This session focused on the varying dimensions of vulnerabilities of resources dependent local communities in the landscapes harboring iconic species such as the tiger. The human dominated landscapes of South Asia are also the home to rich biodiversity. The state in such areas has taken up the initiative to conserve this biodiversity through the declaration of Protected Areas and Tiger reserves, wherein human activity is often severely restricted.

While conservation of such areas has a multitude of benefits for the larger community in terms of the ecosystem services provided, and cultural and aesthetic values, it can potentially pose a challenge for meeting day-to-day requirements of local people who live in their immediate borderlands. Management solutions for addressing the resultant conflict are often inadequate and misdirected as often they lack the experience and the skills to address these issues. The lack of collaboration among development agencies and lack of livelihood opportunities in the larger landscape compound the problems and result in increased social, economic and ecological vulnerabilities of local people. The situation is further complicated by human Tiger conflicts, issues of access and benefit sharing (where permissible), lack of awareness and direct involvement of local communities in the conservation and an imbalance in sharing the benefits of tiger tourism, resulting in a lose-lose situation for both the local people and conservation efforts.

There are several examples across the region that have successfully been able to link conservation efforts and local livelihoods at the Protected Area level, by encouraging local community support for activities that support the park’s conservation objectives. Such models need to be up-scaled and replicated through exchange of experiences and ideas and policy reforms and institutionalization.

Key Themes:

Livelihoods, Wildlife & Fisheries, Indigenous Issues, Conserved Areas

Authors:

Ruchi Badola (Wildlife Institute of India)

Syed Ainul Hussain (Wildlife Institute of India)

Pariva Dobriyal (Wildlife Institute of India)

Nand Kishore Agarwal (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu)

Archi Rastogi (CBD)

In the last decade, governments, donors, UN agencies, grassroots organizations and non-governmental organizations have increasingly understood that healthy environments are necessary to realize many fundamental human rights, and that realizing human rights is essential for achieving durable conservation outcomes. Nonetheless, progress on translating this insight into consistent action has been fitful. While organizations in both the conservation and rights communities have undertaken initiatives to promote rights-based approaches to conservation, these efforts have rarely produced the sustained collaboration and action that is necessary to see measurable improvements for both communities and conservation.

Key concerns discussed include:

• What can we do to overcome the slow pace of national policy and institutional reforms and implementation? How can more active collaboration among conservation and human rights actors influence change on the part of governments and other powerful actors?
• There is a lack of a consolidated set of standards that clearly articulates the human rights obligations of conservation actors (government and non-government), as a basis for their implementation and monitoring. What would good practice look like, and what are examples you have already seen or experienced?
• How do we address the lack of sufficiently effective mechanisms to resolve conflicts, particularly around protected areas? Are there any that already work well? How could they be improved upon?

Key Themes:

Governance, Rights & Conflict, Livelihoods, Engagement, Education & Empowerment, Conserved Areas

Presenters:

Jenny Springer (CEESP Theme on Governance, Equity and Rights)

Adrienne McKeehan (Conservation Initiative on Human Rights/ Conservation International)

Michael Painter (Wildlife Conservation Society)

Justin Kenrick (Forest Peoples Programme)

The Natural Resource Governance Framework (NRGF) is an IUCN/CEESP initiative created for the purpose of providing a robust, inclusive, and credible approach to assessing and strengthening natural resource governance, at multiple levels and in diverse contexts. The overarching goal of NRGF is to: set standards and guidance for decision-makers at all levels to make better and more just decisions on the use of natural resources and the distribution of nature’s benefits, following good governance principles, such that improved governance will enhance the contributions of ecosystems and biodiversity to equity and sustainability.

Key strategies for NRGF from 2017-2020 are to:

• Consolidate development of an overarching Natural Resource Governance Framework for independent assessment of the status of natural resource governance – emphasizing issues of rights, equity and social justice ‐ in multiple contexts.
• Use the NRGF to build coherence and consistency across IUCN Secretariat work on governance – facilitating coherent approaches and building skills and capacity to further integrate governance and rights dimensions into IUCN’s policy, programme and project-level work.
• Promote the NRGF as a standard for the broader conservation and natural resource community – by engaging networks of IUCN Members and partners including indigenous, community and civil society organizations.
• Strengthen knowledge and action on natural resource governance – by conducting assessments, through application of the framework, and using the results to strengthen natural resource governance.

This workshop offered an opportunity for participants to learn about NRGF’s work to date and engage in developing and implementing next steps. The session focused particularly on exploring interests and opportunities for broader engagement with the NRGF as a conservation standard (strategy 3, above) as well as interests and opportunities to strengthen knowledge and action on natural resource governance through applications of NRGF (strategy 4).

