Stakeholders from various background got together during the dialogue. Photo credit: Sopian Hidayat.

Luky Adrianto, Dean of Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science of IPB Bogor, giving an opening speech during the workshop. Photo credit: Imanda Pradana.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is responsible for managing over $16 billion in non-military aid and assistance around the world. Among the agency’s projects are many that conserve and protect threatened ecosystems, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and support community adaptation to the effects of climate change.

Conservação Estratégica (CSF-Brazil) is pleased to announce the launch of a new publication "Guide for the Participatory Development of Sustainable Business Plans” (in Portuguese). Women of the Paiter Suruí people collecting the babassu fruit in the Sete de Setembro IL, in Rondônia state.

Workshop participants doing group work. Conservação Estratégica (CSF-Brasil) led a workshop on sustainable business plans for products from the Amazon. The aim was to create an open-space for dialogue on possible ways to support the development of sustainable businesses and the strengthening of their value chains in the Brazilian Amazon.

CSF-Brazil is pleased to announce the launch of a new publication: "Cost Benefit Analysis of the Construction of the Castanheira Dam" (in Portuguese). The Arinos River, located in the Juruena sub-basin – an important tributary of the Tapajós River – in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, is known for its aquatic biodiversity. Currently, however, there are more than 100 dams proposed in this sub-basin, which may threaten the biodiversity and local community’s way of life. One of these is the Castanheira Dam.

CSF-Indonesia has officially begun working to develop a shared vision and roadmap for Green Sintang Regency (Kabupaten Sintang Lestari) in West Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. Green Sintang refers to the transition to sustainable, low carbon development principles, and preservation of natural resources and ecosystems. With the programs brought by CSF Indonesia and other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) under the Circle of Green Regency group partners (Lingkar Temu Kabupaten Lestari, LTKL), the government of Sintang will have the opportunity to achieve Green Regency despite the establishment of new large scale plantations within the area. The Sintang government recognizes the need to engage stakeholders in land use planning to ensure sustainability and more equitable distribution of benefits from development. CSF held a kick-off meeting on April 9th and 10th and involved CSOs and Local Government Agencies (Organisasi Perangkat Daerah - OPD).

CSF-Brazil is pleased to announce the launch of a new publication (in Portuguese): "The values of ecosystem services of the Brazilian mangroves, economic instruments for its conservation and the Salgado Paraense case study". Roughly 90% of mangroves in Brazil are located in protected areas (PA). However, there are important deficiencies in financial sustainability and resource management that affect natural capital stocks, biodiversity and thus, local communities.

Aerial view of a road through the Amazon forest in Ecuador. Photo credit: Dr. Morley ReadInfrastructure investments in the Amazon can support economic and social development, and bring services to remote populations. However, if poorly planned, they can also result in irreversible, destructive change to the environment and ecosystem services on which communities depend, and lead to inefficient use of economic resources.

Some of the enthusiastic participants in the workshopIn Indonesia, human and development activities have a significant impact on marine ecosystems and the health of fisheries - one of the most important industries in the country. Economic solutions to these issues are often overlooked, though can be among the most effective. To address this, CSF-Indonesia is seeking to empower policy makers in the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) with specific economic tools and knowledge to support them in formulating policies to conserve and sustainably manage marine resources.