Conservation targets
All species, habitats, ecosystems and ecosystem services with conservation value (e.g. IUCN Red List, national biodiversity plans, etc.) are being listed. Then, a technical committee, ideally composed of Parks staff, NGOs, Universities and researchers, is formed. Gorgona National Park adopted as conservation targets 6 coastal and marine ecosystem, and 22 species; those targets are also fully considered in the climate smart conservation process, by including them into the technical assessments and climate adaptation planning.
• Close collaboration between different sectors.
The best way to start mainstreaming climate change into conservation planning was to select conservation targets in accordance with considerations in the climate adaptation planning. Conservation targets included habitats/species and ecosystem services from a conservation view point that are critical in the future because of their functionality and resilience in the face of increasing climate and non-climate pressures.
Evaluation of Environmental Policy
In focal group meetings, government and civil society representatives analyse and evaluate existing environmental policies and land-use planning tools to determine the competencies and responsibilities of each. Special emphasis is given on identifying shared interests and concerns to come up with common goals and objectives.
• Participation of the community • Government committment • Reformed legislation
To analyse environmental policies it is necessary to consider the needs of the utilization as well as the capacities of every sector.
Submitting idea for a protected area to the CBD
Working with other species groups, sea turtles, sharks, seabirds; interviewing experts on the Dome and oceanography of the region; converting raw data on blue whales and other species into usable maps
We presented the work at European Cetacean Society and other conferences to gain feedback and support. We submitted it formally as a case study for a propose ecologically or biologically significant area (EBSA) to the CBD in 2009.
Once researchers understand the importance of their data, they are happier to share it, even if it is raw or unpublished data.
Establish value of the dolphins to New Zealanders
We financed a country wide survey and co-authored an economic report based on the survey with Economists At Large, Melbourne, Australia. The survey assessed "willingness to pay" for conservation of the dolphins which indicated that New Zealanders were willing to pay higher prices for their fish to ensure that the Dolphins weren't subject to bycatch. We presented this work in a report which went to New Zealand politicians and we also prepared a poster which was presented at the Biennial Marine Mammal Conference in Dunedin, New Zealand in Dec. 2013.
Key supporting facts that made the survey and report possible include cooperation of New Zealand scientists to refine the survey, an outside economist group separate from ourselves to ensure impartiality and to evaluate where we stood. All of this was essential to directing our future efforts and to know where and how we might be effective.
Although the survey and economic report supported conservation and were reported favourably in the media, we realized that it would take more direct action and involvement by New Zealanders in their communities to execute change in terms of gaining more protection and removing the nets.
Fishing access rights
Access rights, such as individual quotas or territorial use rights (TURFS), delimited based on scientific findings and participatory processes, help to avoid overfishing and recover fish populations. They assure fishermen stable fishing over time and exclusive benefits from sustainable management, increasing their stewardship and compliance.
- Support through associated legislation - Long-time set-up for access rights - Clearly defined norms and rules
Examples on the international level show that with access rights: - Fishermen responsibly manage their resources - Administration and planning of fishing activities improves in the short, middle and long-term In Mexico single examples exist in which access rights are agreed upon between fisherfolk and authorities in an unusual way: - It is necessary to act with a clear and transparent juridical framework that has a legal framwork for access rights
Vulnerability assessment and stakeholder plan
The Vulnerability Assessment and Stakeholder Involvement plan is a prerequisite for action. It uses data and policies from the Seychelles National Adaptation Plan of Action (NAPA) and other country reports, as well as recently published scientific papers. Stakeholder survey and analysis was undertaken to identify, choose and engage the right stakeholders in the project.
• Availability and access to existing data from national reports • Willingness of stakeholders to be surveyed • Existence of adequate numbers of relevant stakeholders for a successful project • Capacity of stakeholders
Desk top studies are important. Field surveys are lengthy and costly and not always necessary because relevant data may exist in government and consultancy reports. Not all stakeholders are the ones to partner with. Some stakeholders may be skeptical about the feasibility of coral reef restoration or cannot be engaged. Those with the right attitude and adequate capacity are the ones to be brought on board otherwise time will be spent on solving stakeholder issues rather than implementing the project. Stakeholders are not always reliable. Stakeholders may not engage fully or may drop out due to various factors. In small countries like Seychelles missing even one or two individuals may make a difference if there was previous commitment.
