| Strategic Directions |
Investment Priorities |
| 1. Strengthening institutional capacity of local civil society groups for conservation |
1.1 Workshops and/or training programs directed toward local NGOs. Examples:
– proposal writing skills
– conflict resolution
– fundraising techniques
– enterprise development
– NGO management practices (financial & operational)
– communication techniques
– law enforcement (guards & rangers) |
| 1.2 Comprehensive biological surveys and other field activities, with the participation of local conservationists and groups as collaborators and trainers, carried out across the hotspot region involving hands-on training in several conservation-related themes |
1.3 Targeted surveys and assessments conducted to fill gaps identified in current provisions for existing national inventory programs.These targeted areas will be selected based on the following criteria:
– Areas rated by the Conservation Priority-setting Workshop as having high needs for biological research
– Areas rated from the Conservation Priority-setting Workshop as having high biological value
– Areas from which the generated information will have immediate practical value to address priority management challenges
– Areas in which biological assessments would be feasible, considering issues of political stability especially |
1.4 Support provided to the development of university networks such as:
– exchange programs
– collaborative research efforts
– study programs |
| 2. Hotspot biodiversity monitoring system |
2.1 Support provided for the establishment of a hotspot-wide biodiversity database. Includes the participation, training and eventual employment of local individuals and groups |
| 2.2 Team established to maintain the monitoring system: to process collected data, input data into the system (database), ensure necessary dissemination mechanisms are in place and functioning |
| 2.3 Establishment of a baseline of current knowledge on regional and national level biodiversity indicators supported and incorporated into a Monitoring system. Includes supporting possible links to other systems such as the ECOWAS "Early Warning System" and/or ADB monitoring system. |
| 2.4 Development of a network to provide access for researchers, policy-makers, NGOs and managers |
| 3. Promotion of the concept of biodiversity conservation corridors. |
3.1 Initiatives that identify threats to biodiversity concerns as well as possible integration opportunities into public and private sectors:
– Roundtable policy dialogues
– Participatory planning workshops
– Regional/Binational conferences to develop best practices for various industries
– Agroforestry, watershed management, mining, tourism, conflict resolution, health and other types of targeted projects.
– Conservation finance assessments
– Private sector conservation opportunities assessment
– Targeted support for sustainable proetected area management efforts |
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3.2 Opportunities for transfrontier conservation initiatives that involve multi-national participation supported. These might include as examples:
Sierra Leone - Liberia where there is a need for:
– rapid biological assessments
– updating the current state of remote sensing
Liberia - Cote d'Ivoire where there is a need for:
– updating the state of scientific knowledge
– conducting biological surveys
– building capacity within forest development authority
– reassessment of protected area network
–measuring the impact of conservation activities on wildlife
– development of regional tourism
Cote d'Ivoire - Ghana where there is a need for:
– law enforcement training
– conservation education training
– GIS/landuse management capability training
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| 3.3 Series of case studies developed and exchanges with Lower Guinea and other regions supporting the development of best practices for implementing transfrontier initiatives supported |
| 3.4 Mechanisms for corridor coordination |
| 3.5 Integration of socio-economic issues into biodiversity management and planning |
| 4. Collaborative public awareness, education, and community outreach programs. |
4.1 National level awareness and information campaigns funded to:
– educate consumers about impacts of bushmeat trade & unregulated hunting
– inform judiciaries about wildlife laws and regulations
– conduct flagship species awareness programs (manatees, sea turtles and others) |
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4.2 Support to grassroot & NGO activities in innovative programs such as enterprise development and environmental education.
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| 5. Small grants (Biodiversity Action Fund) |
5.1 Fast response mechanism provided to address immediate, unpredicted biodiversity conservation needs within the region. Individual grants not to exceed $10,000. |