Wilder Institute

Published purpose

This project aims to enhance sustainability of biodiversity and enhance local livelihoods, particularly for women, in the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary and Avu Lagoon Community Protected Area. It supports these communities by managing natural resources, conserving biodiversity, and providing critical ecosystem services. The project seeks to focus on protecting endangered species by increasing the participation of women, youth and marginalized groups in decision making forums such as the Community Resource Management Area. It also aims to provide support to women to develop diverse skills in sectors such as ecotourism, shea production and wildlife protection. Project activities include: (1) providing technical assistance to co-create, use, and disseminate knowledge for biodiversity conservation to non-governmental organizations, academic, and community groups, fostering inclusive and locally informed conservation efforts; (2) supplying and managing enterprises established through agribusiness and ecotourism; (3) establishing and strengthening market-ready and business-capable community cooperatives to operate ecotourism, plastic waste management, and agribusiness enterprises in a sustainable and inclusive manner; (4) developing feasibility and pilot programs to access species reintroduction, breeding, and conservation translocation strategies; and (5) providing technical assistance to community members, including women and youth, to protect land from destructive use and restore degraded areas. The project benefits about 27,000 people living in the Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary and Avu Lagoon communities, government stakeholders, neighbouring community-protected areas, and their management boards that want to use similar strategies. It also benefits conservation practitioners, university students, and community members.