The Spain-UNEP Partnership for Protected Areas, in

support of LifeWeb, promotes Protected Areas conservation and community development

through technical, educational and financial assistance

LifeWebSpain-UNEP

partnership for Protected Areas in support of

The Spain-UNEP Partnership for Protected Areas, in support of LifeWeb,

promotes Protected Areas conservation and

community development through technical, educational and financial assistance

3

LifeWebSpain-UNEP

partnership for Protected Areas in support of

What do gorillas, turtles, humpback whales, orang-utans and monk seals have in common? They are all beneficiaries of the Spain-UNEP Partnership. Recognizing the importance of Protected Areas as a key tool for resource management and biodiversity conservation, the Government of Spain has initiated a strategic partnership with UNEP to provide

€5 million to improve the impact and effectiveness of both new and existing Protected Areas, through direct management support and enhanced enabling conditions, such as support to policy processes, stakeholder participation and increased awareness of the benefits for livelihoods and ecosystems.

The Spain-UNEP Partnership for Protected Areas, in support of LifeWeb, builds on the existing LifeWeb Initiative platform launched at the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2008. Given the link to the larger LifeWeb Initiative and the proposed activities, this Partnership provides a unique opportunity to contribute to both the CBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas and the UNEP Programme of Work through key interventions at specific Protected Area sites and through policy-level support.

This Partnership takes into consideration key issues affecting Protected Areas in low income countries and least developed countries (LDCc) such as sustainability, lack of capacity and governance. It works within both the CBD and UNEP framework to improve the viability of these critical conservation mechanisms. The Spain-UNEP Partnership for Protected Areas is structured around two key objectives:

i. To improve the management of existing Protected Areas and

ii. To increase the network of Protected Areas by either extending existing Protected Areas or creating new Protected Areas

While much of the Partnership is focused on direct support, it is recognized that without improving the enabling conditions to strengthen management and increasing networks, key challenges such as sustainability will not be adequately addressed. All interventions will adopt a policy approach focusing on reviewing, refining and developing policy and management approaches that are directly linked with the overall LifeWeb Initiative strategy.

Furthermore, the Partnership recognizes the social and economic value of biodiversity for local communities as the basis for traditional livelihoods and the generation of services and products, and hence socio-economic development. The Partnership also recognizes the significant added-value that local communities contribute to protected area activities. This brochure outlines the key projects and significant returns expected from this Partnership.

PartnersWords

from the

4

Elena EspinosaMinister for the Environment & Rural & Marine Affairs

The Government of Spain recognises biodiversity as being an indispensable component of human wellbeing: indispensable for man’s permanence on earth. Biodiversity underpins the preservation of ecosystems that provide essential services to humanity: the water cycle, air quality, land fertility and a host of primary consumer products, climate regulation, production of medicines, recreational

activities and relaxation. Full enjoyment of human life cannot be understood without a harmonious environment in which this life can develop.

Biodiversity is also an essential factor for understanding statistical wealth. Gross Domestic Product is a direct indication of developing countries’ natural wealth, including biodiversity. If biodiversity is destroyed, countries become impoverished, often irreversibly. History is full of examples of civilisations which were destroyed following the exhaustion of their natural resources. This is inevitable. Rich countries too depend on the existence of functional ecosystems and, therefore, a thriving biodiversity. Even the most technological of industrial systems depend on natural products. Attainment of the Millennium Development Goals set by the United Nations is premised on biodiversity conservation.

Protected Areas are one of the key elements of this fundamental reality. Recognising their importance, the Government of Spain launched a strategic alliance in 2009 with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in the framework of the LifeWeb Initiative set in motion by the Ninth Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Bonn (Germany) in 2008. With a first payment of €5 million, Spain hopes to make a decisive contribution to improving the management of these natural areas which are vital to developing countries.

This is a matter of strategic importance for our country. The Conference entitled “Post-2010 Biodiversity Vision and Target. The Role of Protected Areas and Ecological Networks in Europe”, which was held in Madrid in January 2010 during the Spanish Presidency of the European Union, established as one of the priorities to halt the loss of biodiversity, support for the creation and management of Protected Areas and ecological network in third countries, including through the LifeWeb Initiative.

