Conservation Report reveals successes on the ground

Conservation Report reveals successes on the ground

Fauna & Flora International (FFI) has published its annual Conservation Report that summarises the key results from its conservation projects around the world in 2011.

The report helps FFI staff get a better understanding of the collective impacts of its work, which incorporates more than 140 projects in over 40 countries.

“FFI’s model of operation is based on partnership and collaboration, and in 2011 we were working with nearly 450 partners,” explains Abigail Entwistle, FFI’s Director of Science. “This allows us to achieve some extraordinary things, but naturally introduces a level of complexity when it comes to assessing our impact. What is the cumulative result of our work? Are we achieving what we said we would? How can we improve? The Conservation Report helps us to answer these questions, by summarising the collective impacts.”

A synthesis of over 100 reports submitted by FFI staff from around the world, the Conservation Report provides a detailed overview of the activities that are being undertaken to conserve threatened species and ecosystems.

The good news is that there are lots of encouraging reports flooding in. For example, in 2011, FFI (working alongside its dedicated partners) helped:

  • around 1.7 million marine turtle hatchlings reach the sea
  • grow over 173,000 native tree seedlings for replanting
  • train nearly 4,000 people in conservation skills
  • conserve nearly 12 million hectares of natural habitats (terrestrial and marine).

The Conservation Report also illustrates the wider conservation impact that FFI’s projects are having on the species and habitats that it works with. Evidence shows that 85 of the sites where FFI works now face a more secure future, either because threats facing their long-term existence (such illegal logging) have been reduced, because their condition has been maintained or improved, or because the way in which they are managed has been enhanced.

The report also shows that FFI’s activities have had positive impacts on the conservation status of some of the species on which it focuses. Eleven of these focal species have seen the first step towards change, with a reduction in some of the threats they face (such as poaching), while for another 13 species FFI has recorded a recovery in their populations – a clear response to conservation intervention.

“FFI’s impacts extend further than just habitats and species, however,” says Abigail. “For instance we know that, in 14 of our projects, our work has led to a change in government policies or approaches – such as the establishment of new conservation zones.”

This work also has real benefits for people living in and around the project sites. The report shows that FFI’s livelihood-focused activities helped generate a total income of nearly US$ 1.25 million and create over 137 jobs for local people, while benefitting more than 9,380 people directly and a further 150,000 indirectly.

FFI’s vision is to secure a sustainable future for the planet, where biodiversity is effectively conserved by the people who live closest to it. To achieve this, much of its work is also aimed at helping national conservation organisations continue to develop as independent groups.

In 2011, FFI directly provided training, mentoring and support for organisational development to over 120 national or local conservation groups or agencies, and as a result many of these groups are citing improved organisational structures and increased fundraising success, all of which will help them to achieve greater conservation success in the future.

No doubt, many of these successes will be reflected in Conservation Reports for years to come.

More information: www.fauna-flora.org/wp-content … on-report_final1.pdf

Citation: Conservation Report reveals successes on the ground (2012, August 21) retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2012-08-reveals-successes-ground.html
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