Co-Management approach

Wewalkele is one of the pilot ESAs, is home to several threatened animal species such as the Thambalaya (Labeo lankae), the Leopard (Panthera pardus), the Fishing cat (Prionailurus vi-verrinus), the Elephant (Elephas maximus), and the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra). Amidst the 125 flora species identified, cane plants grow to be quite tall and dense, are usually located in mud-dy groves, and are extremely thorny. People from the surrounding villages harvest Heen Wewal (Calamus) from Wewelkele using unsustainable means to make handicraft items that often sup-plement their household incomes. Recognizing the role played by the Wewalkele area in biodi-versity and sustenance of ecosystem services, and its potential threats, Divisional Secretariat (DS) and the community members joined hands to safeguard it via the respective Local Management Committee (LMC) in 2018, defining Wewalkele Co-Management Plan. The area was surveyed both socially and physically, demarcated to avoid further encroachment to ensure its conservation targets are met. And, to leave no one behind, the project focused on incentivizing the surrounding community to conserve the ESA while sustaining the economic benefits derived from it by transforming their existing natural resource usage to green jobs by enhancing their skills, facilitating stable market linkages and ultimately promoting the cane industry further. To ensure the sustainability of the community livelihoods, the project also worked towards setting up cane nurseries along with the required replanting facilities and support the village craftsmen to develop craftsmanship on value added products and to link them with marketing networks. The strong partnership with the local government bodies the community and oversight of LMC was the secret to the success of the managing ESA. Communities, natural habitats and biodiversity can co-exist, benefit each other, be protected and thrive, and the Wewalkelaya ESA is evi-dence of that!

1. Clear Legal and Policy Framework
2. Strong Local Institutions and Leadership
3. Trust and Effective Communication
4. Equitable Benefit Sharing
5. Capacity Building
6. Consistent Government Support
7. Adaptive Management and Monitoring
 

One of the key lessons learned is that the absence or vagueness of legal and policy frameworks for co-management has limited the effectiveness and sustainability of ESA interventions at the initial stage of the project. Where clear, recognized backing was formed, community roles were more respected, rights were defined, and conservation outcomes became more enduring.


Equitable benefit sharing is essential to the success of ESA co-management. In the We-walkele ESA, conservation efforts were designed to align with local livelihoods, particularly by enhancing the cane-based handicraft industry. Through training, market linkages, and in-stitutional support, communities gained stable incomes while actively contributing to biodi-versity conservation. This mutually beneficial arrangement demonstrates that when communi-ties share both the responsibilities and rewards of managing an ESA, conservation efforts become more inclusive, participatory, and sustainable.
 

Collaborative Partnerships for Grassroots Impact

This building block highlights the importance of forming strong, collaborative partnerships to achieve meaningful and sustainable grassroots impact. The success of any social enterprise, especially one focused on menstrual health or community wellbeing, depends not only on the product but also on the strength of the networks that support it.

First, by working closely with local partners (such as municipalities, local NGOs, girls' schools, colleges, hostels, and health centers), you can directly engage with the community. These partners help spread awareness about your product, support outreach activities, and even assist in distribution or sales. They also help ensure that the solutions are tailored to the specific cultural, geographic, and economic needs of the area.

Second, being active in national networks, such as the Menstrual Health Management Partner Alliance (MHMPA) Nepal, allows your project to stay aligned with national goals and current discussions. These networks offer a platform for advocacy, peer learning, joint campaigns, and collective problem-solving, enabling you to scale your impact beyond your immediate locality.

Third, building global partnerships opens the door to shared learning and innovation. For example, learning from other initiatives, such as the banana fiber pad project in Cameroon, can help you avoid common mistakes, adopt better technology, and improve your operations through exposure to diverse approaches.

Finally, teaming up with women’s rights organizations is crucial, especially when addressing issues such as menstrual health. These organizations already have strong community relationships, experience in gender-based advocacy, and a trusted presence in the field. Collaborating with them helps you access the right audience more effectively and lends greater legitimacy to your work.

Together, these partnerships enable your enterprise to grow stronger, gain trust, improve outreach, and build long-term sustainability.

Trust and Credibility at Local Level: Genuine relationships with community actors foster acceptance, feedback, and co-ownership of the initiative.

Two-Way Communication Across All Levels: From ward officials to schoolteachers and health workers—engagement must include all voices. Listening to feedback from every level strengthens design and delivery.

Shared Vision, Locally Rooted: While national networks offer policy guidance, it's local actors who turn ideas into action. Aligning purpose at every level helps keep goals grounded and achievable.

Embedded Local Presence: Having team members based in communities builds daily visibility and enables quick, culturally informed adjustments.

