Community-based conservation

November 21^st is World Fisheries Day, an observance celebrated every year by fishing communities across the globe. CI’s Keith Lawrence recently met with residents of one Ecuadorian fishing community, where he saw firsthand the positive impact that broad conservation efforts are having on local livelihoods.  

For over 20 years I’ve worked in the field of fisheries and ocean conservation, mostly in the Gulf of Mexico.  During that time I’ve been privileged to catch and enjoy the region’s red snapper, kingfish and flounder.  In my view, we can and should balance conservation of the region’s resources with people’s need for jobs, food, and enjoyment.  In fact, finding the balance is at the heart of the Gulf’s future.

Afro-­Colombian Community Becomes First to Receive VCS Credits for Forest Conservation on Collective Lands.  Innovative joint venture between Anthrotect and Afro-descendant communities in northwest Colombia demonstrates the power of direct carbon finance to transform lives, protect wildlife, and preserve vital ecosystems.

The creation of a sustainable future will require the development of conservation practitioners with a strong foundation in science, leadership, and management. In addition, these practitioners will need to engage in cross-disciplinary problem solving, to understand cross-cultural and cross-boundary issues, and to be comfortable operating adaptively in an environment of increasing complexity and uncertainty.

 Slowing and even reversing effects of climate change will require serious efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions.  Most of those efforts will be on the national and international level, beyond the scope of regional stakeholders and policymakers.  Fishermen can, of course, contribute to CO