working across boundaries to conserve great · working across boundaries to conserve great places...

“All through nature, you will find the same law. First the need, then the means ” – ROBERT COLLIER

Working across boundaries to conserve great places

Gerald MilesSenior AdviserConservation Finance & PolicyIndo-Pacific Resource CentreThe Nature Conservancy (Brisbane)

What I’ve heard• Build trust• Work with the willing• Link top down and bottom up • Be flexible (adaptive management)• Continuity – stay the course and engage for the

long term• Commitment and capacity of partners

Overview• A quick tour and rev-up• Local examples – PNG, Fiji, Philippines, Palau• Importance of partnerships• Increasing collaboration at the international

level• Critical financial incentives – linking public and

private funds

At the current rate, we will lose half of the plant and animal species on Earth by the end

of the century

E O Wilson

The global challenge• All but 20% of the Earth’s primal forests

remain• We may lose over half of the remaining coral

reefs in the next 50 years• Only half of the prairies, grasslands and

savannahs remain• Much of what remains exists in Australia or its

on its doorstep

• Engaged with the willing

• Sustainable Logging Enterprise (failed)

• Maintained trust and engagement/continuity

• Result = revoked Forest Management Area

• Build partnership between local level government and community to support community conservation areas

Community forest conservation - PNG

• incentives program focused on

ü reducing conflict over marine resources

ü increasing local incomes

ü no-take zones protected fish SPAGS.

Locally Managed Marine Areas - Fiji

• supported by:

ü a coordinated effort among institutions and NGOs

ü peer-to-peer learning (local chief to local chief),

ü extension services from the University of the South Pacific, and

ü a multi-country LMMA learning network.

Locally Managed Marine Areas - Fiji

• Smaller community better

• A perceived crisis (food security)

• Successful alternative income projects

• High levels of participation in decision making

• Continuity of advice

• Inputs from local government(Source: Ocean and Coastal Management journal vol. 44, Issues 11-12)

Lessons from the Philippines

• National framework legislation to support State based action

• National Government oversight but Steering Committee includes all levels of Government, NGOs and tour operators

• Sustainable financing based on park access fees and new arrival fee

Palau’s Protected Areas Network

• Millennium Development Goals • AusAID objective is…. advance Australia's

national interest by assisting developing countries to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development

Poverty and conservation

Importance of partnerships• Empowering local communities and local

government• Building national partnerships (NISPs)• Increased collaboration between

conservation NGOs• NGO Pledge on protected areas

Financial imperatives• Global shortfall in financial support• Boom-bust undermines trust and

sustainability• Development assistance focused on poverty• Hail Australia’s innovation - RNHP• Increasing effort to leverage public and

private funds

Summary• Australia is conceptually advanced,strong

lessons and culture of learning• There are considerable parallels• Collaboration increasing• Partnering NGOs and government• Local and national champions required• Leverage public and private funds…

A thought for the day

What you do to link the right incentives to the real need in Australia

will make a difference to global conservation

Thank YouThank You