Name of Project: Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Development for the Long Term Management and Conservation of MCPAs in South Asia (South Asia MCPA Project)
Geographic location: 5 maritime nations of South Asia (Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan)
Start date: June 2006
End Date: December 2008
Type of Project: Regional
Project partners: EU, UNEP, ICRAN, IUCN, SACEP, CORDIO, REEFCHECK, MFF, Government of Finland, IMM, GEER Foundation, ANET, CARESS, PAD, AEC, MRC, ICRI, Bangladesh POUSH, SAY, FEYLI, CHF, MCRCF, PUGAR Foundation
Description of the project:
Through a grant from the European Union, activities were undertaken to: develop management capacity and training tools for staff at marine and coastal protected areas; to improve regional communications and data management; to strengthen cooperation in marine and coastal management efforts; and to develop a systematic approach to livelihood diversification and enhancement in coastal communities. The project was implemented by a diverse range of international and local partners.
Actions included:
- 11 regional trainings or workshops. These diverse workshops and activities have targeted MCPA managers, decision makers and leaders, and communities.
- 15 grants have been provided to local partners for site level capacity building such as awareness and education grants at MCPA sites, enforcement equipment grants at MCPA sites; Sustainable livelihood field grants for community projects.
- Early estimates of beneficiaries highlight that over 1000 people have been directly involved and benefited from activities under the project with the greatest majority being at the community level.
- Over 24 partners were involved in activities and many more regional and international experts to help share best practices and lessons learned from across the globe and build regional capacity to respond to emerging environmental challenges.
- 6 publications have resulted from this project and have been widely disseminated across the region including the highly regarded South Asia MCPA Toolkit, a manual to guide Sustainable Livelihood Enhancement and Diversification with communities, and a global review of Livelihood activities.
- The creation of advisory and coordination capacity through the establishment of the South Asia Coral Reef Task Force, developing linkages between all levels of management, focusing existing regional expertise, facilitating coordinated responses to transboundary management issues and improving the representation of South Asian marine and coastal resource management challenges within global discussion fora.
Project Outputs: All project outputs are available from the ICRAN website: www.icran.org/action-southasia.html or can be found on the SA MCPA Portal To receive hard copies of any products please contact IUCN Ecosystems and Livelihoods Group in Sri Lanka who are coordinating dissemination.
