WWF Annual Review 2023 - 47

THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES LIVING CLOSEST TO
NATURE, AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES WHO FOR
GENERATIONS HAVE BEEN ITS RESOLUTE CUSTODIANS,
HAVE A VITAL ROLE TO PLAY IN BUILDING A
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR PEOPLE AND THE PLANET.
WWF supports their efforts to protect and
restore their lands and waters, to obtain the
appropriate recognition of their rights,
and to improve their well-being. We are also
urging that their contributions to and leadership
in global efforts to restore nature and stabilize
our climate are fully recognized. In 2023,
our work together included:
UNITING FOR FIJI'S TURTLES
The communities of Fiji's Nadogo district,
representing 22 traditional tribes, united to
declare Nukuvadra and Katawaqa islands
as community protected areas and turtle
sanctuaries. WWF-Pacific and partners
supported their efforts to safeguard the islands,
which are important nesting sites for
critically endangered hawksbill turtles.
RESTORING MYANMAR'S MANGROVES
With over 60% of Myanmar's mangrove forests
lost in the past 20 years, WWF-Myanmar and
partners ran a pilot project with 10 villages in
the Ayeyarwady Delta to restore 1,500 hectares
of mangroves and undertake mangrove-friendly
aquaculture. The training and workshops gave
communities the knowledge and skills to
manage mangrove conservation themselves.
SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN THE AMAZON
Our teams in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and
Peru worked with Indigenous organizations
and other NGOs to develop a guide that takes
an intersectional approach to projects where
Indigenous Peoples are involved. This guide
helps to implement positive actions against the
participation barriers Indigenous Peoples face,
and to enable conditions for them to raise their
voices in defence of their rights and territories.
if we are to effectively contribute to
delivering the Global Biodiversity
Framework's biodiversity goals
and support the billions of people
who depend on the natural world
for their survival and well-being.
Although the current Action
Plan concluded in 2023, we will
continue to learn from and adapt
the new approaches we have taken so
that we address emerging challenges
and opportunities.
Find out more about our conservation
work alongside people around the
world at wwf.panda.org/discover/
people_and_conservation
PROTECTING CANADA'S COASTAL WATERS
A new action plan to create Canada's first-ever
planned network of marine protected areas
(MPAs) in the country's western coastal waters,
known as the Great Bear Sea, has been agreed
by 15 First Nations, as well as the national
and provincial governments. WWF-Canada
participated in and supported stakeholder
discussions and is calling for swift action to
implement what will become the world's
largest Indigenous-led, collaboratively
developed MPA network.
47

https://wwfasiapacific.exposure.co/working-with-local-communities https://wwfasiapacific.exposure.co/working-with-local-communities https://wwf.panda.org/es/dondetrabajamos/amazonia/noticiasypublicacionesamazonia/?8407966/Guia-practica-de-enfoque-interseccional-para-promover-la-participacion-de-mujeres-y-jovenes-indigenas-en-proyectos-de-conservacion https://wwf.panda.org/es/dondetrabajamos/amazonia/noticiasypublicacionesamazonia/?8407966/Guia-practica-de-enfoque-interseccional-para-promover-la-participacion-de-mujeres-y-jovenes-indigenas-en-proyectos-de-conservacion https://wwf.ca/media-releases/wwf-canada-celebrates-action-plan-for-future-great-bear-sea-mpa-network-calls-for-swift-implementation/ https://wwf.ca/media-releases/wwf-canada-celebrates-action-plan-for-future-great-bear-sea-mpa-network-calls-for-swift-implementation/ http://wwf.panda.org/discover/people_and_conservation http://wwf.panda.org/discover/people_and_conservation

WWF Annual Review 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of WWF Annual Review 2023