Key messages from SDM projects

The SDM was launched in 2013. Since then it has selected 59 projects by 2022. The grant recipients have reported outstanding achievements. The followings are key messages shared by the organizations which recently completed their SDM projects:

• 2021

  Marereni Community Blue Carbon Initiative Feasibility Assessment and Stakeholder Outreach, Kenya

  Simplification of technical or scientific language for non-scientific people and local communities, as well as translation to the local language, significantly contributes to their understanding and acceptance of the project.

• 2021

  Assessment of Red Dao local knowledge on herbal bathing and forest protection, Vietnam

• 2021

  Exploring integration of the SEPLS approach into management of the Buli watershed, Bhutan

  By investigating the local conservation practice and understating what they mean to the people and how they help people live in harmony with nature, people can appreciate the SI perspective. This can reduce the work of project implementers because local communities will regard the SI and SEPLS conservation as their traditional practices.

• 2021

  Safeguarding wetland ecosystems and pastoral communities in the Kyrgyz Mountains, Kyrgyz

• 2021

  Participatory Restoration of Keta’s Socio-ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes, Ghana

  Multi-stakeholder partnerships were necessary for effective SEPLS management in densely populated coastal areas.

• 2020

  Development of locally-sensitive indicators of resilience as a tool for adaptive landscape management in Taiwan’s SEPLS, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan)

  The SEPLS communities welcomed the Project and viewed it as an opportunity to conduct identification of local issues in a participatory way, stimulate community cohesion and communication, shared their concerns with the government representatives from DOFB, and conducted collectively brainstorming the future areas of work;

• 2020

  Enhancing socio-ecological production landscapes & seascapes at ‘Riviere du Cap’ wetlands to reduce pressure on the marine ecosystem in Mauritius, Mauritius

  Communities that are well-informed and empowered can take steps to protect their environment.

• 2020

  Transforming rice production to sustain socio-ecological services along the Weto mountain range, Ghana

• 2020

  Strengthening partnerships and scaling up living models of SEPLS use in community-based agrobiodiversity enhancement and livelihood security to adapt to changes and crisis, China

  Community-led natural resource management actions based on indigenous knowledge and culture and with technical support by diverse external actors can facilitate collective community actions. A community seed bank is a very strong cohesive force for communities. It can be adaptive to changes and crises, and meet the farmers’ need in production and livelihood, while at the same time providing a space for public demonstration and information-sharing among farmers.

• 2020

  Recovery and use of camelids and their fiber as potential resources to improve local livelihoods in a post-pandemic scenario in the Andean Altiplano, Argentina

  Knowledge of some traditional practices appears to have been heavily eroded. However, the remaining indigenous knowledge could trigger the use and respect for nature for many.

• 2019

  Ifugao Rice Terrace Assessment (IRTA), Philippines

  SEPLS assessment requires a wide and willing network of scholars, experts, ILK holders, politicians, academics, and community members. Assessment should be conducted when a broad network has already been established so as to be able to straightforwardly conduct activities.

• 2019

  Paddy cum Fish Cultivation for Sustainable Livelihood and Biodiversity Conservation, Nepal

  Economic yield per unit area of land could be increased without increasing production costs if the integration of farming is successfully done. Fertility and intensity of soil biota always depend on the source of nutrients provided.

• 2019

  Participatory Mangrove Management for Coastal Resiliency of Alitas Community in Quezon, Philippines, Philippines

  describing the climate-related hazards;

• 2018

  Community Implementation of Mixed Species Restoration for Livelihoods and Ecological Function, Vietnam

  Although it is challenging to make concrete changes visible on the ground and benefiting local communities, the willingness to share difficulties and experiences openly is very important and can lead to success for farm-holders, for the youths, for a project implementer and for joint collaboration.

• 2018

  Conservation and management of biodiversity of cultural, spiritual and food sovereignty importance, and recovery of indigenous knowledge in the management of their territory, Panama

  It is important to involve local authorities, women and young people in the design of the project. It is also vital to strengthen recovery and conservation of indigenous knowledge as well as identify native seeds so that biodiversity and ecosystems can be conserved.

• 2018

  Establishment of Vetiver Grass Nursery and Hedgerows for control of Eutrophication in Lake Victoria , Uganda

  Nature-based solutions are suitable and more effective for watershed protection than conventional grey technology because VGT is sustainable in terms of maintenance. It is durable, affordable to all farmers, easy to apply and cost-effective. This type of community-driven innovation can make concrete changes on the ground, both in farmers’ crop fields and on landing sites.

• 2017

  Resilience Level Assessment of the Key Biodiversity Areas San Antonio Forest/KM 18 and Community Empowerment on Conservation, Colombia

  To guarantee the conservation of the SAF-KBA, the ecological integrity of the present ecosystems must be ensured through the improvement of connectivity, and the reduction of pressures that lead to fragmentation and deteriorate the quality and quantity of ecosystem services.

• 2013

  Supporting and Promoting the Karen Indigenous Socio-ecological Production System in Northern Thailand, Thailand

  Going deeper into Karen’s traditional rotational farming system demonstrated how sophisticated the system is and how their ancestors have developed the system, while identified difficulties to balance exploitation and conservation.