It is based on the explicit recognition of traditional knowledge and the socio-cultural role of fishers in the management and conservation of natural protected areas. The approach is organized around the three pillars of the conservation agreements: recognition of traditional knowledge, vigilance, and waste management, within the framework of a participatory and co-responsibility process. Their empirical experience on the high seas is valued to identify species, ecological interactions and environmental changes, strengthening their participation as ecosystem watchdogs. Citizen science is promoted to record biodiversity and encourage integrated waste management from departure to return to port. 

Strong collaboration between government agencies, research institutions, local farmers, and private sector partners mobilizes resources, enhances project sustainability, and empowers local communities. 

Women and youth are prioritized for training, ensuring equitable access to new agricultural technologies and leadership opportunities. 

Testing these microbial formulations on coffee farms ensures their effectiveness and builds local capacity in sustainable agricultural practices. 

The project uses genomic sequencing and metagenomic analyses to identify effective bioactive pest control agents. These lab-based solutions are translated into practical, farmer-friendly products through farmer field schools and demonstration plots. The project’s microbial formulations were developed with a plan to optimize and re-test the most effective formula for broader adoption. 

Recognizing that local communities hold deep environmental knowledge, the project conducted household surveys and community dialogues to map perceptions and practices around soil, water, and land use. This building block answered “what” (the lived experiences and practices of smallholders), “why” (planning must reflect cultural context), and “how” (engaging farmers in co-design). Farmers shared observations about decreasing water availability, shifting rainfall, and soil degradation. These insights complemented scientific models. In response, the project promoted culturally rooted practices like terracing, organic fertilization, and home gardening. Gender-sensitive approaches empowered women as leaders in ecological restoration and household resilience.

The Protected Area Management System (PAMS) by NOARKTECH is a centralized, intuitive dashboard aggregating data from edge devices. Co-designed with forest officials and community members, it delivers predictive analytics, real-time alerts, and supports evidence-based decision-making.

Industrial fishing causes serious impacts such as the destruction
of the marine food chain -especially when catching key species
such as shrimp- and the use of fishing gear that affects dolphins,
turtles, sharks and even whales, which suffer injuries or stress
due to noise and blows. The purpose of the ban on industrial
fishing has been to reduce these impacts. In addition, responsible
artisanal fishing is promoted, avoiding altering the ecological
balance and using more sustainable methods, such as the use of
curved hooks that protect vulnerable species by preventing them
from being easily hooked. Their fishing is based on selective
techniques such as hand-lining or spinning, which conserves
species and ensures a viable fishery in the long term.

Several organizations and researchers have carried out
monitoring work focused on artisanal fisheries, generating
valuable information that highlights the importance of this area.
These data, complemented by technical assistance, have served
as a fundamental basis for establishing and sustaining the ZEPA.

The local leadership process began between 1997 and 1998,
when a group of artisanal fishers identified a growing conflict
with industrial fishing that affected their practices and territories.
The most critical point of the conflict occurred between 2002 and
2005, when the industry intensified its presence, generating loss
of equipment and greater pressure on the resources. This
prompted the community to organize to represent their interests
and seek solutions from the government. Leveraged by local
governance schemes, these leaders were able to support each
other in order to advance the process of establishing the ZEPA.