Over-exploitation of natural resources (water resources, overgrazing, fisheries, mangroves, fore products)

The Acropora Project is a coral restoration initiative launched in 2015 by the Martinican Regional Directorate of Environment, Planning, and Housing, primarily implemented by the nonprofit organization Assomer. It focuses on two critically endangered Caribbean coral species: Acropora cervicornis and Acropora palmata, as classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. While Acropora palmata thrives on the Atlantic seabed of Martinique, Acropora cervicornis had seemingly vanished from local waters by 2007, despite previously providing crucial habitats for marine life. However, this species was rediscovered in 2013 at Loup Caravelle on the Atlantic side of Martinique.
The initiative began by extracting cuttings from both species at Loup Caravelle and nurturing them at a separate site in Le Diamant. In 2019, these corals were transplanted to three locations on the seabed of Sainte-Luce, demonstrating surprising growth patterns despite the site's low to medium environmental quality.
The project's primary aim was to prevent the permanent disappearance of both coral species through spatial replication techniques, including cutting and transplantation. Particular attention was given to enhancing the genetic variability and range of Acropora cervicornis. The initiative also aimed to raise awareness about current coral conservation challenges.
Additionally, the project included a research component that contributed to a better understanding of environmental conservation and the restoration of Acropora cervicornis populations. Unfortunately, a temperature increase at the end of 2023 resulted in the decimation of all corals at the transplant sites. (Ref. 1 -5)

Booterstown Marsh, the only remaining saltmarsh on the south shore of Dublin Bay, plays a crucial role in the Dublin Bay Protection Plan. As part of South Dublin Bay's protected landscape, this unique 4.3-hectare brackish water marsh provides vital environmental and educational value within an urban setting. It supports three key habitats, ranging from freshwater to saltwater, creating essential feeding and roosting grounds for an array of migratory birds. The marsh attracts numerous bird species, including Moorhen, Reed Bunting, Sedge Warbler, Teal, Snipe, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Dunlin, and Brent Geese, establishing it as the only bird sanctuary in South Dublin Bay.
Booterstown Marsh’s ecological significance is underscored by its inclusion in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council’s Biodiversity Action Plan 2021-2025: Nature Recovery, Restoration & Reconnection. Managed by the Biodiversity Section of the council, this initiative focuses on protecting and enhancing Booterstown Marsh as part of a broader effort to restore natural habitats across the area. The council’s project addresses key factors in biodiversity loss—such as land use pressures, climate change, and invasive species—by implementing an annual monitoring program to prevent deterioration of critical EU Annex habitats and species.
An Taisce, a local NGO has managed the marsh reserve since the 1970s, dedicating efforts to conservation and public education. This habitat, along with other local ecosystems like the wetlands at Ballycorus and woodlands at Loughlinstown, serves as an essential natural defense against climate change, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and helping stabilize local landscapes by slowing floodwaters in catchment areas.(1-6)

Mapinguari National Park, located in the Amazon region of Brazil, is a protected area distinguished by its rich biodiversity and vast expanse of untouched tropical rainforest (2). It was officially created on June 5, 2008, by decree, covering an area of 1,776,914.18 hectares (2). The Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) manages the park. It is linked to a management plan encompassing several nearby conservation units and their areas of influence (2, 3). Its main goal is to preserve the valuable natural ecosystems and scenic landscapes of the Purus-Madeira interfluvial region, which includes savanna enclaves (2, 3). The ecoregion where it is located has a high priority for botanical conservation due to parameters such as species richness and endemism (3). Additionally, the area presents great environmental heterogeneity, with several isolated and unique ecosystems, aspects that have been considered for fostering scientific research and public visitation, with programs for environmental education, recreation in contact with nature, and ecotourism (3). On March 8, 2013, an advisory council for the park was established to involve various stakeholders in decision-making and the effective conservation of the park (2), and in 2018 a Management Master Plan was established, seeking to develop an integrated approach for the protection and proper management of the region, especially considering the socio-environmental impacts of the construction of the BR-319 highway and the deforestation caused by fires, the expansion of soybean cultivation, land appropriation (7) and cattle ranching from the neighbouring state (3, 10). It was established as a Natural Park in 2008, but over the years it has undergone changes in land regulations, adding or decreasing its size as certain mining activities have been allowed in the buffer zone (2)

