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Field demonstrations

Ecosystem services are the tangible benefits — both goods and services — that people receive from nature.

Every person deserves to live in a healthy and prosperous world — one in which societies are forever committed to caring for and valuing nature for the long-term benefit of people and all life on Earth. To realize this vision, we need a healthy environment that provides the essential services — a stable climate, fresh water, healthy soils and reliable food — upon which we all depend.

While the prevailing model of global economic development has the potential to lift so many out of poverty, too often it destroys natural ecosystems and threatens biodiversity that we need to ensure our own and our children's well-being.

By managing our natural resources in a smarter, more sustainable way, we can create a development path that will lead us to future prosperity.

Healthy ecosystems and human well-being

Conservation International implements field programs that demonstrate how conserving and valuing nature results in positive impacts for people. Field programs provide lessons, insights and successes that are scaled-up and amplified through innovative policies, new economic opportunities, capacity building and communication efforts.

	BRAZIL: ABROLHOS SEASCAPE Over the last decade, CI's Marine Program in Brazil has focused on the design and implementation of a network of multiple-use and no-take marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Abrolhos Region, the richest South Atlantic marine realm.
	Bolivia: Municipalities and indigenous communities: Toward a nature-based economy CI-Bolivia's model for working with municipalities and indigenous communities has demonstrated success in developing green economies while conserving important biodiverse regions. Initial successes will be amplified to other municipalities and to the national level for the benefit of all Bolivians.
	Cambodia: Cardamom Mountains The Cardamom Mountains provide essential ecosystem services upon which people depend, namely water. The monsoon rains fall heaviest on the Cardamom Mountain's plateau – the source of several nationally significant rivers – making this the primary watershed for one-third of Cambodia.
	China: Bringing benefits to communities Home to some of the most biologically rich areas on Earth, China also has the world's largest human population and the fastest-growing economy. China's development has global implications for the environment and conservation.
	Colombia: Chingaza-Sumapaz-Paramo de Guerrero Conservation Corridor To ensure long-term conservation and sustainable use of the Corridor's natural resources, CI has been working to establish a landscape-level program that prioritizes areas for conservation, restoration and natural resource use. This three-pronged approach will ensure species conservation while protecting important headwaters and mitigating climate change.
	Ecuador: Bridging the gap between forest conservation and poverty alleviation Socio Bosque is a program that directly targets areas that generate benefits for climate, freshwater, species and poverty alleviation. Productive agricultural activities, health and cultural values are also strongly supported.
	Equatorial Guinea: An emerging frontier of conservation and development Tying together biological information from survey and lessons learned from our pilot projects on alternative livelihoods, CI aims to identify priority conservation areas and shape a longer-term strategy for sustainable development and a green economy in Equatorial Guinea.
	Fiji: Sovi Basin Ecosystem services and biodiversity play a crucial role in the sustainable development of Fiji's economy. CI's work in Fiji focuses on Viti Levu, the country's largest island and home to 70 percent of Fiji's population (approximately 590,000 residents). Tourism, Fiji's largest economic sector, is concentrated along the coastline of western Viti Levu.
	Guatemala: Confirming the Role of Indigenous Cultures in Conservation Guatemala's history of civil strife has resulted in degradation of natural areas and marginalization of indigenous peoples. In response, CI has worked with the Guatemalan authorities, indigenous leaders, civil society groups and others to bring about positive change for both the ecosystems and the people.
	Liberia: Valuing Nature for Real and Lasting Economic Growth Liberia has a vision for its future that includes peace and prosperity. After a 14- year conflict, the country has committed itself to democracy and its government is spearheading an approach to policy that will benefit the Liberian people while conserving its unique natural endowment.
	Madagascar: Ankeniheny-Zahamena Corridor The Ankeniheny-Zahamena Corridor (CAZ) is among the most advanced in its establishment as a protected area. Covering approximately 425,000 hectares along the eastern escarpment of Madagascar, CAZ is a region of rich biological diversity and home to hundreds of local Malagasy communities.
	Mexico: Sierra Madre de Chiapas CI has partnered with local communities, government agencies and the private sector to integrate the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services into land-use decisions and policies in Sierra Madre. The work is a model for demonstrating how protecting natural areas that provide ecosystem services results in benefits for people.
	New Caledonia: Integrated coastal watershed management Despite being the smallest of the 34 biodiversity hotspots, New Caledonia houses 3,700 species of plants, 114 species of birds and 71 species of reptiles, which makes the country a major global priority for biodiversity conservation.
	Peru: Madre de Dios – Vilcabamba-Amboró Conservation Corridor CI-Peru and partner organizations are committed to strengthening conservation of vital ecosystem services and mitigating the negative environmental and social impacts that arise from infrastructure development for the benefit of biodiversity and people in the Vilcabamba-Amboró Conservation Corridor.
	South Africa: Namaqualand Situated in the Northern cape province of South Africa, Namaqualand is known for its open spaces and incredible array of endemic flora.
	Southern Africa: Securing water and food in Miombo-Mopane Woodland CI's work in Southern Africa is demonstrating that successful models can be developed to secure long-term livelihoods while conserving nature. This is a win-win for both biodiversity and people.
	Sulu-Sulawesi Climate change is also a reality felt in Sulu-Sulawesi. Rising sea levels, increased ocean temperature, ocean acidification and coral bleaching attributed to climate change are affecting not only the region’s fragile ecosystems and species, but also the communities that rely on fishing and tourism for their livelihoods.