One of the great challenges for the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve was the consolidation of its boundaries and securing management agreements with the local populations and indigenous organizations. Under the previous logic of integrating cultural variables in the national preservation process, the project “Delimitation of the lower region, conflict resolution, and awareness of the communities about the resource management and use in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve” was successfully created.

The project main goal was to preserve the biological and cultural integrity of the Reserve under a strong alliance between the MAE and the indigenous communities that inhabit and coexisted in the territory: Siona, Secoya, Cofán, Kicwa, and Shuar.

As a result, in 1995 began the process of establishing Natural Resources Use and Management Agreements with most of the communities in these five indigenous nations. Such efforts promoted local participation and the recognition of the Protected Area for shared management.

The agreements became formal documents that legitimized the communities’ right to live in the Reserve and use the natural resources within under special conditions.

The co-administration model of the Noel Kempff Mercado National Park (PNNKM) between the National Government of Bolivia and the Friends of Nature Foundation (FAN), from 1995 to 2005, set a foundation for institutional strengthening for the Park’s management. This model enabled the consolidation of the area and structured a planning process through the application of institutionalized management tools such as the Protection Plan (2013-2017) and the Annual Operational Plan, which had rarely been used in the National System of Protected Areas (SNAP). Likewise, the FAN contributed in procuring funding to ensure management sustainability, mainly through the Noel Kempff Mercado Climate Action Project (PAC-NKM). Adding to this, the promotion of participatory mechanisms, such as the Park Management Committee and the involvement of members of local communities in operational instances and decision-making, have been fundamental in improving the Park’s management.

Sadly, this co-administration model was phased out in 2006 due to changes in the national socio-political context witch centralized management of protected areas within the National Government. The main impact of this change is seen in the Park’s financial sustainability.

Palau has a long history of managing its fisheries. For generation upon generation, the Traditional Chiefs placed vulnerable reef areas off limits to fishing, known as a “bul,” to protect both biodiversity and the livelihoods and food security of their people. In these modern times, it is broadly accepted that “marine capture fisheries have direct impacts not only on the target market species, most significantly tuna, but also can have large impacts on a number of incidentally caught species, some of which are particularly vulnerable to overexploitation and can directly degrade habitat and can have broad indirect or collateral effects on community structure and processes. 

Using this traditional method of conservation, Palau has created a "whole-domain" management approach from ridge to reef and beyond, the most ambitous component being the Palau National Marine Sanctuary. As Palau moves forward with the implementation of the PNMS, the Bul concept is kept in the forefront of all processes. 

This building block´s approach is reflected in various activities ranging from training measures, spaces for exchange and dialogue between stakeholders and between institutions as well as support in the development of agreements. One example is the agreement between the Ministry of Environment, the protected area management unit and the university with regard to participatory monitoring and evaluation of nurseries and restoration trials. Strengthening of the protected area management committee is another key measure that aims to improve the area's governance.

In addition, the appropriation and integration of the national climate change policy in meso-level actions, such as the development of climate change plans, the implementation of adaptation measures in productive sectors and in the management of ecosystems, are reflected.

Since 2011, the scientific community has engaged an ecoregionalization work, leading to the identification of important marine areas in the French Southern Lands (TAF) and neighbouring high sea. In this frame, Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas have been designated by the CBD that include a large part of TAF waters. In 2016, the outcomes of the CROMEBA program (Crozet Marine Ecosystem Based Approach) and a workshop on Kerguelen marine ecosystems informed the spatial conservation planning of the enlarged TAF nature reserve. Scientific inputs allowed designating more than 128 000 km2 of strict protection area (Cat. Ia. IUCN) and identifying priorities for actions for the new management plan. In a context of major knowledge gaps on marine ecosystems, the strengthening of research programs in poorly documented areas, in particular on deep-sea and offshore ecosystems, contribute to the regular update of the management objectives, regulations and protection status of the nature reserve. This work will also contribute to the development of the CCAMLR MPA network in Antarctica and the promotion of the creation of high sea MPAs.

Since the 1950’s, scientists are studying the uniqueness of the French Southern Lands (TAF) acting as an open-sky lab for researchers on natural sciences. The first scientific stations built then now constitute the districts capitals that welcome more than 200 scientists every year from 60 research programs. The Institut Polaire Paul-Emile Victor (IPEV) coordinates those activities and ensures the excellence of scientific research in the TAF.

Since 1955, the local authority of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF) administrates this territory, placing science and environmental protection as a key stone of French sovereignty on the TAF.

Aware of the vulnerability of these ecosystems, the scientific community advocated for the creation of the TAF nature reserve and advised its extension at sea in 2016. The nature reserve management, ensured by TAAF, is supported by a scientific committee, the Polar environment Committee (CEP), which provides advice for research and management actions.

With the enlarged perimeter of the reserve, the link with scientists is more essential than ever. The new management plan includes research activities to inform an adapted and efficient management of the rich and vulnerable ecosystems of TAF.

Based on the results of the diagnostic evaluation conducted by our Impact team, SmartFish designs an improvement plan to ready the group and its products for preferential markets. After thorough review with fisher partners and any outside partners (eg facilitating NGO), SmartFish and the fishing group sign a formal contract that defines the terms of the intervention. 

Subsequently, SmartFish incubates the fishing group to improve their fishing, handling, processing and other business practices to produce premium quality seafood that is independently verifiable as socially and environmentally responsible or improving.

To bring their seafood to preferential markets, SmartFish helps partner fishers achieve the following:

• independent evaluation or certification of environmental sustainability (eg MSC, Seafood Watch, or FIP)
• independent evaluation of social sustainability (eg FairTrade)
• optimization of catch, handling, processing, packaging, transport, and other technical aspects
• optimization of general business practices
• incorporation of traceability system
• leveraging of local infrastructure to retain as much value locally as possible locally, including opportunities for women and other community members

The old diesel powered generator on Cousin Island Special reserve was replaced by a modern and robust Photovoltaic Solar Power system. Research was required to procure equipment that could withstand the high salinity, heat and humidity on a tropical island. Once located in the United States, the different components had to be imported by the NGO Nature Seychelles (who manages teh Special Reserve) itself. All the equipment including the stands that had to be fabricated using high quality stainless steel had to be shipped to the island - Cousin island Special Reserve has no dock, harbor or quay and the landing of the equipment was fraught with difficulties. The stand-alone 5 kw photovoltaic energy system was installed in July 2015. Since then 2 controllers have had to be replaced because of corrosion.

Though ensuring the registration of a surf break is no easy task, it is critical to ensure thata once a surf break is recognized and registered, actions are taken to ensure that the promises and advantages of protection are delivered to all actors, and local fishing communities in particular. This building bloc implies, for example: regular capacity building and interaction with children and youngsters; cleaning of beaches campaigns; recognition of local champions and leaders; monitoring development initiatives (e.g. in infraestructure which may affect a surf break), regular mettings with local actors to explore ways in which the local environment an be improved, etc.    

The ADIO represents 110 families of the Ostional community. They are the main partners responsible for implementing the actions of habitat maintenance, collecting eggs according to plan management and conservation and packaging of eggs. Of the ADIO sales, 70% are distributed to members and 30% are reserved for local development such as construction of roads, bridges, health centers and school resources. The direct benefit that each family receives are: an endowment of eggs for consumption, an equitable distribution of family income, scholarships for students, aid to elderly and pregnant adults.