LifeWeb offers a crucial platform to carry forward the CBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas. Spain is committed to this initiative to foster more effective management of Protected Areas in developing countries and to increase protected area networks by expanding existing networks and creating new ones in these countries.

Through bilateral agreements Spain has selected a list of projects in areas of national priority for the different countries where the actions are undertaken. The aim in all cases is to tackle poverty, improve public health, contribute to social and economic improvements for the local population, and prevent climate change. Ensuring the conservation of these locations, which are of exceptional importance for the natural heritage of all humankind, and maintaining their biodiversity are, in our view, an essential task if these basic objectives are to be met.

I am sure that Spain’s permanent contribution to the development of this indispensable initiative can encourage participation by many other countries in what is ultimately a global necessity for humanity, namely, preserving the biodiversity and natural systems and landscapes of the Earth as the only way of ensuring man’s survival and prosperity.

5

Achim Steiner UN Under-Secretary General & UNEP Executive Director

A s the world takes stock of achievements during this UN International Year of Biodiversity, Protected Areas management remains one of the high points and a contribution to conservation of endangered species, habitats, landscapes, as well as supporting local livelihoods and sustainable use of natural resources - all contributing to the momentum and shape of a growing global green economy.

We know that intelligent policy and legislative frameworks can help change economic and biodiversity losses into opportunities, as well as assist in the acceleration of investment in areas and strategies that reap multiple dividends.

Parties to the CBD and the world’s protected area community have hailed the CBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPA) as one of the Convention’s most successful initiatives. Since CBD came into force in 1993, the world’s Protected Areas have increased by nearly 100% in absolute numbers and by about 60% in total area.

An important reason for this success to date has been the ability of the international protected area community to move beyond policy discussion - and to focus energies and resources increasingly on practical measures that foster on-the-ground implementation.

Within this context, and recognizing the importance of Protected Areas, the Spain-UNEP Partnership for Protected Areas in support of LifeWeb builds on the existing LifeWeb Initiative platform to improve the effectiveness of new and existing Protected Areas, through additional financial resources.

Resources and political will to harness our natural based capital is reaping dividends and many nations are moving ahead to ensure effective Protected Areas management using new market mechanisms and transformational policies to catalyze change.

• Palau has enacted a presidential decree to charge $10 for foreigners and $5 for nationals as an exit fee that could be used exclusively for managing country’s Protected Areas.

• In Mexico, an increase of the tax on petrol was approved (5.5 per cent) in October 2007. Of this increase, 12.5 per cent supports investments in the environment sector, including Protected Areas.

• Guatemala is in the process of establishing a new debt-for-nature swap that will benefit the Protected Area system with US$ 1.5 million per year in the next 15 years.

• Water-based payments for ecosystem services and related endowment funds are being established in Colombia and Brazil, following the success of the Water Fund established in Ecuador in 2006.

When considering the value and worth of Protected Areas and their long term dividends, it is clear they have a critical role in providing economic benefits, as well as being an integral part of the biodiversity, ecosystem health and Millennium Development Goal jigsaw.

As the world gears up for the Rio+20 meeting in Brazil in 2012 under the themes of the ‘green economy’ and the ‘institutional framework for sustainable development,’ initiatives such as LifeWeb move the agenda a step forward in giving natural based resources the support and chance for success they deserve and we need.

15 Protected Areas worldwide

6A Partnership providing technical, educational and financial support to 11 projects worldwide to improve livelihoods and protect threatened ecosystems and endangered wildlife. Projects consistent with CBD LifeWeb have to be submitted to the CBD LifeWeb Coordination Office with written endorsement of the CBD National Focal Point or the Focal Point of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas.

