Watch the second GCBC learning event: Spotlight on forest landscape restoration in Kenya

Watch the second GCBC learning event: Spotlight on forest landscape restoration in Kenya

Watch the second GCBC learning event: Spotlight on forest landscape restoration in Kenya

The second Learning Event webinar featured engaging and insightful presentations from five organisations involved in delivering the GCBC funded project; Understanding Cherangany links to human wellbeing and was held on 12 November 2024.

This forest landscape and restoration project is an example of a Kenya led interdisciplinary partnership which has come together to understand how natural forest resources can be used and managed sustainably for human wellbeing. The aim is to promote positive long-term impacts for biodiversity, poverty alleviation and ecosystem resilience to climate change in Kenya’s Cherangany forest landscape.

The following speakers joined us to share a summary of the project, early results, and why work like this is essential:

  • James Mutunga Joshua, Nature Kenya
  • Dr Paul Muoria, Kenyatta University
  • Dr Ronald Mulwa, National Museums of Kenya,
  • Dr Musingo Mbuvi, Kenya Forestry Research Institute
  • Dr James Mwangombe, Kenya Forest Service
  • Mr Solomon Cherongos, a representative from the Cherangany community. 

The presentations were followed by a Q&A, providing speakers with opportunities to expand upon their themes.

The recording of the webinar is available here for those who were unable to attend the live event.

 

 

 

GCBC Grantees engage at 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 16)

By GCBC Grantees

Several of the GCBC’s grantees took part in COP16 in Cali, Colombia between 21 October and 1 November, 2024. During this global gathering delegates discussed progress on the implementation of the historic Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022) while negotiators discussed ways of preserving biodiversity and tackling the impact of climate change. 

The Nature Transition Support Programme (NTSP) – UNEP’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) hosted a side event ‘transforming economies for nature and people’ to shed light on the dependency of countries’ economies on nature, and the importance of re-thinking how they can change their development trajectories to achieve sustainable development. Featuring a panel comprising of representatives from the governments of Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana and Vietnam. The event showcased the results of the programme achieved to date and sparked a lively debate on how identified challenges can be addressed. Read more on this programme at: https://lnkd.in/dmpp2cdt 

Nature Transition Support Team
The Nature Transition Support Team at COP16

CIASE, the GCBC’s partner on the Gran Tescual Indigenous Reservation Climate Plan, hosted a side event with the Gran Tescual Indigenous Reservation, titled “Pan-Amazonian Dialogue: Intersectional Experiences on Biodiversity and Climate.” Genith Quitiaquez (former governor of the Reservation), Carola Mejía (Climate Justice Coordinator at the Latindadd Network), and Rosa Emilia Salamanca (CIASE Director) shared insights on the ways in which intersectionality, care, and transformative resilience can strengthen the bonds between biodiversity and climate action. 

CIASE also participated in the International Meeting on Women and Biodiversity in collaboration with the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Women’s Vice Ministry. This effort contributed to the Inírida Declaration, a set of recommendations aimed at including women and diverse populations in climate action and biodiversity conservation. 

In collaboration with the Government of Nariño, a department of Colombia, CIASE also presented a photographic exhibition showcasing the botanical richness of the Gran Tescual, inspired by the Illustrated Botanical Guide of the Gran Tescual Reservation. This initiative is part of the “Climate Plan of the Gran Tescual Reservation” project.  

 

CGIAR / CIP – International Potato Center, project team for ‘Harnessing Andean Crop Diversity to Weather Climate Change’ in collaboration with Agrosavia, organized an event on Integrated Conservation, which improves the linkages between in-situ and ex-situ agrobiodiversity conservation. Numerous “seed guardians” from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia attended. To find out more, the open access Spanish language factsheet, Characterizing agrobiodiversity is key to adapting Andean agricultural systems to drought and pests, is available to download here. 

Alliance of Bioversity International ’Diversity for Resilience and Livelihood’ The project manager, Dr. Dejene K. Mengistu from the Alliance of Bioversity International and Dr. Basazen Fantahun, from Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI) (a local implementation partner) presented a poster describing the drivers and lock-ins of green development pathways, a proposed research framework, project objectives, and planned activities with expected outputs to more than 250 attending participants in the blue zone of COP16. The poster presentation was well received, generating constructive comments and suggestions from experienced experts in the areas of forest restoration and management. 

