Scaling locally-driven conservation

Benguerra Island, one of the most important tourist and conservation areas in the Bazaruto Archipelago off the coast of Mozambique, is rich in biodiversity, with an abundance of rare marine species of ecological and economic value. In recent years, the island has been ravaged by natural disasters, such as cyclones and tropical storms making the Benguerra coastal ecosystem susceptible to degradation, erosion, floods, and unstable coastline. However, the impacts of these factors to the stability of the Benguerra coastline have not been quantified and the current state of conservation is not yet known. My research aims to evaluate the stability of the Benguerra coast to identify the current state of conservation. I will also model the future change of coastal ecosystems considering the effect of environmental and anthropogenic forces. Findings will contribute to the development of measures to reduce ecosystem degradation and improve the conservation of the region to support a sustainable blue economy in Mozambique.

Saltmarshes play an important role as transition ecosystems between mangroves and terrestrial vegetation. They provide coastal protection and are habitats for diverse species. My research intends to develop an in-depth mapping and taxonomic study of the main species to better understand how saltmarshes can influence mangrove recruitment in degraded mangrove forests. This study will be a tool for including saltmarshes in the list of important coastal ecosystems in Mozambique. It will also contribute to the limited knowledge regarding this ecosystem. Understanding the interactions in this ecosystem with mangroves can provide guidelines for mangrove and saltmarsh management and restoration.

My research will investigate the distribution, transport, and accumulation of pollutants during a landfall of tropical cyclones in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique. Due to Mozambique's vulnerability to tropical cyclones, there is exacerbated transfer of pollutants to the ocean, which could cause serious problems to coral reefs already threatened by climate change and anthropogenic activities. This study will provide scientific evidence on the potential of tropical cyclones to induce pollutants from the ocean back to land, such as plastics, which enable detection of their optimal removal locations, and will contribute to enhancing the conservation of coral reefs.

My research will describe a free-living stubby-branching coral, Psammocora stellata that occurs at Floreana and Isabela Islands in the Galápagos Archipelago. This species is more resistant to bleaching, but during El Niño Southern Oscillation events in 1982-83, it disappeared from several locations. Over the past 40 years, this rubble-like coral has recovered to its pre-impacted levels and continues to expand. By increasing habitat complexity, P. stellata provides important ecosystems for invertebrates and fish. Therefore, this study will estimate the distribution of Psammocora stellata, facilitate population management, and further our understanding of their overall resilience and resistance to changing environmental conditions.

When considering conservation, it should be noted that human behavior and disposition towards sustainable practices play an essential role. The Ecuadorian coast is the habitat of marine turtles, but it is also the living space of fishing communities. Women, men, and turtles face the loss of valuable ecosystems due to climate change and overexploitation. My research aims to understand the social context, the adaptability to climate change, and the interactions between sea turtles and the fishing communities of Northern Ecuador. This research will help promote sustainable tourism and fishing practices through environmental education in ways that allow all communities to participate actively in the search for solutions.

The Global Ocean Report 2020 highlights the missing link between SDG 14 and gender, yet women play a critical role in ocean science fisheries and resource conservation. Voices of women are invisible due to various factors such as customary norms, values and traditions resulting in exclusion from Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), a process that rationalizes the use of marine space. My study aims to examine the role of women in fisheries as a component of MSP in Kenya. The role of women fishers in Kenya’s ocean economy has poorly been documented. I will develop inventories of resource users in select villages, determine factors contributing to gender disparities, map sites of fisheries resource extractions and examine the participation rates of women in marine resource policy development and management. Knowledge on the scale of resource use and participation level by women fishers will contribute to conservation planning and inclusive participation and perspectives in the MSP process.

