Sustainability and replicability

Maintaining and strengthening the established stakeholder’s engagement mechanism with  overarching  provincial, district and divisional governance bodies with sustainable financing solutions and capacity building is required for sustainability and replicability of the solution.  'The National Policy of the Environmentally Sensitive Areas management' provides the required policy framework for replication of this solution. When the communities identify the potential of resilience building of their livelihood through conservation, it becomes an incentive for their active collaboration on co-management and join monitoring of natural resources. Within given Sri Lankan context, there are many environmentally sensitive seascapes, where it could replicate this model, and this is being factored within National Environment Action Plan 2021-2030 for Sri Lanka. Therefore, there is an evident potential for sustainability and replication of this model.

  • Partnerships with stakeholders at every level
  • Continuous awareness raising about the importance of BRMS and community lives associate with it.

 

  • During the initial phase of restoring the BRMS, a case study was carried out using methods of unstructured focus groups discussions via cause-problem-impact diagrams and structured key informant interviews, and observations of this initiative revealed that community believes on 'CBNRM and Co-management' over 'regulation driven management' of Department of Wildlife Conservation. This solution was accepted and is currently proposed for replication at ESA national scaleup plan in seascapes.
  • Co-management of implementation activities to ensure sustainability and active lobbying to influence and implement conservation measures was also considered as a lesson learned.
Evaluation, Monitoring and Data Collection

Before and after each Wild Surakshe workshop, we conduct pre and post surveys. The surveys allow us to record the baseline level of knowledge of participants and to receive feedback about the workshops. So far we have conducted more than 3000 pre surveys and 2500 post surveys. We are currently analyzing the information collected from these surveys from over 150 workshops.To enable offline data collection in remote areas we have developed an application and platform called Wild Connect. Our staff download the app on their phone to access the forms they need to fill. Once the data is entered, the forms are stored locally, then uploaded to the cloud whenever internet connectivity is available. This cloud data can be accessed and downloaded by our central office staff for validation and further analysis. Our staff also use the app to collect data on human-wildlife conflict incidents. Wild Connect is only used by CWS staff to collect data, and is not used for any insurance or compensation payments. The results and outputs from the Wild Surakshe program will be shared with relevant government and private agencies and published in peer-reviewed scientific articles and reports to develop targeted long-term interventions to prevent future outbreaks and the rapid spread of zoonotic diseases.

1. We ensure field staff are well trained in unbiased and accurate data collection. 

2. The pre and post surveys administered are well structured and detailed, which enables effective evaluation. 

3. The participants are asked about the effectiveness of the program twice, at the end of the workshop and while conducting post surveys.

1. Sometimes, using laptops or mobile phones to gather data makes some of the participants uneasy. Some of them are still skeptical about the use of technology. 

2. When field staff conduct a workshop and contact participants post surveys over the telephone to seek suggestions, participants have been very welcoming and our relationship with the communities has grown stronger.

3. Currently, our app does not have multilingual services and support, but we plan on incorporating this in the future.

Promoting sustainable livestock management to support livelihoods and conservation

Livestock plays a critical social and economic role in Laikipia – over 50% of the land is under livestock production. This building block aims to support local rural communities increase livestock productivity whilst reducing environmental damage. The approach supports livelihoods as well as addresses key threats to biodiversity.

Livestock extension services improve skills and knowledge in all aspects of livestock husbandry and natural resource management. Artificial insemination services are provided at affordable prices to improve cattle quality and can demand higher prices. Training and support are provided on:

  • Husbandry – livestock disease management, health care, administration of drugs to prevent disease.
  • Resource management – water and land management including best practice grazing management to support livestock and reduce land degradation.
  • Alternative micro-enterprise – aimed at women and youth, support in establishing enterprises such as poultry and beekeeping.

Trained farmers are encouraged to share their knowledge and skills with other community members. This approach means more people are reached. Livelihoods are enhanced as well as building support for conservation through benefit-sharing.

