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| Replicating success - what this website is about |
There are many good practices of conservation and development projects in the world which have successfully dealt with poverty, population growth, and environmental issues. But are good practices replicable?
This website acts as a forum where non-government organizations (NGOs) as well as government agencies can gather information and contribute their own know-how and experiences. Comments, reports and other contributions will be constantly included in the website in order to provide as many examples from different projects as possible.
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| How it all began |
In 1997 two German NGOs, the "German Foundation for World Population" (http://www.weltbevoelkerung.de) and “GEO Protects the Rainforest” (http://www.regenwald.de), started an Integrated Conservation and Development Project together with the Nepali organization "Annapurna Conservation Area Project". The project was centered in the small community of Bhujung on the southern ridge of the Himalayas and affected 23000 people in several villages. After a three year period the project was evaluated and rated as extremely successful and efficient.
Based on this experience, the "Berlin Institute for World Population and Global Development" initiated a study in order to investigate how the success of the project could be replicated without investing too much money and manpower into the planning process. The study was then transformed into this interactive internet forum.
To download the study (pdf, 692 KB) please click here:
http://www.berlin-institute.org/pdfs/replicating_success_berlin_institut.pdf
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| What lessons can be learned from this project? |
ACAP is based on a few general principles that have been recognized as essential for success: Participation makes conservation and development intervention people-centred and empowers local communities to undertake self-reliant initiatives. Ownership of a project by the local community helps to increase participation and ensures sustainability. Cost sharing by local people develops a deep sense of responsibility and a feeling of ownership for the project. Integration of conservation and development shows the close relationship between economic and environmental issues. Establishment of trade-offs can act as an incentive for conservation activities to be taken more serious.
ACAP's conservation and development issues range from reforestation, introduction of alternative energy sources, sanitation and safe drinking water, education and awareness to reproductive health. Most of these efforts are validated by their successful replication in other project areas. The website gives systematic examples for every issue.
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