Engaged Pilot Sites
We work with pilot sites that have shown long-term success in managing biodiversity. These sites serve as models of resilience and represent a variety of stewardship types. Together, they form a Community of Practice that promotes peer exchange, visibility, and collective learning.
Custòdia Agrària — Menorca, Spain
A land stewardship scheme led by GOB Menorca, establishing voluntary agreements with farmers and landowners to promote sustainable agriculture that supports both biodiversity and local livelihoods. It helps preserve Menorca’s culture, landscapes, and ecosystems while maintaining a thriving farming tradition. Recognized as a key actor in maintaining Menorca’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status, GOB works closely with local communities to foster sustainability from the ground up.
No-Take Fishing Zone — Gyaros Marine Protected Area, Greece
A marine conservation model around Gyaros Marine Protected Area, developed by NECCA and WWF Greece in collaboration with local fishers. By banning fishing in key zones, it has enabled the recovery of marine biodiversity and fish stocks, ultimately benefiting nearby fishing areas and long-term fishery sustainability.
… and Conservation Initiatives
We support conservation initiatives in securing the long-term impact of their actions by enhancing the resilience of their partners’ management models, applying and transferring project-derived solutions to related sites.
Blue Alliance Marine Protected Areas is a dedicated organization committed to conserving marine biodiversity and enhancing the livelihoods of coastal communities. They collaborate with governments to establish and manage Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that focus on regenerating coral reef ecosystems and promoting sustainable development. Their approach integrates community development, compliance and surveillance, scientific research, and the creation of reef-positive businesses to ensure the long-term sustainability of marine environments.
The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) is a global partnership of nations and organizations committed to the preservation of coral reefs and related ecosystems worldwide. Established in 1994, ICRI focuses on promoting effective management, raising awareness, and mobilizing resources to address the challenges facing coral reefs. The initiative serves as a platform for collaboration, bringing together governments, non-governmental organizations, and international entities to implement strategies aimed at conserving these vital marine habitats.
Yolda Initiative is an international nature conservation organization based in Turkey, committed to preserving biodiversity through research, advocacy, communication, and partnerships. Recognizing the vital role of cultural diversity in ecosystems, Yolda promotes traditional practices that support biodiversity and climate resilience. The organization focuses on mobile pastoralist communities, defending their freedom of movement and highlighting their role in sustaining ecosystems and rural economies. Yolda also contributes to protected area management, such as in Patara (Antalya), and international efforts like the EU’s “Restore our Ocean and Waters” mission.
Three strategic axes
Convening stewards of resilience
Developing and facilitating a Community of Practice constituted of stewards of effectively managed high biodiversity areas to boost resilience in these areas through increased visibility, exchange of know-how, and upscaling of successful management models.
Understanding resilience
Understanding the factors underpinning the resilience of management models, providing a practical index for measuring the resilience of models locally, and monitoring the variation in model resilience globally.
Scaling up resilience
Retrofitting resilience into existing successful initiatives of conservation and sustainable development in biodiverse areas by diagnosing gaps of resilience and promoting the development of solutions.
