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Demonstration of incentives mechanisms for in-situ conservation and use of agrobiodiversity at community level

Market- and non-market-based incentive mechanisms were established and demonstrated for in-situ conservation and sustainable use of agrobiodiversity, enabling long-term livelihood benefits for local farmers, such as The protection of germplasms of the target varieties has been enhanced through establishing a community seed bank for Shanlan rice and organizing regular livestock competitions for Wuzhishan pigs and Jiaji ducks. Provincial and county level trade fairs have been organized to showcase the GRFA products and offerings developed and to disseminate their information. Participation in trade fairs has also broadened farmers' vision and strengthened farmers' sales capacity. A number of improved technologies were introduced to improve the efficiency of farming in the demonstration and replication landscapes;62 training courses (2,660 participants, 44% women) of various kinds held to raise farmers' confidence in farming and their resilience to climate change. Some incentives such as culinary competition, eco-compensation, carbon labeling, small farm equipment for farmers, partnership establishment, eco-certification, whole industry chain insurance for Shanlan rice, three farmer field school establishment, and marketing chain establishment have contributed to farmers' sustainable livelihood capacity.

1)Provide financial incentives, such as microgrants. 2)Capacity building at provincial, city/county, and village levels, improving farmers' capacity for sustainable livelihood and in-situ conservation and use of GRFA. 3)Under the guidance of experts, a technological support system of “cooperative + research institutes + farmers” was established, supporting breeding and industrial chain development, and achieving conservation and sustainable utilization.

1)The involvement of cooperatives and enterprises is important for sustainable engagement with farmers, building confidence in local farmers in planting local varieties knowing that they can sell their products to the company. 2)Providing employment and income opportunities can lead to other socio-economic benefits, such as people staying in their home communities.

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Multi-stakeholder partnerships for effective campaign design and gender-responsive implementation

The crowdfunding campaign is based on multi-stakeholder partnerships, which have enabled its effective design and helped target those most in need.

UNDP BIOFIN supported the conceptualization, development, and implementation of the campaign, in addition to engaging in technical and political dialogues and conducting presentations with potential donors. FUNBAM hosts the operations of the campaign within its structure. Other co-creation partners are the MINAE, responsible for issuing environmental licenses, and FONAFIFO. By leveraging this pool of diverse capacities, the campaign has been effectively designed, successfully attracted donors, and able to operate on Costa Rican public lands.

When it comes to implementation, it was identified that women, especially those heading households, were particularly affected by COVID-19. Therefore, the distribution of funds collected through the campaign is built on strong local community and gender-based principles. Green jobs for planting and maintenance activities are currently provided through collaborations with 17 implementing partners, nine of which are women-led local organizations.

Enabling factors include the willingness of partners with diverse capabilities to join the campaign and contribute their expertise, access to local communities and the development of a relationship of trust, and the prior assessment of local needs to ensure that the campaign is designed to address them effectively.

Multi-stakeholder partnerships, involving both private and public sector actors, are crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of crowdfunding campaigns, especially those targeting public lands or large-scale projects such as reforestation.

https://huelladelfuturo.cr/en/partners

An advisory board of environmental education experts and teachers

PLANET4B Case Study Advisory Board meeting

PLANET4B project

Throughout the case study process, researchers received valuable ideas and inspiration from a small advisory board. Its members were initially interviewed as environmental education experts and later invited to join the stakeholder board on a voluntary basis. One of the highlights was that the school garden coordinator teacher also became a member of this board, so we had regular input about the hands-on experience with school gardens and outdoor learning spaces. We met with the board twice every year – mostly in person, though occasionally online. During these meetings, we shared our current research findings and sought their advice on the future direction of the project. They also took part in workshops, contributing to the broader success of the PLANET4B project.

Environmental education experts and teachers who are open to innovative teaching methods

Having environmental education experts and teachers on board really helped guide the project in the right direction. We wanted to avoid duplicating already existing research, and we also valued their advice on methodologies. Having an advisory board is not essential for a project of this kind, but when feasible, it can significantly support the case study in moving in a meaningful direction. At the same time, it is important to ensure that participants are not taken for granted, and that some form of support is offered – if not financial, then through opportunities for publication, visibility, or networking. Ideally, an advisory board should include a balanced mix of experts from various fields – such as researchers, policymakers, NGOs, practitioners, and even artists or students. In this case, however, it unfortunately did not manage to represent all perspectives.

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Available green space belonging to the school

Increasing biodiversity in the garden through a bee pasture

ESSRG Nonprofit Kft.

The establishment of the school garden and outdoor green learning spaces played a key role in transforming the school’s previously unused green area. A key prerequisite for this was having access to a green space next to the school. What was once a plain schoolyard has been revitalised with plantings and other biodiversity-enhancing tools and measures, like bee pastures and an insect hotel. There was also available green space to allow lessons to be held outdoors.

Available (green) plot, supporting school leadership and/or municipality

Accessible green space is a crucial part for developing school gardens and outdoor learning environments. Unfortunately, not all schools have such access – particularly those in lower-income, densely urbanised areas. However, with the openness and support of the local municipality and school leadership, even concrete areas can be reimagined and transformed into green spaces. Another possibility is to collaborate with local community gardens to create shared green learning environments, or even to establish new ones near the school with municipal support. While these spaces may not be located directly on school grounds, they can still offer students meaningful access to nature and outdoor learning.

