Planning phase | PANORAMA

Technical knowledge on sites, species and nurseries

The sites are heterogeneous and have different degrees of degradation, resulting in different intervention needs and opportunities. It is crucial to understand which species appear in nature as groups and to design the planting design accordingly. Mother trees, flowering periods and storability of seeds need to be known and the planting has to be adapted according to suitable planting periods. In the nursery, the focus on good root systems of the seedlings is key, requiring appropriate nursing equipment, substrate and trained staff.

- knowledge, link to research and traditional knowledge

- capacities to collect seed material from the right tree for the right place and the right purpose

- sufficient funding and training capacities

Investment of time and funding in the above-named factors pays off in form of higher survival rates, better growth, and project success. Some aspects should not be compromised, for example the size of the seedling containers and the substrate.

Coordinación multisectorial para el monitoreo, vigilancia y manejo adecuado de vicuñas

Mujer esquiladora mostrando la fibra obtenida de vicuñas liberadas en el área protegida de Apolobamba

El fortalecimiento de lazos de confianza entre las comunidades manejadoras de vicuñas y el área protegida (trabajamos en conjunto hace 17 años), y con la Asociación Nacional de Manejadores de Vicuñas (trabajamos en conjunto hace 3 años), es crítico para fortalecer la conservación de la vicuña y de su hábitat. Esto ha permitido realizar monitoreos sobre el crecimiento poblacional y la sanidad de las vicuñas; realizar vigilancia de contaminantes y su impacto en la especie; desarrollar capacidades en bienestar animal, bioseguridad; obtener fibra de mayor calidad; e iniciar, recientemente, una línea base sobre la depredación de vicuñas y ganado por perros pastores, así como el estado de salud y de bienestar de los perros.

- Apoyo y compromiso de las comunidades manejadoras de vicuñas de Apolobamba.

- Apoyo y compromiso del área protegida SERNAP Apolobamba.

- Apoyo y compromiso de la ACOFIVB - Asociación para la Comercialización de la Fibra de Vicuñas en Bolivia.

- Complementariedad con otras organizaciones conservacionistas como la AGA - Alianza Gato Andino.

- Involucrar constantemente a los diferentes sectores permitió establecer una mayor confianza de trabajo conjunto, favoreciendo el cumplimiento de nuestros objetivos.

- Los esfuerzos en capacitaciones sobre el manejo de las vicuñas en silvestría con estándares de bienestar animal y sanidad, y de la fibra obtenida con mejor calidad y mejores ingresos para los comunarios, son impulsores de la conservación de la especie y su hábitat.

Newsletter Darwin Initiative

Convenio entre WCS y la Asociación Comunitaria para la Comercialización de la F…

Generation of inputs for the strengthening of AI tools and resources for biodiversity protection

Multi-stakeholder alliance

Tech4Nature Mexico

Among the strengths of the pilot is the ability to translate learnings into opportunities and recommendations, especially on issues of innovation, digital transformation and technological ethics for biodiversity protection. For this reason, we closely monitored the implementation of the pilot to develop a public report with a recommendations section, fed by the experiences, inputs, achievements and learnings of the implementing team.

What was learned at each step and with each partner contributed to strengthening AI tools and methodologies for biodiversity protection.

Beyond the boundaries of the Reserve, the Tech4Nature Mexico project has sparked a transformative wave in regional conservation efforts. The fusion of advanced technology with multi-stakeholder collaboration is redefining biodiversity protection. Innovative tracking algorithms have revealed crucial data confirming the presence of threatened species in an unprecedented way. These revelations enrich our understanding of regional ecology and empower local communities, driving lasting commitment to conservation.

Planning phase

Local

Multi-national

Preparatory meeting, mobilization of the community and implementation

Excavation work of tidal water channels by the local community.

Noel Randrianarivelo

Final channel system.

Noel Randrianarivelo

Excavation work of tidal water channels by the local community.

Noel Randrianarivelo

Prior community meetings were organized in the neighbouring village to raise awareness about the importance of mangrove restoration. During these meetings, the community was informed of the principles of the resoration method and the steps involved. Since mangrove restoration does not require any particular technical expertise (know-how), the entire community was targeted (women, men and youth) and mobilized for further actions. Furthermore, local authorities, state technical services, as well as administrative authorities were also involved, so that the method could easily be replicated elsewhere.

In-depth discussions with the local community and technical experts were crucial for a suitable design of the channel system in this area. The channel was dug according to the local topographic context, i.e. depth of the channel, angle of channel site, length, starting point, etc.

