The Jane Goodall Institute of Canada (JGI) is a conservation organization with a vision of a healthy planet where people live sustainably in harmony with animals and a shared environment. We do this by inspiring and empowering people to take action to make their communities and their world a better place. The following abstract is an “individual contribution” for the Communities Conservation & Livelihoods Conference, to present lessons learned from JGI’s community-centred conservation initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Community-centred conservation is a key pillar to JGI Africa Programs strategy. Our conservation efforts in sub-Saharan Africa are concentrated in countries with vulnerable habitats for chimpanzees and great apes. Using a Prezi presentation format, JGI will share three projects from three different countries (two are completed and one is in development). By comparing and contrasting the results achieved and challenges faced, JGI hopes to start a dialogue with the participants on best practices for engaging communities in conservation, and examine the risks and assumptions.
In Uganda, JGI implemented a project to improve livelihoods based on more sustainable use of local natural resources. The objective was achieved through three main activities: 1) Restoring regional forests and waterways; 2) Improving the livelihoods of local people through income-generating opportunities from sustainable enterprises; and 3) Educating the community on sustainable management of local natural resources.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, JGI completed an integrated conservation and development project, aimed at improving education, health, livelihoods and environmental understanding among the targeted communities. The objective specifically related to the livelihoods component was to increase the use of improved sustainable agricultural techniques, livestock husbandry, and forest and resources management.
Based on evaluations of these two projects, JGI is embarking on a new initiative in Senegal, looking at the linkage between sustainable livelihoods and community resilience to climate change. One of the key lessons learned from previous experience was conservation goals and development outcomes need to be considered together at the outset of the design phase, instead of compartmentalizing them as separate parts of the project.
By participating in the Communities, Conservation & Livelihoods Conference, JGI would like to share our experiences and learn from other stakeholders. This is an opportunity to explore how to better integrate conservation goals with poverty alleviation, with local community ownership at the heart of any interventions, to ensure that our combined efforts can be sustained in the long run.
https://prezi.com/view/3lUnYZGwYIX5AFV7yqbZ/
Ecosystem: Agricultural , Resources: Forest , Resources: Wildlife , Big Issues: Climate change , Solutions: Empowerment
