In the project areas, the project launched an operational committee responsible for selecting local support measures (e.g., infrastructure and capacity development), based on mutually agreed criteria, such as women’s participation, interest in the measure and its chances of being sustainable. 

This body included two representatives (at least one a woman) from each of the five territorial councils as well as representatives from the municipalities (two), departments of forestry and agriculture (two), local NGOs (two), a university (one), the World Food Programme (one) and the implementing organisation, GIZ (four). Meeting regularly every three months, the committee handles joint project management, including annual planning, project monitoring, and dealing with risks and conflicts.

Archireef leverages the latest technologies in 3D printing to create artificial habitats that are truly ocean-friendly. With the algorithm-based adaptiveness and 3D printer’s versatility, our reef tiles have been proven 4 times more effective in keeping the corals alive than conventional methods, securing 95% of coral survivorship.

Internationally, coral restoration and biodiversity are still lacking behind in terms of certification and uniform verification / measurement standards. To address this issue, we adopt eDNA - environmental DNA - to measure biodiversity, though in the long run, international standards would definitely increase our recognition and perceived reliability.

We resolved the challenge of financial limitations by encouraging the fishers to join saving groups. The fishermen have formed Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) with the aim of saving part of their income and access loans with ease. We trained the groups on how to run the VSLA, also known as table banking, as well as on financial management and group dynamics and provided them with the required inputs such as record keeping books. The VSLA members hold weekly meetings, where they contribute savings and those who need loans requesting for them, clearly stating mode of repayment, use of the loan and repayment period. The fishermen are now able to cater for their daily needs during the Southeast Monsoon (SEM) season when there is no fishing due to the rough weather conditions. They spend time constructing and repairing the basket traps in preparation for the high Northeast Monsoon (NEM) season where they can go out fishing. 

We conducted a series of awareness and sensitization meetings with the basket traps fishers and the community on impacts of destructive fishing gears on ecosystems and livelihoods. The recommendation was to modify the traditional basket traps from 2-3 inches mesh sizes. We co-designed the traps with the volunteer fishers prior to the trials. Sixteen fishers volunteered to trial the modified traps. Trained fishers and other community members collected fish data throughout the trial. We used the data to evaluate the catch composition, size structure of fish captured, juvenile retention, catch per unit effort (CPUE) and fishers’ income. From the data, modified traps were considered beneficial economically and ecologically, and all the basket traps fishers expressed interest in starting using them. This led to the upscale phase where the fishers were facilitated to construct the modified basket traps.

The EbA measure implemented in Tanta includes both green and gray infrastructure.

The green infrastructure, which is the ecosystems, was improved by promoting appropriate pasture and livestock management practices that contribute to the positive conservation status of the pastures. To this end, work was done to strengthen community organization, the participatory design of the livestock management strategy, and the bolstering of local knowledge.

In terms of gray infrastructure, the community prioritized the construction of a shed to reduce the exposure of livestock to climate hazards intensified by climate change, such as hail, and frost, simultaneously protecting them from strong winds and intense sunlight.

The construction of the shed began with the participatory design of the infrastructure, advised by a professional from the local university and validated in a community assembly. Meetings were then held with the livestock department (committee) and directors to plan out the work and the transfer of materials. Prior to the start of construction, the community made an offering to the mountain, a custom they still maintain.

The shed is now operational, the community reports a decrease in animal mortality, and maintenance is being carried out, especially on the roof, using local materials.

This component has been transversal to the entire project and included training and workshops on livestock and pasture management, animal health, and planting and harvesting water, carried out in collaboration with the Universidad Nacional del Centro and external specialists. These activities helped to raise awareness among cattle ranchers and managers of the communal farm and testimonies indicate that their skills in these areas have increased.

Local knowledge was key to developing the livestock management strategy and the shed's design and construction. The use of ancestral technologies existing on the ranches, such as stone corrals, and local materials were chosen.

As part of the communication activities, an awareness campaign was developed with the support of the Rare organization to promote sustainable grazing practices within the community. The campaign, which used the slogan "Smart grazing is the pride of my people", included radio soap operas, comics, and plays with the participation of women and men of all ages. This helped raise awareness among the population about the importance of proper pasture and livestock management and helped disseminate information about the project at the community and NYCLR levels.

Under the "Strengthening community organization" component, the project worked with the Tanta community to develop a livestock management strategy, with the support of a specialist, to improve livestock management in the community’s farm territory. The objective was to fortify the community’s collective decision-making process in regards to the management of its natural resources, thus contributing to the recovery of grazing areas, which in turn ensures having the necessary level of food for livestock and improving both productivity and ecosystem services for water regulation.

The livestock management strategy has been the product of a participatory process facilitated by Instituto de Montaña and led by the authorities and the community's livestock department (committee). As part of this process, visual materials (maps and infographics) have been developed to graphically represent the proposed management plan and rotation of livestock among the different sectors of the communal farm. These visual materials are exhibited in the community premises so that the community members can follow up on the plan and the agreements and commitments made by all.

Advocacy activities help promote awareness and understanding of FMNR as a cost-effective and scalable approach to landscape restoration and climate resilience among practitioners, community leaders, and national government. This can promote acceptance among peers and encourage community leaders and government officials to create an enabling environment at the municipal and/or subnational level to facilitate the adoption of FMNR in communities (e.g., through relevant policies and regulations).

Integrating FMNR with livelihood activities is strongly recommended. For example, alternative livelihood development activities can support FMNR uptake by reducing household dependence on unsustainable timber harvesting for subsistence and/or sale. Complementary livelihood activities to support FMNR outcomes include: 

1. Agricultural development activities that promote sustainable intensification and/or diversification of smallholder agricultural production. Combining trees on cropland and pasture with conservation agriculture practices has proved to increase crop yields and improve livestock productivity.
2. Market development activities that support more profitable marketing of products produced by smallholder farmers. They enhance the adoption and sustainability of FMNR by increasing smallholder incomes, thereby reducing the need for households to adopt coping strategies that can further damage the natural environment and reduce biodiversity.
3. Energy-saving solutions (e.g. clean cookstoves) that support FMNR by reducing household demand for wood, thus increasing the likelihood that trees that can regenerate will not cut down or felled for their wood in unsustainable ways.