For nearly 7 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with and contribute to the conservation of marine fauna by researching its interactions with fisheries and closely working with fishing communities. Now, with the support of EFN, I am able to continue researching small-cetaceans bycatch, that despite its long-documented history the area off Peru, considered as one with the greatest threat for small-cetacean species, limited population studies have been conducted to examine the impact of bycatch. My PhD research at the University of St. Andrews aims to extend the information available of small-cetacean bycatch to new areas and to evaluate demographic parameters such as abundance and distribution of these species. Information delivered will support Peruvian and regional governments and entities to develop and reinforce management and policy regulations.

There is limited comprehensive information on Bhutan’s endangered golden langur’s genetic diversity, crop reliance behavior, and interactions with local people. My research will provide a holistic understanding of its genetic diversity and hybridization, feeding behavior, zoonotic disease transmission, response to anthropic habitats, and human-langur interactions, and governance at the landscape level. I will use mixed methods including field surveys, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) collection and analysis, GIS analysis, and ethnographic interviews and observations to examine the specific research components. Field observations combined with in-person interviews will enable me to identify anthropic factors affecting golden langurs, evaluate the extent of people-langur interaction, and assess people’s views of this endangered species. Findings will contribute to developing practical, sustainable conservation interventions that meet the needs of golden langurs and local people.

There is sparsity of information on how Climate Variability and Change (CVC) impact assessments account for heterogeneities in both gender and agro-ecological perspectives in rural Kenya. Resource-dependent smallholders and agroecosystems in rural areas are more prone to CVC given their centrality in agricultural food production systems and cycles combined with rooted biases and discriminatory socio-cultural tradaitions, beliefs and norms regarding gender roles. My research will investigate the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of climate change and natural resources degradation through a gendered lense in relation to agro-ecological zones at a local micro plot, household, community and village scale levels. I will also evaluate the extent, rates, patterns, and costs of natural resource degradation. Smallholders’ gender and agro-ecological attributes will provide evidence for consideration in formulating strategies to alleviate poverty, enhance provision of agro-ecosystems and sustainably manage natural resources through adaptation, mitigation, and resilience to climate change.

Biodiversity in drylands is not well understood, especially in hyper-arid systems. Particularly, soil microbes have been overlooked, as there has traditionally been a general perception that microbes do not contribute to ecosystem services as much as macroorganisms. Microbes play an outsized role in these systems in mediating ecosystem processes such as primary production, C and N cycling as well as biogeochemical processes. The proposed study will explore the taxonomic and functional diversity of soil microbial communities in the hyper-arid Namib Desert. This work will provide information to improve the predictive capacity of dryland ecosystem services under changing environmental conditions.

Incidents of human-wildlife conflict (HWC) have increased in buffer zones of protected areas in Nepal. Local people having diverse livelihood strategies and land-use practices are differently affected by the severity of HWC incidents. My research aims to answer three core questions: What type of livelihood strategies and land use are more prone to HWC? Are current mitigation structures cost effective? Which sites are at risk from HWC? I will collect registered incidents over the past 10 years from respective protected area offices and visit individual sites for conflict related information and associated landscape variables through participatory approaches and damage site assessments. Combination of field-based evidence with ecological models will be essential in formulating policies and strategies to reduce HWC and secure livelihoods of rural communities.

Habitat degradation is pervasive and constrains wildlife persistence at temporal and spatial scales. The tropical Andes exhibit high rates of land conversion but also contain critical habitats for biodiversity and ecosystem services provision. I will assess the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation by quantifying the contribution of land-use change to the extinction threshold hypothesis. I will identify anthropogenic drivers of land-use change and assess the wildlife response. I will conduct spatial analysis, dynamic occupancy modeling, and landscape genetics to infer functional connectivity, and ultimately produce a scientific-informed tool for supporting wildlife conservation in the Llanganates-Sangay Ecological Corridor.

Indri indri is the most iconic species and the largest living lemur. However, the movement patterns of Indri indri remain understudied in Madagascar. The main aim of my research is to compare the activity and ranging patterns between groups of Indri indri, critically endangered lemurs that live in the same area but in patches that differ in terms of habitat quality and fragmentation. Specifically, I will examine the factors that govern the movement of three groups of Indri in Mahatsara, Ihofa, and Mantadia. Findings from my work will advance our knowledge on lemur behavior and movement ecology, which will improve conservation planning.