  • Community engagement – building strong relationships with local communities to engage in the initiative and ensure the services meet their needs.
  • Needs driven design – ensure extension services are designed in such a way that they address the needs of and are important to the pastoralist communities.
  • Trusted engagement with communities – important to build strong relationships with regular dialogue, to listen to their needs, and provide opportunities for feedback.
  • Address the whole value chain – need to understand the whole chain, where there might be gaps, and how they can be addressed. For example, access to drugs emerged as an issue as the current supply was a very long distance away and unaffordable. We supported communities to access micro-finance, and facilitated local and fair priced access to drugs.
  • Promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing – encourage farmers’ groups to work together, share learning from training with their peers and neighbours. This collective action also had benefits of greater buying power through economies of scale.
Community conservation of bonobos and southern Basankusu forests through local development

In order to enable community-based, participatory and inclusive conservation, local development is a very important and relevant component in the implementation of our actions.

That's why we decided to initiate an approach centered on local communities living near the biotopes we are promoting for the conservation of bonobos and their associated habitats. By responding favorably to community needs and feelings, and by supporting them in the rational, reasoned and sustainable management of their natural and acquired resources, we have achieved success rates of up to 85% for our solution.

The various micro-projects put in place (goat rearing, pig rearing and pilot fish farming; family vegetable gardens; micro-trades and others) have been replicated by the beneficiary associations and by 75% of the inhabitants throughout the project area, and have helped to increase the income of local communities, enabling them to meet their material, financial and food needs. So far, this has been an effective solution to the problem of preserving biodiversity in general, and bonobos and their habitats in particular.

  • Involving local communities in socio-economic surveys and environmental awareness campaigns,
  • Support for micro-projects implemented by local beneficiary communities,
  • The commitment of local communities to the sustainable replication of these micro-projects,
  • The involvement of local authorities in supporting GACEBB in its actions,
  • The dedicated and willing involvement of GACEBB's technical team (animators-accompanists).
  • Taking charge of projects implemented on the basis of the consents (CLIPs) of the local communities themselves,
  • Always be a structure that works in communion with local communities,
  • Not dictating to communities what values they should live by, but always listening to them and accompanying them,
  • Favoring an information and training approach to promote their socio-environmental awareness in favor of threatened species and their habitats, as well as in their own favor (eco-development).
Conservation through ecological monitoring of primates and other large fauna species

To achieve community-based, participatory conservation of bonobos and their associated habitat, we believe it is essential to monitor primates, i.e. bonobos and other species of small monkeys, as well as other species of large fauna. To this end, the NGO GACEBB is working with local communities to select Community Trackers (CTs) with proven expertise in the forest in question to carry out ecological monitoring of these species, and to record on a pre-established form whether the numbers of the flagship species (the bonobo) are increasing or decreasing, and also whether human pressures are decreasing or increasing, as well as ascertaining whether or not other species of large fauna are present.

The involvement of the local communities concerned, the commitment of the chosen Community Trackers, the commitment of the local authorities to support GACEBB in its actions, GACEBB's implicit response to the needs (felt to be priorities) of the local communities expressed during the socio-economic surveys and the dedicated commitment of the GACEBB team despite the meagre salary are just some of the factors influencing the success of our actions.

  • Let communities express their consent to any action,
  • Encourage the involvement of all social groups in your conservation actions,
  • Strive at all costs to remain a local structure, i.e. one that listens to local communities, responds to their expressed needs and applies transparency in project management,
  • Always be proactive in knowing how to support communities in the face of current challenges (disappearance of biodiversity, resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic, climate change, etc.).
Manual removal of invasive plants instead of using heavy machinery

Using manual labour allows for selective removal of invasive plants. This protects the other native vegetation in the area, allowing for the native vegetation and grasses to grow back in the following months whereas when using heavy machinery, the top layer of soil in addition to the grass and native vegetation are removed. Using heavy machinery also removes vital seed banks of native plants, which further facilitates the spread of invasive plants.

