Documentation and dissemination of results

Leadership Training

Yaxcabá Group

Yaxcabá

It is essential that the group has a leader who organizes and inspires young people to join the puppet program. The success of each activity depends on the leader being able to motivate his or her team, constantly innovate and seek growth opportunities for all.

1. Parental support. Some of these children are minors and without parental support it is difficult to form a group.

2. Support should be provided by organizations that are willing to support the leaders of each theatre group. The young people of Yaxcabá have previously participated in personal training programs offered by organizations working in the area.

Age is not an impediment, and in the case of rural communities, children are forced to grow and mature much faster than in cities.

Volunteer Work

Projects in this area offer young people the opportunity to contribute to nature conservation by getting involved in the following tasks:

Reforestation
Conservation of flora and fauna
Data collection
Tasks involving nature reserve maintenance
Bio-construction projects
Environmental Education and Communication

Young people in Paraguay are increasingly interested in conserving natural areas.
The #VolunteerParkRanger program offers a complete program for the development of the activities.
Partnership and communication with Natural National Parks of Colombia to provide information on the development of activities.

The first version of the #VolunteerParkRanger program generated significant interest that exceeded the ability of the program to manage itself adequately.

Bearing in mind the lessons learned during the first version, a limit was set for the numbers required and this was based on the following potential participation scenarios:

50 - 100
100 - 150
200 and more

This made the work more vibrant so that all interested young people were provided a work space and program.

Planning phase

National

Monitoring nature mixing people and cultures.

Hunters, students, rangers togheter

Gloria Grillanda

Becoming friends in the middle of the forest

Arianna Sanesi

One of the most important recipe for the success of the deer census is that each couple of operators has to be composed of people from different categories: beginners with experts, hunters with animal activists, rangers with students, people from different regions, etc.

Every night the couples composition is different, so all the participants have the opportunity to meet different people and different areas of the National Park.

Also the social and scientific events are organized to emphasize the occasions of experience exchange between all different kinds of participants.

The entire organization is focused on mixing participants of different categories as an important rule for the succes of the project.

The registration and logistics organization software created and managed by the Park agency do not allow the participants to express rigid preferences on accomodation and on pairing with specific persons during the official activities.

All participants are being informed why these rules are so important.

Combining people of different categories is an important rule for this monitoring activity, mainly for three reasons:

operators of the same category could have an interest in altering the data on the censed number of deer: if hunters declare more deer they could be called to reduce that number; for the same reason animal activists could have the interest in declaring a reduced number.
in the past, it happened that couples of operators of the same category (expecially hunters, that are obliged to partecipate to have the hunting permission) decided to rest in the forest instead of counting deer in a proper way. Mixed couples are controlling each others.
mixed couples are the best opportunity to exchange experiences and to break down cultural barriers.

National

To create a model of integrated development of the scenic and the urban areas and raise local communities’ living standards

Er’dao Baihe Town

Rongjie Zhang

In order to reduce the pressures on the environmental capacity of Changbai Mountain Scenic Area, a total of RMB6 billion has been invested since 2010 to build 32 new scenic sites and 10 squares at and near Er’dao Baihe Town, a town neighbouring the northern part of Changbai Mountain Scenic Area. In 2019, Er’dao Baihe Town was rated as an AAAA Scenic Area, one of the national exemplary areas for integrated tourism, and accredited as an international Cittaslow town by Cittaslow International. Er’dao Baihe Town has become an open and free-of-charge scenic area and aims to offer high standard services for tourism, leisure and recreation. While providing high-quality and well-managed leisure space for local residents, it also help stimulate the development of accommodation and catering businesses in Changbai Mountain’s neighbouring communities. A new development model of sharing and co-building that serves tourists and brings happiness to local residents is hence achieved.

1. Thorough data analysis was conducted on recent years’ tourism in Changbai Mountain and the ecological carrying capacity of Changbai Scenic Area is hence determined based on science.

