Entirety

Nature reserve creation

Tara Cummins — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 16:35:15 +0000

Nature reserve creation

This programme aims to go beyond traditional habitat restoration and will work to establish entirely new woodlands across eligible sites totalling at least 1,755 hectares. Aviva’s £38m donation is allowing local Wildlife Trusts to purchase, or long-term lease available land, and then establish rainforest and manage that land in perpetuity. Local Wildlife Trusts are leading on their own sites and projects, with direct support from the programme team operating from the central charity, the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, and input from their communities. New sites will be seen as a win for conservation and as important hubs for collaboration with local communities including educational opportunities. Local Wildlife Trusts will actively involve communities through planting days, volunteering opportunities, drop-in sessions, and guided walks.

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Local

National

Carbon accounting

Tara Cummins — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 16:31:44 +0000

Carbon accounting

This programme uses the Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) to validate the carbon credits generated. The WCC is a voluntary code which encourages consistency within woodland creation and carbon projects, while offering transparency to customers too. The process of validation and verification means any woodlands included in the scheme are certified to be sustainably managed according to national standards. This provides reliable, calculated estimates of the amount of carbon that will be sequestered as a direct result of planting new trees. This concept of additionality is vital. To gain carbon credits, it must be clear that all sequestered carbon is a result of new efforts, which would not have come about without the project. Projects involved must also have a long-term management plan and maintain verification for their whole duration. As part of our partnership, all carbon credits established by the planting of temperate rainforest are allocated to Aviva, helping to deliver their net zero ambitions. The credits are only passed to Aviva once they are realised as Woodland Carbon Units. Aviva then immediately retires the units preventing any possibility of secondary trading. By not using Pending Issuance Units (PIUs), this programme ensures the highest standards of transparency and legitimacy. This is important as the restoration of temperate rainforest is a new idea and predictions of carbon returns may differ substantially from the actual units created. Nevertheless, modelling through the WCC contains large risk buffers so we expect actual returns to exceed those predicted. This programme is aligned to the ‘Nature Markets Principles’ guidelines, produced in 2023 by environmental NGOs and investors, to assist with policy development and the creation of high-quality natural capital markets. This is the first use of this code in the creation of temperate rainforest, so we are working closely with the people behind the code to better understand the carbon value of these forests.

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National

Community engagement and governance

Fundación Sur Futuro — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 17:19:44 +0000

Community engagement and governance

Meeting of Biosphere Council

@SurFuturo

Several actions were implemented through the Jaragua-Bahoruco-Enriquillo Biosphere Reserve, and specifically through its sub-councils that represent the local governments and surrounding communities in the Independencia and Bahoruco provinces of the Dominican Republic.

Activities to increase awareness of the area and its importance to leaders and key community members
Information material about the PA (posters, murals, infographics) prepared and distributed in key places (schools, churches, public centers, local public, private organizations and society)
Training for local guides, to bolster ecotourism activities and alternative livelihoods

Community engagement

Support from both national and local government leaders

Reaching out to already existing structures

Providing resources to impoverished communities

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Local

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVlFA4LL4a-/?igsh=MWpjbWhhNnYzem0wMg%3D%3D

Presentation of studies to community leaders

Visits to promote the project among surrounding communities

Information dissemination, communication with customers

Chiu Chu Shih — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 09:23:25 +0000

Information dissemination, communication with customers

The final product's value is created through sustainable development goals. It is essential this message is passed on to the customer through the acquisition of the product, whether it be furniture, a bracelet or ball pen.

Spending time at the facility, participating in a class or tour gives exposure to the processes in an innovative and creative manner. The facilitators are expert at providing

Documentation and dissemination of results

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Local

Traditional Cultural Innovation

Chiu Chu Shih — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 07:29:40 +0000

Traditional Cultural Innovation

Significant design and purposing is developed through utilising community skills that already exist. Products developed from recycled and repurposed abandoned nets display local character, flare and application. Incorporating story and background provide introduction to DYI projects available to tour groups and school programs

Repurposing infrastructure, telephone company building use as R&D and classroom resource.

