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The Breede Water Stewardship Programme, implemented by WWF-SA in partnership with retailers and agencies, focused on transitioning from on-farm actions to collective catchment-scale stewardship. Key initiatives included the formation of the 'Witzenberg Water Savers' to address urban water pollution in Prince Alfred Hamlet and Nduli, and a collective invasive alien plant clearing project near Wolseley funded by Woolworths. The project also tested the AWS Standard with volunteer farmers, finding that while the 2015–2016 drought drove significant improvements in water-use efficiency, farmers struggled with catchment-scale data and information disclosure. The report advocates for a collaborative extension model and the harmonisation of the AWS Standard with existing agricultural certifications to scale water stewardship across South Africa.

The document examines Botswana's CBNRM policy, which aims to reduce poverty and promote biodiversity by involving local communities in wildlife management. It highlights the tension between centralised state control and local devolution, the financial impact of the 2014 hunting moratorium, and the role of joint venture partnerships with private operators. Through case studies of the Chobe Enclave Conservation Trust (CECT) and the Okavango Community Trust (OCT), the paper identifies issues with revenue transparency, human-wildlife conflict, and limited local capacity, ultimately recommending improved governance, diversified economic activities, and stronger legislative support.

The program aims to reverse the degradation of Madagascar's marine resources by integrating biodiversity conservation and fisheries management within a multi-sectoral marine spatial planning framework. It consists of two primary child projects: one led by the Ministry of Environment, Ecology, Oceans and Forests (MEEMF) to expand the MPA network, and another led by the Ministry of Marine Resources and Fisheries (MRHP) to improve small-scale fisheries governance (SWIOFish2). The program targets tripling MPA coverage to at least 2.5 million hectares by 2020 to meet Aichi Target 11. Key strategies include the establishment of Community-Managed MPAs (CMMPAs), strengthening legal and policy frameworks, and increasing economic benefits for coastal communities through sustainable value chains and ecotourism. The total program cost is estimated at $52,668,672, with $12,706,422 in GEF Trust Fund financing and $39,962,250 in co-financing from the World Bank, government agencies, and NGOs.

The WWF–Woolworths Partnership Review documents the outcomes of a three-year collaboration (2012–2015) focused on reducing the environmental footprint of Woolworths' supply chain. Key achievements include the implementation of Life Cycle Analyses (LCA) for dairy, beef, and textiles to identify environmental hotspots, and the adoption of water stewardship and 'Water Balance' programs to replenish freshwater ecosystems. The partnership also advanced sustainable seafood procurement through WWF-SASSI and initiated research into food waste and greenhouse gas emissions. The report emphasizes the value of NGO-corporate collaboration in driving systemic change and sets the stage for a second phase expanding into other African countries and Australia.

The document examines how migration into the Misotshi-Kabogo ecosystem in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is driving land conversion and the overexploitation of natural resources, threatening local species and traditional livelihoods.

The National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Report 2015/16 details the activities of South Africa's Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI). It records a total of 2,647 EMIs, with a significant increase in proactive inspections and a rise in administrative notices. The report highlights enforcement trends in 'brown' (pollution/waste), 'green' (biodiversity), and 'blue' (marine/freshwater) sectors, noting a stabilization in rhino poaching numbers. It also documents specific legal cases, legislative updates, and capacity-building efforts for inspectors and prosecutors.

The CRiSTAL Parks User's Manual describes a desktop application that enables conservation managers to identify and prioritize climate risks to Protected Areas (PAs) and the communities that depend on them. The tool uses a three-module framework to understand the conservation and climate context, evaluate implications for management plans, and support monitoring and evaluation. It emphasizes a participatory approach, combining desk-based research with stakeholder workshops to identify 'conservation objects' and the ecosystem services they provide to local livelihoods. By screening existing activities and designing new adaptation measures, the tool aims to increase the resilience of both ecosystems and human communities to climate variability and change.

The manual describes the CRiSTAL Parques tool, which focuses on the links between human communities and protected areas to identify climate risks and design adaptation activities. It outlines a three-module process: understanding the conservation and climate context, evaluating implications for management plans, and supporting monitoring and evaluation. The tool emphasizes participatory methods, such as stakeholder workshops, to identify 'conservation objects' and the ecosystem services they provide to local livelihoods.

WWF advocates for science-based decision-making at CITES CoP17, emphasizing the need for increased resources for the Secretariat and a primary focus on National Ivory Action Plans to combat illegal trade. The organization supports Appendix I listings for all pangolin species and various Appendix II listings for sharks, rays, and rosewoods, while opposing proposals to allow legal trade in rhino horn or ivory. WWF also supports measures to combat wildlife cybercrime, corruption, and the laundering of captive-bred specimens.

The document explains the mechanisms of Brazil's 2012 Forest Code, specifically the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) and the Environmental Compliance Program (PRA). It argues that while the law provides tools for monitoring and restoration, effective implementation requires the active engagement of the private sector, financial institutions, and government agencies to move beyond mere legality toward zero net deforestation and degradation.

The Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP) conducted a two-part workshop in Kathmandu from 20-27 April 2016. The first part focused on 'climate-smart' landscape management planning using the 'Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation' framework, integrating climate scenarios to identify threats and prioritize strategies. The second part focused on coordinating geospatial mapping across the snow leopard range, establishing standardized definitions for habitat and climate refugia, and developing data-sharing protocols. Participants from nine range countries worked on templates and GIS shapefiles to support the GSLEP goal of securing 20 landscapes by 2020.

