Research into the effectiveness of restoration methods has proven invaluable for addressing the problem of dune degradation in New Zealand. This information has assisted community-led projects in both the design and implementation of initiatives. Working off a sound knowledge base is important for all restoration projects but especially critical for community-based projects where voluntary inputs are high. This knowledge not only improves the likelihood of success from a restoration ecology stand-point but also improves the degree of confidence among participants in what they are trying to do. Implementation of this building block relies largely on professional input into the problems being addressed. In New Zealand there has been considerable research into the success of methods for the restoration of dune ecosystems using indigenous species. This includes aspects such as methods for seed collection, propagation and re-establishment of dune plant species at various sites, and for effective management of restoration sites with regard to threats such as weeds and physical disturbance. Importantly, these studies have identified techniques that are practical and effective for achieving biodiversity goals .

Community ‘buy-in’ for restoration activities is especially important in the case of dunes since there are many human threats to dune habitats. Encouraging a sense of ownership within not only the local community, but also the wider beach-going community, is the main strategy being used . This can be achieved through awareness-raising with the objective of socialising the vision for the coastal park, which in turn has the potential to reduce management issues. It is also useful to directly canvas the level of support for proposed interventions, ideally as part of the management planning exercise .

Environmental protection is closely related to human survival and development. It is the basis of economic and social development and stability, and also an important constraining factor. Seeking the balance between conservation and development is never easy. The traditional livelihoods in Wudalianchi area included agriculture, mass tourism and industry production, these all had negative impacts on the environment. The Management Committee made scientific and reasonable planning, and has been making the effort to guide and encourage industry transformation from traditional agriculture to organic agriculture, tourism agriculture, from mass tourism to eco-tourism, industrial park was constructed to mainly process mineral resources, carry out characteristic agricultural and sideline products and livestock products, transform from traditional production to intensive processing, supplemented by green food processing, warehousing and logistics. Local residents, with the help from the government and the Management Committee, transformed from high pollution industries to work in businesses with low impact on environment. 

Wudalianchi Geological Park covers an area of 1,060 square kilometres, in the area it has a town, two farms, a township, a forest farm, three military farms, and some villages, with a total population of 56,730. The good management of the geological park depends not only on the supervision of the government, the implementation of the management committee, the cooperation of the local residents, but also relies on external support. Thus, Wudalianchi Geological Park reached out to various domestic and international research institutes, colleges and universities, and other stakeholders to carry out research projects, cooperation, and promotional activities, the goals are to 1) improve geological park’s research and implementation capacities; 2) learn and exchange management/development/research experiences; 3) leverage external capacity to achieve more for the best protection of the geological park while taking into account the sustainable development of the local communities.

In order to strengthen the protection of the park, make rational use of natural resources, and ensure the sustainable development of the park, a regulation on the protection of the park was issued and implemented in 2007. Wudalianchi Geological Park became the first geological park implementing protection and supervision with legislative support in China. A master plan was developed for the development of the park for 2007 – 2025, to formulate the development objectives of resource protection, tourism, agriculture and forestry. The park has formulated more than 100 regulatory work systems in 8 aspects, including atmosphere, water, geological remains, forestry, grassland and biology. A comprehensive inspection team of 120 people from departments of environmental protection, homeland, planning, forestry and others was also established. Since 2003, more than 20 cases of resource destruction have been investigated and dealt with, effectively reduced the impact of human activities on the environment of the core area and buffer zone. All these measures are to ensure the protection and development of the park have laws and regulations to follow, the management is rational, and the management is done by capable professionals.

ESN training and mentoring is delivered to protected areas by Business Mentors recruited from ESN business partners. Business Mentors have a range of business planning experience and expertise; for example, working in finance, marketing, operational management and human resources. They must also demonstrate the requisite personal and professional leadership attributes to perform as successful mentors and trainers.

Business Mentors will first attend a Mentor Development Course which will train them to apply their existing skills and knowledge to a protected area context. Trained mentors and protected area managers are then brought together on a Residential Training Programme, set in an inspirational natural setting where they will have the opportunity to share their experience and build the mentoring relationship.

We sell the raw materials into global supply chains, giving international brands opportunities to source premium products with positive social and environmental stories, giving fishing communities a more transparent and dependable price, and providing sustainable funding sources for local conservation and development actions. This ensures the sustainability of larger, more effective multi-habitat marine protected areas, and quality controls and standards can be maintained independent of external donors.

We promote the adoption of international standards for responsible fishing in collaboration with fishing organizations, governments, academia, and industry. We use the Fair Trade (FT), Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), and Monterey Bay Aquarium (MBA) standards to frame our action plans. The four phases of the building block are:

1. Healthy stocks. We evaluate the status of the fisheries in order to determine the proper management methods and instruments to apply, depending on the fishery (e.g., catch shares, effort control, size limits).

2. Healthy ecosystems. We evaluate the effect of the fishery on

other species and habitats, as well as the effects of environmental change to fisheries and community. The latter to promote adaptation. 

3. Robust governance systems. We promote the formation of groups to

define management rules (both formal and informal) in a collective, transparent,

and democratic way. We also calculate investment costs in sustainable fishing and define sustainable financial plans.

4. Social justice.  We apply social justice principles and practices within the fishery: clear access rights, compliance with occupational, health standards, and access to fair prices.

We have three capacity building programs to pursue legal, sustainable and competitive fishing practices:

1. Capacity building for leaders: It focuses on human development at the individual level. We identify community leaders and provide the tools and knowledge to strengthen their leadership for the common good. The leaders develop sustainable fishing and marine conservation projects, to which COBI provides follow-up. We have had 38 fellows from 18 communities.

2. Capacity building for fishing cooperatives: It provides legal guidance and

training to fishing cooperatives to improve their operations, be more competitive, and ensure financial sustainability in the mid and long-term. 26 cooperatives have participated in the program.

3. Capacity building for fishery committees and alliances: Designed to increase collective action in working groups that represent different stakeholders

and interests within a given area or resource. The program provides guidance to define common goals, rules for decision-making and operations, working plans, and a follow-up strategy. Four committees and an alliance have participated in the program.

A trust fund provides a long-term funding source to finance activities defined in the Implementation and Monitoring Plan. The trust is founded on perpetuity, independence, simplicity, flexibility and transparency. The founding partners serve as trustors, while the beneficiary is the country’s national protected areas.