To date, SISC has worked with several communities on the Tibetan Plateau to initiate a process of community empowerment. In Bazhu, a solid foundation has been established for nature conservation through projects such as “Water School China”, “Community Integrated Nature Reserves” and in particular, the project “Education for Sustainable Development in the Tibetan Plateau” which was implemented from Feb 2008 - Dec 2011. The programme facilitated a learning process to enable local communities, while protecting the natural environment, to meet their socio-economic needs and to preserve their cultural heritage. This has included a range of training and capacity building initiatives including the development of nine Community Learning Centers (CLCs). The CLCs serve as platforms to promote community learning and action as well as collaboration between communities and other stakeholders. The action also played a role in facilitating stronger cooperation between local schools, communities, monasteries, nature reserves and local government agencies. In order to establish efficient and sustainable management of natural resources, the community wishes to make further efforts in individual and collective capacity building for lasting protection of bio-diversities for the community. To set up the Bazhu CCA or CNR is the best means to meet this purpose. Such a mechanism would support the community empowerment by exploring the ways to protect the community’s bio-diversities and local traditional culture, to help increase the villagers’ incomes and improve their livelihood, to benefit from ecological conservation and to open up the road to sustainability. The Bazhu CCA or CNR focus on public participation in conservation and functions as a platform of the community for bio-diversity protection and sustainability. On this platform, Bazhu networks with environment-friendly partners nationally and internationally, to share social learning and experiences. Fig.3 Bazhu Handicraft Making Workshop Regardless of the site be it a Bazhu village, or at any other project site, the philosophy and or the core strategy of SISC and GSR is to implement ESD practices at three levels: individual social learning and practices; collective empowerment to build a long-term mechanism in the community; broader social promotion and scaling up to a broad range of communities. A. On an Individual Level Knowledge, skills and values of the community have been enhanced through a programme of vocational and cultural training sessions. B. On an Institutional Level The community learning centre and training base in Bazhu village not only provides the CNR or CCA staff and groups such as the women’s forest patrol and agricultural co-op with opportunities to develop decision- making and leadership skills, it is also as a platform for community members to take on the role of educators of sustainable development and by hosting important stakeholders, and sharing knowledge and experiences of how to be actively involved in the management of local nature resources. Proceedings of the International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the 133 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand
Proceedings of International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the Sustainable Development Goals : Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016 at the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand
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