I study the interaction between snakes and poisonous frog prey in the Amazon in collaboration with local community members. Poison frogs secrete neurotoxins against predators like colubrid snakes. These chemical defenses play a key role in ecosystems by changing interactions between species and creating new ecological opportunities for animals to specialize. Overall, I aim to reveal the genetic basis of toxin resistance in snakes and the potential role of coevolution in generating biodiversity. This research will contribute to our knowledge of tropical interactions and snake biodiversity, which will help guide their conservation by highlighting their important role in the ecosystem.

Biodiversity is declining rapidly. We are probably entering the sixth mass extinction. At the same time, Earth's climate is changing at a rampant rate. However, extinctions and climate changes have been relatively common throughout Earth's history. Since the effects of mass extinctions and major climate changes are challenging to assess at an ecological scale, studying how Earth's biota have responded to climate dynamics in the deep past could be essential for understanding the current and future risks of climate change and biodiversity loss. Thus, my research will provide useful analogs of the causes and consequences of extinctions and how biodiversity has responded to climate change in the past to predict the present and future biota responses.

My proposed research focuses on understanding the biogeographic relationships between woody savanna/savanna-like forests in Peru and the savannas of the Cerrado vegetation of Bolivia and Brazil. It is clear that these formations share species, but quantitative studies of these widespread distributions of species are limited. I aim to examine the evolutionary relationships of key species that are adapted to conditions of water stress and that have a discontinuous spatial distribution between Peru and the Cerrado Biome. The methodology will include floristic inventory of Peruvian Andean savannas, the quantitative exploration of floristic similarity with Cerrado and the taxonomy and phylogenetics of key species in Peruvian savannas to understand the age and nature of possible connections. Clarifying genetic distinctiveness of savanna and dry forests will inform management decisions, especially in areas that are yet to be conserved.

Changes in land use, associated with agriculture, logging, mining, urbanization, among others, are subsequently modifying host-parasite interactions. My proposed research focuses on understanding the influence of anthropogenic habitat alteration on endoparasite infections in a rodent species in a semiarid ecosystem in Central Chile. Specifically, I will examine how habitat and individual features affect the presence of monoxenous and heteroxenous endoparasites in altered and non-altered habitats. Understanding infection patterns on parasites in wildlife based on habitat conditions contribute to developing control measures and policies to safeguard public health and wildlife conservation.

My research focuses on assessing the conservation threats to endangered Asian elephants (nearly 200 remain in Nepal), exploring the causes of human-elephant conflict, the primary factor endangering elephants. Specifically, I will assess the spatio-temporal movement of elephants to understand their foraging patterns; and examine people’s dependence on forests. These findings will contribute to improve elephant conservation and livelihoods for people. Overall, obtaining a PhD will greatly enhance my skills in research, teaching, and conservation. Further, I am excited to develop other women scientists and build science and conservation capacity in Nepal.

The research focuses on the analysis of the functional diversity of plants and its relationship with the provision of ecosystem services in the Alto Paraná Atlantic Forest (BAAPA), Paraguay. This ecoregion is one of the most threatened in the world, due to increasing anthropogenic actions such as overexploitation, encroachment for agricultural land, and burning of biomass. Therefore, there is a need to generate data to characterize the state of degradation and natural succession based on temporal dynamics and plant functional features and the effect on ecosystem services. This will contribute to developing best actions for restoration and sustainable use and management at country and regional level.

Many central African’s restricted range species including the grey-necked picathartes (Picathartes oreas) are poorly studied, making significant obstructions in developing practical conservation management and monitoring plans. My research aims to understand the population status and distribution, dispersal patterns and breeding ecology of the grey-necked picathartes in changing landscape in Cameroon by modeling the occupancy of the species, examining its breeding success and population’s isolation. Findings will provide a baseline for population monitoring and science-informed conservation strategies for the species and the ecosystem in which it lives.