Common understanding and trust
Shifting the thinking of individual fishers from solo owner-operators to being part of commercial sector with shared obligations, responsibilities and social license and a common desire to promote better fishing practices to ensure the sustainability and growth of the snapper biomass. All independent commercial fishers, fishing vessel owners, SNA1 quota owners, Licensed Fish Receivers of snapper and snapper processing plants were identified and invited to attend the same meeting. Over a period of five months three meetings were held, repeated in four locations based on the commercial fishers ‘local port’. The first meeting identified the issues fishers felt they were being criticised about; the second meeting set out possible solutions and called for discussion before being voted on. At the third meeting the agreed solutions were framed as a Voluntary Agreement with six rules, debated and voted on before being given to government officials, who then worked with commercial fishers on the logistics of recording and reporting on success.
The Agreement was signed by almost everyone who was involved in catching, selling and processing more than 5 tons of SNA1 a year. Over 90% of fishers within the first month of the Agreement being finalised were meeting their reporting requirements.
• To set up from the start the processes for discussion and voting, systems and communication channels that you want to end up with rather than letting these grow organically. • To have everyone on board that has a role in the commercial snapper fishery and take them with you through the evolving journey. • To clearly identify the problem but be willing to muddle through and think outside the box until the solution becomes clear.
Pride training program
Rare’s Pride Program training is a two-year process through which local conservation leaders receive formal university training, followed by periods of field-based formative research and results analyses. Participants learn how to change attitudes and behaviors, mobilize support for environmental protection, and reduce threats to natural resources. Rare’s local partners not only receive classroom training, but also implement an entire social marketing campaign in their communities, designed around a specific conservation goal. Participants in the program receive a toolkit for community outreach: Training 1 provides trainees with basic community engagement tools, so that they can start embedding themselves in the target audience and earn their trust. Training 2 takes place after a period of 1-2 months of field embedding, and teaches research techniques for qualitative and quantitative formative research. Training 3 takes place after 2-3 months of data collection and information gathering, to analyze data collected and design the Pride Campaign. Training 4 takes place upon campaign conclusion, to evaluate results and produce final report.
• Partner commitment to secure full-time dedication of participating fellows to the Pride program. • Continued full engagement and adequate progress of fellows during the entire duration of the program. • A minimum of high school degree for program participants/fellows. • A basic Pride curriculum, tailored to programmatic theme. • Basic infrastructure as well as training team.
A key element in the success of the Pride training program is to have specific deliverables and frequent evaluations of capacity. These deliverables and grades are recorded in an online tool that allows for multiple party follow-up. The same basic training assessment is delivered at the beginning of the cohort, and upon completion of every training phase. Having participants with different backgrounds and levels of academic training (high school or university degrees), presents both a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge is having to adapt lesson content and activities to accommodate for these differences. The opportunity is precisely to take advantage of these differences in skills and backgrounds to recruit participants to share past experiences and help fellow trainees in the learning process as mentors.
Baseline data collection
Scientific data collection with input from relevant stakeholders, through public consultations and government, includes biophysical status and condition of the area, socio-economic status, resource use and preferences, governance, organisational and policy structures. Document data in a public document (Nusa Penida Profile). The profile helps to determine criteria for establishment of protection zones and as input for discussions with local stakeholders.
High diversity of marine ecosystem and biota
The combination of scientific data and traditional knowledge provides best information and baseline information for MPA planning. However, MPA planning should not be delayed until a perfect data set is available.
Updating the Reserve’s Master Plan
The triggering factor that started the updating process of the Reserve’s master plan, were the inhabitants’ concerns about floods affecting them. In response to this, CECON is leading a process of gathering, updating and analysing information to propose management actions and strategies to be included in the updated master plan. Additionally, final discussions with stakeholders and elaboration of the final version of the updated master plan to be presented and approved by CONAP are ongoing.
• Availability of information. • Ability of the institution in charge of the protected area management to generate widespread interest amongst different stakeholders. • Stakeholders are committed to participate actively in the process.
• The Reserve by itself will not be able to control the risk of floods inside its territory, without interventions outside of its limits. • Updating a management plan is not just a specific event in time, but a powerful process to establish permanent stakeholder engagement, and to link a protected area with its surroundings.