National | PANORAMA

Oceania

Participatory 3D Mapping for Land Use Planning and Climate Change Adaptation

Nate

Peterson

GIS/Technical Planning

Workshop Planning

Exchange of Traditional Knowledge

Ensuring Sustained Utility

Lionfish control in areas inaccessible to fishers

Where commercial lionfish harvesting is not practical or permitted (such as in protected areas), or if the current fishing pressure is not sufficient to suppress lionfish populations below site-specific management targets, a combination of alternative removal methods can be used to reduce lionfish populations, including:

culling by SCUBA, either by protected area managers or dive operators
lionfish culling competitions (also known as derbies or tournaments)
deep-water traps, whilst still at the design stage, have the potential to be used as a tool within a package of lionfish management actions

Multiple stakeholders may need to conduct one or more of these activities at a given site to achieve a desired level of lionfish suppression.

Lionfish management targets must already be known so that ineffectively controlled sites can be identified
A lionfish task force must be active so that sites are prioritised for management based on best available knowledge
Culling by SCUBA requires an active and informed diving industry, as well as capacity for adequate management and enforcement of regulations (e.g. to prevent divers from targeting other species while carrying out lionfish culls)

Given the widespread nature of the lionfish invasion and limited resources, it is unlikely that lionfish populations can be controlled in all areas of conservation importance. Therefore, sites for management should be prioritised via a a lionfish taskforce, in consultation with communities and stakeholders.
Culling can cause reef damage if not properly managed: inexperienced divers may damage corals with spears, or special permission for lionfish culling can make enforcement of otherwise prohibited activities difficult (e.g. spearfishing within protected areas). These challenges must be addressed before implementing any programme.
Lionfish tournaments do not provide regular enough removals to sustain lionfish population suppression if not coupled with additional strategies. They do however provide an excellent opportunity for awareness raising.
Risk of traps causing physical damage to reefs or catching by-catch must be eliminated before traps are introduced.

Adopt a Coupled Human And Natural Systems approach

Preparing the conceptual framework of socioecological interactions

Blue Ventures

The dynamics of human and natural systems are complex and characterized by reciprocal feedbacks that can interact across local and global scales. Successful natural resource management requires a better understanding of these coupled human and natural systems (CHANS), which must be incorporated at the planning stage. A CHANS approach involves both ecological and social concerns, and requires an interdisciplinary team to develop a conceptual framework of socioecological interactions (SEF), aiding all actors to consider potential outcomes from many different perspectives.

As a viable lionfish control programme will impact upon a wide range of stakeholders, it is crucial to develop a lionfish management strategy using a CHANS approach to maximize benefits and minimize unintended outcomes.

A population dynamics model that estimates lionfish population abundance, biomass and size structure under different management scenarios is central to lionfish management planning. Changes to all affected systems can then be interpreted qualitatively using the SEF.

Develop a conceptual framework of socioecological interactions (SEF) with representatives of all key stakeholders, informed by social research
Create a lionfish taskforce that meets regularly to review progress and adapt management
Estimates available for current status of lionfish density, size structure and catch rate (F), to feed into a population dynamics model
Capacity or partnership with relevant experts to support SEF production and population dynamics modelling

Due to the dynamic and interrelated nature of coupled human and natural systems, it may not be possible to foresee all consequences of different management activities at the outset. A good lionfish management strategy must therefore be flexible, with mechanisms enabling evaluation and adaptation.

Maximise input from a wide range of stakeholders, including but not limited to

authorities responsible for human development, environment, fisheries and indigenous peoples’ land rights
fishers associations
academic partners
private sector (seafood buyers, distributors, exporters, restaurateurs)
community representatives
protected area managers
NGOs working in the region

Implementation

National

South America

Three success factors for the conservation of the Rio Negro Basin in the Brazilian Amazon: Governance and participation, public-private alliances, and conservation mosaics

Fabiano

Silva

Local participation to guarantee access to natural resources and land possession

Governance and participation of local actors in the management and use of natural resources

ARPA: the most important conservation program for tropical rainforests in Brazil, and mechanisms of financial sustainability of the Jaú National Park