Climate change is now an incontrovertible phenomenon that threatens livelihood sectors. In light of climate change, the lack of adaptation capabilities and capacities leads to higher climate change vulnerability. Empowering the adaptive capacity of rice and fish farmers, community-based, government, and non-governmental organizations through case-based knowledge sharing and training programs is a solution to tackle the increasing impacts of climate change. The community-based resource integrated management planning (CRIMP) is a new sustainable approach considering the trans-disciplinary sciences of climate change and ecosystem-based management aspects. Thus, empowering the adaptive capacity of the stakeholders through the application of the CRIMP approach will enable an improved awareness of climate change among the stakeholders and an understanding of the importance of climate change adaptation and resilience planning for farm households and communities in Myanmar.

Islands in the Mexican Caribbean Sea (MCS) are global touristic sites with limited baseline socioecological data about sharks. Tourism, urban development, and growing fishing effort afflict society and biodiversity conservation, including sharks. I will use fishers' and divers' perceptions to document the presence and diversity of sharks on Cozumel, a global touristic island with a recreational diving and fishing history. Socioecological data will be integrated with underwater observations using geospatial tools. In collaboration with authorities, scientific results will be disseminated to raise awareness of the need for healthy oceans for human well-being and shark conservation.

A glaring ‘leaky pipeline’ of conservation leadership may influence the recruitment and retention of Kenya’s current and next generation of ocean leaders and scientists. I will work with students and interns to develop an interactive monitoring framework for tracking their conservation research and leadership, facilitate approaches to communicate conservation outcomes, and develop an intergenerational mentorship think-tank that will connect young leaders with older experts to encourage interactions and foster learning, communication, and collaborations. Outcomes from this fellowship will serve as a baseline for individual mentors, research groups, and institutions to mitigate the loss of current and future ocean leaders and scientists.

In Tanzania, little is known about tree and ground pangolins, including population status, local perspectives on the species, trade and hunting trade-offs resulting in delays in the development of a national conservation action plan. The project team will work with local communities in select villages located near Burigi-Chato, Rumanyika-Karagwe, and Ibanda-Kyerwa National Parks, an area with tree and ground pangolins to: determine population estimators such as occupancy, map pangolin distribution and threats, and assess the perspectives of local communities towards pangolins trade and hunting. Outcomes will inform the development of education and livelihood strategies, to engage the local communicates in place-based, relevant conservation action as well as national level conservation planning.

Interventions to address challenges such as environmental degradation and over-exploitation of natural resources, due to human population, have included the use of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA). However, the success of these interventions highlights the need for intentional and better approaches in collaborating with local communities. The proposed study aims to work with two local community groups in the north and South Coast of Kenya to examine the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis and local ecological knowledge in assessing social and environmental impacts associated with marine resources. We will document and co-design local approaches to ESIA and use microbial indicators for ecosystem health to prioritize, validate, and monitor the selected community conservation projects. Outcomes will have direct and indirect social and ecological outcomes necessary for sustainable marine conservation in Kenya.

The proposed study aims to increase engagement of local communities in the management of the Uluguru Forest Reserve. The forest which has long been known for its unique biodiversity is currently threatened by anthropogenic activities such as agriculture, charcoal making, and logging. While communities are aware of the importance of forest ecosystems, their participation in economic-conservation dialogue and interventions remains a challenge. The study will apply participatory assessment methodology which is “Integrated Management Effectiveness tool” adopted from IUCN (Integrated Management Effectiveness Tool (IMET) | BIOPAMA RIS) and reflection Action model for participatory reflection and planning for action by adjacent communities in collaboration with local government and Uluguru Forest Authority. The study will create a space to unlock challenges and design locally-led solutions that benefit communities and the forest.

