In each village, four main interventions were carried out:

• Creation of community tree nurseries
• Tree planting/reforestation
• Creation of community resilience centres
• Local capacity building on Eco-DRR activities

These activities aimed to restore tree cover on slopes and riverbanks around the villages in order to reduce flood risk, while at the same time provide direct livelihood benefits to targeted households and stakeholders in the project. Establishment of community centres and disaster preparedness procedures aimed to reduce exposure of households by providing shelter from extreme winter conditions. The project also promoted replication and scale-up of Eco-DRR activities within Koh-e Baba, in order to sustain field interventions beyond the project’s three-year lifespan.

Farmers manage their environment to mitigate disturbances, such as floods, drought and disease.

Forests and trees in wetlands areas are protected to regulate water levels. Practices are undertaken, such as harrowing in early spring or using nurse crops or trees for shade, to preserve soil moisture.

Pests and weeds are controlled through intercropping and crop rotation in fields, through alternate grazing by different species, through manual removal and by protecting or creating habitat for pest-controlling species, e.g. birds and insects.

Wild trees, bushes and flowering plants, especially important for pollinators, are protected.

In order to be able to interpret and effectively respond to ecosystem variability and change, wild flora and fauna were also used as indicators. Farmers observed the development of wild plants and the development and behavior of wild animals, and used this information to plan and adjust land management. For example in Roslagen, Sweden, the size of birch leaves can give an indication of when to sow. The presence of certain plant species gives an indication on soil quality.

Farmers practiced polyculture, which involved mixing crops in the same field space (i.e., intercropping) and growing them at different times (i.e., crop rotation).

Farmers also recognized that farm animals, non-cultivated plants, birds, and soil flora and fauna are important components in agroecosystems and therefore protect and manage these. For example, geese were used to control weeds in gardens, and hens were used to control livestock parasites. Non-cultivated plants were used as primary producers, as shade plants, as temporary stores of nutrients, and to prevent growth of visceral parasites. Certain wild fauna are also protected (prohibition to harm) as their role in regulating pests or in pollination is recognized.

When conducting a P3DM workshop in a place with a high percentage of an indigenous community (like Palau), the utility of traditional knowledge is invaluable and irreplaceable. The format of a P3DM workshop can help capture traditional knowledge better than many planning exercises, and can ensure the prolonged preservation of such knowledge by storing it in a tangible model.

The P3DM captures traditional knowledge through organized, structured discussions around the model. Advanced planning to advertise the event is important for word of mouth to reach those living in more isolated communites. Semi-structured interviews around the model can capture most of the ideas; attention should be given to quieter participants who may shy away from sharing in crowds.

The workshop must be carefully planned well in advance to allow for those with jobs, school, or household duties to attend their prioritized needs. A critical component of success is the participatory feature of this workshop, and to make this workshop fully participatory, there must be a coordinator and personnel duties fully established

The technical aspects of the table/model must be carefully planned by a GIS specialist. Key considerations include: intent of model, vulnerable natural and social resources, land elevation, land area, marine and water features, space to host the model, and access to model materials.

The spatial extent and the elevation of the land will inform the GIS specialist of the scale to be used. The scale impacts the number of foam layers to be used, and ultimately the amount of foam material needed to create the model. Experience with topographic maps and geospatial analysis is required.

By establishing legal rights for nature, we can begin to restore balance to our relationship with nature, which is currently based on exploitation but which can evolve into a partnership in which humans and nature flourish together. Thus another key building block is the right of humans to a healthy environment, which supports rights of nature and vice versa.The conditions are (1) local advocates supportive of the rights of nature, (2) lawmakers or judges willing to consider rights of nature as an alternative to the current legal paradigm under which nature is property, and (3) professional legal support from experienced rights of nature campaigners (e.g., Earth Law Center).

The Sustainability Rights Ordinance is based on the concept that nature has inherent rights, just as humans enjoy inherent human rights. The rights of nature movement is growing worldwide. For example, in 2017, four rivers earned recognition of their legal personhood (in New Zealand, India, and Colombia).

In order to establish a commercial lionfish market, it is important to understand the perceptions of stakeholders (particularly fishers and restaurant owners) and the general public towards catching and eating lionfish. For example, in a survey of the general public undertaken in Belize in 2015, around half of respondents who had not eaten lionfish stated that they would not try a free sample because they believed it to be dangerous. Furthermore, lionfish exploitation was significantly associated with knowledge about the invasion.

Once the barriers and misconceptions around catching/eating lionfish have been identified, they can be resolved by developing a targeted outreach programme with the general public and social marketing campaign targeting restaurants and consumers that informs people about the lionfish invasion in a way that reflects local concerns and values. 

Activities may include:

• cooking demonstrations
• educational presentations
• lionfish tasting events (held in partnership with local restaurants/cooks)
• safe-handling workshops
• interactive, educational booths with lionfish tasters