Cultural weaving techniques

DYI projects provide a tangible interactive product through visiting the facility, visual and descriptive tour of processes is acted on in forming a souvenir. This product provides a focal point of disseminating awareness. Sense of accomplishment, contribution and involvement.

Multi-Sectoral Stakeholder Approach to Addressing Gender Equality and Environmental Sustainability

Samantha Munang'andu — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 22:33:27 +0000

Multi-Sectoral Stakeholder Approach to Addressing Gender Equality and Environmental Sustainability

Multi-Sectoral Stakeholder engagement

unknown

Multistakeholder Engagements.

Action Aid Zambia, by Samantha Mungan'andu

STakeholder engagements and policy review.

Action Aid Zambia, Wezi Nyalazi

This building block fosters collaboration among diverse stakeholders to address the structural and systemic issues intersecting gender equality and environmental sustainability. Through activities such as training sessions, conflict management meetings, and leadership support, stakeholders from the gender sector (led by the Division of Gender) and the environmental sector (led by the Ministry of Fisheries) engage in cross-sectoral discussions to align objectives and integrate solutions. For example, fisheries stakeholders provide insights into resource management and illegal practices, while gender sector members contribute expertise on GBV prevention and response mechanisms. The initiative also influences policy by advocating for and supporting the revision of legal instruments like the Fisheries Act and the Anti-GBV Act of 2011, ensuring they address the unique challenges at this intersection. Additionally, technical support is provided for mainstreaming gender considerations in other sectors and integrating cross-cutting issues into broader policy frameworks. By aligning community-level efforts with institutional policies, this approach ensures scalable, sustainable, and contextually relevant interventions.

Policy and Legal Advocacy: Engaging stakeholders in revising key policies, such as the Fisheries Act and Anti-GBV Act, ensures the alignment of national frameworks with the realities of community-level challenges.
Cross-Sector Collaboration: Inclusion of diverse stakeholders—district committees, line ministries, community leaders, and local institutions—promotes synergy in addressing interconnected challenges.
Institutional Support for Integration: Providing technical assistance for mainstreaming gender across sectors ensures that interventions align with broader national development goals.
Accountability Mechanisms: Regular reporting and feedback loops between community actors and state-level stakeholders strengthen coordination, transparency, and long-term support.
Contextual Awareness: Recognizing the socio-political and cultural dynamics, such as cross-border issues in Sesheke, enables flexible and tailored solutions.

Policy Influence Requires Persistence: Revising laws and policies to reflect grassroots realities, such as integrating "sex for fish" dynamics into the Fisheries Act, is a gradual but essential process.
Integration Enhances Impact: Addressing GBV and environmental issues in isolation is less effective than integrating these efforts into other sectors, such as health and education, to reflect the interconnectedness of societal challenges.
Collaboration Fosters Sustainability: Strong partnerships between gender and fisheries sectors help stakeholders appreciate mutual dependencies, resulting in better coordination and ownership of interventions.
Respecting Local Dynamics Is Critical: Communities dependent on resources may resist government interventions due to historical or systemic inequalities. A participatory approach rooted in respect and understanding is essential.
Adaptability in Complex Contexts: Addressing intersectional challenges which are deeply embeded in neoliberal systems and structures such as intersectional inequality, rural marginalization and cross-border security issues, requires flexibility and innovative resource use to sustain project momentum.

Implementation

Documentation and dissemination of results

This document was a news feature about our interventions in the fisheries secot in Zambia

Awareness Raising and Gender Training on the Interlinkages Between GBV and Environmental Degradation in the Fisheries Sector

Samantha Munang'andu — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 10:02:09 +0000

Awareness Raising and Gender Training on the Interlinkages Between GBV and Environmental Degradation in the Fisheries Sector

Awareness Raising of GBV in the fisheries sector.

