turísticos, la CONANP y las Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil. Durante estos años hemos sido testigos de que la suma de participación, fortalecimiento de capacidades y acciones de manejo, dan como resultando beneficios ambientales al arrecife y económicos para la comunidad local.
Solutions and case studies
Sqba Community Adopts the Satoyama Initiative: Promoting Eco-Friendly Farming and Traditional Crop Conservation
The Sqba Community is located in a mid-altitude forest with abundant ecological resources. Once an industrial area for the Hrung tribe, the community now comprises 33% Atayal, alongside populations of Hakka, Minnan, and Mainlanders. Local industries center on agriculture, particularly fruit production such as persimmons, and tourism, featuring campsites, ecotours, fruit-picking experiences, cultural ecology guided tours, and DIY workshops that make use of local ecological resources. Under the Satoyama Initiative, the Taichung Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency conducted resilience assessment workshops (RAWs) in collaboration with locals to identify and prioritize urgent needs, such as conserving traditional crops, promoting sustainable use of forest, river, and field resources, and leveraging ecological assets for income generation and marketing. The local government and agricultural technology departments also participated.
Watering troughs for strictly protected animal species
This solution focuses on addressing the challenge of surface water availability for wildlife in the mountain regions in Southwestern Serbia. Less surface water is available to wildlife due to climate change, jeopardizing the survival of numerous protected species such as the Griffon vulture, Cinereous vulture, Eastern imperial eagle, Ural owl, Brown bear and Common wolf. This project provides for a reliable, year-round water supply system through the construction of watering troughs and associated infrastructure near the existing supplementary feeding site for vultures, birds of prey and large carnivores. Advanced real time video surveillance has been made available to monitor usage and collect data on the movements and diversity of protected species at the supplementary feeding and watering site. The solution also includes an awareness-raising campaign for the local community on the importance of the habitat and species conservation.
Conservation and sustainable use of Indigenous agricultural genetic diversity in Hubei
Hubei Province, a key agricultural region in central China, boasts rich agrobiodiversity with over 6,200 crop varieties and 23 livestock species. However, policy focus on production intensification threatens traditional farming practices and the diversity of genetic resources for food and agriculture (GRFA). This Solution prioritizes in-situ agrobiodiversity conservation that reduces GRFA threats, exemplified by a project targeting three indigenous varieties—Yanzhi rice, Wudang tea, and black goat—and establishing demonstration sites in Xishui, Yunyang, and Danjiangkou to promote conservation approaches.
Green Pastures for Green Transition
The project focuses on restoring grassland habitats in the Special Nature Reserve (SNR) Kraljevac by providing the local community with thirty sheep, a solar powered shepherd’s hut and an electrical fence which shall all be used for controlled grazing over 16.5 hectares to prevent habitat succession and support species like the endangered European ground squirrel. Two hectares along Lake Kraljevac have been afforested with native trees such as pedunculate oak, white willow, and poplar. A monitoring system for the European ground squirrel population has been established in order to define the ecological corridors for the species.
Apart from creating favorable conditions for a stable European ground squirrel population, the provision of 30 autochthonous sheep benefits the local community, the local shepherds in particular, and ensures the involvement of the local community in the sustainable management of the critical grassland habitat, whilst enhancing public awareness of the importance of grassland ecosystem conservatio
Local voices, sustainable forests: Participatory landscape restoration
In many African countries, agricultural growth remains a key driver of development. Agriculture ensures food security and is a source of rural income and employment. However, most small farms suffer from low productivity due to soil degradation, a lack of inputs and knowledge of sustainable agricultural practices, and the effects of climate change.
In Côte d’Ivoire, these challenges are amplified by deforestation: forest cover has fallen from around 16 million hectares in the 1960s to 2.5 million today, weakening ecosystems and soil fertility while increasing rural vulnerability.
The Participatory Household-Level Restoration Plan (PPR) offers an inclusive approach where each household aligns its vision, needs, and priorities with forest restoration. By placing rural families at the heart of planning, implementation, and monitoring, the PPR promotes sustainable restoration.
Connectivity Conservation Initiative for Fresh Drinking Water (Konitsa, Greece)
The solution aims at maintaining ecological connectivity in the long-term by allowing the free movement for the endangered carnivores wolf and brown bear among their habitats considering climate change adaptation objectives. The conservation of ecological corridors between their habitats is essential to sustain biodiversity in a changing climate condition and to ensure the resilience of ecological services. In this framework, the proposed solution address the challenge of securing fresh water supply across corridors that can support basic needs of wildlife species. In addition, this solution is based on the documentation of traditional knowledge on sustainable water management engaging local communities and maintaining traditional building techniques related to cultural heritage.
