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Newsletter World Network ofIsland and Coastal Biosphere Reserves

No. 18 (January, 2021)

Publisher: Joint Secretariats of WNICBR, Jeju & Menorca

Our programme has proved beneficial to our businesspartners, supporting them in delivering their pledgepromises. It has added value to being a Biospherepartner and created meaningful change.”

The Minister continued: “It has been rewarding towork with our local higher and further educationinstitute to bring about this programme.

In line with the Biosphere ethos of us learning fromeach other, Nikole’s research will be available to otherBiospheres who are forging relationships with theirbusinesses, too.”

https://www.biosphere.im/news-details/business-biosphere-work-together-greater-sustainability/

ISLE OF MAN BIOSPHERE STRENGTHENS LINKS WITH BUSINESSES STRIVING TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE

UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man has strengthened linkswith businesses thanks to a collaboration withUniversity College Isle of Man (UCM). The Isle of Manis a thriving international business centre and manybusinesses have taken the Biosphere’s pledge andjoined its partnership scheme.

They commit to growing the economy sustainable,contributing to the community, culture and heritageand making a positive environmental impact.

This year, UCM Masters student Nikole Cervantes hasdeveloped a programme to help businesses fulfil thepledge. She interviewed a sample of 30 businesses viaface-to-face meetings, moving these online whenCovid-19 impacted on the Isle of Man. Businessesadvised they wanted to share their knowledge andlearn about actions others were taking, creating alocal support network, and receive training.

A series of webinars was held during which partnersinspired others. The series ended with a prestigioustalk by the global head of KMPG’s Impact programme.A private facebook group was created to give businessowners space to exchange ideas.

A networking event is planned for businesses to gettogether in person and talk about their pledgesuccesses. And business are being surveyed over theirtraining needs, with the Biosphere launching a pilottraining programme in 2021.

Geoffrey Boot MHK, Minister for Environment, Foodand Agriculture, said: “The collaboration with UCMhas brought together all three strands of Biosphere –sustainable development, research and conservation.

Businesses can be positive drivers of sustainability andcan not only contribute to a better planet themselvesbut can influence others.

Isle of Man Biosphere Reserve

Nikole Cervantes

A webinar poster

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The Goukou Resilient River Project is tasked to haltbiodiversity loss and rehabilitate wetland areaswithin the Goukou River Catchment. The project iscurrently in its research and development phase.

The Goukou Rehabilitation Nursery forms part of thisR&D and strives to address some or all of theproject’s objectives. It is situated within the uppercatchment of the Goukou River where trials will beconducted to initialise the process.

The Nursery will serve a dual purpose:1. To provide specific indigenous plant species to thetrial sites at the Klein Rivier Research Project and toother projects within the GCBR.2. To serve as a skills development facility.

The trial sites will be just big enough to establish theviability and efficacy of our planned rehabilitationand Alien Plant Management methods and to use theexperience gained for bigger projects in the future.

The Nursery was constructed from scratch and tookeight months to complete, because of delays causedby Covid-19 and stormy weather. However, theNursery team were able to grow a number ofindigenous species while construction took place,including:

Gouritz Cluster BR, South Africa

• Pittosporum viridiflorum - Cheesewood tree seedlings

• Grewia occidentalis - Crossberry• Halleria lucida - Tree fuchsia• Carissa bispinosa - Forest num-num• Gymnosporia buxifolia - Common spike-thorn• Searsia lucida - Glossy crowberry or glossy currant

They are all species which grow in the area. Theshrubs have a wide spreading form to cover a biggerarea of soil than a tree and they form a thicket (woveninto each other).

The trees are locally indigenous and well adapted tothe local conditions. The trial areas are riparian zonesand river banks so we still have to propagate waterplants such as Cyperus textilis and Wachendorfiathyrsiflora to name a few.

Visit the full Chronicles of the Nursery on our website.

THE GOUKOU REHABILITATION NURSERY, RIVERSDALE, ESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

Vetiver zizanioides - this perennial grass can be used for a number of applications, including the repair of erosion on steep terrain and river banks and also for water flow control and water filtration.

Irrigating the new plants

The Nursery construction in progress

The final product

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PROMOTING BIRDWATCHING –PROMOTING RESPECT

Commander Islands Biosphere Reserve, Russia

The Commander Islands Biosphere Reserve ispreparing a new large-scale project. Together with ourcolleagues on Kamchatka peninsula, we are going tocreate an awareness-building event Our CherishedKamchatka. In 2021, the team of professionals fromseveral protected natural areas of the region willconduct lessons, meetings, workshops, contests andchallenges – all to promote the development ofbirdwatching and to share knowledge with enthusiasts.

