Overview

This case study documents a large-scale conservation initiative designed to protect and restore ecologically connected landscapes and seascapes across multiple jurisdictions. The intervention moves beyond isolated protected areas to establish a connected system of protected and conserved areas, enabling biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods at scale

Background

Prior to the intervention, conservation efforts in the region were largely fragmented and site-based, relying on individual protected areas that were often too small and isolated to sustain ecological processes. Governance responsibilities were dispersed across multiple jurisdictions, and conservation planning frequently failed to account for ecological connectivity, climate change, or the rights and roles of local and Indigenous communities.

Problem Statement

Traditional conservation approaches based on isolated protected areas proved insufficient to halt biodiversity loss or maintain ecosystem function. Ecological processes such as species migration, climate adaptation, and genetic exchange were disrupted by fragmented governance and land- and seascape management, leading to continued ecosystem degradation and increasing risks to communities reliant on natural resources.