 

 

Watch the first GCBC Learning Event: Spotlight on Marine Habitats, Climate Change & Livelihoods

The first Learning Event webinar on the Sustainable Use of Marine Resources, Conservation, Climate Mitigation and Adaptation took place in July 2024. The webinar featured fascinating presentations on three marine habitat projects funded by GCBC:

The presentations were followed by a Q&A, providing speakers with opportunities to expand upon their themes.

The recording of the webinar is available here for those who were unable to attend the live event.

Further Learning Events will take place in the coming months.
Check the GCBC website and newsletter for announcements.

GCBC Learning Event: Sustainable use of marine resources, conservation, climate mitigation and adaptation

The Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC) is pleased to announce the first in a series of learning events to highlight the innovative research being done by GCBC funded projects.

We will be joined by three GCBC project leaders to discuss the sustainable use of marine resources, conservation, climate mitigation and adaptation in an hour-long Zoom webinar. The webinar will focus on sharing learning from three marine habitat projects:

 

Deep-ocean resources and biodiscovery: enabling a sustainable and healthy low-carbon future (DEEPEND project)

With vast reservoirs of minerals present in the deep sea, mining in our oceans could start within the next decade; yet little is known about the biodiversity and Marine Genetic Resources (MGR) present in these deep-sea regions. DEEPEND looks to develop a long-term project to understand the true value of biodiversity in deep-sea regions at risk from mining and climate change.

Speaker: Dr Adrian Glover (Natural History Museum)

 

GlobalSeaweed – Supporting livelihoods by Protecting, Enhancing and Restoring biodiversity by Securing the future of the seaweed Aquaculture industry in developing countries (SUPERSTAR)

This project directly addresses the acute problem of lack of protection and overharvesting of wild seaweeds. Project outputs will be used by the seaweed industry, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) and policymakers, with the aim of ensuring increased protection, enhanced climate resilience and the sustainable management of wild and cultivated stocks and their associated habitats in south-east Asia and globally.

Speaker: Professor Elizabeth Cottier-Cook (Scottish Association for Marine Science)

 

ENHANCES = ENHANcing Coastal Ecosystem Services

This project works with partners in Suriname and Guyana on coastal protection through mangrove conservation. It operationalises novel in-situ and remote-sensing technologies that map and quantify the health, status and distribution of mangrove species at the local and regional scales, whilst monitoring changes and thresholds to generate new understanding. This data is used to generate consensus on local coastal protection strategies and methods using a gamification platform co-developed with local stakeholders for knowledge-sharing and equitable debate.

Speaker: Dr Isabella Bovolo (Durham University)

 

The webinar comprises three project presentations, followed by an interactive panel session /Q&A

Click this link to register for the webinar.

Tuesday, 23 July, 2024 at
14.00 – 15.00 HRS, GMT+1 (British Summer Time)

Stay updated on RGC2 and our webinar series by subscribing to the GCBC newsletter below, or follow us on X at @gcbc_org or on LinkedIn

Related events

Gran Tescual Indigenous Reservation Climate Plan

Delivery partner: CIASE

Project summary: This project has been proposed by indigenous women from an intersectional approach, this proposal aims to enhance the living conditions of the Pastos indigenous people residing in the Gran Tescual Reservation. This objective will be achieved through a comprehensive approach that involves researching biodiversity conservation and integrating indigenous knowledge to preserve their biocultural heritage. Additionally, the project will advocate for climate action, considering ethnic and gender considerations at the local, regional, and continental levels. To accomplish this, the project will focus on empowering the community by strengthening their ancestral knowledge, fostering inclusivity, and driving substantial changes in climate change policies. Ultimately, the overarching goal is to safeguard ecosystems, elevate the well-being of indigenous communities, and make a positive impact on biodiversity conservation, poverty alleviation, and the resilience of natural systems.