Natural science is a profession that opens doors to a bunch of opportunities all over the world, while offering many possibilities. Then, the increasing concerns about the environment presents a challenge for our society. I am interested in research that promotes the active involvement of students in reforestation work. The study sites will Fokontany Ambohitsilaozana Ambatondrazaka, I will work in collaboration with the deputy and mayor of Ambatondrazaka, the youth association and local teachers to sensitize students and residents on the importance of forests, and provide theoretical and practical training in effective reforestation. These approaches will result in increased scientific spirit and belonging, and empower young people in ensuring survival of forests.

Conservation actively contributes to the sustainable development of a country, especially when social, ecological, and environmental dimensions are considered. I am interested in examining the restoration of the wetland ‘reed’ forest of Lake Alaotra. The reed forestand the lake is currently threatened due to transformation of marshland into new rice fields, and in turn endangering the endemic Alaotra gentle lemur (Hapalemur alaotrensis). My research will investigate the approaches for restoring reed forest in Andreba gara Ambatondrazaka. Specifically, I will work with local communities to develop a monitoring program for planting of reeds as well as raise awareness of the population on the eradication of uncontrolled and illicit exploitation of reeds habitat of Hapalemure alaotrensis endemic to Lake Alaotra. The findings of my work will contribute to the conservation of plant and animal species especially endemic to Lake Alaotra and support ecotourism development of Madagascar.

I am interested in contributing to research through adopting innovative approaches to environmental education and awareness for local people in the rural commune of Bejofo-Ambatondrazaka. Specifically, I would like to work with the local reception center in Andrebagara to develop awareness materials such as images, posters, and stories that represent the history of the wet zone, the characteristics of the species, the anthropogenic pressures and measures that can be adopted to preserve the wetland.

My research aims to find strategies that can be used in the conservation of Ardea humbloti which is listed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List, and undergoing continuing declines due to increasing degradation and overexploitation of its habitats. Using participatory approaches, I will engage local communities in the Manambolomaty area; Melaky region, a Ramsar site known as home for the Ardea humbloti to assess their presence and absence in this site, and examine local conservation measures.

Erosion is a phenomenon that destroys several acres of primary forest in Madagascar. Associated with deforestation, it increases every year. I will assess the scope of damage caused by erosion in the Andasibe Mantadia National Park. I will also test the efficacy of planting endemic species of deep-rooted plants as a natural method for maintaining soil and preventing erosion. Results from this work will provide a map showing the size of the erosion zones in the eastern forests of Madagascar and recommendations for anti-erosion measures for protection of the forest ecosystem.

This topic is important to the future of conservation in my country because wetlands have several importance to the environment and development. Some of the wetlands in Madagascar are endangered by human activities such as agriculture, the irrational use of resources, and deforestation. Therefore, sensitizing local communities on the protection and restoration of wetlands provides the solution to reduce threats. Wetlands defend so many endemic fauna and flora of Madagascar like Raphia, marsh, fish, bird, amphibian, mammal, reptile, and crustacean. The potential outcomes are local communities are aware of the importance of wetlands and participate directly in their protection and restoration.

People in Bhutan started using chemical fertilizers knowingly or unknowingly of the negative impact on the environment. The use of chemical fertilizers has led to several issues such as serious soil degradation, nitrogen leaching, soil compaction, and reduction in soil organic matter. I will work with farmers in Changyul, Punakha, an area known for its varieties of vegetables especially chili, which is sold to generate income. I aim to assess the adoption and use of natural manure compared to chemical fertilizers following sensitization on the implications of chemical fertilizers. The expected outcome is that farmers will be motivated to learn the procedures for making compost manure from their kitchen and other degradable waste. Findings will contribute to support policies to reduce the import and use of chemical fertilizers.