Network Participation for Visibility and Resources: Being part of national and global platforms opens doors for knowledge sharing, joint advocacy, and funding.

Mutual Benefit and Respect: Partnerships must be reciprocal. Whether it’s visibility, training, or shared tools, each actor should benefit from the collaboration.

Supportive Legal Framework: Legal registration and operational approvals make it possible to formally engage with schools, municipalities, and institutional partners.

Start by Listening to Local Actors: Health workers, teachers, ward officials, and community leaders bring grounded knowledge of social norms, barriers, and opportunities. Gathering perspectives across all operational levels builds a clearer picture of the landscape, leading to better-informed decisions and more effective design.

Community Engagement Builds Ownership: When local stakeholders are involved in decision-making—not just implementation—solutions gain legitimacy, traction, and long-term support. It takes time, but that investment pays off. People are more likely to champion the work and even take on responsibilities when they feel their input genuinely shapes the outcome.

Partnerships Multiply Reach and Relevance: Working with NGOs, schools, and health posts expands your impact and ensures that interventions reflect local realities. These partnerships don’t just support delivery—they open space for dialogue. Through regular exchange, new ideas emerge, unexpected opportunities arise, and your approach stays responsive to real needs.

Trust Is Slow but Foundational: Local trust is built through presence, follow-through, and consistency—not one-off meetings. It also depends on information flow: partners need time to learn about each other’s goals, values, and working styles. Only with that mutual understanding can genuine, lasting collaboration take root.

Tailor Communication to the Audience: Different levels of partners require different approaches—from informal conversations to formal MOUs. A clear communication strategy helps ensure the right tone, tools, and timing. Each partner is different, and taking time to understand their expectations and preferred ways of working allows for more effective, respectful collaboration.

Be Transparent About the Project Stage: If you're still prototyping, say so. Honesty earns respect—even when things aren’t perfect. Being open about key challenges builds credibility and trust. It invites dialogue, creates space for joint problem-solving, and helps manage expectations among partners and stakeholders.

Co-creation Outperforms Top-Down Models: Collaborative design takes time, but it leads to stronger partnerships, deeper user ownership, and better outcomes. When community members and local partners help shape the process from the beginning—not just implement it—they’re more invested and more likely to stand by the work long-term. Co-creation surfaces insights that top-down approaches often miss, and it builds mutual accountability that strengthens resilience when challenges arise.

Women’s Organizations Amplify Impact: These groups bring deep community roots, lived experience, and credibility—especially when working on sensitive topics like menstruation. Their networks open doors that others can’t, and their long-standing presence builds trust faster. Collaborating with women-led or women-focused organizations strengthens outreach, ensures gender-sensitive approaches, and adds critical insight to both program design and advocacy.

Global Learning Adds Value, Not Blueprinting: Engaging with global peers offers inspiration, shared strategies, and insight into what works elsewhere—but direct replication rarely fits. Local realities vary, and blindly applying external models can lead to failure or rejection. Instead, meaningful learning comes from adapting global lessons to your specific context, guided by local knowledge and needs.

National Networks Are Catalysts for Alignment: Being active in national platforms (like MHMPA Nepal) connects your work to policy dialogues, strengthens your credibility, and creates opportunities for joint campaigns, learning, and influence. These networks help keep the project relevant and resilient within a shifting national context.

Partnerships (NEMA, NFA, Local Governments, Institution)
  • Its purpose was for provision of tree seedlings, land and manpower/human resource

     

Collaboration in resource mobilization and implementation of the project

  1. Importance of collaboration and partnerships
  2. Importance of community engagements
  3. Importance of proper planning
4. Leveraging Expertise for Advocacy, Knowledge Sharing, and Technological Integration:

It is understood that effective conservation necessitates continuous knowledge exchange, unwavering policy advocacy, and the smart integration of modern technology.

Actionable Step: Actively utilize established platforms and networks to disseminate crucial information and influence policy. The role as Regional Vice Chair at IUCN CEESP, contributions to environmental law blogs, and appearances in environmental awareness videos are instrumental in this endeavour. Furthermore, focus will be placed on integrating 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Traditional Knowledge Systems (TKS) to create advanced conservation strategies. AI can analyse vast datasets on ecological patterns, climate change impacts, and biodiversity trends, while TKS provides invaluable localized, nuanced understanding of ecosystems and sustainable resource management. This synergy can lead to more precise conservation interventions and predictive models.

Areas of Focus: Continue to lead international webinars and symposiums on critical environmental topics such as "Rights of Nature in the Anthropocene" and "Science and Environmental Law Interface." Dedication to advocating for environmental causes at international conferences and universities, fostering regional and global collaboration, is paramount.