Conservation mosaics: An effective strategy to consolidate great expanses of protected territory in Brazil

South America

Three success factors for the conservation of the Rio Negro Basin in the Brazilian Amazon: Governance and participation, public-private alliances, and conservation mosaics

Fabiano

Silva

Local participation to guarantee access to natural resources and land possession

Governance and participation of local actors in the management and use of natural resources

ARPA: the most important conservation program for tropical rainforests in Brazil, and mechanisms of financial sustainability of the Jaú National Park

Conservation mosaics: An effective strategy to consolidate great expanses of protected territory in Brazil

Introduce spelt as alternative habitat for grassland-dependent species

With the loss of large fields of agricultural grasslands to corn and soybean, and the lack of interest in installing new ones, wildlife dependent upon this habitat inevitably are impacted. Grasslands in North America rank as one of the region's 21 most endangered ecosystems. Many remaining grasslands, especially in eastern North America are almost entirely embedded within agricultural landscapes. Because of landscape changes, many endangered birds and other wildlife, including pollinators, are increasingly dependent on the agricultural community for habitat creation, maintenance, and health.

Beneficial insects such as bees, butterflies and other pollinators were also observed in the spelt fields because, unlike corn, wheat and soybean fields, other forbs were allowed to grow between the spelt crop rows. Not only does the use of spelt in a farm’s rotation site provide critical breeding habitat and foraging areas for rare grassland birds, the use of the crop also provides suitable habitat for other species, thus increasing biodiversity.

Bird survey results outlined in our study indicated that spelt fields were utilized by target species all years of the study. From a wildlife conservation perspective, the study indicated that the spelt fields can serve a dual use as both an economically sustainable alternative agricultural crop and a surrogate habitat for grassland-dependent bird species. Results of the project were presented at farmer workshops hosted by the USDA-NRCS and NJ Audubon.

Implementation

Documentation and dissemination of results

Local

National

Familiarizing farmers with spelt as bird-friendly and economically viable crop

More farmers need to know about Spelt and its usefulness in food production. Through outreach and demonstartion it can be a viable option for other agricultural producers to adopt into their rotations, which will diversify their farm income.

Production cost/income of spelt, when compared to the production cost/income of wheat and soy was found to be a much better option for producers to diversify their crops, because of spelt's use in the current consumer market. Spelt has a current market established as both an animal feed and grain for human consumption.

Unlike hay or grass biofuels, spelt is planted with conventional farm equipment so costs pertaining to obtaining specialized planting or harvesting equipment (like that for warm seasongrass) are not applicable. Therefore farmers were more apt to try it.

Planning phase

Implementation

National

North America

Spelt as Surrogate Habitat for Grassland-Dependent Wildlife Species

john

parke

Familiarizing farmers with spelt as bird-friendly and economically viable crop

Make consumers re-discover spelt as gluten-free and healthy food - as well as bird-friendly habitat

Introduce spelt as alternative habitat for grassland-dependent species

Planning the management of the Yaigojé Apaporis Indigenous Reserve and Natural National Park from an indigenous cosmovision

Indegenous cosmovision - Yaigojé Apaporis Indigenous Reserve and Natural National Park

Fundación GAIA Amazonas

Planning of the management of the Yaigojé Apaporis Indigenous Reserve and Natural National Park

Fundación GAIA Amazonas

Indegenous cosmovision - Yaigojé Apaporis Indigenous Reserve and Natural National Park

Fundación GAIA Amazonas

Yaigojé Apaporis Indigenous Reserve and Natural National Park

Fundación GAIA Amazonas

The creation of the Yaigojé Apaporis Indigenous Reserve and Natural National Park marked the beginning of a new relationship model between indigenous peoples and the Colombian Government. It was necessary to seek mechanisms to ensure the governance and integral conservation of their life systems, without interfering with their rights to their territorial autonomy and to the cultural management that they have traditionally carried out. Once the park was created, the process of formulating its Special Management Regime (REM) was initiated. This regime was the instrument through which the joint administration of the park was shared by the Colombian Natural National Parks (PNNC) and the Yaigojé Apaporis Indigenous Captains Association (ACIYA). Establishing the REM required an internal (or endogenous) research methodology, proposed by the indigenous communities and supported by the experience of the GAIA Amazonas Foundation. This methodology was based on the guidelines issued by an Amazon Indigenous Congress that identified the topics to be collected in each of the communities, in order to guide the design of the REM. This approach helped promote the participation of indigenous communities with three representatives and a shaman.

