Local | PANORAMA

Transfer from private to public ownership of site

The site was a former private golf course out of use since 2015 and was in a vacant and derelict state and safety concerns were raised due to vandalisation, fly tipping, vehicle abandonment and fires. The site was being leased to the private Blairbeth Golf Club but ownership reverted back to South Lanarkshire Council in 2015. Part of the site enters Glasgow City Council territory but there is a management agreement in place to cover this.

South Lanarkshire Council

Large areas of vacant land in urban areas attract crime and pollution. Converting the site to a space for the community to use provides multi-functional benefits. The public ownership of this site allowed this to happen.

Planning phase

Local

Establishment of Friends of Group

Community effort

greenspace scotland - https://www.greenspacescotland.org.uk/news/creating-a-new-urban-park-at-fernbrae-meadows

A Friends of Fernbrae Meadows group was set up to contribute to the on-going activities in the park and the maintenace of the site.

Engagement and enthusiasm from the local community

Involvement of Community Links officer made sure that locals were inspired and empowered to create and maintain long-lasting change

The contrasting needs and perceptions of communities surrounding the park proved an issue during the development and implementation stages of the park. If this project was repreated, the Friends of Fernbrae Meadows group could engage more effectively with all communities surrounding the park and the dis-engaged community could involve themeselves in activities and events in the park to increase the social cohesion of the two communities.

Connecting Protected areas with local schools

Art in nature

Radmila Jokić

A hotel for insects

Radmila Jokić

Nature is the best classroom

WWF - Sonja Badjura

Nature is the best classroom

Radmila Jokić

Biking into nature

Zdenka Mitić

Nature is the best classroom

Letizia Fambri

Nature is the best classroom

Irina Damnjanović

Nature is the best classroom

Ranko Milanović

Brown bear educational exhibition

Vesna Maksimović

Nature is the best classroom

WWF - Milica Milović Kinoli

A mini national park in the school yard

Aleksandra Đurić Karaklić

A winter visit to the protected area

Radmila Jokić

Bird watching

Ivana Lozjanin

Cooperation between PAs and local schools had benefits for both sides. PA staff implements education activities according to their management plan and gets a strong partner in local schools for promoting PAs natural and cultural values to the local community. The schools get the chance to implement outdoor activities and enrich the extra curricula activities in the school.

Cooperation between the PA and the schools includes:

1. Ambassador school project teams in cooperation with PA focal point develop a detailed program for the school project. The program includes specific activities and a timeline for implementation.

2. Implementation of project activities is from December to May. Activities can be implemented in the school (during winter months – workshops, surveys, art work) or outdoors in the protected areas (during spring months) and should include as many pupils as possible.

3. Ambassadors schools promote the values of the PAs and their project results to the local media.

4. Each project team writes the final report and submits it to WWF prior to the final event.

1. Protected areas have integrated educational activities in their management and annual plan.

2. Schools have to be informed about the program on time in order to integrate the activity into the annual school plan.

3. PAs and schools have to plan activities on time in order to have enough time to implement them during school year.

4. All students need the consent of their parents/legal guardian for the participation in the project as it involves activities outside of school and usage of photo and video materials.

• Organise visits of project coordinators to each Ambassador school or joint visits to the Protected areas.
• Involving The advantage of working with teachers (grades 1-4) in the WWF Nature Academy contributes to greater inclusion of parents and grandparents to project-related activities.
• The invitation to school cooperation should not only be intended for biology/natural sciences teachers. The classes in nature should be interdisciplinary. Involving art, music or language teacher into the school project teams was very beneficiary, as it enabled the development of interdisciplinary competences.
• Schools working with disabled children can be equally involved in the project with some slight adjustments for their project implementation.

• When planning multiple generations of ambassador schools, it is good to plan a meeting of all generations of ambassador teachers and pupils at some point, as it strengthens the bond between schools and PAs, but also between the ambassador schools. This should be organized outdoors in a PA with a lot of team building and exploration activities.

Implementation

Local

Subnational

Establishing and enhancing Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service & Partnerships (QPWS&P) and community relationships

The relationship between protected areas staff and the community is important for effective protected area management. The rapport Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service & Partnerships (QPWS&P), particularly rangers have with the local community, including the natural history association volunteers provides a suite of benefits for Lamington National Park and conservation.

