Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

Tonga is home to 20 endemic species of terrestrial and sea bird [ ] 221 Building an effective civil society The Civil Society Forum of Tonga (CSFT) is mandated to provide strong leadership and assist its members through the provision of various plat- forms, capacity-building, and leader- ship development on thematic areas such as socio-economic, political, human rights and environment is- sues. As the National Host Institution for the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP), CSFT has funded and completed 11 projects since 2009. One of the successful projects imple- mented under the GEF SGP focused on Special Management Areas (SMAs). In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forestry and Fisheries, CSFT provided continuous support to three SMA communities. Community participation was moni- tored when a new project commenced and in 2011, community participa- tion accounted for 48 per cent of all local families. As people witnessed the positive results emerging during project implementation, there was full commitment from the community. Community support is the key to the success of any project to be completed on time, but it is also the key to long- term success. For example, the Lagoon for Generation project found that a massive coastal cleanup involving local people led to increased mangrove pop- ulations, improved coastal cleanliness and raised community awareness. There are also parallel efforts by the Tonga Community Development Trust (TCDT), an indigenous, non-gov- ernmental development organization with a focus on capacity-building with special attention to less developed and more disadvantaged communities. Projects cover a range of focal areas, including family and community health, rural water supply and sani- tation, sustainable development and environmental conservation. Community ownership has been instrumental to the success of the various GEF SGP projects in Tonga. On the island of Felemea, the yield benefits from SMAs are equally shared amongst members. All three communities have recorded an increase in fish species variation and species concentration. There are also species that were known to have dis- appeared but are now in abundance, which is a very positive indication. Another factor that contributes to success is governance structure, with the highest success rate seen where all positions are selected by the com- munity themselves. The provision of alternative livelihoods contributes to the effectiveness of conservation ef- forts, especially where SMAs provide alternatives to a strict no-take policy. Azur, Vava’u Island, Tonga Tonga T he Kingdom of Tonga is a small South Pacific nation comprising 171 islands, of which about 37 are inhabited. There are four main island groups, consisting of both volcanic and coral islands. Tonga is endowed with unique resources and derives much of its economic, environmental and social well-being directly or indirectly from its environment. Through projects funded by the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP), the country supports numerous special ecosystems that provide protection against diseases, climate change and natural disasters, support nutrient cycling, and aid sand and soil formation. msdstefan on flickr