(1) 50 members of the local community were mobilized to dig the channel; (2) An area of 40 ha of degraded mangroves was identified (3) A channel system with a total length of 2200 m was dug to promote the natural recolonization in the degraded areas.

To motivate the different community groups (women, men and youth) for the restoration work, their interests must be considered. Furthermore, their future benefits (ecosystem goods and services) must be discussed in an understandable and participatory way. This, most importantly, includes food security and income generation.

Planning phase

Implementation

Local

Community-based identification and validation of the restoration site

Local community on their way to the identified restoration site.

Noel Randrianarivelo

The identification and validation of the restoration site was carried out jointly with the local community to promote its adherence to the process. The regional forest service and technicians from the NGO Conservation International (CI) were also included to ensure the technical feasibility of the proposed site.

Local community elders, who know the historical, environmental and topographic context, are usually very good advisers for restoration site choice. They can indicate where degraded mangrove areas (inland) with some remaining plants can be found (the restoration site must have been a mangrove ecosystem in the past). These are usually suitable sites for reforestation/restoration.

The community should be the leading entity in the process, as they are very familiar with the local context and are the beneficiaries. They should have the right to manage the mangrove areas through a formal management contract, because ownership gives the responsibility and commitment to manage the site sustainably.

From a technical point of view, the following criteria are crucial:

Existing flood zone during low tides and present canals;
Soil type (muddy or sandy-muddy) and pH;
The salinity of the water must be brackish.

Local knowledge and participation is crucial to ensure the sustainability of the restoration sites. In our case, the identification of the restoration site without the knowledge of the local elders would have been much more difficult and time-consuming, as we are not familiar with the area and little information is available on some areas in Madagascar.

Planning phase

Local

Application of resilience strategies in Madidi

Madidi understands that tourism is a sustainable activity that generates social, economic, and natural benefits for the protected area. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to apply planning processes to resume these activities. After the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the activities in the tourism sector were impacted and this caused a slowdown in tourism activities.

The level of organization is maintained and meets the goals and establishes priorities to continue promoting tourism in the area. These activities maintain a high level of participation by the local population.
The government promotes a reorganization of tourism activities, promoting the participation of other productive sectors.
It reduces the high personnel turnover that generates gaps and creates uncertainty in management.

The pandemic was a fortuitous problem that generated diverse impacts at different scales in the area. Although Madidi is willing and able to deal with complex problems, this extraordinary situation taught us to have a Plan B as a recovery measure, which requires great efforts and regrouping capacity, and these actions are based on an adaptive model of territorial management that allows us to manage sensitive but also complex aspects.

Partnerships

AREECA project officials and government interacting with Gomeza Community and pupils at Gomeza Primary School, Ntcheu, Central Malawipartners

Taken by contributor who authorized use

Although Gomeza Community used Self-drive to restore the forest reserve, the community attracted attention from government and non-governmental organisations. The partnerships led to provision of technical capacity building to the community on sivicultural aspects. Other insitutions also supported the community in their vision. This led to reduced resource need per institution to work with the community.

Accommodating
Cooperation
Joint planning

Prevent the duplication of efforts by close cooperation and joint planning

Building trust and improved networking are key elements of starting partnerships

Ecosystem Discovery

www.sfsmw.org

We conducted a scoping baseline survey on how best to carry out our restoration efforts with our women in Kavuzi and Sanga

We have a founding team of experts in resource assessments and livelihood assessments.

Targeted interventions work and assist in dealing with the root cause of problems

Planning phase

Local

Development of adapted methodologies for monitoring

Pristimantis versicolor threatened species (VU)

Santiago Hualpa

Daniel Hualpa holding an amphibian in his hand

Ronal Villalta

For the development of biological monitoring processes of conservation values, it is vital to have validated methodologies adapted to the local reality, which requires the support of specialized institutions.

Establishment of strategic alliances with institutions with experience in biological monitoring that have developed methodologies adapted to the reality of the area.
With the results of the analysis of taxonomic distinction, the greater similarity in the composition of the community between the sites of Romerillos and Nayumbi (Nuevo Paraíso parish, canton Nangaritza) compared to the site of Las Tarantulas (La Canela parish, canton Palanda). Based on this, routes were established for the control and surveillance of critical sites for these species.

Through inter-institutional academic support, an appropriate methodology has been developed to allow park rangers to monitor one of the area's conservation values and to have indicators on the population status of the main amphibians, thus guiding management decisions in the area. This will also serve as input for the definition of a monitoring program for the Reserve and contribute to the process of obtaining the IUCN Green List Standard.
Scientific research will help define and/or reorient patrol routes focused on preserving amphibian habitat.

Planning phase

Local

Youth engagement