Transboundary conservation areas (TBCAs) are designated regions that extend across international borders and are collaboratively managed by multiple nations or administrative divisions. These areas are pivotal for biodiversity conservation and ecological connectivity, serving as vital corridors for wildlife migration and fostering cooperation in preserving shared ecosystems. The significance of TBCAs is underscored by their role in addressing the challenges posed by habitat fragmentation and climate change, as they encompass large, ecologically critical regions that facilitate the movement of species and support the resilience of natural habitats.

International community has increasingly recognized the value of TBCAs, leading to the establishment of various initiatives and agreements to enhance collaboration among nations. Africa hosts at least 27 TBCAs, approximated to cover an area of 847,158 square km. TBCAs have become an important tool for promoting environmental sustainability and diplomatic relations between neighboring countries. These areas serve as platforms for dialogue and cooperation, addressing the paradox of globalization and the challenges posed by militarized interstate disputes in conservation efforts. 

The Kenya-Tanzania Transboundary Marine Conservation Area (TBCA) delivers ecological, socio-economic, and governance benefits. It links vital habitats like mangroves, seagrass, and coral reefs, supporting biodiversity, species migration, and ecosystem resilience to climate change. The TBCA provides annual ecosystem services ranging between US$127–229 million/year (UNEP, 2023). Eco-tourism and recreational services contribute an additional US$65-117 million annually, improving livelihoods and advancing conservation efforts.

Overview of the Paper-Making Process and Factory Layout

This building block focuses on the paper-making process—from raw banana fibres to finished paper—and the factory layout. For detailed information about the machines and equipment used, please refer to the next building block.

Our process is a simplified, manual version of traditional paper-making, specifically designed to avoid the use of chemical products. For example, during the cooking stage, we use only clean water without additives. This thermo-mechanical treatment reduces environmental impact, simplifies wastewater treatment, and improves logistics. Given that our factory is located in rural Nepal, access to external materials can be challenging. Most of our equipment is designed and built locally to ensure easier maintenance.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Cutting Banana Fibres: After extraction, banana fibres are as long as the trunks. We cut them into pieces 1–2 cm in length using a commercial chaff cutter.
2. Boiling the Fibres: The cut fibres are placed in a drainer, which is then set in a boiler. Clean water is added, and once boiling begins, the fibres are cooked for 15 minutes. This step serves to clean the fibres.
3. Rinsing: After boiling, the drainer is removed, and the fibres are rinsed in clean water.
4. Refining: The fibres are gradually added to a Hollander beater, along with clean water. This key machine cuts, separates, and fibrillates the fibres, increasing their absorbency and preparing them for sheet formation.
5. Sheet Making: The resulting pulp is mixed with water in a vat. Operators use a mould and deckle to manually form individual sheets of paper.
6. Pressing and Drying: The wet sheets are stacked and pressed using a screw press to remove excess water. Once sufficiently dry, they are hung in a solar dryer (or greenhouse) to finish drying.

A PDF document titled “Process” is included with this building block, summarizing these steps with photos.

Factory Layout

You can find the factory layout in a separate PDF attached to this building block. It’s worth noting that fibre extraction also takes place in the same facility. For more details on that process, please refer to the building block dedicated to extraction.

Currently, we produce about 2 kg of paper per day, with plans to scale up to 20 kg per day within the next year. This increase will come from optimizing equipment and expanding our team of operators.

SCERA’s technical staff and the Value Chain Analysis and Participatory Land Use Planning (PLUP) Feasibility study consultant, Dr Adam Manvell, implemented work on Agricultural value chain analysis around Okomu National Park. The team visited 8 support zone communities, 4 Local markets, 3 Agricultural Service providers and one Tree crop research Institute - Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (RRIN). Based on findings from engagements with communities, communities are interested in forest friendly farming practices such as beekeeping and tree crop farming particularly Bitter kola (Garcinia kola), African cherry (Chrysophyllum albidum), bush mango (Irvingia gabonensis), pepper fruit (Dennettia tripetala), black pear (Dacryodes edulis), Avocado pear and importantly Timber species. There is high demand for timber in the area which has led to illegal logging issues in ONP. It has been observed that the environment is conducive for the farming of these crops and most of the trees are indigenous to the area. Local, regional and national markets are available for the sales of these products and the income generating potentials are encouraging. 