Banc d’Arguin National ParkMauritania

João Vieira-Poilão, Iles d’Orango & Rio Cacheu Mangroves Parks Guinea-Bissau

Sea Turtles Marine Protected Areas NetworkSenegal, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Sierra Leone

Marine Mammal Corridors & HabitatsSoutheast & Northeast Pacific & Wider Caribbean Region

Volcán Barú National Park & La Montañona Conservation Area Panama & El Salvador

E A S T E R N PA C I F I C

C A R I B B E A N

EL SALVADOR

PANAMA

SENEGAL

MAURITANIA

GUINEA-BISSAUGUINEA

COTED’IVOIRE

11 projects supporting over

Terrestrial

Marine

Key:

7

Takamanda National ParkCameroon

Lossi Fauna ReserveRepublic of Congo

Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park Republic of Congo

Garamba National Park Democratic Republic of the Congo

Gunung Leuser National ParkIndonesia

Kahuzi-Biega National Park Democratic Republic of the Congo

I N D O N E S I A

15 Protected Areas worldwide

CAMEROON

CONGODEMOCRATICREPUBLIC OFTHE CONGO

The Banc d’Arguin National Park lies in Western Africa on the west coast of Mauritania between Nouakchott and Nouadhibou. The Mediterranean Monk Seal, which is one of the most critically endangered mammals in the world, boasts one of the most important populations in the Peninsula. The World Heritage Site is also a major nesting and breeding site for migratory birds include flamingos, broad-billed sandpipers, pelicans, etc. and the surrounding waters are some of the richest fishing waters in Western Africa.

This project will support the Action Plan for the Recovery of the Mediterranean Monk Seal in the Eastern Atlantic through establishing and maintaining Special Areas of Conservation for the Monk Seal (SACMS), guaranteeing its

continuity as a self-sustaining population.

A permanent upwelling located in the area makes this region as one of the richest fishing grounds of the Northern Hemisphere and also ideal habitat for monk seals. Working with local fishing communities and strengthening reinforcement of surveillance

measures in the Satellite Reserve of Cap Blanc in Banc d’Arguin National Park are the main approaches to implement a series of measures to maintain or restore monk seal populations and their habitats in the region together with public awareness activities. This will ensure recognition of the monk seal’s value and its importance by local communities, and ultimately more sustainable use of the marine resources.

Banc d’ArguinNational Park

8BANc D’ARGUiN NATioNAL PARk

This project will support the Action Plan for the Recovery of the Mediterranean Monk Seal

Project Name: Conservation actions in the Special Areas of Conservation for the Monk Seal

Country: MauritaniaTime Frame: 3 yearsDirect Benefits: Protection of the Critically Endangered

Mediterranean Monk Seal & its associated habitats; food security & income generation for coastal communities through improved park & fisheries management; improved ecosystem resilience to climate change in selected coastal areas. (http://www.cbd.int/lifeweb/?eoi= 6131)

João Vieira-Poilão, iles d’orango & Rio cacheu

Mangroves Parks

Project Name: Strengthening the management & surveillance of Marine Protected Areas in Guinea-Bissau

Country: Guinea-BissauTime Frame: 3 yearsDirect Benefits: Strengthen the management of three

marine Protected Areas; raise public awareness on turtle & bird nesting sites; enhance the protection of threatened species; reduce harmful fishing practices, protect mangroves as a basis for ecosystem based adaptation. (http://www.cbd.int/lifeweb/?eoi= 6229)

Due to its geographic location João Vieira-Poilão National Park, Iles d’Orango National Park & Rio Cacheu Mangroves Natural Park are rich in biodiversity and relatively abundant natural resources. These resources play a vital role in ensuring food security and producing economic benefits for the local population.

The Institute of Biodiversity and Protected Areas, which is responsible for the management of these Protected Areas, faces severe difficulties to ensure an effective monitoring, in particular preventing illegal fishing

and mangrove cutting, which are not sustainable and therefore compromising the conservation efforts of Guinea Bissau. In addition to the biodiversity, the mangroves areas of Iles d’Orango National Park are regarded as an important nursery habitat of the most

commercially important-fishing resources of the country – e.g. production of shrimps is estimated at nearly 6000 tons annually.