In conclusion, by strategically intertwining environmental law and policy with the profound wisdom embedded in cultural practices and Traditional Knowledge Systems, and by judiciously integrating advanced technologies like drones for reforestation and AI for enhanced analysis, a more sustainable and equitable path to biodiversity conservation can be forged. This framework, passionately designed offers a powerful means to engage communities, influence policy, and ultimately secure a healthy planet for all future generations.

3. Integrating Cultural Practices and Festivals for Environmental Conservation

It is contended that Hinduism, with its diverse pantheon symbolizing aspects of a single reality ("Truth is One, the wise call It by many names"), inherently promotes reverence for nature.

It is contended that Hinduism, with its diverse pantheon symbolizing aspects of a single reality ("Truth is One, the wise call It by many names"), inherently promotes reverence for nature.

For Example:

  • Nature Worship: It is observed that nature worship is a fundamental part of human society, with divinity ascribed to various natural elements. This community-based practice is increasingly vital for effective nature and natural resource conservation.
  • Symbolism of Deities and Vahanas: The portrayal of Hindu deities with animal or bird "vahanas" (vehicles)—such as Ganesha with his rat (Mooshika), Shiva with the bull (Nandi), Durga with the lion or tiger, and Vishnu with Garuda—instills deep respect and protection for these animals. This cultural veneration fosters a natural inclination towards animal welfare and conservation.
  • Festival Connections: Many Hindu festivals incorporate elements that inherently promote environmental consciousness, ranging from the ceremonial use of specific plants to rituals honouring natural elements. Highlighting these connections strengthens the cultural impetus for conservation.
2. Cultivating "Grow Natives" through Cultural Practices and Innovative Technology

It is believed that the inherent harmony with nature, so central to Indian culture where mountains, rivers, trees, flowers, and animals hold sacred significance, can be powerfully harnessed. This deep reverence for nature is a potent force for promoting the cultivation and preservation of native plant varieties.

Actionable Step: Actively encourage and facilitate initiatives to "grow natives" by directly connecting them to deeply rooted cultural and religious practices. This can be significantly amplified through the strategic use of technology. For instance, drones can be employed to deploy seed bombs in challenging terrains like mountains, facilitating large-scale afforestation and restoration efforts in areas otherwise difficult to access.

For Example:

  • Sacred Plants: The immense cultural and religious significance of plants worshipped since the Vedic era is highlighted. The "Panchvati" – the combination of Banyan, Peepal, Fig, Bilva, and Amla trees – described in "The Ramayana," symbolizes health, medicinal value, and enhanced cognitive well-being. Other sacred trees such as Ashoka, Bael, Bamboo, Banana, Bhang, Coconut, Lotus, Mango, Neem, Red Sandalwood, and Tulsi are associated with deities and hold significant medicinal value, showcasing their multifaceted importance.
  • Deity Associations: It is emphasized how specific native plants are linked to various Hindu gods, goddesses, and planets, such as Tulsi with Vishnu and Krishna, Bilva with Shiva, and Lotus with Lakshmi and Saraswati. By promoting the planting and nurturing of these species through the lens of spiritual devotion, significant contributions to biodiversity can be made, complemented by technological solutions for wider reach.

Prophet/Holy Men Associations: Trees like the Banyan, Sala, Peepal, and Ber, which are revered due to their association with prophets and holy figures across Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions, are highlighted. Work in this area includes supporting the establishment and protection of groves featuring these trees, reinforcing both cultural heritage and biodiversity

Trust building and collaboration with the OSPAS for the creation and development of Management Committee activities.

It focused on transforming the initial relationship between the protected area's management and the Artisanal Fishers Social Organizations (OSPAS), which initially acted as defenders of their interests in the face of fears of restrictions on their activities. Through a transparent dialogue process, the scope of management was explained, assuring that artisanal fishing would not be prohibited and that sustainable resource management would be pursued. This helped build trust and change the dynamics of the committee, moving from a defensive posture to active and committed participation, with the members themselves promoting the incorporation of new stakeholders and strengthening the planning and conservation process of the Dorsal de Nasca National Reserve.

