National | PANORAMA

Developing and Sharing Relevant Tools, Resources and Templates

YOLO resources screenshot

YOLO

To support Emerging Leaders programs, Nature United and community partners have developed many tools and resources to support communities in establishing, running and expanding their own on-the-land programs for Indigenous youth. The SEAS Toolkit was developed in 2017 by communities running Supporting Emerging Aboriginal Stewards (SEAS) youth on the land programs on BC's Central Coast, in partnership with Nature United. It is a resource for planning an on-the-land Indigenous youth program developed based on the unique culture and territories of First Nations on the BC Coast, that other communities can adapt to their specific contexts.

In more recent years, several one-off tools and resources have been developed by Nature United or shared out by community partners, in response to need and requests from on-the-land programs, including curriculum documents to link programs to school credits, financial reporting templates, and tipsheets on how to include mentorship opportunities in programs. These all now live on the YOLO (Youth On the Land Opportunities) Community network website in the resource library.

Strong relationships with community partners who are willing to share templates and information they have developed to address common challenges.
Creating spaces for communities to share documents they have developed with each other (e.g., a webinar to share curriculum documents developed in one place can inspire a program Coordinator in another place to develop their own curriculum, as well as facilitate a connection between two people working on the same thing).

Tools developed must be able to be easily customized to address the unique needs of local contexts.
Resource libraries must be considered living repositories where resources, stories and experiences of what has and hasn’t worked can evolve and grow over time. As more and more communities build youth on-the-land programs and share their experience, information must continue to be updated and revised to remain relevant. It is also important to remember that only a fraction of experiences and activities are captured in any given toolkit and may only reflect the needs of those who informed their development.
Sharing an abundance of information that meets the needs of a diverse group of communities must be balanced with presenting information in a clear and accessible way, to avoid overwhelming users and ensure resources are used by those doing the work on the ground.
Tools and templates can be useful on their own, but often need human connections and relationships to “animate” them and increase their use. Having facilitators or network coordinators available to walk communities through how to make use of resources can be invaluable.

YOLO Community network resource library

Peer to Peer Learning Connections for Coordinators of On the Land Programs Serving Indigenous Youth

YOLO screenshot

YOLO

Coordinators have offered feedback that being the only ones doing this work in their communities can feel isolating. We continue to hear from practitioners on the ground that they are hungry for opportunities and are wanting to connect and learn from each other across communities. People want to share practical details about their experience building and running an on-the-land youth program - where others got their funding or received their training. Having spaces to share what’s working and not working, They want to share challenges and to learn from each other.

The YOLO network fulfills a need for resource sharing and communication. The YOLO website features a map of on the land programs for Indigenous youth programs across the country, along with contact information for fellow Coordinators, who can sign up to participate in monthly virtual coffee hours and webinars to connect with others doing similar work. Many connections have already grown out of these coffee hours, with participants sharing tips and funding resources with each other, planning land-based camps together, and talking about getting together for exchanges in the future.

For the success of this initiative, we have learned the following factors are important:

Creating opportunities for strong relationships to be built.
Developing communications materials to help potential participants understand the value of the network.
Dedicating a position to coordinating the network and “network weaving” - creating connections between members
Creating accessible and engaging meeting opportunities for network participants (virtual, as well as in person - the value of in person connection is hard to replace)

The following are key lessons learned through the YOLO network’s experiences of creating opportunities for peer to peer connection among those running on-the-land programs for Indigenous:

People want access to others doing similar work to them, and the collaborations and support that comes out of spaces for people to connect in unstructured or lightly structured ways is amazing.
Having “network weavers” in dedicated positions to hold space for people to connect is important - someone needs to hold the role of organizing, inviting, facilitating connections, etc.

Having a strong advisory group to guide the network, its development, and direction has been very important. We are working toward ensuring there is diverse geographic, demographic and skills-based representation and including seats for Elders and youth. Considering how the advisory group can guide us toward ensuring the network is Indigenous-led in the future and grounded in what communities need and want are top priorities for the YOLO network

Supporting Indigenous Youth: Why On-The-Land and On-The-Water Programming is Important

YOLO (Youth On the Land Opportunities) Community network website

Prioritisation and planning

Prioritisation and Planning took place in three categories:

Basic prioritisation: Combines results of the assessment to identify areas that are threatened and under-protected.
Multi-criteria approach: Uses criteria to identify important sites for biodiversity, drawing from the foundational datasets and results of the assessment.
Systematic conservation planning: Identifies a portfolio of biodiversity priority areas based on biodiversity targets. Can include a range of additional data on ecological processes, ecosystem services, constraints and opportunities.

