Communities are tackling complex environmental, social and economic challenges through conservation and livelihood efforts in an era of multi-level, cross-sectoral governance approaches and layers of policy and jurisdictions. How do local people navigate this context to engage in community-based conservation that fosters viable livelihoods, healthy environments, and strong communities? How can policy better support local community-based initiatives?

These, among many other difficult questions relating to conservation and environmental policy are discussed through presentations which tie together topics such as social cohesion and comparative systems of management. The information shared here provides insight into processes and outcomes impacting why and how the world and people change, and how the concept of success can be quantified – so that progress in reaching local biological and socio-economic goals can be consistently measured over the long-term.

Key Themes:

Factors of Success in Community Conservation, Engagement, Education & Empowerment, Wildlife & Fisheries

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Conservation practices have largely evolved from ‘fence and fine’ strategies to participatory approaches. It is now widely accepted that conservation initiatives should deliver both socioeconomic benefits and biodiversity protection – while being tailored to local needs as to foster more meaningful community involvement. As the collection of case studies found on this page demonstrate, it is not the way wellbeing is categorized that is most important, but for conservation initiatives to be successful, how the dimensions of wellbeing are interpreted and incorporated in the process of conservation planning has proved to be integral to the project’s success.

There is increasing attention on the efforts of Indigenous Peoples and local communities who implement local-level, ecosystem-based approaches to resource management and sustainability. This is especially true when those communities implement what can be described as a biocultural approach to natural resource management—one the builds from and explicitly includes local knowledges, values, and perspectives. However, developing indicators to assess the local outcomes of sustainability management actions, and linking them to broader national and international policy targets, remains a key challenge. This can become problematic if diverging local, national, and international needs and values lead to misdirection of resources and implementation of programs inappropriate to local contexts. Collaboration between local, national, and international indicator initiatives is essential to synergize cross-scale planning and enhance evidence-informed implementation for sustainability.

The studies included in this section provide insight into the potential advantages of promoting participation in local monitoring networks, increasing awareness of the balance between social and ecological wellbeing, and finding meaningful ways to resolve conflicting values, perceptions and concerns of stakeholders.

Key Themes:

Engagement, Education & Empowerment, Climate & Environmental Changes, Wildlife & Fisheries

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The resources found on this page share a focus on the importance of sacred natural sites and the cultures, religions and/or communities to whom they are significant. These natural places, recognized as sacred by indigenous and local communities, provide a sense of deep connection between people and nature. Dating back hundreds of years in many cases, these locations serve as sites of remembrance and spirituality, and are often home to rich and diverse flora and fauna.

Information regarding the protection and preservation of these sites, comparative governance systems, conflict arising through competition for resource use and/or authority over resource management, as well as the social-cultural values imbued within these landscapes is presented with perspectives from sites in Mozambique, Brazil, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Mexico and Canada. Traditional use and access rights are emphasized through several of the cases shared on this page, along with numerous local accounts, observations and perceptions gathered through interviews and collaboration with traditional leaders and community members.

Key Themes:

Governance, Rights & Conflict, Places & Spaces, Indigenous Issues, Engagement, Education & Empowerment

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The need for greater attention on the widespread lack of accessibility between local and international markets in rural and/or developing areas, and means of shifting attitudes and behaviours through increasing local levels of education and awareness toward conservation are emphasized as central themes running throughout the resources on this page. With personal and professional accounts from sites in Indonesia, Bali, India, Kenya, the Caribbean, and Canada’s West Coast, a discussion is built around market competitiveness, resiliency, livelihood sustainability, and the importance of community partnerships.

Impacts on the vulnerability of local economies due to natural resource dependency, power structures in governance systems and several other unforeseen local factors are presented here. With this information, we strive to inform and empower individuals – and unite governments, private sectors, NGOs and communities under the common goal of increasing wellbeing of humans and nature through prosperous and sustainable local livelihood opportunities.

Key Themes:

Livelihoods, Places & Spaces, Engagement, Education & Empowerment

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Key themes running throughout the resources available on this page include building community networking opportunities, supporting existing local conservation initiatives, and empowering and educating individuals about local environmental concerns – and what they can do to reduce or avoid these negative impacts within their communities.

Vertical linkages (between communities and governments / NGOs / educational institutions) and horizontal linkages (within a community) are explored as important dimensions of community engagement. Relying on collaboration and mutual interest, these linkages can facilitate understanding between individuals and groups to ensure a diverse set of concerns, ideas and priorities are being heard. The importance of consultation with community members is emphasized here – as environmental protection regulations can benefit greatly from the incorporation of local and traditional knowledge, and an honest open dialogue between stakeholders is likely increase local participation/compliance with conservation efforts.

