TERRE Policy Centre is invited by UNDP/IUCN in World Heritage Convention forum Phnom Penh, Cambodia to present a small but inspiring progress made by the local community around Kaas Palateau, in Norther Western Ghat of India. The progress in less that one year since its inscription by UNESCO as World Natural Heritage demonstrates that charting of the road map towards sustainable development of the local community and conservation of the heritage can go hand in hand. See the event announcement.

1. INVITATION TO BOOK LAUNCH
37th
Session of the World Heritage Committee, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Room 1 & 2, 7.15pm, Sunday 23 June 2013
(refreshments will be provided)
COMPACT: Engaging Local Communities in
Stewardship of World Heritage
Opening remarks, Kishore Rao (Director UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
Overview Terence Hay-Edie (UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme)
WH Committee Government representatives: Mexico and/or Senegal
members (invited)
Partner remarks Rajendra Shende, Chairman TERRE Policy Centre
IUCN Advisory Body Tim Badman (Director, IUCN World Heritage Programme)
Comments

2. COMPACT: Engaging Local Communities in Stewardship of World Heritage
Since the year 2000, the Community Management of Protected Areas Conservation (COMPACT)
programme has been testing an innovative model for engaging communities in conservation. An
initiative of the UNDP-implemented GEF Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) and the United Nations
Foundation (UNF), the programme has been working with communities near eight
current/proposed UNESCO World Heritage sites in Africa, Asia, Meso-America and the Caribbean.
Through extensive on-the-ground experience, and a participatory methodology that integrates a
scientific and cultural approach, COMPACT has been demonstrating that community-based
initiatives can significantly increase the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation in globally
significant protected areas.
The publication introduces the COMPACT model and reviews its 12 years of experience. Chapters
from each target country illustrate how COMPACT is working in diverse settings, highlighting the
underlying principles behind its community-driven approach and its key planning frameworks. It
explores lessons learned from COMPACT regarding effective co-management and governance of
protected areas, techniques of community engagement, linking conservation to local livelihoods,
trans-boundary cooperation, as well as other issues key to sustaining the landscapes/seascapes
recognized under the World Heritage Convention and protected areas generally.
“As
a
flagship
programme
of
the
GEF,
the
SGP
has
been
pioneering
new
and
innovative
approaches
for
transformational
change
in
the
governance
of
the
world’s
protected
areas.
The
review
of
the
COMPACT
programme
highlights
a
tremendous
opportunity
to
scale
up
this
approach
for
the
protection
of
the
global
network
of
World
Heritage
sites,
Biosphere
Reserves,
and
other
globally
significant
Satoyama
landscapes
and
seascapes
in
the
struggle
to
safeguard
the
global
commons.”
—
Naoko
Ishii
CEO, Global Environment Facility
To download a copy of the publication please visit: www.sgp.undp.org
THE GEF SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMME
Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) as a flagship programme, the GEF Small Grants
Programme (SGP) is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on
behalf of the GEF, and is executed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
Launched in 1992, the SGP supports activities of non-governmental and community-based
organizations in developing countries towards biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation
and adaptation, protection of international waters, reduction of the impact of chemicals and
prevention of land degradation, while generating sustainable livelihoods.
220 E 42nd Street
New York, NY 10017, USA
Email: sgp.info@undp.org
Website: www.sgp.undp.org