Biodiversity & Nature-based Solutions

Samara Polwatta is pursuing a Joint Master’s at the University of Bonn and United Nations University institute for Environment and Human Security. This field has allowed her to understand human and environmental security and to how to engage in humanitarian relief, disaster risk management, ecosystem-based adaptation, and conservation. She is currently writing her master thesis on the topic of coral reef ecosystems as a tool for ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction. She also works as a Junior Consultant at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Integration team on data curation and data management related to SDG tracking within the GeoHub.

About the project

“School Meets the Reef” aims to grow the value of coastal ecosystems through coral reef restoration and by building awareness of coastal ecosystems. The project was established to fulfill the urgent need for restoration in Sri Lanka’s coral reefs and works primarily in Kalkudah, Batticaloa district. It aims to build artificial in situ coral reef nurseries and carry out monitoring and evaluation on the restored reefs and nurseries. The project is also guided by a strong educational focus, working with local schools to build awareness of the importance of coastal ecosystems, restoration methods and nature-based solutions around coastal ecosystems.

Levis Sirikwa has over half a decade of experience in coastal and marine resource management, specifically in the active restoration of degraded mangroves, sustainable agriculture and local coastal community empowerment.​ He co-founded the Ceriops Research Environmental Organization, which works on several projects within the blue economy space in Kenya. The projects that he manages in the organization include the Casina Farms (sustainable coastal agriculture), Mikoko na Jamii (mangrove and communities) and Mangrove Buddy (advocacy and awareness) programs. The three project models are underpinned by community empowerment, sustainable development and data-driven approaches.

About the project

The slogan for the “Mikoko na Jamii” model is to halt loss, double restoration, and triple protection through investments. Working directly with Indigenous coastal communities around mangrove ecosystems in Kenya, the project seeks to not only restore 1 hectare of degraded mangroves but also build the capacity of local communities to generate livelihoods through mangrove ecosystems. The project will be implemented across four community groups in Mombasa and Kwale counties. Upon the completion of the project, the project beneficiaries are expected to be able to conduct mangrove monitoring by themselves as well as understand the policy frameworks that govern their operations and hence align themselves to benefit from the provisions of the policy frameworks.

Caleb Ofori Boateng started his study biology in Ghana in 2006. The record of amphibian species occurring in the country was incompletely documented at that time. Therefore,Calebmade his own accurate and comprehensive list of all amphibians in Ghana, making him the first biologist in Ghana to research amphibians. When he began his study,Calebstarted a small amphibian conservation interest group at his university and in 2011 HERP Conservation Ghana officially became an NGO. Headquartered in Kumasi Ghana, HERP-Ghana spearheads the conservation of amphibians and reptiles in West Africa through partner institutions in other West African countries.

DuringCaleb’s fieldwork, he found species that had never been described before, and, even more surprisingly, he rediscovered amphibian populations that were thought to be extinct. One of these amphibians was the Togo slippery frog, which was believed to be extinct for nearly four decades. In Ghana, people generally trust information that is provided by religious centres. To protect these species and to convey a strong conservation message,Calebdeveloped ‘conservation evangelism’. By speaking in existing religious programmes, both Islamitic and Christian, his conservation message is better accepted by locals and is successfully mobilising a wave of change, resulting in reduced hunting pressure and human consumption, and a stable population of the Togo slippery frog.

Mr. Simon Stuart, International Selection Committee of Future For Nature says: "It is extremely difficult to excite interest in amphibian conservation in West Africa, butCaleb's leadership skills are such that he has achieved the impossible, working especially with faith communities.”