Our main goal is to unite young nature lovers. Duringthe first part of the project, the team is going to travelto cities, towns and distant villages of Kamchatkaspeaking about birds, their role in nature and our lives.We are going to cover the dangers they face and someof the ways to help birds on various stages of theirlives. An important theme are rules of birdwatchingand necessary equipment to have a productive hobbyand to prevent any damage to birds.

The second part of the project will incorporatelectures, online meetings, film screenings anddiscussion clubs in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. All theparticipants will be able to discuss the results of theproject and share their outputs during the yearlyfestival Sea of Life in autumn 2021.

As a part of Our Cherished Kamchatka project, theCINBR is going to present our brand-newBirdwatcher’s Field Guide. The edition incorporatesdecades of experience and gives the opportunity todiscover local wildlife in a new way. The book is user-friendly and focuses mainly on species peculiarities,voices, seasonal changes, habitats and behavior. It isthe fullest ornithological field-guide of Kamchatkatoday and we are grateful to all the people, who madeit possible.

We are always open for new ideas and partners.Please, contact us, if you have any questions orexperience to share. Have a wonderful 2021 andshare your love for local nature!

http://komandorsky.ru/en/ocean-or-waste.html

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440 FISHERMEN RECEIVED PROFESSIONAL FISHING CARDS

Sahamalaza Biosphere Reserve, Madagascar

Located on the northwest coast of Madagascar, withthese 3 ecosystems:

• The semi-deciduous dry forest of which about 42%of the species are endemic.

• Mangrove forests which are made up of eightdifferent species known to Madagascar.

• The marine ecosystem includes coral reefs,seagrass beds, craggy reefs, sandy-muddy seabedsand mudflats. It contains 216 species of corals andinvertebrates, 168 species of fish and 3 species ofmarine mammals.

Mangrove forests and the marine ecosystem whichgives the Reserve a very productive place for fish. As aresult, immigrants came to the peripheral areas.Currently, the Sahamalaza BR , benefits from a"Sustainable Coastal Fishing" project, the mainobjective of which is to ensure the sustainability ofmarine and coastal resources with theprofessionalization of fishermen accompanied byconservation of the biodiversity.

In fact, this year 2020, we have prepared about 440professional fishing cards and 11 statutes offishermen's associations in the Sahamalaza BR area.

The purpose of distributing these professionalfishermen's cards: (1) Identify all fishermen, (2)Organize fishermen in associations, (3) Providetraining to fishermen on fishing techniques andproduct conservation and (4) Implementation ofoffshore fishing support project. This activity allowsfishermen to learn about fishing beyond the reef toavoid overfishing and to get large fish offshore inorder to better conserve the National Park. Followingthis, motorized dugout canoes will be provided withthe association. Finally, fishing materials andequipment will be distributed to beneficiaryfishermen.

Distribution of fishing cards and status of the Sijoro Fishermen's Association

NORTH DEVON BIOSPHERE RESERVE MARINE NATURAL CAPITAL PLAN

In a pilot initiative for the UK government, the NorthDevon Biosphere collaborated with universities andstakeholders to produce the first marine naturalcapital plan to complement the land based naturalcapital plan. This approach seeks to improve the flowof ecosystem services to the public through thecareful management of the natural capital assets.

The project proposes actions for enhancing the flowsthrough protection and management and leads to theintroduction of innovative finance to support themanagement of the assets.

The principle begins with an asset and riskmanagement register that records as well as isfeasible with the data we have the extent andcondition of different marine habitats, understand therisks to those habitats and the ecosystem servicesthey provide. This is then turned into a prioritizedaction plan based on the local stakeholder needs inthe area.

https://www.northdevonbiosphere.org.uk/mncp.html

North Devon Biosphere Reserve, the UK

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The database was then validated and curated by alocal taxonomist and a Commitee of Experts, whofiltered out the less-relevant records and establishedthe priorities for the field workers. At the same time,the team carried out a comprehensive survey of LaPalma, identifying over 500 alien plants andregistering their populations on a purposely designedGeographic Information System (GIS).

The results have started to come, with a first strikeagainst a rapidly growing number of Senecio viscosus,a plant native only to continental Europe, on theedges of the Caldera de Taburiente National Park.Over 450 kilograms of this IAS were removed, markingthe initial stepping stone in a road that, over the nextfive years, will also include awareness campaigns,training sessions for horticulture professionals or theprospective enhancement of border controls.

