Local communities

Inland waters – such as rivers, lakes and other wetlands – are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. They are also the most threatened; almost one in three species is at risk of extinction and monitored populations of freshwater species have declined by 85% since 1970. The loss of these ecosystems has cascading effects on human livelihoods, cultures and our overall well-being.

This is the first volume in the WCPA Good Practice Guidelines that is predominantly by rangers, for rangers. The editors worked with partners to collect good practices and stories from rangers worldwide, reflecting global experience and lessons learned. The text focuses on actions that rangers, and to a lesser extent managers, can do themselves. It does not address institutional changes that would need intervention at government level.

Many protected areas worldwide overlap with ‘territories and areas conserved by Indigenous peoples and local communities’ or ‘ICCAs’ (Indigenous peoples’ and community conserved areas’). These overlapped ICCAs include conserved commons, sacred places and Indigenous and community protected areas.

Indigenous and Local communities are keepers of valuable environmental knowledge accumulated over generations. This knowledge is held individually and collectively, often orally transmitted and embodied. At least 25% of the world’s land area is owned, managed, used or inhabited by these groups, and such areas are degrading less quickly than others.

In most places around the world, people are an integral, sometimes dominant, part of the environment. This has two implications. First, a key requirement for sustainability success lies in finding ways to meet the dual goals of conserving nature and providing for the well-being and quality of life of people.

Community forestry aims to assist local people to improve their livelihoods by successfully managing their natural resources, particularly trees and forests, through forestry-related projects. Wildlife plays an important role in the lives of many of the people targeted by these projects. This document does not seek to make foresters or extensionists experts on wildlife.

Since the mid-2000s, the mining sector has been driving Mongolia's exports. However, while in recent years economic growth has been slowing down, the increased number of mining operations profoundly affects Mongolia's economic policies, social dynamics and environment.

This policy brief explores the issues of ICCAs and overlapping protected areas, discusses key approaches for appropriately recognising, respecting, and supporting overlapped ICCAs, and offers recommendations.

El informe comienza con una descripción introductoria de los TICCA—territorios de vida, componentes primordiales de aquellos sistemas de conservación inclusiva que son compatibles con el bienestar de la gente.