Entirety | PANORAMA

Robust monitoring framework

The expected benefits of the coastal realignment were documented in the planning phase and baselines established. These informed the ongoing monitoring of impacts. Immediately after project completion, a 5-year monitoring programme was implemented. Annual reports summarised findings and lessons learned, which were shared and discussed with local stakeholders, external consultants, academia and risk management authorities in south England. Approaches to project planning and implementation were adjusted as needed. For instance, the approach applied to engaging the local community was adapted based on early experiences and analysis of challenges and barriers.

The involvement of specialist groups and experts to address specific challenges, such as habitat conservation, the preservation of archaeological findings, etc. proved essential to monitor results, minimise impacts on project implementation timelines and to resolve stakeholder concerns.

Continuous and regular monitoring was essential and the use of novel techniques (e.g. satellite imagery) and various approaches offered valuable insights on the complexity of processes in the intervention site. A clear monitoring plan that linked findings to project objectives and measures of success provided data on the impact of the intervention.

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Enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem integrity

The expected impacts on the ecosystems in the intervention areas were captured in an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). This included a mapping of any risks to biodiversity during construction and implementation of appropriate mitigation measures. For instance, water voles were translocated prior to the start of the works. A focus on biodiversity protection resulted in the creation of around 300 hectares of coastal habitat and a network of freshwater habitats as well as the enhancement of regulatory services, including for climate, water, natural hazards and erosion regulation as well as water purification and waste treatment. Further, the intervention contributed to an increase of saltmarsh plants, breeding bird populations, invertebrate abundance, marine mollusc species, water voles, reptiles and fish diversity.

Baseline data on biodiversity (through ecological surveys) was gathered as well as biodiversity outcomes benchmarked and identified during the 5-year monitoring period now continued by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSBP), who manages most of the project area since 2013 as a nature reserve as part of a 99 year lease. Monitoring methods included bird surveys, vegetation and habitat mapping exercises (including by using satellites), an invertebrate survey and sampling, surveys of reptiles, fish surveys, etc.

Evidence-based assessments of the state of the ecosystem prior to the start of the intervention enabled the identification of clear and measurable biodiversity outcomes and benchmarks. They also supported periodic monitoring and assessments to avoid adverse impacts and take appropriate measures in response to enhance ecosystems, species and ecological processes.

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Participatory and collaborative approaches

The project placed particular emphasis on stakeholder engagement and participation of local communities in all phases of the project. This included proactively providing information about the benefits of the coastal realignment, gaining widespread support for the intervention and seeking community views and inputs. A comprehensive stakeholder analysis allowed a mapping of how to best engage with the different stakeholders. This was documented in a stakeholder engagement plan. To facilitate regular engagement, representatives from stakeholders and community groups were nominated by their community to become members of a Medmerry Stakeholder Advisory Group.

A Medmerry Stakeholder Advisory Group was established, made up of key individuals of the local community, including Parish Councils, local businesses and residents most affected by the coastal realignment. The Advisory Group helped shape the design of the project and met regularly to discuss any issues and concerns. The group also shaped many of the design aspects of the intervention.

The active and intentional involvement of the local community and subsequent support generated, contributed significantly to the success of the Nature-based Solution. This transparent and structured engagement throughout the project and in decision-making processes – starting with the design stage – helped to address concerns, to build trust and to create ownership. Balancing the needs and wants of a diverse range of stakeholders is not easy. We worked hard to make clear what is within scope for discussion and what limits are in place, i.e. price or significant impacts to time. Setting a boundary allowed targeted and realistic solutions to become a greater focus of the conversation.

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Defining priority and corrective actions to strengthen the intervention

During the implementation of the intervention, the project team conducted the self-assessment as part of the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutionsᵀᴹ. The assessment provided information about the intervention’s strengths and weaknesses and helped derive concrete recommendations and actions that could be implemented during the remainder of the project. The analysis was carried out by the UNEP Regional Activity Centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP/RAC) of the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) of the UN Environment Programme and recommendations published in a report.

The assessment was supported by a consultant from the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management, who supported the team with the completion of the self-assessment and provided clarification on specific criteria and indicators.

An analysis of the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutionsᵀᴹ indicators that have been insufficiently or only partially addressed helped to make recommendations for improvement and to identify concrete corrective actions to strengthen the implementation of the intervention. This demonstrates how the self-assessment can be used to strengthen the design and implementation of Nature-based Solutions.

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Supporting Skills Development for Surveillance and Monitoring of Wildlife Disease

Ranger training in Cambodia

WCS

WildHealthSkills: WildHealthNet conducts capacity bridging and building with in-person and virtual trainings for all actors in the network, from field-based rangers to laboratory techs to national coordinators. The goal is to develop and share science-based protocols and best practices, and implement strong curricula so that each actor is empowered to fully participate.