The EU-funded LIFE-IP AZORES NATURA project(LIFE17/IP/PT/000010) is an international initiativebacked up by several Portuguese institutions from theRegional Government of the Azores (DRA, DRAM,AZORINA S.A.) and joined by the nationwide NGOSociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves (SPEA).One of its actions deals with the problem of InvasiveAlien Species (IAS) and is due to be developed by theonly Spanish partner in the project: La PalmaBiosphere Reserve.

The main goal on the island, which belongs to theCanarian archipelago, is to design, test and evaluatean operational framework of action directed at theeffective prevention of introduction, early warningand rapid response on new and recently discoveredinvasive alien flora species. With this goal in mind, ateam of five (two biologists, an environmentaleducator and two specialized field workers) wasassembled on July.

As a first step, a sizeable database of more than 1,700taxa, most of them potentially invasive, was builtthrough the addition of 21 data sources. Theinformation was gathered from lists and data banksmanaged among others by the regional government,the International Union for the Conservation ofNature (IUCN) or the Global Biodiversity InformationFacility (GBIF).

LA PALMA BIOSPHERE RESERVE, ON TRACK TO CONTROL ITS INVASIVE ALIEN PLANTS

La Palma Biosphere Reserve, Spain

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RAVENSTHORPE WILDFLOWER SHOW AND SPRING FESTIVAL SHOWCASING FITGZERALD BIOSPHERE’S UNIQUE FLORA

Fitzgerald Biosphere Reserve, Australia

The Fitzgerald Biosphere is located on the central-South Coast of Western Australia and encompassesthe Shires of Jerramungup and Ravensthorpe, some1.5 million hectares of land. The region has a richfarming and mining history and has been involved inthe UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme forover 40 years.

The Ravensthorpe Wildflower Show and SpringFestival hosted its 38th event in September 2020. Thetwo week Spring Festival Programme is a tremendousvolunteer effort celebrating the natural and ruggedbeauty of the region. Located at the eastern end ofthe Fitzgerald Biosphere, it provides an opportunityfor visitors to immerse themselves in the vibrantcommunity and surrounding environment.

The wildflower show is considered to be the largestwildflower show of its kind in the world. It showcasesthe regions floral diversity with a selection of nativewildflowers displayed for the enjoyment of tourists,botanists and locals. Up to 700 botanically identifiedplant species are exhibited. They are picked (underlicense) by dedicated volunteers and botanicallyidentified to family, genus and species with the helpof experienced botanists. They are still discoveringnew species in the area!

The broader festival encourages participants toexplore, discover and learn. Activities are coordinatedby volunteer community groups who conduct guidedwalks and drives enabling visitors to experience theimpressive natural environment first hand. Otheropportunities include exhibitions, art workshops,photography, Devonshire Teas and a communitycarnival catering for all ages. Volunteer numbersexceed 200 people each year which is over 5% of thelocal population.

Tours focus on the region’s top biodiversity hotspotssuch as the Ravensthorpe Range and Fitzgerald RiverNational Park. The park is the jewel in the FitzgeraldBiosphere crown. It contains some 1800 differentplant species and is set along a wild and beautifulcoastline

The Ravensthorpe Wildflower Show and SpringFestival was as successful as ever in 2020. WesternAustralia was largely unaffected by Covid-19 and localattendance made up for the shortfall of overseas andinterstate guests. The Ravensthorpe community andFitzgerald Biosphere Community Collective lookforward to the continued growth of the show andfestival.

https://wildflowersravensthorpe.org.au/

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AN ECO-PLAYER NETWORK IS BORN IN IROISE!Iroise Biosphere Reserve, France

As every year, the Iroise Biosphere Reserve organizesthe Biosphere Days. The 2020 edition invitedinhabitants, young people, elected representatives,local stakeholders to participate in the eventsorganized on the 3 islands. These friendly events putthe local people in the spotlight, especially peoplewho are committed to the Biosphere Reserve througha new network: the eco-players.

The eco-player network is an approach developed atthe level of French biosphere reserves and consists ofa network of people who commit themselves everyday in favour of their region and its preservation.Becoming an eco-player of the Iroise Islands and Seameans making concrete commitments to theBiosphere Reserve environment. The eco-actors areinvolved in local life and participate in the dynamismof the island's economic life.