The initiative focuses on the creation and implementation of a management plan for the Natura 2000 areas of Ciurbesti Lake and Fânațele Bârca to protect their biodiversity and promote sustainable tourism and land use. These areas were designated as part of the Natura 2000 network in 2016, but until recently, lacked a formal management plan. In 2019, the environmental group "Asociaţia Scutierii Naturii Bacău," in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency of Iași (APM Iași), secured EU funding to develop the plan. While the plan was being developed, minimal regulations were established in 2022 to ensure interim protection.
The finalized management plan was released in 2024. It assessed species and habitats of European, national, and community importance, identifying 18 bird species, 3 plant species, 1 mammal species, and 4 key habitats. The plan also identified environmental pressures and set objectives and actions to ensure the conservation of this biodiversity. Before the plan's completion, two rounds of public consultations were held, involving a broad range of stakeholders, including surrounding municipalities, private landowners, public administrators, and local community representatives, to define optimal management practices.
The plan mandates continuous monitoring and reporting on the state of species and habitats. It also includes specific conservation measures, such as the partial reconstruction of endangered habitats, meetings with local land users to restrict harmful activities, public awareness campaigns, and regular monitoring. Additionally, it emphasizes the sustainable use of the area, including tourism. The creation of the plan was financed with EU funds totaling €1,036,014.27, and the projected cost for its implementation is €259,627.99. (1-5)

According to data from the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe), Rondônia ranks fourth nationally among the states with the highest number of detected fire outbreaks (2). In response to this issue and to restore devastated areas in the Amazon, Terra Cura was established in 2016 by resident Luana Lopes, promoting the planting of more than a thousand trees in the Porto Velho region (1). The areas benefiting from this initiative were those degraded by deforestation, causing erosion along the riverbanks (1).
This reforestation effort took place in the scenographic city of Jerusalem of the Amazon, from 2016 to 2022, a cultural and touristic complex in Porto Velho, where erosion caused by deforestation was observed along the riverbanks next to it (2). It was developed as a collaboration with the club and the founders of the Associação Clube Teatral Êxodo, who gave the space so that we could recover the land (3).
The project focused on developing an agricultural strategy known as syntropic farming, by implementing an agroforestry system. This approach seeks to reorganize and restore the natural environment, creating better conditions for planting and allowing trees to thrive. In the reforestation process, volunteers and experienced technicians worked together Additionally, the project included a nursery used for donating seedlings and for offering forestry and agro-construction courses to the community, held in the reforestation area (2).
The Terra Cura project, in addition to working on reforestation and recovery of degraded areas, promoted environmental and cultural integration at the site, promoting sustainable fairs and bazaars, training courses in ancestral practices such as soil cultivation and bioconstruction, and thematic events, bringing together artists and local communities (3). Although they were evicted from the area surrounding the scenic city of Jerusalem (5, 6), they are still active in the area.

This initiative focused on creating a management plan for the Uricani forest, a protected area located near Iasi. Designated as both a nature reserve and a Natura 2000 site, the forest is crucial for its "Dacia oak & hornbeam forests" habitat and the presence of the stag beetle, the largest beetle in Romania and Europe.
Despite existing nature protection designations, the environmental NGO "Asociația Ecoturistică Prietenii Pădurii Bălțătești" recognized the need for an updated management plan. With European funding, the NGO developed a model plan for protected areas in Neamt and Iasi counties, including Uricani forest.
The NGO conducted monitoring activities in cooperation with forestry directorates to assess habitat conditions and stag beetle populations. The goal was to identify risks and requirements for species conservation and design appropriate management actions. Additionally, the organization aimed to promote the area's tourism potential and conduct awareness-raising activities with local communities and schools.
The completed management plan, developed through public consultation and approved by the Romanian environmental ministry, included measures for natural habitat regeneration, ensuring suitable conditions for the stag beetle, addressing illegal logging, pasturing, and waste disposal, and establishing information points and educational activities for the community. (1-7)