Marcus Sakubita, Prime T>V News, Zambia.

Awareness Raising.

Action Aid Zambia, by Samantha Mungan'andu

T his building block focuses on raising awareness and providing tailored gender training to highlight the interconnectedness of GBV, particularly exploitative practices like "sex for fish," and environmental degradation in the fisheries sector. With men dominating fish harvesting and women constituting 90% of post-harvest activities, the sector reveals stark gender dynamics. The initiative educates communities and stakeholders on how these transactional relationships exacerbate resource depletion, harm biodiversity, and perpetuate power imbalances between men and women. Using diverse forms of communication, such as roadshows, community dramas, and GBV Watch Committee activities, the project aims to transform perceptions, foster collaboration, and inspire action to address these interwoven challenges.

Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: State actors, resource custodians, and legal systems working together to tackle the dual challenges of GBV and resource depletion.
Diverse Communication Strategies: Using roadshows, drama, community awareness sessions, and GBV Watch Committees to effectively convey complex issues to different audiences.
Local and Cross-Border Contexts: Acknowledging the unique socioeconomic and cultural contexts of communities along the Zambezi River, which spans multiple countries.
Understanding Power Dynamics: Addressing the control and access to resources as central to the exploitation, rather than blaming victims or perpetuating stereotypes.

Lessons Learned

Sensitivity Is Critical: Miscommunication or misrepresentation, such as media captions, can harm awareness efforts; careful messaging is essential.
Continuous Engagement: Awareness raising is an ongoing process that requires sustained efforts and integration into existing platforms.
Community Dynamics Matter: Resource-dependent communities can resist government-led resource management; respect and understanding of their perspectives are crucial.
Challenging Stereotypes: Awareness efforts must emphasize that "sex for fish" is rooted in power imbalances rather than reducing women to instigators or sex workers.
Resource Management Challenges: Disputes over ownership and responsibility for natural resources highlight the need for clear roles and strengthened governance.

Strengthening GBV Case Management and Access to Justice in the Fisheries Sector by working with the Judicial system

Samantha Munang'andu — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 05:33:24 +0000

Strengthening GBV Case Management and Access to Justice in the Fisheries Sector by working with the Judicial system

Strengthening the GBV case management in the fisheries

AcAction Aiz Zambia by Wezy Nyalazi

This building block focuses on improving the management of GBV cases and facilitating access to justice for survivors within the environmental (fisheries) sector. Given the unique challenges, such as the remote locations of fishing camps and the limited reach of formal judicial systems, this intervention aims to bridge the gap between GBV referral pathways and the Fast Track Court system. Through community-driven mechanisms like GBV Watch Committees and engagement sessions with key stakeholders, survivors are supported in navigating complex legal processes. This initiative also works to raise awareness of the specific dynamics of "sex-for-fish" practices and ensure that judicial actors and environmental agencies collaborate effectively to address these intersecting challenges.

Stakeholder Engagement- Involvement of judicial actors, GBV referral systems, and fisheries departments to create a shared understanding of GBV in the fisheries sector.
Community-Led Mechanisms- GBV Watch Committees act as a bridge between survivors and formal legal systems, providing local support and referrals.
Technical and Financial Support- Provision of resources to overcome logistical challenges, such as facilitating survivors’ access to the Fast Track Court.
Political and Social Awareness - Recognition of the negative impacts of sex-for-fish practices and growing political will to address GBV in environmental sectors.

Time and Resources Are Critical -Addressing GBV requires long-term commitment and investment in training stakeholders to fully understand and respond to the issue.
Integrated Approaches Are Key - Environmental goals cannot be achieved in isolation; addressing interconnected issues like GBV is essential.
Adapting the Legal System Is Challenging - Social issues like GBV do not easily fit into rigid legal frameworks, and alternatives to punitive measures should be explored to balance justice with social needs.
Systemic Change Is Needed - Decolonizing legal systems and tailoring them to local contexts is vital for improving accessibility and comprehension for communities.
Nuanced Case Management - Both sectors (judicial and environmental) must clearly define and differentiate between GBV and business disputes to ensure proper case handling.