Partnerships
Stakeholder engagement
Financial resources

Team work is important. Mapping and prioritisation of biodiversity can only effectively and efficiently happen when people, organisations work together.

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Assessment

Risk status and protection levels of the ecosystems and species were assessed.

Collaboration
Partnerships
Financial resources

Timely and meaningful engagement of relevant stakeholders is key in developing and implementing solutions
Partnerships, collaborations and regional projects provide opportunities for cross-border conservation initiatives

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Spatial Datasets

All the countries collected spatial data sets that included:

Baseline map of ecosystem types
Map of current extent and condition
Map of protected and conserved areas
Maps of species occurrence

1..An agency that can play a coordination role (leadership). SANBI and UNEP-WCMC provided the crucial leadership roles

2. Establishing a strong community of practice that promotes peer learning and sharing. The project brought together experts from across the implementing countries.

3. Making clear links to government priorities and processes, to inform national policy. The project secured high level buy in from the government through rengagement with government entities in the implementing countries.

Perhaps the most valuable aspect of the approach presented in this guide lies in the intuitive understanding and wide range of information that can be conveyed in a few maps. Maps give geographic meaning to a biodiversity assessment, and provide focus areas that can be prioritised in the real world. They are able to communicate important messages about pressures on the natural environment and conservation imperatives to a range of relevant stakeholders

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4. Leveraging Expertise for Advocacy, Knowledge Sharing, and Technological Integration:

It is understood that effective conservation necessitates continuous knowledge exchange, unwavering policy advocacy, and the smart integration of modern technology.

Actionable Step: Actively utilize established platforms and networks to disseminate crucial information and influence policy. The role as Regional Vice Chair at IUCN CEESP, contributions to environmental law blogs, and appearances in environmental awareness videos are instrumental in this endeavour. Furthermore, focus will be placed on integrating

Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Traditional Knowledge Systems (TKS) to create advanced conservation strategies. AI can analyse vast datasets on ecological patterns, climate change impacts, and biodiversity trends, while TKS provides invaluable localized, nuanced understanding of ecosystems and sustainable resource management. This synergy can lead to more precise conservation interventions and predictive models.

Areas of Focus: Continue to lead international webinars and symposiums on critical environmental topics such as "Rights of Nature in the Anthropocene" and "Science and Environmental Law Interface." Dedication to advocating for environmental causes at international conferences and universities, fostering regional and global collaboration, is paramount.

In conclusion, by strategically intertwining environmental law and policy with the profound wisdom embedded in cultural practices and Traditional Knowledge Systems, and by judiciously integrating advanced technologies like drones for reforestation and AI for enhanced analysis, a more sustainable and equitable path to biodiversity conservation can be forged. This framework, passionately designed offers a powerful means to engage communities, influence policy, and ultimately secure a healthy planet for all future generations.

2. Cultivating "Grow Natives" through Cultural Practices and Innovative Technology

It is believed that the inherent harmony with nature, so central to Indian culture where mountains, rivers, trees, flowers, and animals hold sacred significance, can be powerfully harnessed. This deep reverence for nature is a potent force for promoting the cultivation and preservation of native plant varieties.

Actionable Step: Actively encourage and facilitate initiatives to "grow natives" by directly connecting them to deeply rooted cultural and religious practices. This can be significantly amplified through the strategic use of technology. For instance, drones can be employed to deploy seed bombs in challenging terrains like mountains, facilitating large-scale afforestation and restoration efforts in areas otherwise difficult to access.

For Example:

Sacred Plants: The immense cultural and religious significance of plants worshipped since the Vedic era is highlighted. The "Panchvati" – the combination of Banyan, Peepal, Fig, Bilva, and Amla trees – described in "The Ramayana," symbolizes health, medicinal value, and enhanced cognitive well-being. Other sacred trees such as Ashoka, Bael, Bamboo, Banana, Bhang, Coconut, Lotus, Mango, Neem, Red Sandalwood, and Tulsi are associated with deities and hold significant medicinal value, showcasing their multifaceted importance.
Deity Associations: It is emphasized how specific native plants are linked to various Hindu gods, goddesses, and planets, such as Tulsi with Vishnu and Krishna, Bilva with Shiva, and Lotus with Lakshmi and Saraswati. By promoting the planting and nurturing of these species through the lens of spiritual devotion, significant contributions to biodiversity can be made, complemented by technological solutions for wider reach.