In Iroise, an eco-player can be an inhabitant or aprofessional who carries out an activity on theBiosphere reserve area. On the occasion of theBiosphere Days, the eco-actors signed thecommitment charter and received their commitmentcertificate. A dozen eco-players have joined thenetwork! Tourism professionals such asaccommodation providers, nautical center, kayakers,divers, boat excursionists, small businesses, farmers,shipping company, arts and crafts stores, a soapfactory…

The eco-player approach is a progress approach. Aneco-player makes at least 5 commitments over thenext two years.

One of the objective of this network is to promote theeco-players through promotional tools. We havetherefore created a website in which a part is entirelydedicated to them: https://biosphere-iroise.pnr-armorique.fr/ where you can find each eco-actor,their activity, and their commitments.

A new logo of the biosphere reserve has also beendeveloped with the eco-players, so that they can useit on their products and services. Another tool is theeco-actor's notebook, a booklet produced for thesignatories of the commitment charter in which theeco-player can find elements on the BRs, on the IroiseBR, the common values of the network, a list ofproposed commitment ideas.

Destruction of habitats is one of the main reasons forthe decrease of nature variety. The life environmentof the natterjack toad is also affected by differentfactors of human activity, for instance, activities nextto the water reservoirs, water pollution, waterovergrowth, road infrastructure.

More and more often, you can come across anatterjack toad in the sand- or gravel-pits. The eventtook place in such pit, where active works are nolonger performed, so this is a good dwelling andnesting area for natterjack toads. This territory isprone to overgrowth processes, therefore, it graduallyfills up with tiny trees, bushes and weeds. In its turn, itreduces the number of open sandy areas, which areso vital for natterjack toads.

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KARATE TOADNorth Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve, Latvia

In the second half of September 2020, a biotopeclean-up took place in the North Vidzeme BiosphereReserve devoted to the renewal of a habitat of a rareamphibian in Latvia – natterjack (running) toad) (Bufocalamita).

The event devoted to the renewal of the natterjacktoad habitat took place within the framework of“Daru labu dabai (Do well for nature)” initiative. Thisinitiative is implemented all over Latvia by the NatureConservation Agency in cooperation with WorldWildlife Fund Latvia. Such biotope clean-up unitespeople, who clean and renew some speciallyprotected areas within a framework of a special event.Often it happens in the area, which cannot beaccessed by vehicles, or their use may endanger thespecies of the specific habitat.

During the event, the participants had a chance tolearn more about this rare animal and its lifeconditions, as well as to participate together with theexperts in the maintenance of the natterjack toaddwelling. Several hectares wide area of the formerquarry was freed from reed, tiny bushes and branches.Typical habitats of a natterjack toad are shallow poolson seashores or river deltas.

The habitats of natterjack toads grow scarce and the number of individuals decreases, therefore the natterjack toad is included in the lists as strictly protected animal both in Latvia and in the European Union.

The habitats of natterjack toads grow scarce and the number of individuals decreases, therefore the natterjack toad is included in the lists as strictly protected animal both in Latvia and in the European Union.

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“II Encontro Maridar”Mariñas Coruñesas e Terras do Mandeo BR, Spain

The Federation of Business Associations of As Mariñasorganized the second edition of Maridar “Sabor dasMariñas” with the financing of the Local Action Groupof the Pesqueiro Sector (GALP) Golfo Ártabro Sur.Sponsored by the Consellería do Mar with the supportof the Sada City Council, the event was held onSeptember 11, 12 and 13, 2020 at the Sada CityCouncil facilities.

Under the name II Encontro Maridar: Producers,Gastronomy, Leisure and Tourism-Sabor das Mariñas,the main objective of the event is to highlight andpromote the producers, products and services thatcharacterize the As Mariñas region.

Among the activities that will take place during thesethree days, it is worth highlighting the 30 exhibitors ofproducts from both the sea and the land, where the“Mariñas Coruñesas e Terras do Mandeo” BiosphereReserve participated. Training talks, training activities,workshops and joint activities with actors from marine,maritime and nautical tourism (sports andrecreational).

The opening ceremony was attended by, amongothers, the Regional Minister of the Sea, RosaQuintana; the president of the GALP, Alberto Castro;the president of the Biosphere Reserve, José AntonioSantiso, and the mayor of Sada, Benito Portela.

SECURITY MEASURESIn the midst of an extraordinary context starring thehealth crisis of the covid, from the Federation ofBusiness Associations of As Mariñas - the organizers ofMaridar -, they guarantee that all safety and hygienemeasures will be respected during the three days.

