Planning phase | PANORAMA

Protéger /To protect

The 1st conservation tool for sharks in the French West Indies

oceane beaufort

With the presence of critically endangered species (i.e. Caribbean numbfish, Narcine bancroftii), of endemic Caribbean species (i.e. the Caribbean reef shark, Carcharhinus perezi), and of many nurseries and breeding areas, the French West Indies have an important role in the conservation of shark and ray populations.

However, the protection of species that have a negative image remains a challenge, even more so due to the accidents that take place each year on the French island of La Reunion.

This project aims to propose the first measures for the conservation of sharks and rays: adaptation of fishing regulations, development of sustainable tourism practices, ect.

Adapted measures for shark and ray populations.
Stakeholder and managers involved.

The importance of involving stakeholders.
The need to raise awarness the public but also the stakeholders and state officials.

Planning phase

Subnational

Dissemination and Communication of Information for Behavioural Change

Volunteers are strongly involved in communication processes to seek changes in society, thereby fulfilling four functions: informing, persuading, entertaining and educating.

Communication work is crucial for society to find out about and value natural resources, in order to increase environmental education and awareness and to contribute to a better conservation of natural areas.

The program is part of the #NatureForAll movement, which enables them to have access to effective communication tools.

Content and means of distribution must be adapted to different audiences (rural, urban, business, academic and research).

Volunteer Work

Projects in this area offer young people the opportunity to contribute to nature conservation by getting involved in the following tasks:

Reforestation
Conservation of flora and fauna
Data collection
Tasks involving nature reserve maintenance
Bio-construction projects
Environmental Education and Communication

Young people in Paraguay are increasingly interested in conserving natural areas.
The #VolunteerParkRanger program offers a complete program for the development of the activities.
Partnership and communication with Natural National Parks of Colombia to provide information on the development of activities.

The first version of the #VolunteerParkRanger program generated significant interest that exceeded the ability of the program to manage itself adequately.

Bearing in mind the lessons learned during the first version, a limit was set for the numbers required and this was based on the following potential participation scenarios:

50 - 100
100 - 150
200 and more

This made the work more vibrant so that all interested young people were provided a work space and program.

Planning phase

Documentation and dissemination of results

Local

National

Capacity building of the implementing NGOs

GOs at the SRJS training

BEES NGO

Participating in the IUCN Shared Resources, Joint Programme's capacity-building for civil society on business engagement helped the NGOs increase their chances of success, but also to connect with other NGOs at the event. The training included advocacy, building trust with the company, designing a good business engagement approach and engaging with a company in a convivial way while staying true to principles. Through this training, IUCN provided their existing contact with a key person in the company to the implementing NGOs, which further reinforced their engagement.

SRJS sought to create a learning space that gathered civil society to share knowledge for increased business engagement impact, while considering their contexts and needs. Beninese NGOs involved in the training were also willing to know more about how to effectively influence business, as well as sharing expertise with other NGOs in their landscape.

- It is necessary to design an appropriate business engagement strategy because one type of strategy does not fit all situations.

-It is important for an NGO to approach a business in a convivial way while holding on to its positions.

-Trust-building between business and CSOs is paramount to achieving sustainability goals.

-NGOs must work together and learn from each other to increase impact.

Planning phase

Entirety

National

Existing biodiversity consideration and an in-company champion.

Mono river in Grand-Popo, Benin

Sampo Kiviniemi

Heidelberg already had a biodiversity policy and were organising a reward initiative related to biodiversity. This meant that there was already a good foundation to build on, and someone to advocate strongly for it within the company.

For a company to be aware of sustainability and biodiversity factors , it can depend on the presence of a conscientious employee or manager, the response to legal, financial or social pressures, or willingness over the years to discuss with civil society.

It was necessary for the NGOs to study the company and assess how far the company was in terms of environmental awareness, and knowing where and how to make the most impact.

Planning phase

Inception phase

National

APA governance strengthened by the high degree of social participation, shared, participatory and consensual management.

Source: Manguezal da Barra PTA Management

Management timeline

Fuente: Gestión del APA Manguezal da Barra

Decisions on land management are made respecting and taking into consideration the expectations and needs of all project stakeholders, who are key players in the preservation actions as well as in the implementation of other proposals such as sustainable fishing, community-based tourism, etc. and who in turn help the municipal bodies in their supervisory role.

It is important to mention that the licensing of activities in this area must follow a process verified by two councils: the Municipal Council for Environmental Defense (CONDEMA) and the APA Management Council.