Green Credit and Loans in Ecuador: Supporting small entrepreneurs, empowering vulnerable groups, and using an automated software to assess social and environmental risks
Ecuador is one of the world’s 17 megadiverse countries, with rich fauna and flora. However, economic reliance on non-renewable resources and unsustainable agricultural practices have threatened its biodiversity. Sustainable entrepreneurship offers an alternative to align economic activities with environmental protection. Yet, low-income women, youth, and other vulnerable groups face barriers in accessing credit to start small businesses.
Amid this situation, the National Corporation of Popular and Solidarity Finance (CONAFIPS) of Ecuador, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), developed a Social and Environmental Risk Management System (SARAS) tool: a free and automated software that enables credit unions to screen loan applications against social and sustainability criteria.
As of August 2024, credit unions approved USD 804 million in green credit using SARAS, fostering a nature-positive economy, conserving biodiversity, and supporting women and the youth.
Integrated river restoration and community stewardship to protect the Critically Endangered Tradouw Redfin
This Solution applies integrated river restoration and community stewardship to reduce key threats to the Critically Endangered Tradouw Redfin in the Huis River, South Africa. It combines invasive alien plant clearing, targeted riparian restoration, water-saving measures and community awareness to improve habitat quality and river resilience.
The approach addresses habitat degradation, invasive vegetation, water pressure and limited local awareness. By restoring riparian structure and coordinating action through a multi-agency Tradouw Redfin Working Group, the project improved river health indicators, restored critical habitat and strengthened long-term protection for the species through a formal Species Action Plan.
Integrated river restoration and community stewardship to protect the Critically Endangered Tradouw Redfin
This Solution applies integrated river restoration and community stewardship to reduce key threats to the Critically Endangered Tradouw Redfin in the Huis River, South Africa. It combines invasive alien plant clearing, targeted riparian restoration, water-saving measures and community awareness to improve habitat quality and river resilience.
The approach addresses habitat degradation, invasive vegetation, water pressure and limited local awareness. By restoring riparian structure and coordinating action through a multi-agency Tradouw Redfin Working Group, the project improved river health indicators, restored critical habitat and strengthened long-term protection for the species through a formal Species Action Plan.
Linglong Program: Cultivating Citizen Climate Activists of our time
In the context of accelerating global climate change, public awareness and participation in climate action across China remains limited. To address this, Friends of Nature launched the “Citizen Climate Action – Linglong Program” in 2021, with support from the Energy Foundation, the Beijing Xianfeng Changtian Foundation, and Partnerships for community Development. The program aims to identify and support individuals who already have a certain professional foundation but are at an early stage of engaging with climate issues. Through structured knowledge-building, mentorship, community support, and small grants, Linglong Program helps fellows design and implement citizen-led climate actions. By cultivating climate leaders and long-term change makers, the program establishes replicable and scalable models of climate action that inspire broader public engagement.
THE EXCLUSIVE ARTISANAL FISHING ZONE: A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE TOWARDS THE CARE OF MARINE MEGAFAUNA AND FOOD SOVEREIGNTY.
The Exclusive Artisanal Fishing Zone (ZEPA), located in the municipalities of Juradó and Bahía Solano, in Chocó, Colombia, was created to protect fishery resources and marine biodiversity, prioritizing artisanal fishing over industrial fishing. This initiative arose in response to overfishing and the negative impact of industrial fishing, which affected the livelihoods of local communities and marine ecosystems. By promoting sustainable practices, such as the use of more selective fishing gear, the ZEPA has facilitated the recovery of species and the protection of crucial habitats for marine megafauna, contributing to essential activities such as echolocation, feeding and reproduction of these species. In addition to conserving biodiversity, it has strengthened local economies by ensuring the availability of fishery resources for artisanal fishing. The ZEPA is an example of how community management and the protection of fishing traditions can lead to ecosystem conservation and improved quality of life for communities.
Embedding Integrated Water Resources Management in Rwanda’s Sebeya Catchment
The Sebeya catchment in Western Rwanda, once prone to recurrent flooding, erosion, and landslides, was transformed through the “Embedding Integrated Water Resources Management in Rwanda (EWMR)” project. Led by Rwanda Water Resources Board and partners, the project applied Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to restore 7,700 hectares using terraces, trenches, riverbank protections, and afforestation. The approach combined land rehabilitation with innovative financing, value chains, and inclusive planning. Over 35,000 green jobs were created, alongside improved soil health, aquifer recharge, agricultural productivity, and livelihoods. By integrating community-driven land use planning into district-level governance, the project laid the foundation for long-term resilience and scalability.