The reciprocal relationship the associations have with QPWS&P sees the department providing the volunteers with QPWS&P volunteer uniforms, accommodation and meeting rooms, maintenance of the visitor centres, resources for other activities and a volunteer accreditation weekend every 2 years. The accreditation weekends span a full two days with accommodation, catering, guest speakers and venue supplied or arranged by QPWS&P. Guest speakers often include both QPWS&P and external experts in the field of environmental management. In return, the volunteers staff volunteer centres on weekends and school holidays providing park information to visitors and participating in park conservation projects.

QPWS&P and volunteers have a relationship built on trust and a mutual respect for what each organisation can contribute to the ongoing management of Lamington National Park. Open and respectful communication with a positive attitude and clearly set responsibilities and boundaries.

Building and maintaining relationships with community volunteers in park management is enhanced by ensuring formalised, regular accreditation. By giving back to the volunteers and providing consistent messaging promotes longevity of the relationship and builds trust.

Entirety

Local

Commitment to explicit, attainable conservation objectives through long-term Conservation Agreements

Conservation Agreements (CAs) are binding grant contracts created and agreed upon by specific communities and the ECF. CAs set out clear, attainable and realistic conservation objectives and determine the scope of conservation measures to be implemented within communities that demonstrate the have the organization, motivation and commitment to follow 10-year habitat management plans. Conservation objectives are determined by the ECF and the local community using expert and local knowledge. Each agreement is tailored to the identified needs in the target community and the local landscape. These contracts bind communities to protect ecosystems but also assist traditional land users to use the land in a sustainable way.

The communities that sign Conservation Agreements have been selected to do so because they show initiative, community involvement and potential through the FPA process and establishment of a CBO. In order to ensure the sustainability of the projects, the compliance of Conservation Agreements is monitored. Each community must submit annual technical reports. In case they fail to perform the planned activities, the payments under the agreement may be suspended until they meet the requirements, or subsequently terminated if they don’t comply for more than a year.

Successful application of the FPA; communities practice using tools, models, financing
Development of a philosophy of support and education, not policing
Careful selection of communities which demonstrate the skills, organization and involvement to commence conservation measures
Providing training and education to make decisions and manage landscapes in cooperation with nature conservation ideals
Clearly defining activities being paid for creates a sense of purpose for CBOs
Assisting communities secure additional funding

Technical expertise is needed in very few cases for specific questions related to agreeing on habitat management plans.
The cost estimates were developed in cooperation with the local community representatives based on their knowledge of local markets. The final result is that a fair full cost reimbursement is set by the conservation agreements that allows the CBOs to implement the Conservation Agreements and secure their economic sustainability over the contracted period.
Annual community reports include: a comparison of targeted and actual values for the planned measures; developments in project time frames; general financial report; information on problems and identification of possible solutions.
Each year a sample of conservation agreements are selected for independent audit of performance by ECF or a third party. This is an opportunity to examine monitoring and reporting as a method to test performance of the conservation agreement process.
Examining connections between conservation objective and resilience/livelihoods of locals helps direct future projects.

Documentation and dissemination of results

Creation of a local ranger program

To effectively carry out conservation measures, projects require dedicated, skilled and trained people in the field and the community. The establishment of a local ranger program called “Caretakers” was identified by ECF as an important step in ensuring conservation objectives were enforced in the field and understood in the village. Caretakers are local people with knowledge and understanding of their local environment, the ability to communicate with locals and visitors, and self-motivated to protect nature. They are identified through the FPA process and later employed by CBOs. They are trained in conservation methods, equipped with communication equipment, uniforms and sometimes means of transport but do not have the legal rights of (governmental) protected area staff or forest rangers. They may inform and educate people, and report infringements to the relevant authorities. Caretakers assist with the monitoring of biodiversity, educate/raise awareness and perform CA management tasks. They are responsible for data collection, ongoing wildlife monitoring and the submission of progress reports to the ECF. Caretakers are a key point of contact (trusted and respected) in the community, and act as an example of the socio-economic benefits of nature conservation.