This project will help strengthen the management, in particular enforcement and effective monitoring of the three marine Protected Areas through the development of a maritime surveillance system and promoting the participation of local population in the monitoring process. An improved monitoring and surveillance will also help to raise public awareness, and improve the understanding of turtle and bird nesting sites and feeding areas and ultimately enhance the protection of threatened species such as manatee, sea turtles, migrating water birds while reducing harmful fishing practices.

Improved monitoring & surveillance will

help raise public awareness on turtle

& bird nesting

9JoÃo ViEiRA-PoiLÃo, iLES D'oRANGo & Rio cAcHEU MANGRoVES PARkS

The Garamba National Park was created in 1938 by the Belgian colonial authorities. The major objective was to protect the Northern White Rhino. The park was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in the year 1996, and following a period of chronic insecurity, it was listed as World Heritage Site in danger. The dense savannahs, grasslands and woodlands bordered with gallery forests along river banks provide shelter to a wide range of animals including elephant, giraffe, hippopotamus, chimpanzee and above all the northern white rhinoceros, which went extinct over the past decade or is close to extinction.

In 2005 ICCN, the Congolese Park Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the African Parks Foundation (APF) to manage the park for a period of 5 years, which was subsequently extended

in 2010. A major drawback to conservation efforts occurred in January 2009, when the Lord’s Resistance Army attacked the park headquarters. Since then, security has improved and infrastructure has been partly rehabilitated, with funding from the European Union and the Government of Spain.

This project will provide significant support to ICCN and Africa Parks Network efforts in protecting the park’s integrity and biodiversity. Key activities will include aerial surveys to monitor illegal activities and animal populations. It will also provide support to the rehabilitation and expansion of the park’s infrastructure including the construction of a hospital for park staff and local communities.

Aerial surveys will help monitor illegal

activities & animal populations

10GARAMBA NATioNAL PARk

GarambaNational Park

Project Name: Support to conservation activities in the National Park of Garamba

Country: Democratic Republic of the CongoTime Frame: September 2010 – December 2011Direct Benefits: Conservation of endemic &

rare species such as elephant, chimpanzee & northern white rhino; improved health services.

Project Name: Protecting critical orang-utan habitat through strengthening Protected Areas in northern Sumatra

Country: IndonesiaTime Frame: September 2010 – December 2011Direct Benefits: Conservation of biodiversity namely

orang-utan, rhinoceros, tiger, elephant & restoration of the degraded habitats; cultural & spiritual heritage.

The Gunung Leuser National Park covers an area of 7,927 km² in Northern Sumatra. Combined with the adjacent National Park of Batang Gadis and Singkil Wildlife Sanctuary, this area forms one of the largest Protected Area of the mega-diversity country of Indonesia, covering a wide range of ecosystems and encompassing a diverse wildlife with a high number of endemic species, including the charismatic but critically endangered orang-utan, tiger, rhino and elephant.

Despite being a hotspot for biodiversity, the island of Sumatra has faced severe conservation and management challenges caused by human activities within the past decades, causing huge loss of forest surface and leaving only isolated pockets of remaining forest. Deforestation and forest degradation caused by illegal logging, encroachment or agricultural expansion has resulted in large areas being deteriorated, threatening the survival of many of its species and with the direct consequence of drastically reducing orang-utan habitat.

This project will help improve the management of the three Protected Areas to prevent the continued destruction of the forest and to restore natural habitat for the orang-utans. The project proposes to initiate the process of establishing a community patrol to improve the protection of the parks and to start rehabilitating degraded areas.

Key activities will include the provision of equipment and training to improve law enforcement and monitoring, and the ecological restoration of degraded critical orang-utan habitat.

