Using satellite images of land use cover and change and other mapping tools, the team could begin to identify where protection or restoration are needed, and where sustainable agricultural expansion could take place. They also generated scenarios that considered different aspects such as wildlife needs, ecosystem services and agricultural productivity, to allow synergies and trade-offs to be identified and assessed.
Meetings were held with the various stakeholders that influence land use change, from district authorities and businesses to communities and conservationists, to try to ensure a participatory, landscape-level planning process.
Technological advances such as satellite imagery and quality of mapping tools.
Creating the space for open discussion and a willingness among stakeholders to hear the perspectives of others.
Involving all stakeholders is critical to negotiate and articulate objectives that are realistic to achieve and to form recommendations that minimise conflict between land uses.
There has to be a clear business case for investing in conservation and a willingness among companies to form new partnerships.