 

It is critical to remove the IAS before the seeds mature and disperse. Through this project, we aim to remove as much IAS growth as possible manually (inclusive of roots), before they shed seeds. The remaining plants, which are more difficult to uproot, will be removed via a ‘slasher’ and the roots will be removed manually, at a later stage, when the soil is moist and plants may be easily uprooted. FEO has observed regrowth of grass after a couple weeks of IAS removal and the growth of native vegetation inhibits the regrowth of invasive species in the cleared areas.

  • Collaboration with Sabaragamuwa University to research on the most effective methods of removal and obtain scientific data on the prevalance, growth, and regeneration of invasive species.
  • Previous experience of removal of other invasive species in other National Parks in Sri Lanka.
  • Process of identifying the advantages of using manual removal - has a much higher percentage of regrowth of native species as opposed to using heavy machinery.
  • Observed through our camera traps and research that the grass grows back within a few weeks and we have noticed that elephants, deer, and other herbivores are already grazing on cleared areas.
Synergy and complementarity between approaches for effective territorial management of biodiversity

In order to address the challenges faced by society in social, economic, environmental and cultural terms, commitments have been adopted at the global level and subscribed to by States in different agendas, each with particular intervention approaches (rights, ecosystemic, urban-regional, disaster prevention and risk management and/or climate change). which of these approaches is appropriate for effective territorial management of biodiversity and social inclusion? All. The reality of the territories is diverse, complex and has very specific problems and potentials, which require cooperative, concurrent, complementary and multi-scale work of social and institutional actors to harmonize and implement the actions proposed in the planning instruments, in such a way that they respond to the identified needs, in order to prevent and manage socio-environmental conflicts, advance in the conservation of nature and human wellbeing.Combining rights, ecosystemic, urban-rural, risk management and climate change approaches is necessary to manage territories in an integral and pertinent manner.

Ratification, compliance with commitments Sendai Framework, Convention on Biological Diversity, Climate Change Convention, New Urban Agenda, ILO Convention 169. Sound Institutionality and Systems of: Disaster Prevention and Attention and Risk Management, National Environmental, Protected Areas, Climate Change, Cities. Knowledgeable and experienced personnel. Existence of Special Inter-Institutional Committee of Colombia's Land Management Commission since 2012. There are agreements between National Parks, environmental authorities, ethnic communities and sectors.

Colombia is a multi-territory, where different concepts of territory coexist: national state (unitary republic, decentralized in territorial entities, where it exercises sovereignty); indigenous ethnic (there are 115 ethnic groups, each one amalgamates ancestry, origin, cosmovision, relationship with mother earth); ethnic black, Afro-Colombian, Palenquero and Raizal communities where ancestors, nature, the river, the sea determine solidarity behavior; border territory where ecosystems and culture transcend the political administrative boundaries of nations. Territorial governance requires dialogue between governance (protected areas, water, natural resources and food), towards legitimacy, synergy between processes, governance, public policy relevance, participation, dialogue of knowledge and good living. Environmental, ethnic, peasant, urban and rural planning should dialogue to achieve viable territories. Co-leadership, alliances, cooperative work between environmental authorities, researchers, academia, territorial entities, community leaders, institutional sectors.

Share to the world the success of the Bottom Up Protection scheme

Point Esperanza was declared with the community of artisanal fishermen and inhabitants of villages near the reefs who are the guardians. Dive operators are reporting their daily observations to the Observatory. We need to demonstrate at a global, national and local level how to monitor with 360 degree videos so that they can interact in Virtual Reality.

Our methodology is based on a combination of Waterfall and Agile is to clearly identify the concrete objectives as well as general ideas given by the stakeholders that guide the implementation of the project to obtain the expected results to improve the effectiveness of the conservation of the Colombian Caribbean Coastal Reefs. The second thing is to evaluate with measurement indicators what is already working. And what we achieve is to involve the community and increase governance by improving the behavior of ecological, social and economic indicators. We will also apply the Agile methodology because it is considered one of the most interactive, since we already have experience in the evaluation of results, we can intervene to improve any phase of the project that requires flexibility in the adjustment, which reduces the complexity, and therefore, the risk.