Gunung LeuserNational Park

11GUNUNG LEUSER NATioNAL PARk

Improved management of three Protected Areas will help restore natural habitat for the orang-utans

The Kahuzi-Biega National Park (KBNP) was created in 1970 and only comprised the highland sector of 600km2. In 1975 the park was extended towards the west including a lowland sector and the so-called Nindja corridor connecting the two areas. The KBNP is the only national park in the Albertine Rift region which comprises the whole continuum of lowland, intermediate and highland forest from 600m to 3300m. The park is rich in endemic species to the Albertine Rift, and a hotspot for biodiversity due to the fact that two floristic regions

meet (Central Africa and East Africa). It is also home to a large population of Eastern lowland gorillas, chimpanzees and elephants.

During the two Congo wars the highland sector lost 90 per cent of its elephant population, and a large portion of its

gorilla population. Park infrastructure has also been destroyed, a large portion of the lowland sector has been occupied by Interhamwe rebels and the park authorities have no control over these sectors. Coltan and gold mining, bushmeat hunting, both conducted/controlled by rebels, and farming are the most imminent threats to the park.

This project will support a World Heritage Site in danger, which urgently needs assistance in areas of law enforcement, monitoring and conflict resolution. It will also focus on reversing the unprecedented loss of the elephants and Eastern lowland gorillas’ population, chimpanzees among other endemic species.

Project Name: Support to conservation activities in the National Park of Kahuzi-Biega

Country: Democratic Republie of the CongoTime Frame: September 2010 – December 2011Direct Benefits: Conservation of endemic & rare

species such as the Eastern lowland gorillas, chimpanzees & elephants.

(http://www.cbd.int/lifeweb/?eoi= 6211)

kahuzi-BiegaNational Park

12kAHUzi-BiEGA NATioNAL PARk

Assistance in areas of law enforcement

& conflict resolution will help reverse the unprecedented loss of endemic species

Lossi FaunaReserve

Project Name: Conservation, Natural Resources Management & Social Ecology Development of The Lossi-Odzala Interzone

Country: Republic of CongoTime Frame: September 2010 – December 2011Direct Benefits: Income generation for communities

through tourism; improved health services through Ebola monitoring; establishment of corridors to ensure long-term provision of forest services to local population. (http://www.cbd.int/lifeweb/?eoi= 6180)

The Lossi Fauna Reserve is a community-based conservation satellite of Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the north of the Republic of Congo. Lossi plays an important conservation role, as it lies within the transboundary TRIDOM (Tri-National Dja-Odzala-Minkebe) landscape, spanning across the Dja Park in Cameroon, Odzala in Congo and Minkébé in Gabon. Furthermore, being located in south west of Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Lossi is the natural bridge to other remaining forests of this landscape although outside Protected Areas.

The larger Odzala area has undergone at least three outbreaks of the Ebola virus between 2002 and 2005, which resulted in a loss of 70-95% of their gorilla populations including habituated gorilla groups for tourism, while Lossi and the zone between the

park and the Odzala-Kokoua National Park. In addition to Ebola outbreaks, other threats include poaching and logging in the surrounding forests have been serious threats.

This project will help to conserve Lossi, the

surrounding areas and its great ape populations supporting Ebola health monitoring, the habituation of gorillas for tourism so that communities will have access to additional income, engaging the communities in landscape planning in order to establish corridors between Protected Areas as well as supporting law enforcement and anti-poaching patrols in and around logging concessions.

13LoSSi FAUNA RESERVE

Supporting Ebola health monitoring will help conserve

Lossi & its great ape populations

The marine mammal fauna of the Southeast and Northeast Pacific and Wider Caribbean Region is diverse with 32 species of marine mammals, which have significant ecological, aesthetic and economic value to the countries and territories of the regions. For many of these species, these tropical waters serve as primary habitats for feeding, mating and calving. They also serve as important corridors ‘stop-over points’ connecting habitats in distant waters via long-ranging north-south migration routes in both the Atlantic and Pacific.

Healthy marine ecosystems are however a prerequisite for their function as viable mammal habitats and corridors. Establishment of marine protected area networks embedded in wider marine spatial planning systems can help reduce current human impacts on marine mammals such as fisheries (direct and indirect mortality), pollution, noise and habitat degradation. With climate change impacting food-webs, ecosystem productivity, currents and connectivity, the need is ever greater to address these different stressors via comprehensive and integrated ecosystem-based management.