CLICK HERE: triptico-maridar II-2020

Developed by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province,the branding of Jeju Island Biosphere Reserve aims toencourage the production of quality local goods whilemaintaining the reserve’s rich cultural andenvironmental legacy.

Designated back in 2002, Jeju Island BR mainlycorresponded to protected areas such as HallasanNational Park, State-owned forest near Mt. Hallasanand Seogwipo Provincial Marine Park. The area ofcooperation was made up of mid-mountain areas,200m above sea level, and areas within a 500-meterradius of the streams: Yeongcheon and Hyodoncheon,mostly uninhabited.

Tourism, agriculture and fishing are the mainindustries on Jeju Island while the former Jeju IslandBiosphere Reserve made it difficult for residents totake advantage of the benefit the project provides. Inaddition, the products produced in the former BRwere limited to primary industries such as ranchingand forestry products.

At the 31st session of the MaB ICC, held in June 2019,UNESCO MAB has approved the extension of JejuIsland Biosphere Reserve, which covers the entireisland and marine areas of 5.5km from the coastal line.

Now Jeju Island Biosphere Reserve plans to pushforward with the community-based development.Branding BR resources utilizing the label is an essentialstrategy for the management of biosphere reserve.Jeju Provincial Government will concentrate its effortsto promote environment- and nature-friendlyproducts produced throughout the island and theideology of Man and the Biosphere Programme.

This, in turn, is expected to enable regionalenterprises and stakeholders to utilize thecertification system as a tool for marketing theirproduce: agricultural, fishery, livestock, forest,processed products, and natural resources. This notonly increases the income of participating enterprisesbut also strengthens the cycles of the regionaleconomy.

JEJU ISLAND BIOPSHERE RESERVEBRAND SCHEME

Jeju Island BR, Republic of Korea

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THE MAREBI PROJECT WILL FOSTER KNOWLEDGE AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT OF MENORCA BIOSPHERE RESERVE

Menorca Biosphere Reserve, Spain

The “Menorca Biosphere Reserve – Tourism 0CO2” isone of the projects granted by the SpanishGovernment within the call for Sustainable Plans inTourist Destinations. The total budget for this projectis 2,980,000€.

The main goal of the project is the creation of the“Tourism 0CO2” concept based on a network of tracks,already existing, that connect land, sea and sky, whichhave tourist interest for their natural, astronomical,gastronomical, ethnological and geological values, andthat will include signaling and interpretation elements.

These routes will become a central resource forecotourism, and will allow healthy and active tourismactivities, promote sustainable mobility, fostermaritime tourism, enhance rural tourism by improvingthe connectivity of places, the creation of agastronomic route and the implementation of newfacilities for Starlight activities, aligned with thedeclaration of Menorca as a Starlight Destination.

This project will allow to settle the tourism model ofMenorca, which is based on the figure of BiosphereReserve and the responsible tourism, and has amongits main goals the rural development of the island.

http://www.biosferamenorca.org/documents/documents/5127doc12.pdf

Menorca island will strengthen marine research anddissemination actions through the MAREBI projecttitled "Management of marine protected areas in anisland Biosphere Reserve", which has been approvedwithin the Pleamar Program. Pleamar is a programfocused on marine conservation launched by theBiodiversity Foundation (FB) of the Ministry for theEcological Transition of Spain.

The MAREBI project will be developed in 2020-2021with a total budget of 86,000 €. Its goal is to make thetouristic uses in the marine environment compatiblewith the conservation of the protected marine areasof the biosphere reserve. It will also contribute to theknowledge of the marine environment with actionssuch as seabed mapping, marine species monitoringand dissemination activities.

The Balearic Islands are one of the regions with thehighest touristic pressure in the Mediterranean area.Menorca, declared biosphere reserve since 1993, hasexpanded its marine area in 2019 to become theMediterranean Biosphere Reserve with the largestmarine area. This expansion implies a greatercommitment to the protection of marine and coastalresources.

http://www.biosferamenorca.org/Contingut.aspx?IDIOMA=3&idpub=5204

‘MENORCA BIOSPHERE RESERVE - TOURISM 0CO2’

Menorca Biosphere Reserve, Spain

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You can follow the last news of the ZPWG in the ZeroPlastic News #4 bulletin, issued last month, where youwill learn the interesting initiatives taking place inCommander Islands, Jeju Island, Isle of Man, Karst andReka River Basin, and Mariñas Coruñesas, allBiosphere Reserves involved in the fight againstplastic pollution.

