Developed attitude and behavior assessment surveys targeting specific groups (e.g., visitors, local communities, and productive sectors) who visit or reside near MPAs carried out at different times. A web-based “Friends of the SMPA Society” comprised of national and international scientists and members of civil society were put in place. The project developed an information dissemination and communication strategy specific in marine topics, which will inform the general population about MPAs through print, audiovisual (radio, TV, newspapers, and internet), as well as dissemination meetings. The main activities were: a)Dissemination campaigns; b)implementation of the SAMP web page; c)awareness campaigns in educational centers (schools and universities); and d) establishment of a data base of images and videos bilingual (Spanish and English). SAMP promoted in international and national events of scientific nature, such as seminars, congresses, side-event in COP of Biodiversity, among others. Main results: 11% increase over the baseline of behavior and attitudes test scores; 5 new funding proposals leveraged by the “Friends of the SMPA Society"; national recognition at the end of the GEF-Project promoted a participatory roadmap for sustainability of next 5 years reacheness.

The institutional and individual capacity for the management of the MPAs in the SAMP were improved: a) developed or strengthen training programs for MPA management (e.g., regulatory framework, management plans, financial
sustainability, and monitoring and conservation); b) developed of planning and resource use agreements; c) supported the consolidation of the MPA management plans; d) monitoring and use of GIS tools to aid MPA management decision-making was developed; and e) assessment of the MPA management effectiveness using the METT tool was runned. Additionally, the project contributed to enhance the institutional
capacity of INVEMAR and to improved MPA management by providing funds to update monitoring/research and GIS laboratories in new headquarters in Santa Marta. The main outputs: A monitoring system for the SMPA articulated with SINAP’; Agreements for planning and resource use developed for six (6) pilot MPAs specifying roles, financial obligations, and conflict-resolution mechanisms; Selected staff from MPAs and decision-makers trained in MPA management, financial planning, and monitoring and evaluation; Existing ecology programs in higher educational institutions include MPA; Decision Support System based-GIS tools. 

The sustainable financial management plans are oriented to meet the needs of the Subsystem through the identification of activities  run by the local communities which can raise revenues. Such activities include eco-tourism (scientific tourism, birdwatching, marine mammal watching), sport fishing, scenic diving and sustainable use of biodiversity resources. These plans are entailed towards the conservation of the ecosystem goods and services while giving economical opportunites to local communities and environmental entities. A financial framework ensuring the sustainability of the SAMP consolidated through the strengthening of current sources of financing and the inclusion of new ones. The framework includes the development of provisions and mechanisms to increase the current government and non-government contributions to the MPAs. Agreements to override MPA management cost with the direct beneficiaries of conservation was defined. To assess the potentiality of payments for avoided deforestation in mangroves as a financing option for MPAs and SAMP, a pilot project for the reduction of emissions caused by deforestation-degradation of mangroves was formulated and executed in Cispata. Now under replication and apply for "bluecarbon market". 

The SMPA is established and supported by a legal, institutional, and operational framework. 

•Legal, institutional and operational framework:

8,6 million hectares under protection (8,9% aprox of marine areas)

11 new MPAs (initial target was 3)

2 Action Plans developed and supported: SIRAP Caribe y Pacífico: a) stakeholder analysis, articulation mechanisms, work plans, and specific actions for the MPAs to be included as part of action plans; b) reviewing the status of the processes for the SIRAPs’ establishment, at the same time taking into account the SINAP’s guidelines and facilitating the coordinated actions within the MPAs.

•Legal developments

SAMP Action Plan 2016 – 2023 design and start implementation

Formal adoption of SAMP by CONAP (National Protected Areas Council)

Operational agreements

Those results contributes to guarantee a representative sample of coastal and marine biodiversity at multiple biological organization levels; to assure the continuity of ecosystem services;  to maintain the natural elements asociated to material and inmaterial importance objects essencial to cultural values; and to guarantee the ecological processes maintaining the conectivity of marine biodiversity.

This initiative brings together all stakeholders, including different levels of government, around a 'collective responsibility' approach. The National Park is managed by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (a central government agency). Ensuring coherence between park management and planning processes and development at the wider landscape is a challenge.Addressing deforestation in the National Park while supporting improved farmer livelihoods requires improved links, policy coherence and an integrated approach between different government levels and agencies. Our initiative has sought to achieve this through government engagement at district, provincial and central government levels, securing support from each level for the 'Collective Statement of Intent'. Understanding what opportunities this presents for supporting the separate aims of individual government agencies (such as improved park management and protection, rural development and improved agricultural production) has been critical in engaging government. 

In 2012, the Legado das Águas was recognized as a Private Sustainable Development Reserve (PSDR) through a partnership with the State Government of São Paulo. Since then, Votorantim S.A. has signed a protocol of intentions, where it undertakes to protect the area that forms the Legado das Águas . Among the terms signed in the agreement is the proposal of shared management between Votorantim Reserves LTDA and the Government of the State of São Paulo, facilitating advances in scientific studies, environmental education, public use, protection of endangered species, socioeconomic development of the region and, mainly , forest conservation.
The objective of this partnership is to strengthen the work developed in the Legado das Águas and to recognize the importance of the area for the conservation of Brazilian biodiversity by the public power.

Farmer groups develop business and advanced marketing plans to guide their continued activities and farm and business growth. When we initially select farmers, we ensure they are a part of a farmers group, which enhances their power as sellers, as they can sell in bulk and work as a group to market crops.. In Kaffrine, Senegal and Singida, Tanzania, some of our farmers grow higher-value crops like Hibiscus, Cashew, and Sunflower:We build capacity of farmers to approach buyers in regional capitals  export quality crops . In Kenya, we work with a dairy cooperative to offset their cattle feed costs, and give them the opportunity to sell extra tree fodder they product to other cooperative members. Ownership of the project is fully transferred to the farmer groups. After graduation, farmer groups continue to support each other as a team in the on-going development and management of Forest Gardens and marketing of products.  

After the 4-year project, farmers are expected to continue their Forest Gardens, given the significant successes they have seen and training they have received.  In the future, TREES is hoping to follow-up with farmers after the program, however we do not yet have the capacity to continue monitoring farmers outside of the 4-year program.

Farmers will learn to adopt advanced Forest Garden planting and care, integrated pest management, and conservation techniques that optimize and ensure the long-term health, productivity, and profitability of their land.

Farmers diversify the products they grow in their Forest Gardens. During this phase, farmers plant higher-value vegetables, fruit, nut, and timber trees. They also learn increasingly advanced skills and techniques that will help them manage their Forest Gardens more effectively and sustainably, such as fruit tree grafting, advanced composting, and marketing of crops.