Cash Crop Integration for Sustainable Incomes

NAMANYA ERNEST — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 15:11:49 +0000

Cash Crop Integration for Sustainable Incomes

LATEK CASH CROPS

LATEK STAY ALLIANCE UGANDA

The cash crop integration component aimed to incentivize tree management by linking reforestation efforts with short-term income generation. Top-performing farmers, assessed based on tree survival rates and GAP training participation, were awarded cash crop inputs such as soya beans and groundnuts. These crops were selected for their adaptability to local soils, market demand, and ability to complement agroforestry systems. Farmers achieved an average 12% increase in soya bean yields (350 kg/acre) and 10% increase in groundnut yields (240 kg/acre), with incomes averaging UGX 1,050,000 ($285) for soya beans and UGX 900,000 ($244) for groundnuts. The inclusion of cash crops encouraged farmers to maintain their agroforestry systems, reducing tree felling for short-term needs.

Crop Suitability: Identifying crops that thrive in local conditions while supporting agroforestry practices.
Farmer Training: GAP for cash crops, focusing on planting density, pest management, and post-harvest handling to improve yields.
Market Access: Establishing links with traders and milling companies to secure 15% higher prices and reduce reliance on middlemen.
Monitoring and Evaluation: Digital monitoring and evaluation, regular farm visits to assess crop performance and address challenges promptly.

Crop integration incentivized tree preservation and diversified farmer incomes, enhancing resilience to climate shocks.
Regional variation in weather and soil conditions impacted yields. Research and consultancy would help identify the most suitable varieties.
Poor post-harvest handling in some areas reduced profits. Training on crop drying and storage is essential to maximize market value.
Develop region-specific crop calendars and include low-cost storage solutions to address post-harvest losses. Partnering with buyers early ensures market demand aligns with farmer production.

Monitoring

Documentation and dissemination of results

Tree Planting at community Level

NAMANYA ERNEST — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 14:43:16 +0000

Tree Planting at community Level

LATEK AGROFORESTRY PROJECT

LATEK STAY ALLIANCE UGANDA

The primary purpose of tree planting at community level is to achieve large-scale ecosystem restoration while enhancing local livelihoods through agroforestry. The project partnered with four communities to mobilize 425 farmers for tree planting, distributing 73,867 seedlings. Farmers were trained in Good Agroforestry Practices (GAP), including tree planting techniques, mulching, pest and disease management, and soil fertility enhancement. Tree species like Grevillea robusta and Agrocarpus were selected for their fast growth, timber production potential, and ability to improve microclimates and soil structure. Tree planting activities focused on degraded lands prone to erosion and drought, effectively addressing flood control, biodiversity restoration, and ecosystem loss.

Farmer Training: Comprehensive GAP training to equip farmers with technical skills in tree care, pruning, and pest management.
Species Suitability: Selecting trees adapted to regional environmental conditions to maximize survival and growth rates including soils, weather, culture and .
Monitoring Systems: Continuous farmer field visits to monitor growth, survival rates, and emerging challenges.
Community Ownership: Collaborating with SEs and local leaders ensured trust, commitment, and adoption of sustainable tree management practices.

Integration of trees with cash crops enhances farmer engagement and ensures long-term care for planted trees.
Survival rates were highest in areas with reliable rainfall (Kapchorwa at 92%), highlighting the need for location-specific strategies in drought-prone regions.
Termite infestations in Busia and Mbale posed a challenge, requiring targeted pest control solutions such as biological control agents and mulching to minimize damage.

Advice: Deploy tree care manuals with localized pest and soil management techniques. Integrate weather forecast systems to align planting activities with optimal rainfall periods and mitigate drought-related losses.

Monitoring

Documentation and dissemination of results