Tulodo is pleased to announce our appointment by Conservation International to support their work on the effective management of protected areas in Timor-Leste. Environmental issues such as land degradation, deforestation, scarcity of water, loss of biodiversity and ecosystem destruction threaten the prosperity of Timor-Leste. However, Timor-Leste has also made progress on conservation – protecting the environment, strengthening bonds between people and the natural world – and continues to recognize that successful development will depend on the health of forests, rivers, the sea and animal life.
Timor-Leste needs protected areas to ensure its future prosperity. There are 46 protected areas in Timor-Leste, two are in marine areas and 44 are land based. To date, no national protected area in Timor-Leste has a management plan, dedicated staff or assigned budget to ensure their continued protection. Capacity and collaboration between communities, government, and other organizations needs to be strengthened to create, develop, and support the protected area system. Improving management and technical skills can ensure the success of conservation efforts in Timor-Leste’s protected areas.
CI is developing a management plan for the Lake Maurei protected area. When the management plan is in place, it will serve as a guide for other protected areas, to help stakeholders there to protect the unique natural, biological and cultural resources of Timor-Leste. Tulodo is supporting CI with communication planning and the development of communication materials to engage key stakeholders (e.g., decision makers at national and district level, communities and national and district level, and international audiences) in the process. Understanding the benefits and barriers to change for the local communities will be a critical element of the work.
About Conservation International
For more than 30 years, CI has been protecting nature for the benefit of all?. Humanity is totally dependent on nature, and by saving nature, we’re saving ourselves. To that end, CI is working to build a healthier, more prosperous and more productive planet. CI does this through science, policy and partnerships with countries, communities and companies. They employ nearly 1,000 people and work with more than 2,000 partners in 30 countries. Over the years, CI has helped support 1,200 protected areas and interventions across 77 countries, protecting more than 601 million hectares of land, marine and coastal areas. ??Nature doesn’t need people. People need nature. Our food, our water, our health, our jobs — they all rely on the health of the planet’s ecosystems.
About Tulodo
Tulodo is a consulting and project management company specializing in social and behavior change. We help clients to solve environment, health, governance, education, technology, human rights, microfinance, water, safety and many other issues. We provide services in research, strategy, design and development, management, capacity building, marketing and communications, evaluation and fundraising.
Cover photo: Lake Maurei, Timor-Leste