What?
TNRP is an innovative model for conservation and protected area management based on voluntary biodiversity compensation. The model was developed prior to the introduction of the concept of ‘biodiversity offsets’. An independent review of the model, commissioned by WCS, has come up with a number of lessons learned to ensure that similar conservation projects are designed to have the desired impact.
In 2017 WCS facilitated the development of a new management plan for phase four of the project. This plan brought together the Karen National Union (KNU) and government Forest Department – a major breakthrough for the peace-building process. The management plan incorporates TNRP becoming a model site for other protected areas to learn from, including how public-private partnerships can function for conservation.
As a result WCS is developing a new partnership linked to the gas pipeline, where it leaves TNRP and goes into the sea. As a first step, WCS is collecting fisheries data near the gas exploration site of Australian oil and gas company, Woodside Energy. This has the potential to develop into further work looking at the impact of offshore infrastructure on marine biodiversity conservation.
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