It has been very important in order to achieve the objectives, as well as to arrive at sound and convenient decisions, the fact that the decision making is controlled by both Councils, which has given a greater degree of confidence both in the decision making and in the granting of licenses to operate in the area.

One of the lessons learned here is that, by seeking certain, consensual and politically unopposed decisions, the achievement of objectives becomes much more feasible and attainable than making non-aligned decisions.

Education as a tool for conservation

For the development of the virtual course, teaching and learning objectives were proposed and provided through two units: one on basic concepts and the other on practical tools for conservation. This process provided basic elements for understanding the relationship between biodiversity and the reality of the territories, as well as the identification of tools that facilitate the management of conservation areas by municipal representatives.

The participants developed the course over a period of one month, with an hourly intensity of 24 hours on the platform of the Escuela Superior de Administración Pública -ESAP- which uses a Moodle format.

Achieving a virtual course built jointly with ten institutions and in partnership with the Escuela Superior de Administración Pública-ESAP-, this participatory process facilitated the success of the course.
The course certificate issued by ESAP gives points on the resume (i.e. incentive or stimulus) to people working in public administration.
The dissemination of the call for the course was made through the networks of several institutions, which allowed a wide dissemination and the enrollment of 2100 people.

In the implementation of the course, some lessons learned were identified, such as:

Having a joint work strategy
Working under a vision of coordinated action
It is necessary to have the support of a group of professionals, experts in the different topics: pedagogue, proofreader and visualizer to transmit complex concepts, often new or unfamiliar to local governments.

Planning phase

Inception phase

National

Confidence raising through exposure and cross learning

Exposure Visit to Bethany Society

Bethany Society

A three-day exposure visit to Bethany Society located in Shillong and which involved an eleven hours road journey was organized. Participants for this exposure included members of households who volunteered to pilot the various techniques on their own plots. It was during this visit that various technologies of Sustainable Climate Smart Agriculture which included techniques like key-hole gardening, square foot gardening, the various composting techniques such as bokashi, vertical and vermicomposting, housed within Bethany Society establishment were demonstrated. A visit to a full-fledged farm where these techniques have been installed on a commercial basis was facilitated. This exercise supplemented their confidence in the productivity of this practice.

A well-planned project demonstration tour was prepared and travel arrangements were organized well in advance for the farmers.
The farmers from the village selected for the exposure tour were achieved with the participation and blessing of the community leaders. They included women and young adults capable and motivated to pilot what they had learned.

Apart from building their confidence and enthusiasm in this practice, it gave them the opportunity to interact with other fellow farmers from Shillong who have undergone similar difficulties.
Experiences were shared that encouraged the commencement of this practice and provided the confidence required to sustain the pilots initiated at their own farms.

Planning phase

Local

Subnational

management plan for the biological reserve

The primary objective of the Biological Reserve planning document is to conserve biodiversity. To draw up this management plan, specific work was carried out on existing vanilla concessions and in areas where new concessions would contribute to the RB's conservation objectives. Areas of high naturalness were excluded to ensure their conservation and the implementation of diffuse control actions.

Commitment of all stakeholders to this approach

On-site inventory

Meeting with vanilla growers and gathering their expectations and practices

The management plan for the protected area, which also serves as the creation dossier, has from the outset incorporated the development of vanilla as an income-generating activity, contributing to the conservation of biodiversity. The time invested in drawing up the management plan, with the participation/integration of all stakeholders, is long but necessary for its success.

The protected area (biological reserve) was then created by ministerial decree (signed by the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture):"to achieve the conservation objectives of the reserve, the exploitation of Vanilla concessions is authorized in accordance with specific specifications" (article 6 of the AM).

A concession contract is signed by the growers, requiring them to comply strictly with the specifications set out in the contract. They are then regularly inspected by the forestry officer, who ensures compliance with the specifications.

Planning phase

Local

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals, Aichi Targets and National Biodiversity targets

The National Biodiversity Action Plan that have been set in the updated strategizing, incorporates policies drafted at the International and National levels.

In order to upkeep with these changes, the State level policy has also been revised and updated wherein Biodiversity Targets, Sustainable Development Goals and Aichi Targets have been aligned. Thus, the State level policy contributes to at least 15 SDGs and 18 Aichi Targets

Series of consultative meetings and workshops with all the stakeholders to come up with appropriate strategies and action plans to meet the national biodiversity targets and Aichi targets, thereby addressing various issues and challenges in biodiversity conservation

Needs periodical reviews of the state alignments and achievements vis-a-vis the national biodiversity tagets, Sustainable Development Goals and Aichi Targets.

Planning phase

Local