vENEZUELA LAGo vITAL This education program generates social awareness about the preservation of Lake Maracaibo, a major Venezuelan watershed <strong>and</strong> the largest South American lake. The project encourages entrepreneurial approaches to improving quality of life for <strong>com</strong>munities living on the lake’s shores, <strong>and</strong> transfers knowledge <strong>and</strong> technology to residents creating micro-<strong>com</strong>panies that work at international environmental st<strong>and</strong>ards. The project also hosted a multidisciplinary exhibition featuring history, art, cosmogony, biodiversity, <strong>and</strong> a children’s poster contest, <strong>and</strong> is continuously engaged in entrepreneurial education. Project Type: Education <strong>and</strong> Awareness External Partners: Local NGOs vIETNAm BUILdING LoCALLy RELEvANT CLImATE AdAPTIvE STRATEGIES Working with local <strong>com</strong>munities, authorities <strong>and</strong> other stakeholders, this project aims to design <strong>and</strong> implement locally relevant climate change adaptive strategies that will conserve the region’s wildlife <strong>and</strong> maintain ecosystem services for local <strong>com</strong>munities. The project is gathering information at lab sites in representative ecosystems <strong>and</strong> biomes across the Mekong River basin, particularly the high-altitude wetl<strong>and</strong>s, the Mekong main stem <strong>and</strong> riparian habitats, coastal forests, <strong>and</strong> river deltas. The information gathered is informing test approaches to adaptation with a specific focus on methods based on local context, ecological specifics, <strong>and</strong> socioeconomic conditions. This work is part of the WWF/Coca-Cola global partnership focused on freshwater conservation. In this region, we are working together to conserve the Mekong River basin. Project Type: <strong>Water</strong>shed Protection, Education <strong>and</strong> Awareness External Partner: WWF PLAIN of REEdS WETLANd RESToRATIoN PRojECT Many <strong>com</strong>munity livelihoods depend on the Plain of Reeds floodplain of the Mekong River delta, where governance <strong>and</strong> management of the wetl<strong>and</strong>s require new approaches to support floodplain productivity. This project, which seeks to demonstrate an integrated approach to wetl<strong>and</strong> © Katherine Neebe / WWF-US conservation in Vietnam, has led to new policies that support an ecosystem approach to wetl<strong>and</strong> management <strong>and</strong> provide surrounding <strong>com</strong>munities with legal access to wetl<strong>and</strong> resources—a first in Vietnam. The new natural resource management model, which instituted sustainable harvesting of forest <strong>and</strong> wetl<strong>and</strong>s resources in Tram Chim National Park, has improved local livelihoods <strong>and</strong> reduced conflict between park rangers <strong>and</strong> local populations. The project has also restored the natural flow of water within the park by removing internal dikes <strong>and</strong> adjusting water levels to mimic the natural flood pulse of the river. Improvements to park water flows have yielded tremendous benefits for biodiversity <strong>and</strong> people. Grassl<strong>and</strong>s within the park have tripled in area, waterfowl has quintupled since 2001, <strong>and</strong> the project will improve the livelihoods of the approximately 40,000 fishers <strong>and</strong> farmers in surrounding areas. This work is part of the WWF/Coca-Cola global partnership on freshwater conservation. Project Type: <strong>Water</strong>shed Protection, Education <strong>and</strong> Awareness External Partners: WWF, Provincial government
Work along the Etowah River includes stormwater infiltration systems to promote sustainable development, reduce sediment erosion, <strong>and</strong> increase infiltration to groundwater. Photo Credit: The Nature Conservancy < A 22 A 23 >
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