Key Themes: 

Governance, Rights & Conflict, Places & Spaces, Conserved Areas, Climate & Environmental Changes

Presenters:

Jenny Springer (CEESP Theme on Governance, Equity and Rights), Emmanuel Nuesiri (University of Illinois Urbana Champaign), Kristen Walker-Painemilla (IUCN Commission on Environment, Economics, and Social Policy), Stewart Maginnis (IUCN Commission on Environment, Economics, and Social Policy), Lorena Aguilar (IUCN)

Tropical ecosystems are home to a stunning array of plants and animals, and provide vital benefits including water provision, climate regulation, and carbon storage. They also provide direct life support for some of the planet’s most vulnerable human populations–some fighting for their very survival in lawless regions. The two social groups featured during this panel discussion were an indigenous tribe in the Brazilian Amazon protecting a huge tract of rainforest from illegal logging and gold mining, and pastoralists in the deserts of Mali taking control of resource management and countering poachers to protect a threatened elephant population.  In both cases, powerful outside forces threaten to destroy an ancient way of life and vital natural ecosystems.

These two large and long-term projects have many commonalities despite their different settings (African drylands and Amazonian forest) and cultures (pastoral people and indigenous people).  Both projects are succeeding in challenging circumstances. Thoughts on why this is the case were presented and discussed during this session.

Key Themes: 

Engagement, Education & Empowerment, Livelihoods, Places & Spaces, Conserved Areas

Authors:

Molly Bartlett (International Conservation Fund of Canada)

Barbara Zimmerman (International Conservation Fund of Canada and Environmental Defense Fund)

Susan Canney (Oxford University, Wild Foundation and International Conservation Fund of Canada)

Anne Lambert (International Conservation Fund of Canada)

In many nations – particularly those which are considered to be developing or affected by conflict, it has been found that women are often primarily responsible for ensuring their household needs (such as access to potable water, food, and energy) are being sufficiently met. As such, they play a critical role in the management and use of natural resources. However, as emphasized by the speakers who contributed to this session; there is still a concerning lack of understanding regarding the notable impact women can have on the policy development and implementation process within their respective communities, and beyond. In appreciation of this, a discussion of comparative traditional and/or cultural gender relations and dynamics of power (which limit potential female participation in governance) is provided through personal accounts by women hailing from Madagascar, Guatemala, Hawaii, and Pakistan.

An emphasis is placed on the need to push toward equal recognition of women’s knowledge and capacity to contribute to sustainable development and natural resource management. As human and environmental well-being go hand in hand, it is important to recognize that policies which consider the interests of both spheres simultaneously are more likely to be effective in the long-term -and to be well regarded by local communities. Therefore, active participation of all demographics, including females, in sustaining livelihoods and natural resource management can only lead to a more rich set of perspectives and priorities in the decision making process.

Key Themes:

Engagement, Education & Empowerment,  Factors of Success in Community Conservation, Livelihoods, Governance, Rights & Conflict, Conserved Areas

Panelists:

Shaelene Kamaka’ala, from Hawaii, jointly founded the Kahana Kilo Kai program for grassroots and community-based ocean monitoring, and is currently a Community Based Fisheries Area coordinator.

Meher Marker Noshirwani (Pakistan) works in the field of women, development, environment and climate change, and is the Regional Vice Chair for Asia of the IUCN’s Commission on Environmental, Economic, and Social Policy (CEESP).

Vatosoa Rakotondrazafy (Madagascar) has a particular interest in ocean governance, indigenous communities and human rights defense. She focuses on coastal communities as the future of the fisheries in Madagascar, and currently coordinates Madagascar’s LMMAs (Locally Managed Marine Areas) Network.

Yeshing Juliana Upún Yos is a Mayan Kaqchikel woman from Guatemala. She focuses on the collective rights of Indigenous Peoples, especially as they relate to natural resources and sustainable development, with a focus on biodiversity conservation based on traditional knowledge.

Discussion Facilitated by Kristen Walker-Painemilla (Chair, IUCN Commission on Environment, Economics, and Social Policy (CEESP))

Video:

Landscapes considered sacred to one or more faith groups occur across the globe. Such places, heralded as special for many reasons, can be considered global examples of how humanity can truly live in harmony and respect with nature. Yet sacred sites and landscapes are threatened the world over and the challenges being faced today are ever increasing, putting great pressure on the custodians and guardians of sacred places. Heavy visitation, pollution, waste management, people management and more general governance issues are just some of the challenges custodians are dealing with today.

Here, experiences from several such custodians are shared, along with discussions of common issues and ideas for solutions to these 21st century challenges. This page celebrates the guardians of sacred nature – without whom the world would be a poorer place.

Presentations:

Key Themes:

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

Presenters:

Liza Zogib (DiversEarth)

Venerable Bhante Metteyya (Lumbini Development Trust)

Gulnara Aitpaeva (Aigine Aigine Cultural Research Centre)

Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore has fought many battles to protect its natural resources and way of life. In a discussion of these local experiences, community members raised concerns regarding issues such as open-pen finfish aquaculture (which is viewed as a threat to the lobster fishery and marine environment), and discussed ongoing efforts in the protection of over 374 islands off the coast. The establishment of a large wilderness protected area was supported by many, but is seen by some as removing opportunities for access and economic gain. The community, spread along 150 km of coast is working to explore new economic models, while maintaining its lucrative near-shore fisheries and upholding its rural values. A proposed marine protected area could provide more certainty in keeping out unsustainable and overwhelming industrial activities such as open-pen finfish aquaculture, but there is uncertainty around what traditional activities should continue.