2. A scientific and sound tourism plan was formulated based on statistics. 3. Secured sufficient funding ensured the implementation of the planned projects.

Special attention should be given to localisation during the urbanisation process of the scenic area. Native ecology should still be the underpinning foundation and preserved as most as possible. The emphasis should be put on maintaining and highlighting local distinctive features instead of the sheer scale of urban development. It should be avoided that the authenticity of local landscapes or characteristics are destroyed only to copy a model of other places or cities.

Science popularization and education

Publicity in Beijing National Convention Center

Hanma National Nature Reserve

Ecological Museum

Hanma National Nature Reserve

Publicity campaigns in school

Hanma National Nature Reserve

Using the websites, WeChat Public Account, Newspapers, Popular Science Books, Popular Science Videos, Documentaries, News Coverage, Warning Signs, Field Education Sites, AR Hanma Exhibition Room, Ecological and Cultural Museum, Pamphlets, Summer Camps, Eco-Forums, Publicity campaigns in schools and communities, Eco-education and field studies base, etc., publicity and education are carried out to the public. This makes the public understand the importance of protecting moose population and improve the public awareness of ecological protection.

Professional and easy to understand publicity materials

A popular way of publicity

Application of new media

Application of new technology

Prepare different publicity materials for different target groups and adopt different publicity methods so that they can understand and accept the ideas you want to express.

Implementation

Entirety

Data recovery and identification

The Administration Bureau arranges the office workers to identify, classify and input data according to the staff, human activity information, and animal resource information. The office workers distinguish the photos of the human activities, and determine the specific information of the personnel (community personnel or not ).

1. Recycle and appraise camera data timely in accordance with the plan.

2. Maintain equipment regularly.

3. The identification of the camera data must be unified.

4. Carry out follow-up work immediately for discovered human activities.

5. Corresponding reward and punishment mechanisms.

1. Number the camera´s data cards uniformly to avoid data confusion.

2. Replace the malfunction cameras timely.

3. Arrange fixed staff to identify the data.

Promotion of green infrastructure using local resources

Water Resources Protection, Ranpu Parbat

Anu Adhikari

Local water management, Tindhara Pandhero

Dil Bhattarai

The first step of this measure was to collect information about existing water resources, as well as to explore the potential for new water bodies within the sites. Using maps, direct field observations, and community input, the project mapped different water bodies. Further, resources were prioritised on the basis of site vulnerability, extent of potential damage, possibility of groundwater recharge, risk of water-induced disaster, risk of water scarcity, and priority for the communities. After prioritization, the project used easily available local resources to rehabilitate ponds and water sources. The project staff, local government, and communities applied their knowledge (both traditional and technical) to rehabilitate ponds and water sources. The use of context-specific, locally available, and affordable materials (such as bamboo) helped to promote the sustainability of the intervention.

Establishing trust within local communities and between the communities and the project team
Communities’ active leadership and involvement in the implementation of activities is crucial for developing a sense of project ownership
Use of local knowledge and resources
Community labour contribution
Financial contribution of the project to the activities
Promotion of infrastructure based on the degree of vulnerability and community prioritisation

Community interest and participation plays a key role in the successful implementation of activities
Advance planning with clear roles and responsibilities helps ensure the successful implementation of activities
Integrating local knowledge with scientific knowledge is more effective than applying a purely technical approach
It is essential that the communities’ priorities are respected and integrated into the design of the measures
Working with groups is more effective than working with individuals
Community leadership and labour contribution in building infrastructure creates ownership and commitment within the communities
Using local resources to promote green infrastructure is more cost-effective, faster, and more sustainable
The integration of a variety of complementary activities, such as planting species that promote water recharge within the periphery of rehabilitated water infrastructure is sustainable and effective

Creating awareness and knowledge about EbA

World Environment Day celebration with local organisations and government

Dil Bhattarai

Community and school children participating in the World Environment Day celebration

