Educating everyone from the local people neighbouring the reserve to the politicians was the most valuable component of the project. The concept of conservation and the protection of wildlife and our natural environment were completely foreign to them until they had the opportunity to experience it for themselves.

Any effective ecosystem-based strategies and implementation activities, need a strong documentation process and field monitoring activities in the field. Collating data from the field is key for 1) documenting the factors of success and failure of the techniques, and 2) for demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of ecosystem-based approaches. Such science-based evidences are necessary for making the case for nature based solutions to climate change adaptation. As part of EPIC, the following research activities have been undertaken so far: - Ecosystems and vegetation mapping and study of soil characteristics in the district of Djilor (in partnership with Cheikh Anta Diop University) - Development of training modules on ANR and other local adaptation techniques (in partnership with the National Forestry Research Centre and the Institute of Environmental Sciences) - Mapping of agricultural techniques for climate change adaptation and study of the impacts of disaster risk on local livelihood in the Foundiougne region (in partnership with a French school of engineers, ISTOM)

- Institutional support to producers in organizing themselves, to better engage with the local and regional markets and implement a more uniform plan and approach; reduce market competition and provide more inclusive access to production activities. - Promotion of more sustainable agricultural potential products, such as Ylang-Ylang used for perfume production, using more efficient, sustainable and resource-efficient technologies. For example, using copper stills and providing better distillation techniques that allow growers to also enter the production chain and command a better price for a better quality product. Agro-forestry techniques reduce the amount of primary fuelwood needed for the stills, and reduce impacts on the watersheds for the island. - Developing market-gardens and vegetable production to supply tourist facilities, such as hotels, restaurants, yachts within Comoros.

Multi-stakeholder Dialogue (MSD) platforms are created, comprised of government representatives, NGOs, civil society involved in the project. The platforms consist of management committees set up in each village and at provincial level, to monitor the project’s activities and inform its management. The committees provide support for the daily implementation of the activities as well as for strategic engagement with other institutions. Advocacy material for policy makers is also produced. The engagement at national, regional and global levels is crucial, to ensure that knowledge is transferred, and that policy makers become advocates/implementers of the key lessons learned from the project. Strategic engagements at national, regional and global levels included so far: - A national inception workshop of the project - A national forum with the Directorate of Civil protection on ecosystems-based risk management - Presentation of the project at regional forums and meetings (regional conservation forum, regional consultations for the WCDRR) - Showcasing the project in publications or case studies for global events (UNFCCC COP 21)

After developing several communications products geared to different audiences, we released the valuation findings at the International Year of the Reef Symposium in Belize City in November 2008. We also distributed findings in a six-page summary pamphlet for decision makers; several local partners also incorporated the results into videos shown to the Prime Minister and other officials at the gala event that evening. At the request of the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT), we also produced a one-page document aimed at policymakers and have distributed it through PACT and other local partners. We also made Excel-based tools to facilitate replication of our valuation methods and data collection. These tools and users’ manuals, along with the full technical report and summary, are all freely available for download at our website. The Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative, along with WWF, WCS, Oceana, and many other local NGOs, have used the economic valuation findings in their efforts to negotiate for tighter fishing regulations, new mangrove legislation, a ban on offshore oil drilling, and other conservation and sustainable management goals.

The national authority begins the process to create a protected area management committee by inviting interested local stakeholders. Members are registered, and a council and a President are elected by the General Assembly. The management committee itself becomes a space for dialogue and allows issues to be discussed before tensions turn into conflicts. It also facilitates support from local stakeholders to the protected area management authority to carry out specific activities. The Fishermen’s Association and collectives are also members of the management committee and are active in the general assembly. A representative from the Fishermen’s Association was elected as President of the Management Committee, legitimizing the association as one of the most powerful and relevant actors in the protected area. This made communications between fishermen and government authorities more fluid and management decisions are made based on formal processes.

As the Wet Tropics Management Authority works with more than 20 Aboriginal communities in the Wet Tropics region, it was important we use a transparent and fair process to select a group to undertake a P3DM. An expression of interest was developed and distributed outlining parameters of the project, its potential benefits and what would be required of the community. Written applications were assessed, and applicants interviewed against a series of questions. Selection was based on a combination of the written applications and interviews.

Planting activities and garden maintenance events are designed to open up spaces for diverse stakeholders, as well as individuals and group representatives, to come together to work side-by-side towards a common goal. In the act of digging holes, working the soil, and planting, perceptions of individuals may be shifted as people engage with one another in conversation and come to recognise their shared humanity. This can be a powerful process for breaking down barriers and antagonisms that may exist between groups or individuals due to prior blanket judgments, ignorance or misunderstanding.

Mapped data depicting height contours is the key to creating a 3D model, as each layer of the model corresponds with a contour height. At the Authority's offices two sets of 1:10,000 scale maps depicting contour heights at 20m intervals, and the coastline, were printed to fit the model tables exactly. At the community's request we also printed large format topographic/satellite imagery of the area. This phase also involved sourcing and purchase of model construction and depiction materials. Research was undertaken prior to ascertain what what available locally and how much it would cost. We used foamcore board for the model, acrylic school paints, acrylic wool yarn and pushpins for depicting information on to the model. The amount of foamcore or carton board purchased is dependent on how many contour layers will be depicted on the model. This phase was done entirely by the Authority's facilitator due to time constraints. Concurrently the Djunbunji organisation built the tables for the models, using specifications adapted from Rambaldi, G (2010) Participatory 3 Dimensional Modelling: Guiding Principles and Applications

During the first year of the project, we developed a partnership with a range of groups and individuals interested in economic valuation and marine conservation in Belize. Our core partners were WWF-Central America and World Conservation Society, but we also worked with more than 10 Belizean NGOs, MPA co-managing organizations, and government departments, as well as faculty at Belize’s universities. We held a workshop in Belize in 2007 to introduce economic valuation and held several follow-up workshops in the following year, focusing separately on shoreline protection, fisheries, and tourism in greater depth. The project partnership represented the views and expertise of a wide range of primary, secondary, and external stakeholders. The partnership was instrumental in helping design the valuation study, identify potential policy applications and outreach opportunities, collect data, and communicate results to decision makers.