Key Themes:

Livelihoods, Engagement, Education & Empowerment, Places & Spaces, Conserved Areas

Presenters:

Sandy Moser (Sheet Harbour Chamber of Commerce & Civic Affairs)

Wendy Watson Smith (Association for the Preservation of the Eastern Shore)

Stewart Lamont (Managing Director Tangier Lobster Company)

How can community rural values that include access to nature and a healthy forest and ocean be squared with the need for sustainable livelihoods? How are communities meeting local environmental and economic challenges? How do local conservation initiatives meet community livelihood priorities?

In a panel discussion these topics were analyzed, along with examples from past successes which have led to an increased sense of community empowerment, and how lessons learned from these challenges can influence approaches for a more sustainable future.

Presented Material:

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

Click titles to expand section below:

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are one proven way to protect ocean ecosystems and increase fish abundance. But without strong support from Indigenous nations and communities, MPAs may be ignored and risk failure. Our study of experiences from other countries demonstrates that a strong legal foundation is one of the key enabling conditions for ocean protection. While no single factor can be pinpointed as the most effective way to secure marine conservation, law plays a significant role.

Second, Indigenous laws and aboriginal rights and title are critical factors in any discussion of ocean jurisdiction. MPAs can be a vehicle for reconciliation through express provisions that, for example, recognize Indigenous governance rights. Empirical evidence shows that jurisdictions with legislation including provisions for protected area co-management with local or Indigenous communities had a higher rate of park establishment, compared to those without such provisions.

Examples from both coasts will illustrate these points. In April 2015, the Marine Planning Partnership (MaPP) co-led by seventeen coastal First Nations and the Government of BC formally approved marine spatial plans for the BC north coast which emphasize community fisheries as a key direction for the conservation economy. The MaPP protection management zones can accelerate the process of formal ocean protection by establishing scientifically justified candidate sites that embody First Nations, community, and ecological values, and are supported by local communities. The zones need a legal basis to make a difference on the water.

Key Themes:

Conserved Areas, Governance, Rights & Conflict, Indigenous Issues, Livelihoods

Presented Material:

Speakers:

Georgia Lloyd-Smith (West Coast Environmental Law), Linda Nowlan (West Coast Environmental Law), Lisa Mitchell (Executive Director, East Coast Environmental Law Association)

MPA designation affects the fishing community and fishing livelihoods as often new restrictions are imposed on where fish can be caught. In the long run, fish populations can be increased through the effective use of MPAs; however community members affected by MPAs must believe in the legitimacy of the plan. Some MPAs in Atlantic Canada were proposed by the fishing community to protect valuable species that they rely on for sustainable livelihoods, like lobster and golden cod.

Canada is currently renewing its ocean laws and Indigenous nations and coastal community residents have an opportunity to influence the shape of the law and of the governance structures for MPAs that will truly enable community governance and uphold the rights of Indigenous peoples.

Facilitator: Climate Change Network Nigeria

The Africa Conservation Court Hearing (ACCH) is a gathering of diverse rural and urban communities from Africa (predominantly Nigerian communities), where progress and challenges regarding community conservation efforts, resource conservation/management, economic and social well-being – as well as the interactions between these concerns in a rapidly changing climate can be discussed. The ACCH provides an opportunity for evidence-based, undiluted stories of community conservation to be heard directly from local individuals, rather than from a third party. This process allows communities to voice their concerns, and obtain advice on future steps to take to sustain their progress (or to overcome their challenges) from experienced professionals.

The objective of these hearings is to promote bottom-up advocacy through direct stakeholder engagement in order to gain top-down intervention in local challenges within African communities.  This is intended to increase experience-sharing, and enhance policy at the local level through the incorporation of indigenous and local knowledge – which then can be used to support effective community conservation approaches and alternative livelihood strategies.

The ACCH encourages communities to focus on increasing sustainable livelihood opportunities and collaborating to achieve their conservation goals, thus promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 13 (climate action) and by extension, goals 1 (no poverty) and 2 (zero hunger).

Key Themes:

Livelihoods, Conserved Areas, Wildlife & Fisheries, Places & Spaces

Presented Material:

Speakers:

Surveyor Efik (Climate Change Network Nigeria), Gboye Gabriel Akoro (Climate Change Network Nigeria), Rosemary Ann Ibironke (Human Orientation Movement for Environment), Adewale Lawal Baruwa (Surulere Local Government Council), Ilesanmi James Orunja (Human Orientation Movement for Environment), Kazeem Wale Babatunde (Surulere Local Government Council), Ganiyu Adebola Obatolu (Surulere Local Government Council), Saidi Adisa Okunnu (Surulere Local Government Council)