I am interested in examining approaches that can improve agricultural land uses to ensure sustainable farming practices in Bhutan. I will conduct my study in Punakha, Bhutan, where both wet and dry-land agriculture practices are carried out. Further, the local communities in Punakha are mostly dependent on agricultural practices. However, agricultural lands are declining due to developmental activities. I will assess community members’ perspectives on the impact of developmental activities and legislation on agricultural practices. The research will provide recommendations including the various solutions to agricultural land use issues and measures for sustainable agriculture for future generations. The outcomes of my study will be important in supporting local and national efforts in developing practical solutions to sustainable agricultural land uses.

I will identify the ecosystem services that are prevalent in the community forest in Tsirang due to its rich biodiversity. Specifically, I will examine the valuable ecosystem services and quantify the economic value. I will conduct surveys through working with members of the community forest to determine their perception on the type and value of the ecosystem service. Findings will support monitoring and evaluation of ecosystem services to mitigate degradation and depletion, enhance good governance and promote conservation efforts.

The world is developing at a rapid pace and human activities are linked to the environment like never before, therefore impacting our biodiversity and well-being. I am interested in Bhutan’s urban ecology. I aim to examine how social, political, and economic dimensions affect biodiversity. I will focus on Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital city, as my study site given that it’s the fastest growing city in the country, providing an opportunity to understand the implications of urbanization on the environment. Methods will include chemical techniques such as testing the pH and air quality index to measure content of pollutants as well as use of remote sensing data. The findings will be important in the sustainable development of Bhutan. Outcomes contribute to our understanding of urban ecology which is important in finding a balance between humans and their surroundings.

The objective of the project is to promote mangrove reforestation through the participation of communities and the private sector. Red mangroves around the Bay Islands National Marine Park in Honduras are facing various drivers of deforestation and sdegradation such as tourism development, land concessions, unsustainable farming, and climate change, among others. Bay Islands Conservation Association (BICA) will work with local communities and the private sector to restore the mangrove forest with 40,000 red mangrove seedlings, Rhizophora mangle. We hope to continue to contribute to the recovery of degraded forests which will strengthen the socio-economic and ecological value of the forest ecosystem in Honduras.

The project is being implemented in the San Ramón district in the Province of Chanchamayo, Junín, working with local communities of: Auvernia, La Codiciada, Santa Clara, 7 Houses, Pichita, and La Lora, benefiting a total of 150 smallholder farmers. The proposed work is the continuation of the conservation and protection actions in the Oxabamba basin, located in the district of San Ramón (Chanchamayo–Junín). The project focuses on restoration of threatened native tree species and forest care. APRODES will work with the mall-holder farmers (63% men, 37% women) by restoring 150,000 native tree seedlings, providing training to enhance the capacity and awareness of biodiversity conservation within local communities and other stakeholders.

The newly established Banke National Park (BaNP) is an important part of the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) and serves as a habitat for endangered wildlife species such as Nepal’s wild tiger. Wildlife Conservation Nepal (WNP) will work with buffer zone communities neighboring BaNP to restore the forest by planting 10,000 native trees, conducting training with 150 participants (50% women, 40% youth) from three community forest: Rara Madhu, Rara Rani and Brinda buffer zone and Gabhar Valley Homestay organizers who are from Indigenous Tharu communities. The government stakeholders of the project will be local municipality and BaNP officials. Training will entail restoration activities such as demarcating the area for reforestation, land leveling, pitting, plantation, weeding and monitoring activities, and nature guide/eco-tourism, as well as understanding of green businesses. Ultimately, this project will have multiple benefits to local people and biodiversity conservation in Nepal.

The project is regenerating a degraded section of Phouhai Protected Forest near Nakham village by planting 23,985 native trees (including hardwood and rattan species), thereby improving habitat for other native flora and fauna. Eighty local farmers (50% women) are being educated on the importance of reforestation and ongoing tree maintenance, taking ownership of the trees entrusted to them, while being sensitized to the environmental challenges of overexploitation. Agroforestry with rattan cultivation will ensure long-term tree care by farmers, giving seedlings the necessary protection and attention needed to grow into mature trees, and establish an entirely new ecosystem and wildlife corridor.