Legal figure of the REM that maintains the inalienability of the indigenous territories when they acquire a category of National Park .
Development of an internal methodology, led by the GAIA Amazonas Foundation in conjunction with the indigenous organizations, to establish the REM guidelines according to the particularities of the Park and the management regime.
Financial availability of State resources, and external support to implement a participatory process to build the REM.

The research process to develop the REM was carried out in two years. The Cooperation Agreement 011 of 2013 celebrated between PNNC and ACIYA established a reasonable timeframe of five years for the construction, formalization, and joint implementation of the REM. This process allowed the following:

Rescue ancestral values.
Promote greater involvement of young people in the design of the REM.
Revalue traditional knowledge.
Generat a greater relationship of coordination and management of the area between PPNC staff and indigenous populations.
Generate a better understanding of the biological characteristics of the territory and its cultural value, as an input for the design of the Park’s management strategies.
Become a replicable model for other REMs in the Colombian Amazon, since it allows the integration of traditional knowledge on the use of natural resources with the policies of PNNA regarding protected area management.

Local social organization and national governmental support for the creation of the protected area

Indigenous populations of the Yaigojé Apaporis Reserve and Natural National Park

Fundación GAIA Amazonas

Yaigojé Apaporis Reserve and Natural National Park

Fundación GAIA Amazonas

Indigenous populations of the Yaigojé Apaporis Reserve and Natural National Park

Fundación GAIA Amazonas

Indigenous populations of the Yaigojé Apaporis Reserve and Natural National Park

Fundación GAIA Amazonas

The Yaigojé Apaporis Indigenous Reserve was created in 1998 through a request of the indigenous Tanimuca, Yucana, Letuama, Matapí, Cabayari, Macuna, Barazano, and Yujup-Macú peoples. In 2008, through a consensus in an extraordinary session of the Traditional Authorities and the Indigenous Captains (ATCI), these communities decided to request the creation of a National Park overlapping the limits of the Reserve. The request was based on the consideration that this would eliminate the development of mining operations and other natural resources exploitation that might endanger biodiversity, their sacred sites and, as a consequence, their customs, social composition, and environmental context.

The creation of the Yaigojé Apaporis Indigenous Reserve and Natural National Park has a long process of working with the GAIA Amazonas Foundation, which had the technical and financial support of the Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation. The decision to move to a Special Management Regime (REM) needed the have full local support, ensure the autonomy of the indigenous communities, and strengthen their traditional systems. In addition, it was necessary for them to have negotiation and coordination skills to establish an agreement with the State.

Traditional indigenous communities empowered in their decision-making.
Colombia's legal framework recognizes indigenous autonomy and their role as public and environmental authorities within their territories.
Availability of financial resources from the State and foreign organizations to implement an effective process of informed previous consultation.
Successful relationship experience between PNNC, indigenous authority and civil society to strengthen territorial environmental governance.

Once the decision to create the park was made, the following step was the agreement between the Colombian Natural National Parks (PNNC) and the Yaigojé Apaporis Indigenous Captains Association (ACIYA) to carry out a free, informed and previous consultation process that would allow greater social participation and collective construction in terms of definition of limits, area extension, conservation objectives and joint construction of the REM. As a result, the ATCI established management agreements between the State and the Indigenous Authorities stating that the integrated management of the area would be based on traditional knowledge and regulations received in accordance with the way of conceiving the world of each of the seven indigenous peoples and their 19 communities, respecting indigenous autonomy, their rights over their communal lands, their sacred sites, and their cultural values. Thus, in October 2009 the constitution of the Yaigojé Apaporis Natural Park was declared.