A robust monitoring mechanism of the process needs to be put in place. Technical staff need to ensure that they engage with communities to explore whether there are challenges and how they can address them. During these monitoring events, communities also share their experiences.
This is part of the continuous learning cycle to improve where necessary. New techniques are also shared during these monitoring events.

This building block aims at sustaining communities with day-to-day survival options. As communities engage in restoration work, they need to engage in compensatory and beneficial economic activities as individuals or groups. The communities identified livelihoods of their choice. In this project, the communities chose goat and chicken rearing, mushroom growing and bee-keeping. So far, the project has supported them with chicken and goat rearing and bee-keeping.  The benefits from these livelihoods are used to meet household needs such as agricultural inputs, clothing and school fees for children.

In order to achieve sustainability, the communities were allowed to factor in their traditional knowledge and skills on how to concretize the new working modalities. The communities added another set of working groups from various villages. The working groups were shared a portion of the reserve to manage. This made the work of the overall committee easy as it turned into a monitoring committee. The groups make their own plans (work plans) for various activities such as patrolling, making of firebreaks etc. 

The committees are trained on general management of the reserve. Some topics include facilitation of natural regeneration, simple silvicultural operations, firebreak maintenance. Apart from these technical topics, group dynamics and conflict management are also taught. These topics help to ensure all the committee members, and the general communities work towards achieving one agenda despite diversities in opinions.

The first step is to convene all the forest block committees, local leaders and rural communities in general. These meetings focus on addressing issues that have negatively affected the communities as a result of the deforested reserve. This is followed by the establishment of new committees to oversee the new management plans. 

Invasive species management plan was prepared and implemented to deal with invasive birds as well as invasive plant species on the Island. Important invasive bird species on Farasan include Common myna Acridotheres tristis and House Crow Corvus splendens. Invasive plants found on Farasan Island include Mesquite Prosopis juliflora and Jerusalem thorn Parkinsonia aculeata. Mitigation efforts are planned to be scaled up after the evidence of initial success. 

Preventing the destruction of coral formations, seagrass meadows, and mangroves, are measures to restore these natural habitats. Cleaning and restoring nesting sites for seabirds and turtles prevent population decline and restore coastal vegetation that prevents erosion. Habitat degradation resulting from coastal development activities is being effectively mitigated in the reserve through strategic measures aimed at controlling human impacts and enforcing regulations pertaining to fishing activities. 

To restore the ecosystem's structure, function, and biodiversity, collaborative efforts with the Saudi Fisheries Authority and fishermen have facilitated conservation efforts.

A biannual systematic monitoring plan was implemented, with terrestrial animals surveyed twice a year to assess population trends and threats in the protected area. Additionally, intensive studies were conducted to evaluate the area's terrestrial biodiversity. These studies provided valuable insights into ecological balance, species richness, and overall ecosystem health, documenting one bat species, one reptile species, and 11 invertebrate species as first records for Saudi Arabia. 

During 2023 and 2024, extensive surveys of the Red Sea habitats (coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangroves), coral reef fishes, and marine mammals were conducted including the Farasan Islands. These studies provided valuable insights into the ecological balance, diversity, species richness, and overall health of the coral reef and associated habitats. Previous nesting turtle monitoring studies have also provided valuable information on Farasan turtle populations.

To reduce community reliance on deforestation activities, the project introduced livelihood diversification options, including irrigation farming, beekeeping, banana and pineapple production, goat and chicken rearing, and mushroom cultivation. These activities provide sustainable income alternatives that align with the conservation goals of Mvai Forest Reserve. Local farmers are trained in small-scale irrigation and sustainable agriculture techniques to improve productivity without expanding farmland and so far four irrigation schemes have been developed to enable crop production three times a year. The diversification of livelihoods aims to create a sustainable income base for the community, reducing the need for charcoal production and forest exploitation. These initiatives are at varying stages of implementation, with some fully operational, such as banana and pineapple farming, while others, like mushroom production and fish farming will be operational by March 2025.

The demarcation of Mvai Forest Reserve’s boundaries was a collaborative effort involving the local community, traditional leaders, and government agencies. Through consultations and field visits, boundaries were marked to clearly delineate protected areas, minimizing conflicts over land use and reducing unauthorized access. Community members participated in the boundary-setting process, reinforcing their understanding and respect for the protected area’s limits. Demarcation included physical markers, providing a visible reminder to the community of the forest’s boundaries, which also helped organize patrols and enforce restricted access. This clear boundary setting allowed the project to manage forest resources systematically, while community participation ensured the demarcation was respected and recognized by all stakeholders. This collaborative demarcation process strengthened the community’s role in conservation and solidified the boundaries as a foundation for sustainable management.