The overall objectives of this project are to plant 20,000 native saplings and restore approximately 30 acres of degraded red panda habitat. By doing so, we hope to connect two critical red panda habitats of Nepal and India. This reforestation project site falls in the unprotected areas of eastern Nepal which connects two international protected areas; Kangchenjunga Conservation Area in Nepal and Singalila National Park in India where the site is highly degraded due to anthropogenic pressures. This project will not only reforest areas but also build capacity of local communities in raising saplings in their restoration nurseries and with techniques of planting trees.

Mtwapa creek ecosystem provides livelihoods to the local communities who are largely fisherfolk and smallholder farmers. Rampant destruction of the mangrove forests along the creek for fuel and construction has been exacerbated by the loss of incomes following the Covid 19 pandemic. This destruction heightens community vulnerability to environmental stress, hunger, and poverty. We aim to improve the environmental quality of the creek ecosystem to provide critical ecosystem services to the local communities. Specifically, the project targets to undertake mangrove restoration by restoring 15,000 mangrove seedlings, 7 acres through two planting events, enhancing knowledge of 150 community members on mangrove restoration and nursery establishment techniques, and establishing seven nurseries of 7,000 mangrove seedlings. The project aims at contributing to achieving the targeted National forest cover of 10% and towards the realization of the Blue Economy goal of Kenya.

The Giant Squeaker Frog (Arthroleptis krokosua) is a Critically Endangered amphibian, which is now only found in the Sui River Forest Reserve (SRFR) in western Ghana. Unfortunately, its only remaining site has been heavily degraded by extensive logging and illegal farming. Additionally, an invasive, highly flammable non-native plant—Devil Weed—thrives in disturbed areas and prevents the regeneration of native rainforest trees. Save Ghana Frogs will collaborate with local people to rewild the forest with 20,000 native tree seedlings, ultimately establishing connectivity within giant squeaker frog’s breeding sites, migration corridors, and riparian areas.

Mangroves have been strongly degraded in Tanzania over the last three decades, and in most places, they have not yet been able to regenerate naturally; so is the Kunduchi Creek mangrove forest. Aqua-Farms Organization (AFO) is restoring the degraded sites in Kunduchi by planting 15,000 mangrove seedlings in 5 acres using a community-based approach that creates awareness on the need for reforestation and enhances the ownership of forest management by the local community through increased literacy and awareness. The project has established a community mangrove nursery at Kunduchi, engaged more than 250 Kunduchi community institutions and government members on mangrove conservation, taught ocean and mangrove literacy to students, and planted 15,000 mangroves in a 5-acre area. These efforts continue to enhance knowledge restoration which is important for climate resilience and coastal governance while building roots for voluntary carbon credit and sustainable livelihoods.

Objective: This project will support three Dayak villages in West Kalimantan to establish agroforestry systems on 34.5 acres14 hectares of degraded forest lands by planting at least 10,000 native trees. We will co-develop agroforestry systems on degraded forest lands to serve the dual purpose of generating livelihoods for partner communities and providing habitat for native fauna. Once established, the agroforests will create long-term self-regenerating systems that will improve the economic resilience of surrounding communities, increase forest cover, protect topsoil from erosion, increase soil fertility, and support climate change mitigation through atmospheric carbon sequestration.

Our goal is to preserve biodiversity and maintain forest strata in the water recharge zone to preserve the quality and quantity of water, as part of the environmental services that benefit more than 35,000 families in the municipalities of Flores and San Benito. As a result, a forest nursery was established with the production of 11,000 samples of native tree seedlings to reforest 23 acres in the Actun Kan Park restoration area with the participation of more than 1,500 people. In addition, 240 school students were sensitized on the conservation of fauna and flora, and authorities from five community development councils on the prevention and control of forest fires surrounding the area.