Project Name: Broad-scale marine spatial planning of mammal corridors & Protected Areas in Wider Caribbean & Southeast & Northeast Pacific

Region: Wider Caribbean, Southeast & Northeast Pacific Region

Time Frame: July 2010 – June 2012 (Phase 1)Direct Benefits: Strengthen Marine Mammals

Protected Areas networks; conservation of biodiversity of endangered species; income generation through ecotourism, enhanced transboundary governance & in-country capacity in ocean management.

Marine Mammalcorridors & critical Habitats

The project will assist countries develop and apply cross-sectoral ecosystem approaches to management of marine mammals. Initial activities include mapping of critical mammal habitats and regional-scale migration routes, inlcluding plus socio-economic information on human activities to inform development of broad-scale spatial planning of marine mammal Protected Areas. The project will also assist planners and managers develop management plans for selected sites via technical guidance, training and learning exchanges, good practices on transboundary governance and equitable sharing of MPA benefits. Demonstration projects will both serve as regional platforms for training and learning-exchanges and to showcase management options, engage stakeholders and make the case for transboundary management of marine mammal migration routes.

14MARiNE MAMMAL coRRiDoRS & cRiTicAL HABiTATS

Understanding of regional-scale migration

routes will guide cross-sectoral ecosystem

approaches to management of marine mammals

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The Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (NNNP) covers an area of approximately 4,200km2 in the northern Republic of Congo. Combined with the Lobéké National Park in Cameroon, the Dzanga-Ndoki National Park in Central African Republic, and adjacent logging concessions, the Sangha Trinational protected area extends over approximately 35,000 km2 and harbours the world’s most important populations of forest elephants, red river hogs, bongo antelope, and is one of the last remaining strongholds for western lowland gorillas and chimpanzees in Africa.

The park is also home to some of the last populations of “naïve” chimpanzees which reside in the Goualougo Triangle and display a certain curiosity towards human observers encountering them for the first time. In addition to their ecological values, these forests are also important for their economic and cultural values.

However, as human population in the region increases and loggers expand into ever-more isolated parts of the forest, the future of these large tracts of undisturbed forest is increasingly uncertain. In the north of the Congo over 90% of the landmass now lies within logging concessions, while the increasing commercial trade in bushmeat also threatens the future of these forests.

This project will help strengthen the management of the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in order to improve wildlife health monitoring and wildlife conservation planning in the region. It will also contribute to law enforcement and monitoring, including Ebola health monitoring and promote eco-tourism.

Project Name: Support to conservation activities in Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park

Country: Republic of CongoTime Frame: September 2010 – December 2011Direct Benefits: Conservation of biodiversity; improved human

health through Ebola health monitoring; income generation through recruitment of local staff & tourism development. (http://www.cbd.int/lifeweb/?eoi= 6178)

Nouabalé-NdokiNational Park

15NoUABALÉ-NDoki NATioNAL PARk

Strengthening the management of the park will help improve wildlife conservation planning in the region

16

The Atlantic coast of Africa spans across 23 countries and is home to six of seven species of sea turtles, all considered endangered. Once abundant, sea turtles are threatened by coastal development (habitat destruction), and intentional and accidental fisheries. There is still insufficient knowledge of the impacts on these populations caused by additional pressures originating from climate change at the regional level.

The aim of the project is to improve the existing connectivity within a network of marine and coastal Protected Areas as a tool to protect the populations of different migratory species, with a focus on sea turtles’ populations in the targeted countries.

This project will focus on strengthening the management capacity of existing Marine Protected

Areas in order to increase protection of critical feeding, breeding and nesting habitats for sea turtles. Additional activities include impact assessments of sea turtle mortality from e.g. by-catch in fisheries and poaching to guide management interventions aiming to reduce mortality levels at a regional scale.