Prudent selection means chosen individuals are trusted, have the capacity to learn new skills, openness to accept new ideas, and responsibility to report/carry out objectives
Involving caretakers in all aspects of capacity building with local institutions and authorities involved in land management and nature conservation, including forest agencies, municipalities etc.
Participation in training sessions using the tools/skills required of the position as well as fostering strong ethics, honesty and commitment to the nature conservation objectives

Outmigration of young people is a barrier to finding a suitable Caretaker for long term project goals and application.
Educating communities on ecosystem-based management practices and applications will challenge previous perspectives of wildlife while demonstrating how conservation can benefit the community and develop respect for the caretaker position.
Community capacity building leads to a supportive atmosphere for caretakers to operate in. Local authorities and community organisations are institutionally weak so general institutional strengthening and capacity building is encouraged.
The role of Caretakers is initially misunderstood by local and authorities. effort and coaching is required to establish the understanding that policing and enforcement represents only a minor part of the scope of work of stakeholders and that main emphasis should be on raising awareness, providing information and guidance, and leadership within the local community.
Ensuring caretakers receive education and training means the tools and resources employed can be accessed and utilized.

Monitoring

Documentation and dissemination of results

Local

Securing long term land-use rights for the community and conservation objectives

Clear land ownership and land tenure (the right to use land) are the basic preconditions for the implementation of any habitat management measure. Land-use rights of all beneficiaries needs to be clear and secure before project initiatives commence to avoids risk of undocumented dimensions in the planning and implementation of conservation measures. It also secures long-term interest of the land user to manage the land sustainably. The purpose of this measure is to clarify, legally regulate, obtain and hold land tenure rights needed for conservation actions and for sustainable livelihood. Land tenure rights encompasses land ownership, lease of land and/or other rights related to the use of land.

In Georgia, most land is state owned. But after the breakdown of the Soviet Union land tenure rights have not been properly documented or registered. Today, traditional land-use rights based on verbal agreements and traditions are translated into legally documented/registered leases by the CBOs representing their respective villages. Resolving uncertain land tenure is one of the major benefits the ECF is bringing to partner communities, providing them with a clear economic perspective for the future while preserving the existing community management of shared pastures and meadows.

Readiness of state property authorities to document and register the existing community land use rights
Completion of a land tenure study to understand the land tenure uncertainties and existing rights
Accurate mapping of entire conservation area and communication of these findings (maps, figures, reports) accessible to the community and authorities
Active involvement of local governments (municipality and department levels)
Voluntary involvement of local authorities, departments and administration
Proper compensation for land-use

Properly identify land-use rights and open issues including research, data collection and GIS analysis performed i) formally (municipal and regional data collection), and ii) informally (discussions with locals).
Consideration of information documentation and lack of documentation. Locals may use pasturelands/meadows in a traditional way, with little or no documentation of their user rights. In the frame of the project, the land-use needs to be considered in both formal/political contexts and informal/traditional contexts.
Communication between multiple land management bodies in Georgia (state, municipality, community, private) and land-use designations (forests, agricultural, protected areas, private land). Positive relationships and active communication with all stakeholders leads to healthy working relationships.
Consideration of national and regional politics integral to securing land-use rights.
Sufficient budgeting of costs required to obtain land-use rights.

Establishment of community-based organizations (CBOs)

Establishing a CBO is the step between the FPA process and signing a Conservation Agreements. CBOs are created with ECF’s guidance and are responsible for:

i) securing and implementing a Conservation Agreement

ii) the fair and equitable distribution of benefits among the community

iii) acting as the legal entity representing the community in a Conservation Agreement.

CBOs are formed under the national law that is appropriate to its purpose, country and region. If creating a CBO is not possible, an NGO can act as a CBO in the Conservation Agreement.

To establish a CBO requires the local community to make a long-term commitment to cooperation and take responsibility for conservation actions. In this way the CBO contributes to strengthening the social capital and increasing sustainable land-use practices. CBO’s help build community connectedness, communication and resilience related to nature conservation efforts. CBOs are encouraged to consider biodiversity as part of the local economy and work closely with ECF toagree on sustainable land-use. CBOs are encouraged to seek other sources of funding for community projects and to develop their activities as a sustainable business during the implementation period of the Conservation Agreement.

