The purpose of this building block is to inform interested individuals and parties the procedure of obtaining the seeds of  castanea henryi trees. 

The purpose of this building block is to inform the procedure on starting and implementing  the Castanea Henryi Tree Planting Project to all interested individuals and parties.

1)      Conservation has become an increasingly popular career choice for young people all over the world. But many conservation organizations complain that young graduates don’t have the right attitude or the real-word skills. Nature Seychelles created the Conservation Boot Camp (CBC) on Cousin Island Special Reserve to test if the island could be used as a laboratory to equip young people with conservation skills, while at the same time use the fees paid as a sustainable funding mechanism for the MPA. The program was financially supported by the GEF from April 2016 to December 2019. The GEF project pays for a full time CBC Coordinator, equipment, and materials and other.  The coordinator manages the application process, and receives and integrates participants into the program.  A conservation manager leads on conservation work, while the Chief Warden manages all the logistics. The CBC is exclusive and takes a maximum of 6 persons per session and takes place the whole year. Each session lasts for 4 weeks and costs Euro 1000.00 (not including airfares and food). A 2 week program was been introduced due to demand. Nature Seychelles is a Private Training and Educational Institution under Seychelles law and a Certificate of Completion is awarded at the end of the training. 

The private sector is commonly described as being blind to environmental issues. The reality, however, is that the private sector is heavily invested in biodiversity. The project was an opportunity for companies to deepen their understanding of environmental issues and to develop the corporate habit of thinking beyond the bottom line. Less obviously, it is an opportunity for environmental specialists to deepen their understanding of business and development dynamics and to learn to include bottom line analysis in their own evaluations.

The purpose of this building block is to have relevant projects that provide a benefit for Lamington National Park. Examples include revegetation projects, public events, education programs and materials. By working together with the community and volunteer organisations, projects can be guided/developed to benefit Lamington National Park and its stakeholders. Having structured projects and programs provide volunteers with a purpose for their time and also assist in implementing the management plan for the park.

Volunteer agreements (Memorandum of Understanding) exist between each association (LNHA and GMNHA) and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Partnerships (QPWS&P). The agreements sets out the roles and responsibilities of both parties. Although they are not legally binding, it establishes the commitment of the department and volunteers that has contributed to the longevity and growth of the relationship.

The relationship between protected areas staff and the community is important for effective protected area management. The rapport Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service & Partnerships (QPWS&P), particularly rangers have with the local community, including the natural history association volunteers provides a suite of benefits for Lamington National Park and conservation.

The reciprocal relationship the associations have with QPWS&P sees the department providing the volunteers with QPWS&P volunteer uniforms, accommodation and meeting rooms, maintenance of the visitor centres, resources for other activities and a volunteer accreditation weekend every 2 years. The accreditation weekends span a full two days with accommodation, catering, guest speakers and venue supplied or arranged by QPWS&P. Guest speakers often include both QPWS&P and external experts in the field of environmental management. In return, the volunteers staff volunteer centres on weekends and school holidays providing park information to visitors and participating in park conservation projects.

According to Costa et al, “Brazil was the first country in the world to implement a National Policy for Agroecology and Organic Production”. It is therefore worthy of notice that the Policy has been widely implemented in the country, succeeding as a good example of a multi-sectoral public policy, despite the challenges it still faces. Furthermore, PNAPO has served as inspiration for Brazilian States (such as Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, Goiás, São Paulo and Amazonas), the Federal District and Municipalities to elaborate their own state and municipal policies, following the guidelines of the National Policy and adapting them to their own realities and necessities. Hence PNAPO is likely suitable to be transferred to other situations.

The Durban CEBA initiative has expanded on the original ecosystem management, and reforestation approaches. This was done by embracing a more holistic understanding of the link between communities and the ecosystems that underwrite their welfare and livelihoods, especially in the face of climate change risks. It involves climate-relevant knowledge transfer, creating local jobs and developing small businesses, all of which help to ensure cleaner, greener and more sustainable neighborhoods. As a result, communities become less dependent on costly utilities and services, and through their direct participation, they become joint owners of  a new green economy sector in Durban. Key elements include:

• The management and/or restoration of local ecosystems. This is primarily through improving, for example, river flow regulation and erosion control, which can boost climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
• Ensuring communities understand climate change related risks and how to adapt to and better manage climate related disasters.
• The upliftment of local communities through the establishment of “green jobs” for the poor and unemployed.
• The establishment of delivery partnerships between the eThekwini Municipality, other spheres of Government, Businesses, NGOs and local communities.

To support the overall hilsa fishery management plan, food grain compensation or training on alternative income-generation is provided to households directly impacted by hilsa fishing bans. Households receive either a monthly ration of rice throughout the long (four-month) fishing ban period, or they receive training and materials to help them diversify their income. If in receipt of the latter (referred to as AIGA – alternative income-generating activities), households are typically not entitled to rice compensation. Under AIGA, training offered includes livestock rearing, sewing, agriculture and net-mending.