The Seabird Habitat Restoration Project was based on a very strong scientific foundation.

The geology, flora and fauna of Montague Island Nature Reserve is relatively well studied as the island has been an important site for environmental monitoring and research for decades. It boasts the world’s longest continuous seabird monitoring program in the world. Therefore, much was known about the species present, their population dynamics, biology and ecology. This baseline information was important in understanding the impact of the kikuyu on seabird breeding success.  Scientists had documented the significant impact of the invasive kikuyu grass on increased mortality of Little Penguins and determined the percentage cover of kikuyu that caused significant problems.

Scientific knowledge was critical in the development of the project objective and scope.  Scientists from universities and NPWS who were experts in the field of island ecology and seabird biology worked together to identify the most effective method to control kikuyu grass through field trials. They undertook specific research projects and monitored seabird populations and weed distribution.  This formed the basis of post graduate Honours and PhD research projects to determine suitable methods of control for use on Montague Island.

The success of this project was due to the full support and long-term commitment from all levels of NPWS to a bold vision for an ambitious conservation program.  Eradication of mice and rabbits and control of invasive weeds on a relatively large remote island could not be achieved through half measures and was critical to protect this internationally significant site for breeding seabirds.  However, a project at this scale had not previously been undertaken in NSW. Organisational commitment ensured the project was prioritised for long term (10 year +) funding and that staff with the right skills and experience were assigned to this project. Partnerships with universities and community organisations were supported and valued. It also meant that NPWS was willing to take risks and try innovative approaches e.g. using fire to control kikuyu grass.

Involving local communities was a key element of our work in Congo from the beginning and, in 2010, The Aspinall Foundation was able to create a more formal structure with the establishment of PROFADELLL (The Project, in Favour of Local Development in Periphery of the Natural Reserve of Gorillas Lésio-Louna). Its aim to support communities on the outskirts of the enlarged Lésio-Louna Reserve with a comprehensive community programme to enable local people to benefit from, and become custodians of, their environment.  The programme was in place for a period of ten years with positive results and elements such as the eco-tourism product are ongoing.

After the system obtains fire event information from satellites, UAVs, ground cameras and forest rangers, it will immediately transmit the video image of the fire scene to the fire department, which will deploy firefighters to extinguish the fire according to the fire situation. Because the system can detect the fire event in time and report to the fire department, many fire events were extinguished when the fire was very small and did not develop into very large fire event.

Education of rural children is critical to have the next generation be resilient and part of protecting wildlife as their natural heritage. 

Children will participate at schools with weekly and ongoing environmental education whilst cooperating other subjects in the program as well such as English, maths, art etc to get the maximum amount of benefit of education. The environmental education classes focusses on basic environmental teachings and nature conservation. Schools are uplifted through redecorating classrooms to make them more comfortable learning environments for both teachers and learners. Learners take trips to the protected area to experience and learn about wildlife first hand.

Outside curriculums are made available for children wishing to continue after the school program. These programs consist of the Scout program and assisting Environmental Monitors to keep the community clean, assist with taking care of pets and work animals and cattle. Not only does this benefit the animals through the care they receive through the program, but also teaches children the importance of taking care of animals, which will translate to the importance of taking care of wildlife.

The upliftment through women is achieved through:

• Financial independence
• Raising self-worth and confidence
• Education and skill development
• Becoming role models within the community as well as internationally.

Poaching poses serious threats to wildlife conservation and efforts at preserving wildlife through the establishment of protected areas are under threat by poaching of wildlife in the central High Atlas of Morocco.  The enforcement of the existing law against illegal capturing, empoisoning and killing of wild encouraged the authorities to participate actively in the protection of wild species and to enforce the law in certain cases. Raising awareness among residents and creating jobs in ecotourism and geotourism also participate in the fight against poaching. For example, in the Ouzoud site, the fight against poaching and the trade of macaques was one of the main factors responsible for the Barbary macaque population increase. We have actively participated since 2008 in collaboration with local authorities in the fight against illegal work (poaching, tree felling, etc.). We worked with some residents to obtain the necessary information on this work. in this context, we took part in stopping certain wild animal capture operations and we released a large number of animals in their original habitats.

Conduction of scientific research on the effects of human activities on wildlife allowed us to better understand the effects of humans on wild animal populations. Today, we are the only who carry out scientific studies on biodiversity in the central High Atlas. The solutions proposed consist in encouraging research institutions to participate in these scientific studies and to study other zoological groups.

Scientific research is essential for conservation as it helps establish solutions based on scientific results. For example, we have shown that hunting currently used in Morocco to limit the growth of wild boar populations has, on the contrary, a postive impact on wild boars and that the conservation of wild boar predators is the best method to regulate wild boar populations. We have also shown that poaching affects populations of the Barbary macaque, Cuvier's gazelle, and of other species. The prohibition of poaching and the sensitization of habitats were the main causes for the increase in  the Barbary macaque population in the site of Ouzoud, Morocco.

As protected areas must have conservation outcomes as their primary objective, many 'unconventional' mechanisms that are creating conservation outcomes have historically been overlooked. In 2019, when Canada embraced the concept of OECMs, efforts that are creating positive biodiversity outcomes, regardless of their primary goal, began to be actively discussed. Canadian Forces Base Shilo was one such site.

Even thought the Department of National Defence has specific, secondary objectives for its sites focused on the conservation of biodiversity, it has rarely received public recognition for its conservation successes.

Creating this recognition required collaboration between the provincial (sub-national) government of Manitoba and the federal Department of National Defence to foster a broader understanding of OECMs and their value as well as to highlight the outcomes of the sound management of Canadian Forces Base Shilo. This is the first Canadian military base to receive this recognition; opening the door for additional, future collaboration.

In the Shilo landscape, military training exercises have proven to mimic some of the natural history of the area - recreating now-rare habitat. This controlled activity is creating positive in-situ biodiversity outcomes.

The high-intensity, short-duration disturbances created by military training activities create habitat conditions no longer found in the larger landscape. These disturbances include prescribed burns and artillery practice, which enhance biodiversity by preventing tree encroachment on areas of mixed-grass prairie and mimicking historical disturbance regimes such as wildfire or bison activity.

In addition, for security and safety reasons, the Department of National Defence prohibits unauthorized access. Closure to the public restricts activity on the site, eliminating many activities that could have a negative impact on biodiversity.

The primary mandate of Canadian Forces Base Shilo is to provide a space for military training. This mandate takes priority in a case of conflict with conservation objectives, although measures are taken to mitigate possible impacts on biodiversity.