While coastal erosion is a natural phenomenon, it may be accelerated by human activities, posing erosion as one of the greatest threats to coastal environment, including turtles nesting success. Activities will also integrate monitoring actions on climate change adaptation and vulnerability reduction to prevent threats effectively,

including those addressing natural phenomena, and involving the local communities in the best practices to protect the species and their habitat.

SEA TURLES MARiNE PRoTEcTED AREAS NETWoRk

Project Name: Initiate the creation of new marine Protected Areas for sea turtles

Countries: Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Sierra Leone

Time Frame: 2 yearsDirect Benefits: Conservation of biodiversity of

endangered species and their associated nesting habitats, income generation through ecotourism; climate change adaptation through strengthening coastal ecosystem resilience.

Sea Turtles MarineProtected Areas Network

Impact assessments of sea turtle mortality will help increase

protection of their critical feeding, breeding & nesting habitats

17

The newly created Takamanda National Park in Cameroon, on the border with Nigeria, encompasses an important array of biological diversity and now protects a third of the world’s rarest great ape—the Cross River gorilla—along with other rare species such as forest elephants, chimpanzees, and a close relative of the better-known mandrill.

Habitat destruction and hunting represent the biggest threats to Cross River gorillas. Gorillas are occasionally targeted by hunters of bushmeat in the region, and genetic analysis of

the population reveals a reduction in numbers over the last 200 years that is most likely due to hunting. The fragmentation

of their forest habitat is caused by farming, road-building, and the burning of forests by pastoralists.

This project will help protect both highland and lowland corridors in the Cross River Gorilla Landscape in order to effectively manage unprotected forests, and the ecosystem services they provide, thus securing local livelihoods and preserving important carbon sinks.

The project will comprise a feasibility study on REDD (Reduced Emissions from deforestation and degradation) including the evaluation of carbon stocks, the evaluation of rates of land use change, and development.

TAkAMANDA NATioNAL PARk

Project Name: Explore economic incentives to conserve Cross River gorilla habitat in Takamanda

Country: CameroonTime Frame: September 2011 – June 2012Direct Benefits: Provides economic incentives to conserve cross

river gorilla habitat, thus increasing the hectares under conservation; provides alternative income; contributes to climate change mitigation. (http://www.cbd.int/lifeweb/?eoi= 6231)

Takamanda National Park

Effective management of unprotected forests

will help conserve cross River gorilla habitat

Volcán Barú National Park in Panama and La Montañona Conservation Area in El Salvador, like many of the Mesoamerican Protected Areas, covers a wide range of ecosystems and encompasses diverse wildlife with a high number of endemic species, including quetzals, howler monkeys and 17,000 plant species. The region is also a corridor for many Neotropical migrant bird species.

The Mesoamerican Protected Areas plays a key role for amphibians and many endemic species which are in dramatic decline due to an interaction between habitat loss, fungal disease and climate change. The integrity of Protected Areas are further threatened by communities that live in or around the parks and poach for food, or clear agricultural lands within park borders in order to meet their basic needs.

This project will help develop innovative economic and legal instruments to promote sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystems through the valuation of the social and economic values of biodiversity and ecosystems, the services they provide, the cost related to their loss and degradation. Another issue which will be addressed by the project is fire prevention, which is caused by inadequate agricultural practices developed by communities and farmers that live in these areas.

Volcán Barú National Park & La Montañona

conservation Area

Country: Panama & El SalvadorTime Frame: 18 monthsDirect Benefits: Promote sustainable use of

biodiversity & ecosystems, improve agricultural practices for fire prevention which will have an impact on climate change mitigation; income generation for local populations.

18

Improved agricultural practices for fire prevention will help prevent further deforestation & forest degradation

VoLcÁN BARÚ NATioNAL PARk & LA MoNTAÑoNA coNSERVATioN AREA

A partnership providing technical, educational and financial support to 11 projects worldwide to improve livelihoods and protect threatened ecosystems and endangered wildlife.

www.Spain-UNEPforPAs.orginfo@Spain-UNEPforPAs.org

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