The Amazon Sustainable Landscapes Program is a multi-country initiative involving Brazil, Colombia, and Peru to combat deforestation and biodiversity loss. With a total program cost of $796,664,455 (including $113,684,455 from the GEF Trust Fund and $682,980,000 in co-financing), the program focuses on four components: expanding and managing protected areas, implementing integrated landscape management, aligning sectoral policies to reduce deforestation, and fostering regional cooperation. The program targets the mitigation of 300 million metric tons of CO2e and the improved management of 73,117,000 hectares of landscapes.

The Great Barrier Reef has lost more than half of its coral cover over the last 40 years, driven largely by climate change. The author asserts that Australia's commitment to increase coal production, specifically through new mega-mines in the Galilee Basin, exacerbates this threat by contributing to global carbon emissions and requiring harmful dredging and increased shipping in the World Heritage Area. Earthjustice and Environmental Justice Australia claim the reef meets up to six of the eight World Heritage Convention criteria for being 'in danger,' urging the World Heritage Committee to reverse its draft decision and list the site to enhance its protection.

The document examines the conflict between mining, oil, and gas extraction and the conservation of protected areas (PAs) and World Heritage (WH) sites in Africa. It highlights that 32% of African natural WH sites are 'in danger' and argues that extractive activities are incompatible with WH status. The author calls for the implementation of 'no-go zones' in WH sites and the adoption of strict operational guidelines and biodiversity offsets where mining in other PAs is unavoidable. It emphasizes the role of the private sector as a custodian of the environment, noting that financial institutions and international standards (such as the Equator Principles) are increasingly driving corporate compliance to avoid investor stigma and protect shareholder value.

The report argues that expanding global networks of no-take marine protected areas (MPAs) is economically advisable, with benefits significantly outweighing costs across all analyzed scenarios. Using a cost-benefit analysis for the period 2015-2050, the study finds that expanding coverage to 30% can generate net benefits between US$490 billion and US$920 billion. The highest returns are associated with 'Protect to Preserve' scenarios that target high-biodiversity areas with low human impact. While MPAs enhance biodiversity, fisheries productivity through spillover, and carbon sequestration in mangroves, the report notes significant data gaps regarding the quantification of various ecosystem services and the specific impacts on high-seas and polar regions.

The program targets the global supply chains of palm oil, soy, and beef, which are identified as primary drivers of approximately 80% of worldwide deforestation. It employs a 'whole of supply chain' theory of change, arguing that deforestation can be eliminated if production is localized in the right areas (avoiding natural forests) and follows sustainable practices. The program is structured into four child projects: Support to Production, Generating Responsible Demand, Enable Transactions, and Adaptive Management and Learning. Key geographic focuses include the Amazon and Cerrado in Brazil, the Chaco in Paraguay, and palm oil production in Indonesia and Liberia. The program seeks to leverage a total cost of $443.2 million, including $40.3 million from the GEF Trust Fund, to shift the market from voluntary niche sustainability to a mainstream norm.

The report argues that the Mabola Protected Environment (MPE) was correctly proclaimed due to its high biodiversity and hydrological importance. It concludes that de-proclaiming the MPE to allow the Yzermyn coal mine would set a dangerous precedent, risk irreplaceable ecosystems, and contradict South Africa's climate change goals. While the mine's current underground plan has moderate short-term impacts, the report warns of long-term risks including acid mine decant and permanent loss of critical water-producing wetlands.

The document explains that green bonds are fixed-income instruments where proceeds are earmarked for projects with environmental benefits, such as renewable energy and energy efficiency. It details four main types of green bonds—'use of proceeds' bonds, revenue bonds, project bonds, and securitized bonds—and notes that the majority are 'use of proceeds' bonds backed by the issuer's entire balance sheet. The market grew significantly from $11bn in 2013 to $36.6bn by the end of 2014, with major issuers including the European Investment Bank and the World Bank. While the 'Green Bond Principles' provide best practice guidelines, the document highlights a lack of universal definitions for 'green' projects, a gap the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) is addressing with sector-specific standards. For investors, green bonds offer a way to meet ESG objectives without necessarily taking on additional project-specific risk, though the secondary market remains thin due to a 'buy-and-hold' investor base.

The assessment finds that while Madagascar has a strong legal foundation and transparent permitting processes, its overall readiness to implement the IGF framework is low to medium. Key strengths include accessible geological data and a commitment to biodiversity net gain for large mines. However, significant weaknesses persist, including a freeze on mining permits since 2009, severe shortages of government human and financial resources for monitoring, and a largely informal artisanal mining sector. The report recommends developing an integrated national policy for socio-economic benefits, enforcing financial guarantees for mine closure, and improving the formalization of artisanal mining.

The assessment finds that while Uganda has established a comprehensive legal and policy framework for mining, its actual implementation readiness is medium to low due to severe capacity constraints in monitoring, inspection, and enforcement. Strengths include the public availability of geological data and a progressive variable tax rate for mining companies. However, critical gaps exist in mine closure planning, financial assurance for restoration, and the formalization of the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector, which accounts for 90% of national production but remains overwhelmingly informal. The report recommends prioritizing socioeconomic benefit optimization, improving post-mining transition frameworks, and increasing transparency in the distribution of mining revenues.