{"id":90250,"date":"2015-08-02T15:47:00","date_gmt":"2015-08-02T14:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/project\/ecosystem-alliance\/"},"modified":"2025-03-20T10:08:26","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T09:08:26","slug":"ecosystem-alliance","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/project\/ecosystem-alliance\/","title":{"rendered":"Ecosystem Alliance"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Ecosystem Alliance was a five-year partnership between IUCN NL, Both ENDS and Wetlands International. The programme ‘Empowering People and Nature’ ran from 2011 to 2015 and was funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Header photo:<\/mark><\/em> Paraguay River upstream of Corumba, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil (Photo by Tamara Mohr)<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Goal of the Ecosystem Alliance<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The three alliance partners were committed to the sustainable use, conservation and restoration of ecosystems on which people depend for their livelihoods in countries in Africa, Asia and South America.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The goal of this programme was to work with nature to improve the livelihoods of people living in poverty and to build an inclusive economy create an inclusive economy through participatory and responsible management of ecosystems. We did this by facilitating and strengthening national and international civil society organisation networks. This enabled communities to better participate in and influence the sustainable management of ecosystems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Moreover, improving women’s rights and strengthening their voice in decision-making was an important part of the programme.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Approach of the Ecosystem Alliance<\/h2><\/div>\n

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The programme worked on three general themes:<\/p>\n

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  1. Ecosystems and livelihoods;<\/li>\n
  2. Greening the economy;<\/li>\n
  3. Ecosystems, people and climate change.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    With this approach, we focused on strengthening the knowledge and capacities of civil society organisations to lobby governments and other players within value chains such as soy, palm oil, biomass and mining commodities. More ambitious and greener policies were adopted and more sustainable business models were developed.<\/p>\n

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    Impact of the Ecosystem Alliance<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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    1. Ecosystems and livelihoods<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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    In collaboration with local and national civil society organisations, we encouraged local communities to use their land sustainably.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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    Together with these organisations, we increased knowledge among communities, local governments and private landowners about the link between ecosystem services and local livelihoods, resulting in greater engagement among these groups.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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    Influencing local, national and international policies has led to 77 changes in policy and legislation on ecosystems and livelihoods. The work of the Ecosystem Alliance partner organisations also influenced 33 global and regional agreements.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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    2. Greening the economy<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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    The programme focused on various value chains such as soy, palm oil, biomass and mining commodities. The programme mainly focused on Dutch and European companies with a large ecological footprint.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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    The work of the programme resulted in thirteen agreements with companies, industry associations, NGOs and governments on sustainable trade and practices.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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    3. Ecosystems, people and climate change<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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    By protecting and enhancing existing ecosystems, including in the coastal areas of Benin and the Great Lakes in Uganda, we secured livelihoods and combated the effects of climate change. 23 of the programme’s projects were used to develop climate policies and 13 of our recommendations were incorporated into global climate policies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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    In addition, we have increased the capacity of our partners to mitigate the negative effects of climate change through ecosystem-based adaptation in several countries, and applied this knowledge at the landscape level in, for example, the Philippines and Bolivia.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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    Positive effects clearly visible<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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    The livelihoods of 120,000 households in 570 communities have improved and 1.5 million hectares of land are now under better management. In addition, the capacity of 340 NGOs was strengthened and 38 companies took sustainability measures. Some examples of positive impacts and results achieved by the Ecosystem Alliance:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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