- Long term financial support for technical expertise and input

- Government and local stakeholder awareness of the links between wildlife health and human health and well-being

- Government and local stakeholder interest and engagement in capacity development for wildlife surveillance and wildlife health monitoring

- Adequate human personnel without too much turnover, in order to maintain network

A foundational understanding of the links between wildlife/ environmental health and human and domestic animal health and well-being ensures better interest and buy-in for One Health competency training such as wildlife surveillance. Stakeholder-specific trainings (e.g. Event detection and reporting for forest rangers; Necropsy and pathology for laboratory staff/ veterinarians; Sample collection and handling for rangers & confiscation teams; Technology for network coordinator and rangers), multi-lingual training packages, with core competencies and evaluation tools enable broader reach and buy-in for capacity building and maintenance and continued expansion of the surveillance network national, regionally and globally.

Documentation and dissemination of results

Multi-sectoral network building for monitoring wildlife diseases for One Health

Co-development meetings for wildlife health national strategy in Lao PDR

WCS

- WildHealthBuild: Building partnerships and breaking down silos across the human health, animal health, and environment/ wildlife sectors is an essential first step in planning and implementing wildlife surveillance for One Health intelligence, improving coordinated result sharing and response and the likelihood that networks and sustainable and used to guide science-based policy and disease control mechanisms going forward.

- Long-term funding from international donors

- Support and buy-in from national government actors at local, provincial, and national levels

- Support and buy-in from central government across human health, animal health, and wildlife/ environmental sectors

Convening regular multi-sectoral meetings for open discourse on the challenges and opportunities to monitoring and management of disease at the wildlife-human-livestock interface, and improving communications and trust between and across sectors, is critical in the joint development of functional, long-term wildlife surveillance networks for One Health intelligence, and adoption of associated policies. This takes considerable time and a sustained effort, often, unfortunately, outside of the normal funding cycles of donor agencies.

Documentation and dissemination of results

Local Capacity Building for Safe Sampling and Testing of Wildlife Carcasses

With limited funding for wildlife surveillance and veterinary medicine in the country, and limited access for subsistence communities to adequate health care, increasing awareness of the importance of wildlife health as it pertains to human and livestock health at local, provincial, and central levels is essential. Introducing preventative approaches and building local capacity for wildlife surveillance is key to reducing human health risks from contact with wildlife. Bringing diagnostic capacity from other nations into the country itself and ultimately to the carcass side enables better local engagement and rapid response and mitigation efforts in the case of detection of a pathogen of concern

- Long-term external financial support for the development of the wildlife health sector including surveillance and diagnostics

- Long-term funding to develop the capacity of communities to engage in preventative approaches, participatory surveillance and wildlife sampling

- The interest of the host government to develop wildlife health capacity and designation of time and personnel availability to be trained

Enhancing local understanding of the importance of wildlife health for human and livestock health and developing local capacity to conduct effective wildlife surveillance is critical to achieving sustained One Health benefits

Documentation and dissemination of results

Creating sustainable networks for reporting and response to wildlife mortality

Taking the time to develop effective systems for reporting from remote areas (e.g. local human networks or cell-phone based if available) and ensuring a centralized team that responds to reports and communicates findings to communities is vital for the long-term success of such wildlife mortality monitoring networks

- Good relationships and networks from local to district to the provincial and central levels

- Good coordination across multiple sectors from local to national levels

- Financial and human capacity to respond effectively and in a timely manner to mortality reports

- Access to communication tools e.g. cell phones

If communities don't see effective response or communication with them on findings, they are unlikely to continue to participate in surveillance efforts. Taking the time to build efficient, sustainable multi-sectoral networks with key stakeholders is essential

Documentation and dissemination of results

Building Trust with Local Communities

Community engagement on Ebola

WCS Republic of Congo

Building partnerships and trust with local subsistence communities is essential to ensure successful uptake of public health messaging and community engagement in participatory surveillance, especially given that traditional superstitions and beliefs may contrast significantly with modern scientific knowledge and medicine

Time, long-term funding, and the human capacity for repeat visits to spend adequate time with communities to build long-standing relationships of trust over a period of years

In order for participatory surveillance networks with remote communities to be successful, long-term investment is needed, often longer than the duration of short funding streams from foreign entities. Repeat visits and support over many years and consistent, effective communication and rapid result sharing with the communities are essential

Documentation and dissemination of results

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Implementation of Effective Control Strategies for Disease Spillover From Livestock to Wildlife

Multi-sectoral coordination, and communication and coordination with local communities, are essential to clearly and simply share findings of surveillance and why specific management strategies have been developed and are recommended for implementation. This would include, for example, vaccination of domestic livestock for PPR in areas where their range overlaps with that of significant wildlife populations, protecting livestock health, and reducing the risk of spillover to wild ungulates.

Financial support for vaccination or other management strategies; good coordination and communication between sectors; good communication and relationships with local communities of herders; access to vaccines and appropriate storage capability; human capacity to implement effective vaccination campaign.

Open lines of communication between relevant government sectors and between government and communities as well as and their understanding of the disease epidemiology is essential to implement effective disease control strategies that address the concerns of all stakeholders involved.

Documentation and dissemination of results