INECC recognises that adaptation should be “with the people, for the people”. It has been vital to incentivise community participation within the zone in order to achieve any action aimed at restoring, managing and conserving local mangroves. With the support of local organizations, INECC has created, for local communities, spaces for social learning, interaction and communication. These spaces have facilitated the dissemination of information about the important role of ecosystems in local livelihoods; awareness raising about threats to the socio-ecological systems in which the communities thrive; and capacity development on how to manage resources sustainably as well as how to commercialise ecosystem services. The constant and consistent work of local organizations with communities has created a sense of belonging towards their ecosystem and a responsibility for the decisions and actions for its care.
- A well developed community vision, from the very start, of what climate change means for their livelihoods and ecosystem in which they live, and about the daily problems they face
- Committed and consistent support from experienced, local NGOs
- Credible institutions
- Confidence of the communities in themselves and in the NGOs
- It is vital to listen to the community, as well as to give them the opportunities to speak up and participate in the long term.
- Community members have to maintain high levels of commitment to the project when it moves from diagnostics to concrete action on the ground.
- This commitment will be stimulated by external recogition of their activities.