Community-Based Enterprises
Local communities are integral in protecting World Heritage sites. In support of locally owned businesses, we work with the Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Programme (a project of the United Nations Development Programme), which provides support for training and credit and financing to build sustainable businesses around World Heritage sites.
COMPACT
We launched the Community Management of Protected Areas for Conservation—COMPACT—working with UN agencies, including the UN Development Programme.
The COMPACT is a small grants program that builds community-based initiatives that increase the effectiveness of conservation of local ecosystems in and surrounding World Heritage sites while working to improve the livelihoods of local populations. Since we launched the COMPACT, we have stimulated 200 community projects in eight countries.
EQUATOR INITIATIVE
Did you know the world’s greatest concentrations of species are found in the tropics, in countries that also have some of the highest levels of poverty?
The Equator Initiative—a partnership between us, the UN, individuals, businesses, governments and communities—champions community efforts to link economic development with the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
The Initiative’s work is organized around three themes:
- The Equator Prize: a prestigious international award that recognizes local efforts to reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity;
- Equator Dialogues: an innovative program that fosters dialogue to celebrate local successes, exchange best practices, share experiences and inform policy; and
- Equator Knowledge: a research and learning initiative dedicated to sharing best practices for conservation and poverty reduction.
The 2008 Equator Prize winners have been selected. See who they are.
WH-LEEP
The World Heritage Local Ecological Entrepreneurship Program (WH-LEEP), a $2 million, three-way partnership between us, UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme and Conservation International’s Verde Ventures program, provides technical training to community businesses to enable them to receive affordable loan financing. Click here to download WH-LEEP application materials.
STORIES OF IMPACT
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula to Preserve World Heritage
Area of Involvement: Sustainable Development
Meet Lizbeth Pool Uc, co-founder of Flor de Tajonal, a women’s cooperative in the small town of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Mexico that makes and sells honey and honey products. For generations, Lizbeth’s family has been keeping bees, one of the oldest economic activities of the Yucatan’s Mayan people and an important part of their ceremonial life.
Could you survive on 13 liters of water a day?
Area of Involvement: Women & Population;Sustainable Development
(Part seven of Elizabeth Gore's blog series on Ethiopia) Driving to the Mai-Aini UNHCR refugee camp, two things struck me: the beautiful but barren mountains, and the dozens of broken-down tanks left behind from war. A young interpreter from Axum shared with me his theory that water is the reason for war.
RESOURCES
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UN Foundation Newsletter (Fall 2009)
Issue Area: Children’s Health
Issue Area: Climate & Energy
Issue Area: Sustainable Development
Issue Area: Technology
Issue Area: UN-US Relations
Issue Area: Women & Population
A semi-annual newsletter highlighting the UN Foundation's programs and people.
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UN Foundation Newsletter (Spring 2009)
Issue Area: Children’s Health
Issue Area: Climate & Energy
Issue Area: Sustainable Development
Issue Area: Technology
Issue Area: UN-US Relations
Issue Area: Women & Population
A semi-annual newsletter highlighting the UN Foundation's programs and people.
