Sydney, 14 November 2014 - From the valuation of ecosystem services in El Salvador and Panama and the restoration of nearly 60 hectares of critical orangutan habitat in Indonesia to the use of conflict resolution to raise community support for conservation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Spain-UNEP LifeWeb initiative finds that better financing, community empowerment, monitoring, and law enforcement are key to the protection of endangered species and habitat conservation across Protected Areas.
The project was established in 2010 as an ambitious alliance to conserve biodiversity, secure livelihoods and address climate change in Protected Areas.
Through the partnership, the Government of Spain provided US$8.1 million to enhance marine and terrestrial Protected Areas across Asia-Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Actions implemented on the ground from 2010 to 2014 clearly indicate that conservation of biodiversity is directly linked to poverty reduction and improved livelihoods, and should therefore be integrated into development planning at the local, national and regional levels.
Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director said, "The Spain-UNEP partnership has been instrumental in the implementation of effective conservation strategies across Protected Areas worldwide. From protecting gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo to creating migration corridors in the Dominican Republic, the partnership has contributed to the protection of threatened species, the conservation of essential ecosystem services, supporting livelihoods and improving governance."
"Conservation and development are intertwined. Well-planned and well-managed Protected Areas enhance livelihood opportunities; conserve biological resources whilst providing developmental benefits to poor and often marginalized communities. Such projects need to be replicated and supported as they speak to the objectives reflected in the emerging Sustainable Development Goals," he added.
Speaking on behalf of the of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Montserrat Fernández San Miguel said, "Spain is proud to have contributed to the conservation of over 15 protected areas worldwide. We are keen to support conservation activities across borders and hope to continue our cooperation with UNEP using various modalities that bring value and boost conservation."
Protected Areas are widely regarded as one of the most successful measures implemented for the conservation of biodiversity. Today, they cover 15.4 per cent of the world's terrestrial area and 3.4 per cent of the global ocean area, in line with the Aichi Biodiversity Target 11, which calls for the increase of terrestrial, coastal and marine Protected Areas to 17 and 10 per cent respectively by 2020.
Protected Areas also store 15 per cent of the global terrestrial carbon stock, and assist in reducing deforestation, habitat and species loss, as well as supporting the livelihoods of over one billion people globally.
LifeWeb supports 11 projects across 15 Protected Areas across countries that boast biodiversity hotspots, including Indonesia, Panama, DRC, and Cameroon, among others.
Activities include updating marine and terrestrial zoning in Protected Areas; strengthening the monitoring of species and human activities; devoting resources and expertise to improving relationships between local populations and rangers; and spreading awareness of the importance of sustainable management of resources and the adoption of sustainable agricultural and fishing practices.
The partnership tackles key challenges affecting Protected Areas in developing countries, such as, governance, conflict, lack of capacity and limited resources.
Highlights of achievements include:
In West Africa:
Recovery of Monk Seals, Mauritania
Monk Seals are among the most threatened species on the planet with only up to 500 individuals existing in the wild today. The Mauritanian population is around 220 and, therefore, holds the greatest potential for the recovery of the species globally.
The project:
- Improved surveillance patrols and the installation of camera traps along 35km of coastline reduced the poaching threat to Monk Seals.
- Strengthened monitoring of habitats to determine areas which have the best habitat quality for the Monk Seal.
Protecting Marine Hotspots, Guinea Bissau
The coastal region in Guinea Bissau boasts remarkable biodiversity and natural habitats. Yet, Protected Areas cover no more than 15 per cent of the country's total area and require better management and financing for them to be truly effective.
The Project:
- Developed maritime surveillance system in the three Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
- Enabled more than 250 maritime surveillance missions to be undertaken across the MPAs with 159 illegal fishing boats caught by rangers.
- Provided navigation and surveillance training to MPAs staff.
In Central Africa:
Saving Species and a World Heritage Site, DRC
Garamba National Park is listed as an endangered World Heritage Site. It is home to lions, chimpanzees, bongo antelope, elephants and hippos, and the last population of Congolese giraffes.
More than 50 years of instability has led to a considerable decline in most of the animal populations and has created difficult living conditions for the human population that borders the park.
The project:
- Improved the mobility and effectiveness of rangers and staff managing the Garamba National Park by improving the transport and communication infrastructures within the park.
Community relations and health care provision were improved through the building of a hospital and improved communication infrastructure.
Grauer's Gorillas Get a Second Chance, DRC
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Established in 1970, Khuzi-Biega National Park is a World Heritage site and habitat for the endangered Grauer's gorillas.
The project:
- Improved community engagement in conservation activities through the development and implementation of a conflict resolution strategy between local communities and park rangers which resulted in 180 people abandoning illegal activities in the park.
- Encouraged the posting of rangers in remote areas to monitor gorilla populations.
- Improved overall monitoring methodologies to ensure better conservation.
Conserving Gorillas and Supporting Livelihoods through Ecotoursim, DRC
The Lossi Fauna Reserve is a community-based conservation project that focuses on ecotourism and gorilla conservation at the Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Republic of Congo.
The project:
- Set standards for community development and ecosystems management that focused on gorilla conservation.
- Built the capacity of the local community to better manage natural resources.
- Raised awareness about sustainable natural resource use, the dangers of illegal logging, and the relationship between conservation and sustainable livelihoods.
Central America
Volcan Baru National Park (Panama) and La Montañona Conservation Area (El Salvador)
Volcan Baru National Park in Panama and La Montañona Conservation Area in El Salvador cover a variety of ecosystems and wildlife. The integrity of these areas is under threat due to unsustainable land use, including agricultural development.
The project:
- Developed legal and economic instruments to strengthen the social, economic and environmental aspects of conservation.
Trained over 1,000 farmers and local stakeholders in fire prevention and the management of Protected Areas.
South-East Asia
Creating Better Habitats for Orangutans, Indonesia
The orangutan is the only great ape that lives in Asia. According to IUCN, the species are critically endangered in Sumatra due to habitat destruction and the illegal trade in wildlife. Since the early 1990s the number of orangutans in Sumatra has decreased by more than 90 per cent.
The project:
- Conserved critical orangutan habitat, improved the park's management, and strengthened monitoring and law enforcement measures inside the park.
- Supported an ecotourism development strategy in cooperation with local communities.
- Built capacity in the area of sustainable agriculture leading to more farmers adopting organic farming techniques.