Moreover, we are glad to present a new interviewsection, this time sharing responses from tworesearchers involved with Marine Sciences For Societyin the study of plastic pollution. They conduct socio-economic modeling at national and global scales.

Moreover, the MICRO 2020 conference “Fate andimpacts of microplastics, from macro to nano”celebrated virtually in Lanzarote last month, has setan interesting ground for understanding and facingplastic pollution challenges, gathering more than 2000scientists around the world, thanks to thecollaboration of the Marine Sciences For Societyresearch network with the BR of Lanzarote, Menorcaand the WNICBR. While the community is growing, animportant effort is needed to make science open,accessible and actionable in order to addressresponses to plastic pollution from all the sectors ofsociety. Every Biosphere Reserve is invited toparticipate actively in this process.

The conferences and communications will be availablesoon at the MICRO website.

For more information on the Zero Plastic WorkingGroup contact us: zero.plastic@islandbiosphere.org

NEWS ON THE ZERO PLASTIC WORKING GROUP

Menorca Biosphere Reserve, Spain

PCSDS MARKS INCREASE OF WILDLIFE TURN OVERS AMIDST COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Palawan Biosphere Reserve, the Philippines

As the COVID-19 pandemic affected people worldwide,the Palawan Council for Sustainable DevelopmentStaff (PCSDS) managed to cope up with the challengesbrought by the said disease and continued itsoperations on wildlife law enforcement and speciesconservation.

At the onset of the first quarter until November 2020,the PCSDS received numerous calls of action inturnovers of diverse wildlife species (terrestrial tofreshwater and aquatic ecosystems).

In the eight months that had passed, the PCSDS had76 wildlife species turnovers by concerned citizens ofPuerto Princesa City and province of Palawan and stillgrowing. Most wildlife species that were rescued andreleased back into the wild are the Southeast AsianBox Turtle (19 rescues/turnovers), followed by the RatSnakes (8 turnovers) and the Philippine Pangolin (7turnovers).

Enumerating wildlife species turnovers, to wit: AsianLeaf Turtle (3), Green Sea Turtle ( 4), Variable MonitorLizard (5), Asian Palm Civet (3), Reticulated Python (3),Palawan Hill Mynah (1), Blue-naped Parrot (2), RufousNight Heron Bird (1), Quail Chick (1), PalawanPeacock-Pheasant (1), Dugong (1), Brown Hawk Owl(1), Osprey (1), Juvenile Chestnut-breasted Malkoha(1), Philippine Common Cobra (1), Melon-headedwhale (1), Philippine Monkey (1), Yellow-collaredLovebird (1), Palawan Bearcat (2), Spotted Wood Owl(3), Nicobar Pigeon (1), Slender-billed Crows (1),Philippine Barred Honey Buzzard (1) and Saltwatercrocodile (1).

Most of the wildlife species that were turned over tothe PCSDS are listed as "Endangered Species" underPCSD Resolution No. 15-521 while some are classifiedas "Critically Endangered Species" such as thePhilippine Pangolin.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, people's awarenessof the importance of wildlife species and their role inensuring that species would be protected in the wildwere heightened primarily because of the delivery ofonline articles on wildlife turnovers on social media.

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2020 YOUTH SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP VIRTUAL CAMP

Palawan Biosphere Reserve, the Philippines

The Palawan Council for Sustainable DevelopmentStaff (PCSDS) conducted the 2020 Youth SustainabilityLeadership Virtual Camp, a three-day webinar seriesheld via Facebook Livestream and Zoom App meetingon September 1-3, 2020.

Around 50 participants (resource speakers included)virtually attended the said meeting that centered onSustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such asResponsible Consumption, Climate Action, and YouthEngagement for Global Action which had 1,000+viewers who actively engaged on the PCSDS FacebookLivestream of the said event.

Through the webinar series, the participants learnedabout the sustainable consumption and production,the concept of mitigation and adaptation, the usage ofrenewable energy, and the adaptation to the effect ofclimate change, and the 8 R's which help stop climatechange and global warming which include thefollowing: 1) Reduce one's consumption; 2) Re-use; 3)Recycle; 4) Repair; 5) Refuse; 6) Rethink; 7) Reforest,and 8) Reconnect. Lastly, they were encouraged toban the usage of single-use plastics, to do backyardgardening, and to transition to sustainabletransportation and energy.

Despite the unforeseen circumstances our countrywas forced to face due to the COVID-19 pandemic, thePalawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff(PCSDS) did not stop in the performance of itsmandate to protect the forests in the province ofPalawan.

