Dear GWP Friends and Colleagues, | |
Since our last newsletter, there have been several international days recognizing wildlife that benefit from the work of GWP projects. These are not only days to celebrate iconic animals and those that live alongside them, they are also opportunities to remind people of their importance in maintaining a biodiverse, livable planet for us all. Ecosystems are complex. When we use relatable occasions like these, it gives people a window into the importance of protecting wildlife. We use these days to, for example, raise awareness and improve understanding of the wide-reaching harms of trafficking, demonstrate effective human-wildlife conflict management and show creative approaches to demand reduction.
A great example comes from UNDP and USAID. This video, released on World Elephant Day from the GEF-financed GWP project “Reducing Maritime Trafficking of Wildlife between Africa and Asia,” highlights the financial dimensions of wildlife crime. It goes even deeper to connect the financial flows of criminal networks, money laundering and illegal wildlife trade.
In the rest of our newsletter, see the latest in the GWP Legacy Series with “Lessons from the Vietnam Project: Strengthening Partnerships to Protect Endangered Wildlife in Vietnam." This was a valuable opportunity to hear about the outstanding work done by this recently closed project. From other GWP projects, there is a fantastic article in National Geographic Magazine about the work of the GWP Panama project and a beautiful initiative, "Inspired by the Birds and Butterflies of Bhutan" from GWP Bhutan. You will also find a guidance note on corridor connectivity and conservation technology, and a new e-Library “Behavior Change for Wildlife Conservation” prepared by TRAFFIC for the GWP.
| |
Warm regards,
The GWP Coordination Team, World Bank
| |
What's new from the coordination project | |
Are you eager to delve deeper into the realm of behavior change approaches in wildlife conservation? Whether it's combating illegal wildlife trade, mitigating high zoonotic risk trade, addressing human-wildlife conflicts, or promoting sustainable wildlife-based tourism, we have an exciting resource for you. Check out the new GWP e-Library Behavior Change for Wildlife Conservation prepared by TRAFFIC featuring a comprehensive collection of resources encompassing toolkits, reports, case studies, webinars, booklets, courses, and more, all dedicated to behavior change approaches for conservation.
The e-Library is part of broader support delivered by TRAFFIC for the GWP to help projects increase their effectiveness at integrating behavior change approaches into project activities.
| |
In August, Vancouver hosted the Seventh GEF Assembly, bringing together environmental leaders from 185 countries. Learn more about the long partnership between the World Bank and the GEF, including its history with the GWP.
During the Assembly, GWP organized the side event: "Human-Wildlife Coexistence: Managing human-wildlife interactions for conservation and development ". The event opened with remarks from Valerie Hickey, World Bank, who emphasized the challenge of human-wildlife conflict (HWC) as a development issue and raised awareness of its broad impacts. High-level delegates discussed the issue nationally and suggested ways in which the global community could support countries tackling HWC, including research on compensation schemes and understanding the behaviors and attitudes of communities living around protected areas. They also shared successful site-level solutions that could be replicated and scaled.
| |
"Human-Wildlife Coexistence: Managing human-wildlife interactions for conservation and development” side event participants Hasita Bhammar, Human-Wildlife Conflict Lead, Global Wildlife Program; Thomas Chali, Senior Game Reserve Officer, Vice President’s Office, Tanzania; Thato Yaone Raphaka, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Botswana; Dhendrup Tshering, Ministry of Finance, Government of Bhutan; Lucia Ruiz, Conservation Areas Director at WWF-US Conservation Areas Initiative.
| |
|
What's new from GWP projects and partners | |
National Geographic features GWP Panama project |
Circumstances for jaguars in the Americas are so extreme, 20% of the population has been lost in the last 20 years and its range, formerly from northern Mexico to Argentina, has been reduced by half. National Geographic highlighted the work being done by the GWP Panama project’s Ricardo Morena of Yaguará Panama and his efforts to protect these endangered cats. Jaguars are subject to poaching and pet trade and their habitat is threatened by both development and clearing land for agriculture and grazing, resulting in human-wildlife conflict. Yaguará Panama’s work contributes to improved understanding of the local jaguar population, its range and migration patterns. With this information, the team develops conservation and management strategies for farmers and ranchers and shares knowledge about the benefits of jaguars. Their partnerships with local communities are helping turn jaguars from adversaries into allies.
Read the full article (subscription):
| |
Lesson-Learning at the GWP National Project-Level
| |
Initiated by the UNDP-GEF-USAID Project “Reducing Maritime Trafficking of Wildlife between Africa and Asia” this document captures lessons learned from six GEF-6 GWP national projects. Using case studies from Indonesia, Thailand, Kenya, Botswana, Ethiopia, South Africa and more, readers will benefit from real-world examples of both successes and obstacles encountered when implementing counter wildlife trafficking projects.
| |
Inspired by the Birds and Butterflies of Bhutan | |
This initiative of the GWP Bhutan Ecotourism Project, known for its objective to integrate biodiversity conservation into Bhutan's tourism sector. This initiative is being led by the Tourism Council of Bhutan in collaboration with the Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan.
Upcoming local fashion designers are collaborating with weavers from remote communities to learn techniques of natural dyeing and the creation of innovative motifs. These motifs showcase Bhutan's biodiversity, including the country's emblematic ‘Bhutan Glory’ butterfly, hornbill, white-bellied heron, elephants, and black-necked cranes.
| |
For GWP projects that are or are considering embarking on nature-based tourism, this practical guide from the World Bank has been written primarily for destinations that do not have broad tourism management experience. It covers the theory of destination management, empowering practitioners to select tools and implement approaches that suit their circumstances.
See also: 4 recommendations from the Asian Development Bank to help boost tourism throughout Asia.
This publication guides readers through Target 3, breaking down the elements and offering a path to effective implementation, including through equitable and rights-based action. The guide was co-authored by the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and WWF, with support from the GEF.
The Inclusive Conservation Initiative, from the GEF, Conservation International and IUCN, published this Phase One report to pilot innovative ways to increase Indigenous peoples and local communities’ access to conservation finance to support the long-standing Indigenous stewardship of lands, waters and natural resources.
Conservation International and The University of British Columbia released the largest and most comprehensive review to date on how to halt and reverse deforestation. The study distills findings from 320 peer-reviewed studies that focus on what’s accelerating deforestation and how to prevent it.
| |
Lessons from the Vietnam Project:
Strengthening Partnerships to Protect Endangered Wildlife in Vietnam.
See what this recently closed project executed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment had to say about good practices and learnings in partnership building with national stakeholders, including raising awareness to dissuade wildlife consumption through the Buddhist Church, strengthening the regulatory framework and building law enforcement capacity for wildlife species conservation.
| |
Supporting Rangers Through the Three C’s:
Conditions, Capacity and Conduct
This webinar showcased good practices covering the three fundamental C's that are essential to professionalizing the ranger workforce: conditions, capacity and conduct.
| |
Learn more about rangers, the work they do and their importance to achieving global biodiversity targets from this press release and video prepared by the International Ranger Federation for World Ranger Day on July 31st. You can also read about the dedication and sacrifice of the rangers and teams recognized for the 2023 International Ranger Awards.
| |
Other past GWP webinars can be found here.
To receive regular updates about virtual events email:
| |
Follow the GWP on X: @WBG_Environment | |
Subscribe to the GWP Newsletter here
GWP Program Video (updated May 2022):
| |
This newsletter is published by the GWP Coordination Team
We welcome your submissions of news, events, and publications at
| | | | |
