We live in an increasingly diverse world with many different interests, spread across landscapes and varying health and socio economic conditions to name a few. Being able to create community engagement models that address and welcome diversity is key to success. The partnership developed varying practical engagement models for example varied delivery models; one day, half day, night and holiday experiences, targeted community outreach models; health, disability and lower socio economic communities, skill building models; training and youth and the list goes on, all that contribute positively to the environment.

Maintaining oversight and monitoring of the marine protected area are conducted with various agencies working in the area. These include the Border Guard, local police, and local people. It is very important to encourage local communities to participate in patrolling and provide information on violations, as well as giving them a direct stake in local natural resource protection.

Alongside the participatory planning process, NGOs supported establishment of a Community Educators Network in Kubulau, with facilitators training and associated tools. This helped to foster an inclusive, on-going, community-led dialogue on resource management issues, enhancing awareness and engagement for more effective management planning, implementation, compliance and enforcement processes.

Research and data collection to determine the most ecological important habitats to place MPAs was key to a successful network of protected areas. Working with the community through the research process and sharing findings broadly helped familiarize everyone with the importance of protecting their fish stocks and coral reefs for the future.

Developing a management plan allowed for the ridge to reef implementation plan to be outlined with roles and responsibilities clearly stated and explained. The planning process was informed by extensive scientific and socioeconomic research, as well as local and traditional ecological knowledge. The plan contains tables of rules for each habitat which indicate whether the rule is sourced from national legislation or community consensus. Each rule is coupled to a list of management actions, with responsible parties designated for carrying out each action (e.g. using a net in the sea within 100m of the mouth of a river or stream is prohibited, the management action for this is monitoring by fish wardens and reporting breaches to Fisheries department). The plan also contains different options for enforcement, depending on whether the offender is in breach of a law or customary rule, as well as a framework for changing rules in response to environmental change in order to flexibly and adaptive manage Kubulau's coastal and marine resources. In 2011, we helped the KRMC to review and adapt their plan based on new information about reef resilience.

Establishing and building the capacity of a management body is key to ongoing implementation of any program. Trainings, workshops, meetings, and providing support when necessary are all part of the capacity development process. The Kubulau Resource Management Committee (KRMC) is tasked with promoting and supporting sustainable management of natural resources in Kubulau District. The KRMC reports directly to the Kubulau hierarchy council of chiefs, who ultimately must endorse all decisions related to resource management. It is composed of 1 representative from each of the 10 villages plus a chair. Its main functions are: coordinate implementation of the management activities identified in the Kubulau ridge-to-reef plan; raise awareness of the management rules and activities; coordinate enforcement; organise training on sustainable resource management and alternative livelihoods; liaise with stakeholders; and monitor implementation progress. More recently, the Kubulau Business Development Committee was established to assist the KRMC and the council of chiefs to maintain stewardship over their resources.

Ongoing management incurs expenses and there are opportunity costs associated with a community’s decision to restrict their access to a resource. A sustainable funding source is crucial to cover management costs and to provide community benefits that can be experienced broadly.

The building block aims to help communities identify their risks. Risk scenarios and the action plan are developed. Complimentary surveys from biodiversity, environmental quality, fishery, and social economic studies are included into the risk assessment.

Grootbos is situated in the endemic coastal Fynbos shrubland directly adjacent to the marine ecosystem surrounding Dyer Island and compliments the marine biosphere both from an ecosystem and touristically attractive landscape perspective.Since 1991, Grootbos has grown from a 123-hectare farm to now include seven farms totaling 2500 hectares of land under conservation. Much of this land had previously been poorly managed as cattle and flower harvesting farms to the detriment of the region’s biodiversity and provided few livelihood opportunities. Grootbos staff has cleared all alien vegetation from the property, restored damaged areas and now manages the land according to strict ecological principles. The Grootbos Foundation engages directly in rehabilitation and protection of flora and fauna on Grootbos and in the Walker Bay region. It provides education to 8-12 students per year by an adult education college , including on horticulture, conservation, ecotourism and life skills. All 100 students that have completed the course over the past 11 years have subsequently found employment. This is a key instrument for involving the local community and gaining its support to the overall objectives of linking tourism to conservation.

DICT in association with the Overstrand Municipality established the Fishing Line Recovery Program along the Gansbaai shoreline. By increasing public awareness about the negative impacts that fishing line debris has on marine life, water quality, and human welfare, we reduce the amount of fishing line entering and remaining in the sea, and increase recycling of fishing line. A network of fishing line recycling bins has been placed at local beaches and popular fishing spots. This project has become an icon for marine litter and the Trust is part of a Technical and Advisory Committee addressing marine pollution. The vision is to see this project grow along the South African Coastline. In October 2011, part of this vision was realized when together with WESSA (Wildlife and environment Society of South Africa) and the Blue Flag Beach Program, the bins were being placed adjacent to all Blue Flag beaches. Blue Flag is one of the most well-known international voluntary eco-labels for beaches, marinas and boats. In 2013, for the first time, marine protected areas (MPAs) were included in the International Blue Flag Criteria. Whale Whisperer, a whale watching boat has Blue Flag status and was the pilot Blue Flag boat in South Africa.