Insight regarding means of strengthening community resilience, local adaptive capacity, and environmental awareness are shared, demonstrating that a social-ecological systems approach to stewardship and conservation can support wellbeing of both communities and nature.

Key Themes:
Engagement, Education & Empowerment, Wildlife & Fisheries, Climate & Environmental Changes

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Here, the relationship between protected areas and local communities is analyzed with perspectives from sites in Tanzania, Chile, Canada, Ghana and Tajikistan. Protected areas in a variety of environments such as mountain ranges, prairies, and coastal and marine areas along with their respective associated conservation challenges are presented through the documents found to the right of this page.

Topics highlighted throughout the resources on this page include reconciling conflicting values between stakeholders, the recognition of Indigenous rights to self governance, managing conservation and sustainable development goals simultaneously, and supporting poverty alleviation through income diversification strategies.

Key Themes:

Places & Spaces, Indigenous Issues, Climate & Environmental Changes, Conserved Areas

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Local and traditional knowledge refers to the “understandings, skills and philosophies developed by societies with long histories of interaction with their natural surroundings” (UNESCO, 2017)*. This system of knowledge is generally passed down through generations, encompassing place-based wisdom related to language, spirituality, and resource use practices which can be integrated with western knowledge to provide a foundation for site-specific policy, locally appropriate resource management, and sustainable development.

The resources found on this page present perspectives from communities in Tajikistan, Nepal, and northern Canada which demonstrate the advantages offered through the integration of local and traditional knowledge in community conservation plans. Potential benefits of including this knowledge in science curriculums is discussed, as findings suggest it can facilitate student engagement through the sharing of local examples, while helping students develop a sense of connection to (and responsibility for) the natural environment around them.

Emphasized as a vital feature of effective community conservation, the sharing of knowledge between locals, scientists, land developers, and governments can be a catalyst for trust and cooperation within a community.

Key Themes:

Factors of Success in Community Conservation, Indigenous Issues, Engagement, Education & Empowerment, Places & Spaces

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* United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), (2017). What is Local and Indigenous Knowledge?
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/priority-areas/links/related-information/what-is-local-and-indigenous-knowledge

In a discussion of equity, rights, and the roles of power and politics in shaping environmental governance processes, the resources available on this page delve into how community level adaptive capacity and resilience can be influenced through numerous pathways.

With a focus on livelihood sustainability and managing natural resources for competing uses, the documents provided here connect social wellbeing with ecosystem services and present and examine the relationship between access, conservation, and coastal communities. Concepts such as reciprocity between humans and nature, and plural governance systems are discussed – along with the influence of varying governance systems on negotiation / consultation processes between governments and the communities they serve.

Key Themes:

Governance, Rights & Conflict, Livelihoods, Places & Spaces

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The role of participation and collaboration in development, implementation, and management of marine protected areas (MPAs) can be explored as a central theme throughout the documents provided to the right of this page. Other topics discussed include sustainability in small-scale fisheries, community well-being, and the significant benefit of indigenous knowledge in coastal and marine planning / conservation. Diverse perspectives from locations such as New Zealand, Madagascar, South Africa, and several small island states demonstrate the dynamics between human communities and the surrounding environment. Survey data detailing short and long-term impacts of MPAs on individuals in coastal communities is provided and discussed through a social-ecological systems lens.

The collection of resources available on this page provide insight at the community level from professionals at numerous international sites. With a focus on the complexities involved in effective marine spatial planning, establishment and management of MPAs, and balancing the relationship between social, cultural, and economic interests – authors discuss principles of best practice at the local and international level, and suggest possible areas of improvement in the current policy status quo.

Key themes:

Governance, Rights & Conflict, Conserved Areas, Places & Spaces, Wildlife & Fisheries

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With a focus on livelihood diversification, community well-being, and adaptive strategies, this page focuses on means of identifying factors which contribute to the success of conservation initiatives and changing local perceptions toward environmental management policies – while supporting individuals with diverse interests and income sources.

A discussion is built through accounts from locations such as Mexico, Thailand, and Bolivia, and can be used enrich our understanding of what motivates actors within a community to engage with stewardship activities and alternative livelihood opportunities. Household resilience, food security, and environmental education programs are key topic areas which run through the resources available to the right of this page. Alternative livelihoods such as sustainable eco-tourism, as well as strategies intended to reduce / manage the impact of existing resource dependent industries (such as fisheries and agriculture) through balancing dynamic environmental, economic, and social interests are also presented here.

Key themes:
Livelihoods, Places & Spaces, Governance, Rights & Conflict

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