Engagement of the local community and environmentally friendly sustainable dive operators. Local coordination to remove trammel nets left behind by illegal fishermen from other areas. Working with the support of the National Navy. National Natural Parks from the Central Government are in the process of declaring the inclusion of a neighboring sanctuary: Playona. The ICRI Colombia Foundation nominated this marine area to be a Marine Heritage site before UNESCO. The Government is evaluating this possibility.

Resilience protection works and coral reefs, from which local threats such as illegal fishing are eliminated and oil exploration is prevented, recover without difficulty.

Community-led forest monitoring and protection

Empowering the community to take the lead on their forest monitoring and conservation goals is a key building block of this replicable solution. After community volunteer leaders are identified, they are equipped with the training, tools, and materials needed for their management plan. They may also work with local law enforcement on monitoring illegal logging and other extraction of biodiversity from the forest. Some communities in the Chinantla had a need for scientific forest monitoring data to be able to apply for a national program that provided payment in exchange for environmental stewardship work. The training and skill-building elements of the project were adapted to fit this need, so community members were trained in forest data collection so that they were empowered to collect this information on their own, thereby becoming eligible to qualify for the ecosystem services payment program.

  • Beneficiary communities who have self-identified as wanting assistance are more eager to take the lead on forest monitoring activities

  • Willing community members are able to take on volunteer leadership roles

  • Monitoring activities are based on management plan developed along with the community

  • Community leaders become champions of the local ecosystem and can inspire others in their families and communities
Village Saving and Loan Scheme and External Partnerships

The Village Savings and Loan Scheme is an IPaCoPA's sustainability strategy where members in their self-manage Groups meet regularly to save their money in a safe space and access small loans from the money collected among themselves to invest in livelihood projects at household level such as Agriculture and Solar energy. Because most individual members lack prerequisites to access loans from financial institutions, the VSLA scheme helps members to easily access finances and secure soft loans under group guarantorship. This supplements TUA's efforts to implement various aspects of the IPaCoPA initiative and to sustain the TUA's already supported projects such as looking after the trees planted and setting up kitchen gardens by households. With our external partners,  key of them who include the District Local Government, UNDP, SAI Group UK, and Jade Products Ltd, we have been able to get endorsements, Capacity trainings, Digital Platforms such as Project Management systems and access to e-commerce, Funding (forexample from UNDP-Y4BF to support 500 youth in commercial farming of Chilli), and other resources which makes IPaCoPA operate in complete ecosystem. 

  1. Existence of clear objectives aligned to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that interest other organisations/Firms with similar or related objectives, and or philanthropic about what we intend to achieve through our objectives. 
  2.  The zeal and enthusiasm by the team leader and the board to search for relevant partners and express interest for partnership. 
  3. Access to and ability to use internet enhanced with an organisational website “www.treeugandaacademy.com
  4. Upholding the organisational principles and values.
  1. Building trust with partners and also determining the trustworthiness of those whom you partner with is paramount to sustain relevant and lasting partnerships. Concisely it’s important to develop clear agreements, be flexible and understand your partner’s language.   
  2. Partnership is a learning process therefore you need to be open order to learn from other partners, particularly local partners in areas where project activities are being implemented. Local partners have a lot to teach about the community needs and local context and how to develop and create more sustainable results.
  3. Failures on some partnerships is inevitable, in case partnership fails, it is important to assess why the partnership failed, share and learn from those failures, reiterate and incorporate the lessons learned into the next partnership.  
  4. The success of our organisation and the IPaCoPA solution ain particular relies on strong partnerships. Developing a partnership mindset based on relationships is far important because even when the funded activities end, the relationship continues and there is an opportunity for sustainable support.