The rate of deforestation in the Brazilian Legal Amazon in 2023 was consolidated at 9,064 km2. Initiatives that promote forest restoration in this biome are emerging to overcome this scenario. One such initiative is Floresta Productiva which aims to reforest more than 200 hectares of degraded land in the southwest of the Brazilian Amazon, known as the ‘arc of deforestation’ (1). Led by the Instituto Socioambiental in partnership with the NGO Rioterra, it focuses on creating and disseminating native forest restoration models that combine ecosystem recovery with income generation for rural producers in Porto Velho (2). By fully integrating local communities, the project promotes traditional agroforestry practices (muvuca) and trains communities to maintain the planted land. This not only restores the forest but also provides economic benefits through the cultivation of timber, fruit trees and other species (2), strengthening sustainable agriculture, breaking the cycle of deforestation and restoring deforested areas through various native species grown in nurseries (1). The project is being developed in the cultivation area of the Amazon Bioeconomy Centre (CBCA), from 2023 to 2025, where it will directly benefit the rural community of Vila Nova de Teotônio (3).
The project started in 2019 and has impacted other communities in the area, such as the communities in Nova Mutum Paraná and Ji-Paraná (1). During these years, more than 123,000 trees have been planted in agroforestry on about 110 hectares of land, and edible forests have been created. Since 2022, a new planting phase has been underway, to plant more than 100,000 trees of 87 native species on 40 hectares of degraded forest (4). In conclusion, this project focuses on the development of agroforestry in the face of widespread monospecific soybean fields and intensive cattle ranching (3); the creation of edible forests (3); and the restoration of forest cover to ensure the long-term resilience of the forest (3).

Seaweeds are of immense value to marine ecosystems, and Kelp, the largest of them all, forms spectacular underwater forests that provide habitat for fish, clean the water, and sequester carbon. Unfortunately, large swathes of these subaquatic forests have disappeared from the coasts of many European countries, including Portugal (Ref. 2).
The "Sea Forester" project in Cascais aims to restore local kelp forests, which are essential for marine biodiversity and carbon sequestration. In collaboration with the Câmara Municipal de Cascais and Mossy Earth (social enterprise), the project assesses the historical and current state of seaweed populations and identifies environmental stressors. It employs innovative techniques like the "green gravel" method to restore kelp ecosystems. This project supports the region’s blue economy and resilience to climate change through carbon offsetting and enhanced ecosystem services (Ref 1; 6; 7). Supported by the EEA Innovation Grant, it combines scientific research and community engagement, positioning Cascais as a leader in marine conservation efforts (Ref 6).

The Pantanos de Villa Wildlife Refuge is a natural oasis in the heart of Lima. It is considered a marsh of international Ramsar importance, as it is home to a large number of species of flora and fauna. It includes 5 bodies of water with about 210 species of birds, 13 species of fish, and 5 species of amphibians and reptiles, among others (1). It was created in 2006, by Supreme Decree N°055-2006-AG, which established the definitive category for the Pantanos de Villa, under the name of The Pantanos de Villa Wildlife Refuge (2). This protected area was established over an area of 263.27 ha, and its main goal is to conserve a representative sample of the Marshes of the Subtropical Pacific Desert, including important plant communities, as well as migratory and resident avifauna, focusing mainly on species with some degree of threat (1, 2, 6).
In 2016, a Master Plan was approved aimed at strengthening the conservation of the biological diversity of this coastal marsh and ensuring conditions to promote inter-institutional cooperation and participatory management, including neighbours, authorities, municipalities and interested institutions (2).
This Master Plan establishes environmental, economic and cultural indicators defined to be met over 5 years. These are focused on protecting water resources, conserving migratory and resident bird species, ensuring the conservation of the cattail, promoting tourism and recreational activities, fostering environmental awareness activities and engaging citizens in the management of the Refuge (2)
This plan seeks to confront a series of threats that endanger the conservation of this ecosystem. Among the main problems are the illegal extraction of natural resources, such as cattail; the improper use of the space for activities such as bonfires, consumption of illicit substances and pet walks; the change in land use due to urban expansion; pollution from effluent discharges and solid waste disposal; and illegal fishing (2)

The "Un Millón de Corales por Colombia" project is a national initiative aimed at the restoration and conservation of coral reefs across Colombia. Initiated in 2021, this ambitious project seeks to rehabilitate 200 hectares of coral reef by planting one million coral fragments across seven departments in Colombia, spanning both the Caribbean and Pacific regions​ (ref 1,2). It was developed as a response to the significant degradation of coral reefs caused by climate change, coastal development, overfishing, and pollution. These factors have led to the loss of about 80% of coral reefs in the Caribbean region.
The initiative, led by the Colombian government in partnership with organizations such as Conservación Internacional, Parques Nacionales Naturales, Corales de Paz, and several regional environmental authorities, focuses on restoring this vital ecosystem (ref 2). The project encompasses constructing and maintaining coral nurseries and training local community members, including fishermen, as "coral gardeners." These gardeners are taught scientifically proven coral restoration techniques, including microfragmentation and larval rearing methods. A key aspect of the project involves continuous education and involvement of the community and stakeholders to ensure long-term sustainability (ref 4, 5). In Cartagena, the project plays a vital role in the restoration and conservation of coral reefs in this region, which is a key site for the initiative (ref 4).