SCERA’s technical staff and the Value Chain Analysis and Participatory Land Use Planning (PLUP) Feasibility study consultant, Dr Adam Manvell, implemented work on Agricultural value chain analysis around Okomu National Park. The team visited 8 support zone communities, 4 Local markets, 3 Agricultural Service providers and one Tree crop research Institute - Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (RRIN). Based on findings from engagements with communities, communities are interested in forest friendly farming practices such as beekeeping and tree crop farming particularly Bitter kola (Garcinia kola), African cherry (Chrysophyllum albidum), bush mango (Irvingia gabonensis), pepper fruit (Dennettia tripetala), black pear (Dacryodes edulis), Avocado pear and importantly Timber species. There is high demand for timber in the area which has led to illegal logging issues in ONP. It has been observed that the environment is conducive for the farming of these crops and most of the trees are indigenous to the area. Local, regional and national markets are available for the sales of these products and the income generating potentials are encouraging. 

SCERA carried out a training on beehives construction from 24th-26th of October 2023, at the Okomu National Park Conference Hall, Okomu National Park Headquarters, Udo, Ovia South-West, Edo State. A total of 14 carpenters from communities were trained. The aim was to equip community carpenters with the skills for constructing beehives within their communities using locally sourced materials. These practices enhance the earning opportunities for carpenters, make beehives easily accessible and relatively cheaper for interested community farmers, and increase their interest in conservation initiatives. 

In collaboration with the park management authority and stakeholders, including the ONP Management Plan Steering Committee and the Okomu Biodiversity Stakeholders Platform (OBSP), and supported by the SCERA National Programme Coordinator to be recruited, the park management plan will be revised. Stakeholders will be involved in objectives setting, identifying and agreeing appropriate guidelines, management priorities and strategies and tools, such as zonation, biodiversity research and monitoring, law enforcement, collaborative management, implementation plans etc. to ensure effective protected area (PA) management. A PA management planning specialist will be engaged to facilitate this process and lead the drafting of the management plan. The Okomu Biodiversity Stakeholders Platform (OBSP) is a coordination platform made up of 12 support zone communities, local and state authorities, non-governmental organisations and private sector members. The ONP Management Plan Steering committee is a technical committee consisting of government ministries, natural resource companies and international and local NGOs set up to update the previous ONP management plan. 

The solution enables full integration of rural women entrepreneurs into the agricultural value chain. Through collaboration with the social enterprise S4S Technologies, the women entrepreneurs did not only receive processing equipment and training, but were linked to sources of raw materials, and were guaranteed buy-back of their produce through business-to-business agreements. The model also facilitateed value addition to lower-grade or surplus produce that would otherwise be wasted, allowing the generation of income from underutilized resources. S4S handles produce collection, quality control, secondary processing, and marketing, offering an ideal “one-stop solution” for business-to-business customers. This reduces market risk and logistical complexity for women entrepreneurs and ensures redistributed benefits across the value chain.

Ownership allows for true economic independence of the women entrepreneurs. To enable this however, affordable access to credit is essential. The model mobilized credit from traditional financial institutions at low interest rates and facilitated convergence with government schemes, which together allowed for women to invest in solar-powered dehydration units and related equipment. With support from GIC, women entrepreneurs accessed the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM-FME) scheme, which offered capital subsidies of up to 40% of the project cost. These financing mechanisms reduced entry barriers enough, to allow for ownership, and helped institutionalize women’s participation in the agricultural value chain. The accessed financing through traditional financial institutions amounted to 4 million Euros and supported the promotion of 2,500 women-led entrepreneurs who saw a significant increase in their income.

Small-scale entrepreneurship in processing of agricultural produce is at the core of the solution. Under the GIC programme, women were supported to establish self-owned solar-powered dehydration units, in collaboration with S4S. S4S is a private social enterprise that developed the units. Each unit includes equipment such as pulverisers, sealers, and packaging tools, enabling decentralized, energy-efficient food processing. 

To support the 2,500 women entrepreneurs in their operations they received training in areas including the use and maintenance of machinery, hygienic food processing, storage, and packaging. A second focus area was financial literacy, covering budgeting, bookkeeping, and accounts management, to enable the women to run their business well informed and responsibly. Furthermore, the women were introduced to the environmental benefits of the solar technology and reductions in food waste they are contributing to. 

The project served as the basis for developing a structured, user-friendly training module which was refined throughout the implementation period. With this module in place, the approach can now be more easily scaled and replicated. The materials were translated into local languages such as Marathi and Telugu to ensure accessibility and are now being used by S4S Technologies in other projects.

Many of the women involved were previously engaged as landless farm labourers. The model offered a pathway to greater income stability and economic participation through ownership and value chain integration.

This building block focuses on harnessing the power of volunteerism and corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs to enhance the management of protected areas in Ecuador. By engaging both national and international volunteers and collaborating with tourism companies under CSR initiatives, the project leverages diverse skills and resources to support conservation efforts. These programs ensure the operational sustainability of these areas while providing volunteers with valuable experience and the opportunity to contribute to environmental stewardship in an uniquely beautiful country.

Effective infrastructure management in Ecuador's protected areas has been essential for enhancing functionality and sustainability. This strategic approach has streamlined the alignment of various projects funded by different sources to improve construction, equipment, and maintenance of essential facilities. Key infrastructures such as high mountain shelters and community-managed souvenir shops have been pivotal in promoting sustainable livelihoods and supporting local initiatives.

The competitive funding mechanism within the SNAP project has been a cornerstone in promoting sustainable community-led initiatives across protected areas in Ecuador. This strategic approach focused on diversifying income sources and transforming local challenges into tangible outcomes. By supporting projects related to ecotourism, restoration, reforestation, sustainable livestock farming, organic gardening, and sustainable fishing, the mechanism has improved the quality of life for local communities while enhancing the conservation of biodiversity.

Based on the local natural resource conditions, Liziba Village vigorously develops economic forest industries such as walnuts and chestnuts, cultivates and processes tea, fungus, and edible mushrooms, cultivates traditional Chinese medicinal materials such as Tianma and Chonglou, and engages in beekeeping and chicken farming. Some farmers in Liziba Village spontaneously formed a tea cooperative, registered their own tea brand, and built an online trading platform through e-commerce, promoting the vigorous development of the green economy.  Targeted training was provided to village level management and maintenance personnel on fund management, mountain patrol and maintenance, responsibility implementation, safety education, etc., to enhance the villagers' ability and level of independent management and maintenance.                                                                                                 

The forest resource conservation in Liziba faces many challenges in various aspects, which hinder the active participation of local residents in the protection of natural resources and the sustainability of the environment. These challenges include illegal logging, theft of timber, illegal purchase of wood, poaching of wild animals, and deforestation for farming. In addition, traditional living habits that rely entirely on forest resources, such as building houses and meeting basic needs like heating and cooking, also cause destruction to forest resources and ecosystems.