The focal point of recycling is a step by step process that transforms waste product into a reusable, valueable substance. The composition of the net is cleaned, crushed and restructured

Significant design and purposing is developed through utilising community skills that already exist. Products developed from recycled and repurposed abandoned nets display local character, flare and application. Incorporating story and background provide introduction to DYI projects available to tour groups and school programs

Taiwan Enivironmental Management Authority has Fishing Policy encouraging responsible use of fishing gear.  Since 2020, the Ocean Conservation Administration under the Ocean Affairs Council has engaged local governments in pilot programs for recycling and reusing abandoned fishing nets (oyster ropes) and polystyrene (floating devices). As of 2023, over 799 tons of these materials had been recycled, achieving a reuse rate of nearly 75%.

HaYi is government recognised as a collection point for abandoned nets

As both the Community Fishery Conservation Trust Funds and Women’s Saving Group Conservation Funds contribute to CFi activities, it is important to engage with local government authorities to gain their support and leverage their involvement. Community Fisheries operate under a government mandate and are overseen by local Fisheries Administration authorities, who ensure that CFi activities follow both internal and national rules. Involving the Commune authorities in managing Women’s Saving Group operations helps to reduce potential sources of intergroup conflict, increase trust between members, and strengthen group management. Women’s Saving Group members respect the involvement of the Commune and are mindful of its oversight. Furthermore, some Commune’s have granted additional top up grants to Women’s Savings Groups who have performed well.

Each Women’s Saving Group must achieve a high standard of financial literacy and management capacity prior to receiving a Conservation Fund. These skills are required before they start to loan the Conservation Fund capital to their members and then provide their local CFi with the interest generated to fund conservation activities. Capacity building for Women’s Savings Group members includes training in managing credit, building a business, understanding contracts, and keeping a savings book. The Women’s Savings Group Committee will also be trained in meeting procedures, record keeping, bookkeeping, managing savings books and understanding the group bylaws.

Prior to receiving funds, the Community Fisheries Committee must demonstrate a high level of management capacity. The CFi committee needs to be able to convene and record meetings, hold elections, and be financially transparent and accountable. The committee also needs the skills to work with local authorities and understand the legal framework within which they operate. These skills are provided through a mix of training and long-term support and mentoring.

Empowering women to express their opinions, make informed decisions and meaningfully participate in their household, communities and conservancies is a key factor in transforming harmful norms that perpetuate GBV. We have engaged women through different platforms such as community dialogue forums, landscape level women forum, international days celebrations and self-mobilized livelihood groups. The dialogues have built the women’s confidence and ability to self and collectively advocate, they have become more equipped to challenge and question harmful norms, they are more empowered to speak about violence towards themselves and others in the community. The community dialogues have also led to women increased awareness about their rights and making informed decisions. Women meaningful participation in conservancies AGM has improved, women expressing interest in conservancies elective leadership position has increased and women voting their own in the conservancy leadership has also increased. This led to an increase in the number of women in the board to be 4 from zero. The women forum at landscape level has been key in awareness on rights among women and a platform for learning and sharing knowledge. 

Male engagement has been a key component in transforming harmful social norms that perpetuate gender-based violence (GBV). This approach involves engaging male conservancy leaders and influential community men who play significant roles in decision-making at the household, community, and conservancy levels. 

These male leaders have been supported in reflecting on their own beliefs about gender equality and GBV, examining how they can either perpetuate or address inequalities through their roles in the conservancies. The engagement sessions were facilitated by the gender organization CREAW, which has extensive experience in this area. Initially, the focus was on increasing men's understanding of gender equality and GBV concepts, as well as the links between gender/GBV and conservation, before delving deeper into the related social norms. The male engagement sessions were done on a quarterly basis.  

A key factor in transforming harmful social and gender norms in the Kasigau and Kitirua conservancies has been community dialogues facilitated through the Social Analysis and Action (SAA) model. Developed by CARE International, the SAA model is a community-led social change process that encourages individuals and communities to explore and challenge social norms, beliefs, and practices related to gender, gender-based violence, and sexual and reproductive health rights. 

Since the inception of RISE, KWCA has adapted the SAA model to align with the conservation sector. This approach employs participatory tools that help individuals address the gender and social norms affecting development and conservation goals. 

The SAA approach was integrated into the wildlife conservancies by first training staff from the landscape association, conservancies, and their boards, followed by community members who now serve as SAA/gender champions. These champions facilitate community dialogues using participatory tools such as the Fixed Position Tool, "But Why?" Tool, 24-Hour Clock, Pile Sorting, and Vote with Your Feet, among others. The dialogues are facilitated to members of the conservancies at the villages either at a central site like a church, chiefs office or at the “Maasai boma’s-households”.  

Volunteering activities, such as constructing honey processing centers, tree planting, and nursery establishment, strengthened community ownership. Contributions like bricks and stones exemplified local investment in the project's success. Stewardship motivated community members to sustain the project beyond its initial implementation phase. Stewardship was the outcome of participatory planning, inclusivity, and capacity-building efforts, reinforcing project sustainability and ownership.