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Funding through European research calls (PLANET4B project and InSPIRES project)

To achieve the aims of the project, funding was secured through two Horizon Europe research calls, in the form of projects PLANET4B and InSPIRES. Although some parts can be done on a voluntary basis, according to the experts and teachers, some source of funding is essential to support the school and the researchers. Funding can also be used to invest in nature-based solutions, such as insect hotels, to support local biodiversity. Spending money on complementary activities, like the participatory theatre or the photovoice study and related photo exhibition, can further strengthen engagement and environmental stewardship.

Supporting research environment, funding, partnerships with the schools and artists

While many enthusiastic teachers are already adopting experiential teaching methods without financial support, it is crucial that they receive proper funding. Financial support not only formally acknowledges their efforts but also helps prevent burnout and self-exploitation, providing a safe and stable environment in which they can bring their creative ideas to life. Moreover, investing in other engaging interventions, such as arts-based learning methods, can further enhance student involvement and help strengthen partners that offer best practices. One drawback of relying on research grants, however, is their limited duration – typically only 2 to 5 years. As a result, funding often ends before the full impact of the work can be realised, and the short-term nature of such support can add an additional layer of uncertainty.

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PLANET4B website

More info on InSPIRES

Industrial Transformation of Cycad Yam

The transition from scattered planting by individual villagers to the establishment of a large-scale industry spanning approximately 500 mu (about 33.33 hectares).

Rural revitalization policies and advanced breeding technologies.

Market promotion and quality control, as well as the impact of diseases and pests on the growth of Cycad Yam.

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Introduction and Cultivation of Cycad Yam

Cycad Yam was introduced to Geliping Village, located just outside the reserve's red line. The Protection Center provided germplasm resources and technical support, guiding local villagers in standardized breeding and sustainable planting practices.

Soil conditions suitable for the growth of Cycad Yam and the selection of Cycad Yam germplasm resources.

Non-standard field management during the planting process, inadequate measures for trellis erection to guide vine growth, and insufficient control of excessive growth.

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Integrated Management Platform

Integrated and upgraded plant archives, video surveillance, environmental monitoring, data visualization, and patrol monitoring management systems into the “Smart Cycad Integrated Information Management Platform”, creating an intelligent and informatized management system comprising “one set of archives, three platforms, and five systems”.

(1) Demand for digital transformation; (2) Support from technological advancements.

(1) Data security protection; (2) Operation and maintenance support.

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Monitoring Equipment and Systems

(1) Established an automated drone hangar and a comprehensive 3D high-definition model sandbox to facilitate aerial patrol monitoring; (2) Installed 17 field video surveillance points, 2 forest fire prevention radars, 1 meteorological station, and 28 dynamic field infrared camera monitoring points; (3) Developed the Smart Nature Patrol app; (4) Created electronic ID cards for nearly 80,000 Cycas panzhihuaensis and Firmiana major specimens in the science popularization area.

(1) High-efficiency equipment, including advanced technologies such as drones and fire prevention radars; (2) Combining advanced equipment with ground patrols conducted by forest rangers to create a complementary system.

(1) Harsh field environments lead to high equipment failure rates and increased maintenance costs; (2) There is a need for unified data standards.

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Genetic Diversity Assessment and Conservation Unit Delimitation Technology for Firmiana major

This module aims to address the lack of a scientific basis for the conservation of Firmiana major, which stems from an unclear understanding of its population genetic structure. Its methodology integrates molecular systematics and landscape genetics through the following key steps: (1) Sample collection: gathering 398 wild samples from 14 distribution sites across Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, while recording GPS coordinates and habitat information; (2) Molecular experiments: extracting DNA, designing primers for polymorphic loci, and assessing genetic diversity indicators; (3) Data analysis: delineating conservation management units (MUs) using landscape genetics parameters; and (4) Application: guiding the selection of mother trees for artificial propagation and identifying priority areas for in situ conservation. The results of this module were published in the international journal Forest Ecology and Management, providing scientific support for targeted conservation efforts.

Comprehensive sample coverage includes populations of various sizes and age classes to prevent genetic bias. Advanced technical support is provided through molecular laboratories equipped for DNA extraction, sequencing, and genetic data analysis. Integration of multi-source data combines genetic information with field survey data to enhance the accuracy of delimitation. Cross-institutional collaboration facilitates sample sharing and technical exchange. Additionally, funding from national projects ensures the successful implementation of long-term experiments.

Sample quality is crucial. Avoid collecting damaged or aged leaves; fresh, young leaves collected during the rainy season yield higher-quality DNA. Primer design requires optimization: initially using non-polymorphic primers wasted time. It is recommended to pre-test more than ten primer pairs to select the optimal combination. Small populations exhibit low genetic diversity, necessitating priority protection to prevent genetic drift. Initially ignoring habitat differences led to inaccurate delimitation of conservation units; results became more accurate after integrating landscape data. Long-term genetic monitoring is essential, as a single sampling cannot capture dynamic changes. Data sharing is indispensable; delayed sharing of data from the Lijiang population slowed overall analysis. Establishing a unified genetic database is recommended for future research.

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