At A Glance

The Response

The project will develop and demonstrate transparent and well functioning structures as well as financial mechanisms for community-based conservation in important areas for biodiversity in Qinghai and Sichuan provinces. To accomplish this, the project will engage and bring together relevant local government authorities, local communities and NGOs in a process to develop supportive policies, regulations and payment schemes for ecological services.

Project Focus

Ø  Establish and employ science-based conservation targets and indicators to guide community-based conservation in the project areas；
Ø  Initiate and manage a Community Conservation Action Fund；
Ø  Award small and medium-sized grants to finance activities undertaken by communities to improve biodiversity conservation, rehabilitation of sustainable cultural practices and improved livelihoods；
Ø  Provide technical advice and legal recognition to the community-based initiatives；
Ø  Establish and undertake biodiversity monitoring in order to document the effects of the community based initiatives；
Ø  Document and communicate project results to local, national and international stakeholders；

Cooperating Agency
Conservation International

Partners
1. Qinghai Forestry Department
2. Sichuan Wildlife Resources Survey & Conservation Management Station

The Challenge

Many large scale ecological restoration programs have been launched in China during the recent years. In order to make such initiatives more successful and sustainable, improvements are needed in terms of measurable ecological impacts and well functioning economic compensation and incentive schemes for local stakeholders. Community-based conservation efforts have so far been limited but could play a pivotal role to ensure such improvements.