Dil Bhattarai

Local youth conserving water sources, Makwanpur, Kaski

Anu Adhikari

Because Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) was a completely new concept to the stakeholders and communities, it was essential to build awareness about EbA and its potential benefits. Prior to this, the communities’ model of development was deforestation and overexploitation of plant species, which negatively impacted biodiversity. Training on EbA was first given to local partner organisations and then to community members, with a focus on how the EbA approach addresses climate change and helps communities address other issues such as income generation. After the trainings, a series of awareness-raising activities were conducted, including the publication of brochures, signboards, posters, and other materials. The objective was to demonstrate the different activities to be implemented, such as conservation of community water ponds, and their positive impacts. After creating awareness about the EbA concept and its practice, the community took a leadership role in implementing activities and was empowered to integrate their local knowledge and skills in water source and pond conservation. Technical experts supported the communities’ local knowledge with technical and scientific expertise.

Active participation of governing bodies, implementing agencies, local communities and other stakeholders
Communication tools such as interactive maps, posters, and videos
Integration of local knowledge and past experience in the construction of ponds (type of materials, suitable locations, etc.)
Practical demonstration of activities
Promotion of citizen scientists as bridges between the project and local communities
Communities leading implementation

Community engagement is crucial. In Panchase, the project targeted engaged community leaders, who in turn motivated other community members to participate.
Participation of diverse groups increases the potential for success and the equitable distribution of benefits. The project sought the participation of community forest user groups and other community groups, including mothers’ group, homestay groups, and agricultural groups.
The project team should have a clear understanding of the environmental, socio-economic, and political context of the area. Tourism in Panchase helped determine the intervention. Increasing the viability of homestays provided an entry point for additional measures.
Maintaining a good rapport with communities and stakeholders fosters trust. Both IUCN and the local NGO regularly visited the site and communities and developed a strong rapport through frequent positive interactions.
Local knowledge: the project used the communities’ local knowledge about pond restoration, water conservation, and water management to develop the intervention.

Implementation

Protection and development: dealing with conflicts between human and land correctly and laying the foundation of sustainable development

In Qianjiangyuan National Park, a scientific research activity with the theme of “impact of carbon reservoir and carbon flux on subtropical climate change” was conducted by Operation Earth

Qianjiangyuan National Park Administration

Volunteer activity in Qianjiangyuan National Park with the theme of “caring for wildlife and maintaining ecological balance”

Qianjiangyuan National Park Administration

(1) Establishing ecological corridor to strengthen important habitats connectivity

The construction of ecological corridors strengthen the connectivity between different patches in the Park, and promote the diffusion of animals and gene exchange.

(2) Expanding effective habitat area by ecological restoration

The preparation of The Special Plan for Ecological Restoration has realized comprehensive evaluation of the vegetation status and identified the main areas that need ecological restoration in the Park.

(3) Reintroducing large carnivores for a complete food chain

In the future, reintroduction of large predators to reconstruct the integrity of the food chain will improve the ecosystem stability in the Park due to the increase or surplus of herbivores.

(4) Establishing compensation methods to promote ecological migration

The compensation policy for ecological migration actively encourages the residents living in scattered villages to move to towns or counties nearby and effectively enhances the effect of ecological protection.

(5) Conservation and community development coordination

The public participation mechanism has mobilized the enthusiasm of residents in the Park, and through information sharing, employment, etc, local residents' sense of belonging and honor has been cultivated.

The culture of the natural environment is respected in the Park, such as "kill pigs and ban fishing," "kill pigs and seal mountains," "Gutian Seedling Protection Festival," and other simple environmental protection concepts and custom cultures such as Fengshui forest, famous ancient trees and other traditional forms of protection.

The construction of the national park provides favorable conditions for community residents to develop the private economy and obtain business income.

At present, the education level of most community residents in the Park is not high, about 30% of them are in junior high school or below, so cultural education and employment management of residents need to be strengthened.

Implementation