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Partner support and interactions with communities show mixed effects on governance of community-based resources

Community-based natural resource management is recognized as an effective area-based conservation approach. Accordingly, conservation organizations worldwide are providing support to local communities seeking to sustainably manage and use their local natural resources. However, there is little understanding of how different types of support provided by partner organizations influence local community governance of these resources.

Management approach matters: meeting seagrass recovery and carbon mitigation goals

Seagrass habitats support biodiversity, improve water quality, protect coastlines, and sequester carbon, among other essential ecosystem functions, yet they are declining worldwide due to human activity. Seagrass restoration and conservation can act as nature-based solutions for climate change, garnering growing interest from a diversity of stakeholders globally. Despite this interest, no seagrass projects have yet received carbon credits under international voluntary carbon standards.

Biodiversity and biogeography of zooxanthellate soft corals across the Indo-Pacific

Documentation of biodiversity and its geographical distribution is necessary to understand the processes and drivers of evolutionary diversification as well as to guide conservation and management initiatives. Among the most emblematic patterns of biodiversity in the world’s oceans is the Coral Triangle (Indo-Australian Archipelago), widely recognized to be the center of species richness for a variety of marine life forms.

Nature-Related Finance and Indigenous Peoples

This briefing provides an overview of the interlinkages between the financial sector, nature and Indigenous Peoples. It summarizes UNEP FI’s views of the outcomes and recommendations of sessions on these themes within the Finance & Biodiversity Pavilion at CBD COP16 in Cali, and is prepared for use by UNEP FI members and others in the financial system engaged in nature-related activities willing to reorient their approach and learn more on engaging with Indigenous Peoples, Afro-Descendent Peoples and local communities.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge and practices associated with the Vanate (Raggiana Bird of Paradise, Paradisaea raggiana) along the Kokoda Track in Central Province, Papua New Guinea

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is lost due to the increase of urbanisation, and the lack of transfer of this knowledge to younger generations. Aims. The aim of this study was to examine the TEK of the Koiari Indigenous People of Central Province, Papua New Guinea (PNG) concerning the Vanate (Paradisaea raggiana), which is the national bird of PNG. Methods. We used the mixed methods research methodology, specifically the convergent parallel mixed method design with a questionnaire.

The Database of Island Invasive Species Eradications (DIISE)

Islands are at the forefront of the global extinction crisis, with invasive vertebrates posing a significant threat to native flora and fauna. The removal of these invasive species is crucial for the restoration and protection of island ecosystems, helping to prevent extinctions and promote biodiversity!

Island Conservation hosts an invaluable dataset to help show the impact of this key environmental intervention: the Database of Island Invasive Species Eradications (DIISE).

Utilizing Protected and Conserved Areas for Human Health and Well-being: A Technical and Methodological Framework

In recent years, social prescribing—particularly green prescribing and nature prescriptions—has rapidly gained popularity as a holistic approach to improving health and well-being by connecting individuals with nature-based activities and community support. Due to the unique qualities of protected and conserved areas, they provide irreplaceable benefits to humans. This has prompted many to quickly identify, define, and measure their positive impacts on human health and well-being.

“The children of the Sun and Moon are the gardens”—How people, plants, and a living Sun shape life on Tanna, Vanuatu

Based on original ethnographic and ethnobotanical research, we share how in the cosmology of Tanna, an island in Vanuatu’s southernmost province of Tafea, the Sun is viewed as a living, interactive being. Our initial interviews explored knowledge and beliefs concerning individual plant species, then subsequent follow-up interviews further explored topics that emerged therefrom. The results of these interviews are a series of oral narratives of the mytho-historical past involving the Sun, and the description of contemporary practices which are influenced by the Sun.

Common misconceptions of ‘other effective area-based conservation measures’ (OECMs) and implications for global conservation targets

The commitment to protect 30% of the Earth’s terrestrial, inland water, coastal and marine areas by 2030 under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework has seen growing attention paid to ‘other effective area-based conservation measures’ (OECMs) to help achieve this target. However, there are a number of misconceptions of OECMs that commonly arise. We explore these misconceptions to aid in ensuring that OECMs are employed to meet their full potential.

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