SCERA carried out a training on beehives construction from 24th-26th of October 2023, at the Okomu National Park Conference Hall, Okomu National Park Headquarters, Udo, Ovia South-West, Edo State. A total of 14 carpenters from communities were trained. The aim was to equip community carpenters with the skills for constructing beehives within their communities using locally sourced materials. These practices enhance the earning opportunities for carpenters, make beehives easily accessible and relatively cheaper for interested community farmers, and increase their interest in conservation initiatives. 

As part of the process of developing a law enforcement strategy for Okomu National Park that is focused on crime prevention, and to build capacity of rangers of the park in data collection and analysis using Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART), SCERA organised a 5 days training workshop. The course aimed to build the capacity of ONP staff, national park service staff and SCERA staff in core SMART skills, and provide them with resources to support further training of protected area staff. The training/workshop was taught by a consultant TCHAKOUDEU KEHOU Stephane

More so, a 2-day training on Human Rights and Social Safeguards training took place. The same batch of rangers that were trained on SMART were the ones trained. After the training, a WhatsApp group was created for the consultant to continue to share information with the rangers

During the two international learning events, which took place from February to October 2024, participants were tasked with developing country-specific transformation initiatives to work on collaboratively as a team. This activity constituted the core working stream for action in respective countries and was part of the Academy’s Growing phase. The country teams were responsible for developing and implementing at least one joint project aimed at advancing agroecological transition. The nature and topic of the transformation initiative were intentionally left open. Participants reported their progress through a video presentation and shared their results at the second international learning event held in Hawassa. 
Participants expressed a profound depth and intensity of learning throughout these initiatives, particularly in areas such as leadership, teamwork, and agroecology. Most of the initiatives were highly successful and will continue beyond the conclusion of the Academy. For example, in India, a roadmap for agroecological transition was developed for a specific district. In Burkina Faso, a tour for journalists was organised, which helped to raise awareness of agroecology within the country.

Two international four-day learning events framed the Academy, occurring at its beginning and end. The first event took place in February 2024 in Kisumu, Kenya, as part of the Sowing phase of the Academy. The objective of this event was to bring all participants together for the first time in a spirit of collaborative learning and support. It aimed to introduce the participants to the key concepts of leadership and agroecology while laying the foundation for successful work and group cooperation. During this event, participants began developing stakeholder systems maps to advance agroecology in their countries and collaborated to create a vision for change. Additionally, a field visit took participants to a local demonstration farm (BIOGI) and a farm practicing agroforestry, supported by the NGO Trees for the Future. 
After several months of learning in country groups and meeting the global cohort online four times, the second event was held in November 2024 in Hawassa, Ethiopia. This marked the final official activity of the Academy and served as the core event of its Harvesting phase, transitioning participants into the Transforming phase. The key objectives of this event were to support country groups and individuals in taking and scaling up action, to deepen the learning from previous months, to discuss the potential for upscaling the initiatives developed during the Academy, and  to celebrate and strengthen the networks that had formed.
During this event,  participants reflected on and shared learnings with other country teams, exploring key topics such as personal ecology, individual leadership, habit formation, and communication. A field visit included a tour to a local coffee co-operative processing facility and a diversified small-scale farm. Participants also planned their next steps as transformation makers for agroecological change.
The two international learning events were complemented by a total of four online session, each lasting 2,5 hours, which took place in March, May, July and September 2024. These sessions provided participants with additional insights on models and tools for leading transformation initiatives and advancing agroecology, including effective communication, overcoming obstacles, and influencing political narratives. Thus, these online sessions constituted an important component of the Academy’s Growing phase. 

