The process of planning how the Environmental Fund may be used begins when the VSLA review and update their constitution and by-laws (CBL) at the start of their next cycle. Broadly defined goals are transformed into specific uses, using existing management plans as ‘shopping list’ of interventions that the EF can support. 

The conversation on how the Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) can help generate financial resources begin once VSLA constituency is convinced that the marine environment must be protected and that the VSLAs have the capability to support conservation and protection of marine resources. The individual contributions are set and broad goals are identified and integrated in the group’s constitution and by-laws.

Community buy in to the concept of transforming savings and loan groups into social infrastructures actively supporting conservation initiatives is built on their understanding of their role in the conservation of their resources. Generally, community members should gain knowledge on the current state of the marine environment, the urgent need to protect and conserve the marine resources, the gaps and challenges of existing conservation efforts, and the importance of strong and consistent community support.

Large scale conservation and EbA projects require a long gestation period to establish institutions and practices that can create long term benefits for the landscapes and its community. Involvement of the Government agencies is thus critical in ensuring success of solutions like these. As the Government agencies ensure strong institutional capacity, continuity and source of finances to undertake conservation and developmental activities. 

However, the success of the solution also lies in ensuring that the initiative receives financing from varied resources. For e.g. in this project - RBS FI and AF provided the requisite financing to support activities that are not covered by the Government funds. RBS FI and AF funds have enabled CSOs to meet their institutions costs and employ trained human resources at the grassroot levels. Involvement of CSOs facilitates convergence of project activities with Government schemes and thus ensures that funds are spent optimally. 

Community contribution is also a critical source of finance, and under this solution all activities and interventions have this element. This ensures that community is invested in the project and owns up to the activities being promoted. Having a transparent and robust contribution system gives a boost to the sustainability.

One of the main building block of this solution is citizen science since the locals were themselves monitoring the vulture colony so it was very easy for them to understand the population decline of the vulture. Also carcass disposal was a burden for them. Citizen science is very useful in mobilising the group to take action in addressing the issue. Hence the same formula was also applied in our solution.  The communities were very positive in setting up community managed vulture restaurant. Community managed vulture restaurant consists of a cow shed where old cows are kept till they naturally die and then fed to the vultures in an designated open space. This will let the vultures having the nesting colony there to feed on the safe diclofenac free carcass. In addition to this a bird hide and information center has been established for tourist and general public to see the vultures feeding as well as sharing knowledge on vulture crisis in the country and the conservation effort from the local communities. Communities are also benefiting from the tourism promotion.

Ecosystem-based adaptation and conservation of non-PAs is possible only in done at a landscape level. Multiiple stakeholders with varying interests and agendas co-exist and influence a landscape, including the communities that resides within them. It is critical to create consensus among these stakeholders. Getting stakeholders together requires a driving force - it can be an individual/ group /organisation/a set of organisations - they can be public/private or civil society. Working together especially if done with govt agencies helps create widespread impacts and ensure optimum utilization of resources (financial, time, human, common, physical). More often than not, interventions done on EbA/ conservation are done in isolation, do not achieve the devised outcomes and lead to failed investments. Working together reduces this risk. It gains further importance in a country like India with complex adminstrative structures and conflicting priorities among stakeholders. Working together leads to the pooling of resources, including knowledge and learning, essential for tackling the complexity of prevalent issues in landscapes like the KPC. "Working Together" is a value that RBSFI and other stakeholders have adopted through the PSC platform and it forms the basis of project success.

In order to measure the effectiveness of FONCET’s work, FONCET has a clear strategy to measure and evaluate the activities, as well as a communication strategy that can clearly communicate to different audience the work done, the goals and the ways all people can get involved. As an example; FONCET has created a communication program where celebrities are invited to visit El Triunfo Reserve and use their unique talents to reach more people and influence their followers to support conservation activities. FONCET has created a team with actors, filmmakers, theater producers, designers, and chefs, among others. This team has created amazing communication and fundraising programs to conserve El Triunfo. From products that are sold like wine, jewelry, water bottles, to plays, films, dinners, among others, giving a percentage of their work for conservation programs, that raise awareness and financial resources for conserving protected areas.

Monitoring and evaluation of the activities and results are an essential to give transparency to the funds invested in conservation as well as to make necessary adjustments if necessary.

Association with the local government, businesspersons, artists (actors, filmmakers, theater producers, designers, chefs, photographers, among others), researchers, academics and national and international foundations is a key aspect of this solution. Creating a balance between the objectives of the partners and the objectives of FONCET allows having a win-win relationship, in which partners gain more recognition as their work is widely communicated, and also they are recognized as social responsible people; in turn FONCET’s work is known in other spheres and increases the possibility of attracting more donors. Partnerships help generate creative strategies to procure partner funds and coordinate efforts to achieve the greatest possible positive impact in the region. The partners are also motivated by the strong local participation of the local communities that work committedly to improve their livelihoods as well as conserving the Reserve.

FONCET is an NGO that bases its success on partnerships that allow creating, innovating, and communicating, which in turn allows having greater impact in the conservation of natural protected areas of Chiapas.

FONCET invited local, talented and respected individuals to be part of the financial committee which mission is to raise money from people, families and businesses in Chiapas. This committee is a vital part of the financial mechanism because gives certainty to other possible donors about the use of their money and as businesspersons they give insight about new sources of finance.

The committee have clear goals; for example, they are responsible of organizing one event every year with three objectives:

1. Say thank you to all the people who has been donating.

2. Communicate the achievements and challenges.

3. Raise money: All people are invited to sign a pledge where they say how much money they want to donate throughout the year, and how they wish to be charged.

Besides, every month they gather to discuss new opportunities of finance, evaluate results, and consider new conservation activities, either in other natural protected areas or in other communities of El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve. Member are well-known businesspersons with high standards which give confidence to new donors to become part or support the organization.  Without a doubt the financial committee is essential in the functioning of FONCET.

FONCET was one of many financial mechanisms that were created for different natural protected areas as part of TNC´s Parks in Peril Program. FONCET started out only for El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve and was the only local fund to succeed. Later on, FONCET started to invest in other protected areas trying to replicate the model.

First donations were used to create strong bases for the organization, carefully selecting, hiring and training high skilled and committed individuals, as well as developing legal and operational manuals, transparent administrative procedures, strategic plans, strong communication, fundraising and technical capacitates, among others. FONCET invests in having the best team since the success of an NGO strongly depends, among other, on the people in charge.