Andean Crop Diversity for Climate Change

Delivery partner: International Potato Center

Project summary: This project aims to strengthen the resilience of Andean agriculture by leveraging traditional potato and mashua varieties and genebank resources. Through an integrated and interdisciplinary approach, climate adaptation will be promoted and food security improved. Applied methods will involve participatory evaluations, nutritional analyses, market appraisals, genotyping and restoration of lost biodiversity. Transformational change will be achieved through the integration of research, knowledge sharing, innovations, and enhanced market access. The project will employ a comprehensive communication strategy to share key findings and foster policy engagement. It will also create lasting benefits by endorsing diversity conservation, catalyzing transformational change, and applying advanced agricultural technologies.

Nature Nurture

Countries: Indonesia, Tanzania, Philippines

Delivery partner: International Institute for Environment and Development

Project summary: Working closely with smallholder farmers in Indonesia, the Philippines and Tanzania, the project will tackle agrobiodiversity loss, which reduces livelihood options and climate resilience. Using the latest research co-production methodologies, it will improve evidence on how to upscale inclusive, resilient, agrobiodiverse production systems globally. It will build locally-based, internationally-linked research networks that enhance continuous long-term learning and capacity support around best practices with smallholder producers, fostering multidisciplinary partnerships that effectively advocate for better policies, leverage public and private investments, and drive transformation in how we produce food, fuel, fibre and medicines that are good for nature, climate and livelihoods.

Understanding Cherangany links to human wellbeing

Delivery Partner: Nature Kenya

Summary: The aim is to promote positive long-term impacts for biodiversity, poverty alleviation and ecosystem resilience to climate change in the Cherangany forest landscape. The question is “How can natural resources in Cherangany Hills Forests be used in a way and at a rate that maintains and enhances the biodiversity they harbor, the resilience of key habitats or ecosystems and the benefits they provide in the light of projected climate changes? The hypothesis is that “Understanding the levers for linking forests and biodiversity with human well-being and climate resilience in Cherangany forests will provide the foundation for future sustainable natural resource management.

The project targets research and development of solutions which will be applied by national and county governments, local communities and conservation agencies and actors to protect and sustainably use biological diversity for climate adaptation and mitigation, as well as supporting and improving livelihoods through climate smart agriculture and natural resources management. The aim is achieved by generating evidence and understanding in key forest, biodiversity, climate and human well-being interrelated output areas as follows: Ecosystem Services Assessment of the Cherangany forest landscape; Restoration Opportunity Assessment and Mapping (ROAM) of the Cherangany forest landscape; Cherangany Forest Restoration Business case; Ecosystem Based Adaptation Strategy and action plan; and Participatory Forest Management Plans implemented by community forest associations. These knowledge products will be published and disseminated widely to promote their implementation through financing from all sources.

The research work will be led by Nature Kenya as the lead applicant coordinating a research partnership composed of National Museums of Kenya (Biodiversity), Kenya Forestry Research Institute (Social forestry); Kenyatta University (Ecosystem Services and ROAM) and the Kenya Forest Service (Participatory forest management). The delivery of the planned outputs is aligned with the GCBC long-term outcome of increased implementation of public/private investment in more effective climate resilient development via the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. This will result in the overall impact on biodiversity, poverty alleviation and improved ecosystem resilience.

ENHANCES = ENHANcing Coastal Ecosystem Services

Countries: Suriname, Guyana

Delivery Partner: University of Durham

Summary: Coastal protection through mangrove conservation involves: understanding where species of mangrove are located and their site-specific failure thresholds; and stakeholders consensus on benefits and strategies of implementation. We will work with partners in Suriname and Guyana to (i) operationalise our novel in-situ and remote-sensing technologies to map and quantify the health, status and distribution of mangrove species at the local and regional scales, whilst (ii) monitoring changes and thresholds to generate new understanding, and (iii) use this to generate consensus on local coastal protection strategies and methods using a gamification platform co-developed with local stakeholders for knowledge-sharing and equitable debate.

Resource management of Madagascar’s grasslands

Country: Madagascar

Delivery Partner:  Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Summary: Employing data-driven strategies, we will transform perceptions of Madagascar’s grasslands from barren wastelands to valuable biodiversity rich ecological assets that can support human livelihoods and carbon sequestration. We will enable sustainable reforestation by identifying optimal locations that enrich ecosystems and safeguard local livelihoods. Our vision is to redefine the intersection of reforestation and grassland preservation, fostering an understanding of these ecosystems’ critical role, promoting local prosperity, and strengthening Madagascar’s resilience to climate change.