Self-organisation of communities is initiated or strengthened through the FPA
Negotiation of terms with representatives of the community to provide a clear, long-term Conservation Agreement
Dialogue, negotiation and involvement with all segments of the community: elders, decision makers, influential community members, women and youth
Identify and include all user groups within a community: herders, farmers, hunters, healers
Involvement of local authorities (i.e.forest department)
Strategic engagement with institutions at regional and national levels

Lack of community level governance, lack of environmental awareness and negative wildlife interactions required education/community awareness campaigns.
Small, locally-led projects encourage community capacity building, communication and implementation of conservation strategies.
Establishment of CBOs represents FPA progress and a qualitative improvement in terms of local self-organisation.
Do not impose an organisation model on the local community; decide on a model together.
Capacity building related to management and governance of CBOs is critical to secure initial success and reduce dependence on external support.
Involvement of the CBO with acquisition and organization of baseline information on livelihood-related issues, natural resources and land-use secures relevant information and contributes to CBO’s capacity building.
Accepting community members’ views when designing project goals ensures project serves entire community.
Involvement of local governments link the applications of ecosystem-based management to larger themes like climate change and disaster risk reduction.

Financial Participatory Approach (FPA) tool

ECF’s Financial Participatory Approach (FPA) is a methodology which uses direct financial grants for mobilizing local populations to take charge of their own development. It is designed to generate autonomous development strategies which are constructive, inclusive and very participatory at family, community and regional levels.

Facilitated by local NGOs all across the Western Lesser Caucasus Corridor, storytelling competitions help describe the relationship between locals and the key wild animal species selected to best represent the landscapes and embody ecosystems in need of protection/management. This is followed by activities aimed to simultaneously improve animal habitats and human livelihoods, inparallel with habitat suitability models. The FPA process helps develop a positive, trust-based relationship between ECF and locals.

Participation in an FPA leads towards the development of ECF’s long-term conservation contract (Conservation Agreement) and encourages locals to become decision makers and stewards of natural resources while fostering a sense of pride/protection for key wildlife species. FPAs also address underlying land tenure/land-use issues that represent drivers of conservation problems (i.e. poaching, unsustainable/illegal resource use).

Availability of local NGOs with experience and capacity to facilitate community-based processes
Support of the local authorities and other institutions through regional working groups
Establishing a connection between traditional customs, communication patterns, decision making, and modern methodology while nurturing existing cultural and traditional values
Implementation of financial incentives with no strings attached
Providing on-demand capacity building and trainings to respond to emerging needs of local communities

Unconditional financial incentives attract initial interest in the project and later generat community pride, satisfaction and motivation after incentives are used to better the community.
The methodology of FPAs requires adjustment to the purpose and objectives of each project.
The implementation of small community-managed projects is key in determining which communities are engaged and competent to enter longer term cooperation.
Incorporating traditional knowledge with modern models and strategies creates a fusion of science-based and community-based contributions.
Land tenure issues are identified early and allow ECF to assess project viability.
Introduction of basic civil society structures through the creation of village committees, self-coordinated regional working groups, regular monitoring of projects and annual meetings.

Inception phase

Local

Water conservation measures (water harvesting through contour trenches or terraces)

In Tajikistan, precipitation varies by season. In spring, precipitation is relatively high, while in the summer months are hot and dry. Irrigation water is provided through meltwater. Depending on the type of land use and local climatic conditions, different activities on harvesting and conserving water can be undertaken for making it available for annual crops.

Water from snow and rain can be harvested by installing contour trenches alongside contour lines or terraces. The trenches should be discontinuous and shifted, following a scheme of a chessboard. The trenches should be dug with 1m width, 1.5-2m length and 0.5m depth. This method has several important benefits:

Enables water infiltration, making it thus available for annual crops
Prevents the water run-off
Averts soil erosion, soil degradation, gullying and landslide

Increased water retention is especially important for cultivating rainfed annual crops as these cannot receive artificial irrigation and thus depend on the water reserves in the soil.
Climate change entails more water stress for annual rainfed crops and thus increases pressure for implementing water harvesting and conservation measures.

Many farmers do not have their own tractors and contract owners of tractors for ploughing their land. These frequently do not want to plough contour lines, alleging that the strain for the engine is higher, till the point that the axle could break. As a consequence, it is better when the owners of the fields acquire single axle tractors by themselves or as a group for installing contour lines or terraces in their fields.

Local

Subnational