Like other places in Ecuador, the region is facing high rates of deforestation due to increasing population and over exploitation of natural resources and modification of the iIndigenous lifestyle. Working closely with Kichwa communities in the Tena region, Ishpingo will provide environmental education and training related to building nurseries, seedlings recognition, and maintenance while reforesting 124 acres of land with 20,000 trees through agroforestry systems. These efforts will improve conservation of natural resources and biodiversity and promote natural regeneration of native species. This can lead to the return of forest life including the spectacled bear, which is an emblematic species in the region.

The northern savannah is a fragile ecosystem sensitive to the effects of climate change. The region is undergoing rapid deforestation and forest degradation including the loss of valuable indigenous tree species and wildlife. This project aims to replenish over 1,198 acres485 hectares of land by planting 30,000 indigenous tree seedlings through reforestation, woodlot establishment, and innovative agroecology models, strengthen capacities and knowledge by directly engaging at least 200 beneficiaries (small-scale farmers, loggers, herdsmen, fuelwood producers, students) and mapping degraded areas. Our work will restore long-term ecosystem function while improving food security, and promoting biodiversity conservation, capacity development, and behavior change among communities within the landscape.

The main objective is to provide significant restoration value of the mangrove forest species in the target area by replacing bare areas with new trees. The project focused on the destructed area in the shoreline which has a significant role in the ecological balance of marine (Indian Ocean) and terrestrial ecosystem in Saadani National Park. CONASU applies tree regeneration, protection, and management techniques through working with coastal communities. A total of 30,750 trees have been planted in an area of 16 acres. Beach Management Units are currently taking regular patrol in collaboration with the Tanzania Forest Service. Additionally, the Saadani community has planted 456 more mangrove trees as part of the plan agreed during the training in this project. The project enhances mangrove forest abundance along the coastal areas.

The project aims to strengthen ecological restoration activities in the Paraíso Escondido Ecological Reserve, in the Farallones de Cali National Natural Park, one of the most important protected areas in Colombia due to its huge biodiversity of fauna and flora multiplied by the influence of Pacific Region and the Andean Region. Specifically, we will work with three families that own Paraíso Escondido Ecological Reserve (12 people), 20 students from the local school and 10 women to restore 49 acres of the Forest Peace by planting 10,000 native tree seedlings. This will strengthen local conservation actions for biological diversity, recovery of ecosystems and livelihood options.

Our project aims to restore 49 acres of pastureland by planting 10,200 native trees in the eastern Ecuadorian cloud forest. The cause of deforestation in this region is mainly inefficient cattle ranching. As of today, we are excited to share that we have 5,650 trees currently growing in Aliados' greenhouse, representing seven different native species, four of which are in danger of extinction. Aliados is currently working with 18 farming families from the region to implement a regenerative agroforestry program. We aren't planting just any trees; our species selection aims to create wild food forests with fruit and legume trees that provide food for wildlife as well as new economic alternatives for local cattle ranchers.

This project aims to strengthen the conservation capacities of the Arahuac Indigenous community in the Colombian Amazon basin for environmental restoration, with an emphasis on forest fire control, of 8,649 acres of forests seriously damaged by agricultural activities, illegal mining and arson fires. We propose the planting and monitoring of 40,000 tree seedlings of native species; the training and equipping of 500 Arahuac Indigenous youth in coordination of response to forest fires. The result of the project is that at least 95% of the forest fires were controlled in an area of 8,649 acres, reforested with 40,000 trees in the Colombian Amazon basin.

Restoring degraded forests requires a sustained effort over time and space. Since 2019, we have conducted restoration activities in degraded areas of the Mangabe-Ranomena-Sahasarotra (Mangabe) Reserve to maintain the integrity of this ecosystem. The proposed work aims to build upon these efforts. Specifically, we enhance the capacity of men and women at targeted villages to maintain nurseries and monitor planted trees. We will work with local people in restoring 53.7 acres of land by planting 20,000 native tree seedlings. This project contributes to Madagascar’s ambitious plan to restore 9.8million acres of degraded forests by 2030.