  • Listen, be empathetic and maintain sincerity above all else. 
  • Respect available schedules and provide opportunities to facilitate meetings, 
  • Relate the fisher's concerns to the protected area, showing that we are both addressing and seeking solutions to common concerns. 
  • Maintain meetings and permanent information channels, where the Committee members are kept informed and involved. 
  • Assign commitments and tasks to the members of the management committee. Example: The first conservation agreements were generated from the CG's OSPAs, and they reached other OSPAs. 
  • Social processes require dedication and perseverance. 
  • It is necessary to map conflicts between actors and prepare for them.  
  • Know the history of previous processes. Much of the continuity of the participation will depend on the first answers from the Head Office. 
  • Not all the stakeholders in a neighboring NPA will be your stakeholders; stakeholders are defined by the continuity of economic activities in the NPA. It is necessary to be attentive to complementary economic activities 
Identification and prioritization of fishing nuclei according to their productive activity and territorial linkage

It focused on recognizing and prioritizing, based on preliminary information and an initial field survey, the most relevant fishing nuclei for participatory planning in the Dorsal de Nasca National Reserve. Initially, four potential localities mentioned in the technical dossier were identified, but after the analysis, two nuclei were prioritized: San Andrés and San Juan de Marcona, due to their direct productive activity in the area and their social organization. Special consideration was given to their temporal use pattern of the protected area and the continuity of their annual fishing activity. The prioritization facilitated the convening of more local stakeholders and laid the groundwork to initiate participatory planning and strengthen the area's management. 

  • To have a team member related to the stakeholders and the territory. 
  • Identify the real local stakeholders of the protected area. 
  • Identify and understand the dynamics of the activities carried out by the stakeholders. 
  • Map the territorial links, thus understanding the temporal and spatial relationship with the area and the resources - economic and value chains. 
  • Reach the interest and commitment of local stakeholders. 
  • It is necessary to measure internal capacities and define prioritizations. Fishing rights in the Peruvian territorial sea are not limited to defined areas, so you can have actors from all the coastal ports of the country.  
  • It cannot be assumed that all artisanal fishing is only carried out in the first 5 miles. 
  • To know about the different fishing activities. 
  • The fishing activity is highly dynamic; the vessels registered in a port do not necessarily generate their economic activity permanently in the same port. 
4. Integrated Livelihood Development for Conservation NNT NP recognizes that sustainable conservation is intertwined with the well-being of local communities.
  • Participatory Approach (PICAD Model): Livelihood development is guided by the Participatory Integrated Conservation and Development (PICAD), fostering "community ownership" of activities by involving villagers in problem-solving and encouraging their contributions (labour, materials). The management incorporates the Government's "Sam Sang" policy, which promotes the village as the basic unit of development and the district as the development manager. Empowering communities in resource management. Village Development Plans (VDPs) are crucial, guiding the allocation of support from funds like the WB LENS2 and LLL programs
  • Eco-tourism Development: NNT NP facilitates community-based eco-tourism to provide socio-economic benefits to villagers with minimal environmental impact. 
  • Community Outreach and Awareness (COCA): Programs are delivered to communities within the park to raise awareness about conservation issues and integrate conservation messages into local culture.
  • Land Use Planning: Capacity building for district staff in Participatory Land Use Planning (PLUP) and GIS mapping supports the land use plans, ensuring that land use in and around the park is both productive for communities and consistent with conservation goals.
3. Robust Biodiversity Monitoring and Law Enforcement A key pillar of NNT NP's success is its systematic approach to protecting its natural assets.
  • Law Enforcement Program: NNT NP has a proactive law enforcement program focused on protecting wildlife and biological resources, with emphasis on endangered Annamite endemic species. This includes forest patrols (35,000 man-days pa) and operating checkpoints at strategic locations.
  • Targeted Protection: Efforts are concentrated on 3 Biodiversity Priority Zones, based on global conservation importance and threat analysis. The zones are crucial for species like the Critically Endangered Large-antlered Muntjac, offering significant hope for long-term survival.
  • Combating Illegal Activities: Strategies to reduce illegal poaching and trade through improved cooperation with neighbouring countries and intensive patrols along the Lao-Vietnam border. Adaptive law enforcement strategies are informed by "Patrolling Hit Rate" data.
  • Long-term Wildlife Monitoring: The park has a wildlife monitoring program using 300 camera-traps deployed biennially to estimate trends in populations and distribution. This provides essential data for evaluating conservation effectiveness.
  • Research Partnerships: NNT NP actively partners with specialized research organizations to expand knowledge of the park's biota and build staff capacity. Ongoing research includes programs for the Asian Elephant and Chinese swamp cypress.

Support from organizations such as Association Anoulak, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh

Early capacity building by the Wildlife Conservation Society on law enforcement, wildlife monitoring and populational analysis of Asian elephant

Support from NTPC with their Wildlife Program from 2006 to 2012

An extensive list of biologists, wildlife ecologists, botanists and anthropologists   that have developed a wealth of knowledge of the NNT NP ecology