The early weeks of the nation-wide communityquarantine made everyone stay inside their homes toensure their safety. Not only private individuals, butmost government employees as well had to stayinside their homes for a prolonged period. During thistime, the wildlife enforcement officers (WEOs) of thePCSDS were on standby and on-call duty to make surethat illegal loggers will not have an opportunity to cutdown our forests while everyone were doing theirpart to curb down the reach of the pandemic. ThePCSDS WEOs, although in fewer numbers, continuedto patrol the hotspots of illegal logging activities andrespond to reports made by concerned citizens. Theyapprehended 13 individuals from variousmunicipalities of Palawan for violation of Republic ActNo. 9175, otherwise known as the “Chain Saw Act of2002”, during the period of the communityquarantine. This is in addition to the services they’vedone as volunteer frontliners who helped in thedistribution of aid to their fellow Palaweños and toprevent the spread of COVID-19 in the province.

Aside from law enforcement, the PCSDS alsoundertakes projects and programs in partnership withenvironmental organizations for the conservation offorests in Palawan. The PCSDS participates in themanagement of the “Rasa Island Wildlife Sanctuary”in Narra, Palawan; in the “Omoi and ManambalingCockatoo Reserves” in the municipality of Dumaran;and in the implementation of the “Green Heart ofPalawan Wildlife Conservation Program” whosepurpose is the conservation of three lowland sites inthe Victoria-Anepa’an Mountain Range (VAMR) andimprove the conservation status of the threatenedand endemic wildlife living there.

The PCSDS does not waver in protecting the forestsand the environment even when there is a pandemicthat threatens everyone’s lives. Let us appreciate theirefforts and do our part to conserve and protect nature.

PCSDS PROTECTING THE FORESTS AMIDST THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Palawan Biosphere Reserve, the Philippines

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PCSDS CONDUCTS PILOT TESTING OF SAFA SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT TOOL IN PALAWAN

Palawan Biosphere Reserve, the Philippines

Personnel from the ECAN Monitoring and EvaluationDivision (EMED) of the Palawan Council forSustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) used for thefirst time in Palawan the Sustainability Assessment ofFood and Agriculture systems (SAFA) guidelines as anassessment tool to determine the sustainability of aproject last June 2020.

The SAFA guidelines was developed by the Food andAgriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations(UN). It provides an international and holisticframework to assess the sustainability of food andagriculture enterprises. The determination of itssuitability as an assessment tool for the food andagriculture industries in the province of Palawan willlead to its inclusion in the roster of sustainabledevelopment (SD) tools used by the PCSDS forstandard assessment of different industries. As of now,the SD tools being used by the PCSDS are theSustainable Management Online Tool (SMOT) forextractive industries and the Zero Carbon Resorts (ZCR)Energy Assessment for tourist accommodations.

The pilot testing of SAFA was conducted on theLionheart Farms Philippines Corporation, a companyengaged in the production of organic sweeteners fromcoconut sap and whose coconut plantations are inRizal, Palawan.

SAFA assesses the sustainability of an enterprisethrough four dimensions: environmental integrity,social well-being, economic resilience, and goodgovernance. These four dimensions can be evaluatedand a rating is given using a maximum of 116 defaultindicators. The final output is the Performance Report,which contains both a descriptive and an analyticalreview of the sustainability of the assessed entity.

The Lionheart Farms Philippines Corporation receiveda notable average rating of 4.78 out of 5 over the fourkey SAFA dimensions. This result shows that thepolicies and operations of Lionheart are in line withthe goals and principles of sustainable development.

The use of SAFA in Palawan will help the PCSDS toensure that enterprises are following good practices inline with established sustainable development goals.It will surely be beneficial in offering reliable technicalsupport to policy-making decisions in pursuit of amore sustainable environment.

https://web.facebook.com/pcsd7611

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GCRF BLUE COMMUNITIES SHOWING RESILIENCE THROUGH CHALLENGING TIMES

GCRF Blue Communities is a 4-year research capacity-building programme for marine planning in SoutheastAsia, funded by the UK’s Global Challenges ResearchFund. It brings together researchers from the UK,Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesiaalongside North Devon’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserveand NGOs supporting sustainable use of naturalresources.

Through academic-stakeholder collaborations,community co-creation and co-delivery, GCRF BlueCommunities is supporting the development,implementation and ongoing management ofinitiatives that promote the sustainable use of marineresources by multiple users. Focusing on study sites inthree UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserves, and onedesignated Marine Park, research methods ininterdisciplinary sciences are being developed andapplied to advise the users, whilst protecting thefragile marine ecosystems as well as supporting thelivelihoods, food security, health and well-being ofcoastal communities.