The purpose of the Academy was to support participants in developing the skills and experience necessary for leadership in navigating complex systems and fostering agroecological transformation.
A suitable concept to fulfill this purpose was developed over a span of three months (July – September 2023): 

Consequently, the purpose was distilled into three key objectives: Learning, Acting, and Networking. These objectives were reflected in the design of each session and supported at three levels:  individuals, country teams, and the global cohort.
The methodology of the Agroecology Leadership Academy was based on 7 principles:

• A close connection between the topic of Agroecology (the “What”) and Transformation and Leadership (the “How”)
• A clear focus on transformation skills and mindset
• Transformation initiatives as core learning projects
• In-Country facilitators to support the country teams
• Linking Learning, Acting and Networking
• Systemic, experiential and relational learning
• The strong role of communication

The general structure of the Academy was organised into four phases: Sowing, Growing, Harvesting and Transforming. Various learning formats were implemented throughout these phases, including an online kick-off event, two international in-presence learning events, four international online sessions, and individual workshops for the different country teams. These formats concentrated on the aforementioned levels. While the meetings within the country teams emphasised teamwork at the national level, the international sessions facilitated mutual learning among the global cohort. 

After the concept development phase, the participant selection process commenced. The goal was to assemble a heterogenous group representing diverse stakeholder groups, skills, ages and genders. 
A call for applications was sent out to a pre-defined group of potential participants from agroecology-networks in the respective countries. Following the evaluation of initial applications based on predefined selection criteria, individual selection conversations were conducted to finalise the group composition, with five participants chosen from each country. 
In selecting participants, not only individual criteria were considered, but also the need for complementary skills within the group composition.  Each participant was expected to contribute something from their personal background that would benefit the group as a whole.
This selection process ensured that different levels of the agricultural and food system were represented - participants included, among others, farmers, founders of agricultural enterprises, university professors, and representatives of ministries of agriculture - as well as ensuring a balanced gender ratio within the group.

Se trata de una herramienta para el monitoreo de grandes peces pelágicos y/o depredadores (especies focales) en Áreas Marinas Protegidas (AMP) del Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación (SINAC) de Costa Rica.  Este protocolo cuenta con una selección de indicadores que permitirán evaluar el estado de conservación en el que se encuentran las especies focales año tras año con el fin de identificar cambios a corto plazo y proporcionar alertas tempranas a los tomadores de decisiones. Se proponen técnicas de monitoreo estandarizadas, efectivas y accesibles que no dependan necesariamente de personal científico especializado en el campo. A largo plazo, esta información servirá para evaluar tendencias poblacionales, identificar amenazas y fortalecer la efectividad de las AMP hacia la conservación de un grupo de especies cuya presencia es vital para el funcionamiento y salud de los ecosistemas.

This protocol is contained in Resolution 0841 of 2024, issued by the Corporación Autónoma Regional para el Desarrollo Sostenible del Chocó (Codechocó), which seeks to define behavioral actions and establish measures for  responsible whale sharks tourism (including other species) to safeguard their welfare. It is aimed at fishermen, tourists and the community in general. 

Measures include the number of boats allowed with a shark or group of sharks at the same time, the maximum time and minimum distance, the mandatory use of life jacket and the carrying capacity of the area. It also prohibits feeding sharks, swimming near them,  free-diving, and throwing garbage in places not designated for it. 

Randilen Wildlife Management Area (WMA) generates tourism income that directly supports community development, fostering sustainable growth and improving local livelihoods. Revenue from tourism activities, such as park entry fees, guided tours, and eco-lodges, is reinvested in key sectors like education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Additionally, these funds empower local communities by creating jobs, enhancing conservation efforts, and supporting small businesses. The income also contributes to cultural preservation and environmental sustainability, ensuring long-term economic stability while promoting responsible tourism practices that benefit both people and wildlife.