Prophet/Holy Men Associations: Trees like the Banyan, Sala, Peepal, and Ber, which are revered due to their association with prophets and holy figures across Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions, are highlighted. Work in this area includes supporting the establishment and protection of groves featuring these trees, reinforcing both cultural heritage and biodiversity

1. Elevating Traditional Knowledge Systems (TKS) into Binding Laws:

It is recognized that Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) offers highly effective, community-based approaches to nature and natural resource conservation. These practices, often rooted in socio-religious and anthropological contexts, are now widely acknowledged for their efficacy.

Actionable Step: A key priority is to transition these "soft laws" of TKS into binding legal frameworks. This involves leveraging expertise in legal research and analysis to draft policy briefs and vigorously advocate for the formal recognition and inclusion of TKS in both Indian and international environmental legislation. My doctoral thesis on "Sustainable Development and Laws Relating to Bio-Diversity and Forest Conservation: An Analytical Study in Indian Perspective" provides the foundational research for this critical work.

For Example: The legal protection of India's Sacred Groves is specifically championed. These communally protected tracts of pristine forest, like those safeguarded by the Bishnois community of Rajasthan state in India, demonstrate how religious beliefs can effectively prohibit hunting and logging, thereby preserving diverse flora and fauna. Formalizing their protection offers a powerful model for integrating TKS into law.

By strategically intertwining environmental law and policy with the profound wisdom embedded in cultural practices and Traditional Knowledge Systems,a more sustainable and equitable path to biodiversity conservation can be forged.

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Recognition of the traditional knowledge and socio-cultural role of fishers in monitoring, surveillance, and waste management activities.

It is based on the explicit recognition of traditional knowledge and the socio-cultural role of fishers in the management and conservation of natural protected areas. The approach is organized around the three pillars of the conservation agreements: recognition of traditional knowledge, vigilance, and waste management, within the framework of a participatory and co-responsibility process. Their empirical experience on the high seas is valued to identify species, ecological interactions and environmental changes, strengthening their participation as ecosystem watchdogs. Citizen science is promoted to record biodiversity and encourage integrated waste management from departure to return to port.

To rescue the traditional knowledge of the artisanal fisher in his knowledge of the environment, of the resources, understanding the level of risk of the activity.
To know and share the experience of the activity and the offshore marine environment.
Articulate the experience to the tasks and goals to be achieved in the management of the NPA. Citizen research or monitoring, surveillance actions and care of the marine ecosystem with the management of solid waste and recovery of abandoned fishing gear.
Include in the training package, topics that are of genuine interest to local stakeholders, which help with the certifications required by PRODUCE or SANIPES, articulating these to the conservation goals.

With the passage of time and technological progress, traditional knowledge is being lost.
Conservation tasks such as waste management require a gradual adaptation and the involvement of other institutions to guarantee the effectiveness of the collection and final disposal system.
Failure to comply with agreements or to keep stakeholders informed of changes generates mistrust.

Articulation of the OSPAS in the management of the NPA through the alignment of productive and conservation interests

It was developed by consolidating the participation of the OSPAS through conservation agreements. The articulation was based on aligning the productive interest - the continuity of activities such as fishing and egg collection - with the need for conservation, given the increasing fishing effort and the decrease in resources such as flying fish. The users themselves recognized the urgency of ordering the activity to ensure its sustainability. This openness was also reflected in buyers who supported the regulation measures, consolidating a shared perspective on the importance of balancing exploitation and conservation in the Dorsal de Nasca National Reserve.

Relate the fishers concerns to the protected area, showing that we both address and seek solutions to common concerns.
Strengthen good governance, demonstrating commitment and valuing the efforts of both parties.
To generate participative spaces where agreements are reached in relation to the common problems identified.
Socialize progress and achievements and generate feedback.

There are definitely institutional competencies, and we cannot fix everything, however, we can help to manage or provide knowledge on an issue.
Conservation must go hand in hand with the wellbeing of local populations; we must seek articulation and not competition. This is a great challenge.
The planning goals must come from the proposals and commitments of the stakeholders.
If we do not comply with the agreements or do not keep the stakeholders informed of the changes, it generates mistrust.

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