The programme is structured as 12 individual butintegrated projects, covering topics ranging fromfishery management and marine governance to well-being benefits/risks of coastal living and futurescenarios.

As for almost all across the globe, this past year hasbeen an unexpected and tremendous challenge. Inthe initial years, the programme had fostered good

working relationships between the internationalpartner organisations. These relationships have beenkey, enabling us to support each other whilst alsosuccessfully adapting to new ways of working.

One of the main impacts of COVID for the programmewas upon fieldwork activities with stakeholders, whichwere postponed or dramatically altered. As difficult asthese changes were to manage, opportunities havealso emerged, such as increased time to developcross-partner activities and publications, and inclusionof external stakeholders in the virtual annual meeting.It is still unclear what the extent of the impact ofCOVID will be on the programme and moreimportantly, also on regions and communities withwhich the programme works, but the collaborativeteam remain committed to helping these communitiesby working with them to enhance the managementand use of the marine environment for a moresustainable and prosperous future.

https://www.blue-communities.org

Building relationships at the first GCRF Blue Communities Annual Progress Meeting in Palawan, Philippines

Household health survey in Kg. Limau-limauan, Kudat (December 2019): Household health survey with a Malaysian coastal community

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RESOLUTION OF THE CALL “MITIGATING THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN ISLAND AND COASTAL BR”

In order to foster island and coastal BR as sites aplyinginnovative solutions in response to the pandemic, theWorld Network of Island and Coastal BiosphereReserves launched a call for projects aimed atmitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic onBR territories. Up to 4 projects are to be granted witha maximum amount of 15.000 USD each, to beimplemented by the end of 2021.

Up to 32 proposals from 17 countries were receivedafter this call, and the good quality of them isindicative of a dynamic, active reserve network withgreat potential to develop interesting initiatives andresilient models to deal with the crisis.

The avaluation committee, formed by representativesof the UNESCO MAB office, the secretariats of Jejuand Menorca and the Spanish MAB program, afterassessing the proposals, has agreed on the selectionof the following:

Ecosystem and Economic Recovery Impact ofCovid 19 on Communities in the Core Zone of theTaka Bonerate-Selayar Archipelago BiosphereReserve (TBSA-BR) (Indonesia), applied by TakaBonerate National Park, with a total budget of14998 USD. This project is aimed at increase foodself-sufficiency and ecosystem restoration throughcommunity participation, capacity building andempowerment, including the creation of small-scale businesses. It is focused on the four axis ofthe call:education and capacity building;sustainable income generation; food security andecosystem restoration.

Reimagined sustainable livelihoods post COVID-19 in Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve (India),applied by the Surabhi Foundation for Researchand Cultural Exchange, with a total budget of15000 USD. This proposal is focused on educationand capacity building, and sustainable incomegeneration. Its main goal is to involve thecommunity, specially including youth andindigenous people, in the articulation anddissemination of traditional and new knowledgepractices, including use of marine resources formedical purpose. It will produce a series of locallanguage communications and through thesevoices identify possible skill development areas.

MARBioPRÍNCIPE: Plastics associated with COVID-19 and the conservation of marine and coastalbiodiversity of Príncipe Island Biosphere Reserve(Sao Tomé & Príncipe), applied by the PrincipeIsland UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, with a totalbudget of 15000 USD. This proposal involves anawareness raising campaign which will transferknowledge from the recent scientific expeditionthat mapped the marine life and habitats ofPrincipe, producing original environmentalmaterials to be used in training, educational andawareness activities. It will involve localcommunities and international actors. Its mainfocus are education and capacity building, andecosystem restoration.

Technical-environmental training for families withfood shortages aggravated by the COVID-19pandemic in the operation of low-cost hydroponicmodules for fruit and vegetable production in theEl Vizcaíno BR (Mexico), applied by the Centro deInvestigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste and theMunicipality of El Vizcaíno, with a total budget of10150 USD. This proposal, focused on educationand capacity building, sustainable incomegeneration, and food security, and aims atimplementing a pilot training plan for theestablishment of hydroponic modules for fruits andvegetable production to reduce the food insecurityof families living in poverty conditions aggravatedby the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19pandemic in El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve.

We hope that the development of these proposals willbring new opportunities for local communities toovercome the pandemic, as well as useful knowledgeexchange within our network and beyond.

December 2020

Joint Secretariats Jeju & Menorca