CEPF's investment in the former Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests Biodiversity Hotspot was guided by the below strategic directions as outlined in the ecosystem profile.
Note: In 2005’s Hotspots Revisited, the authors reconfigured the hotspots so that the Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests, formerly a hotspot, was split. The Eastern Arc Mountains became part of the Eastern Afromontane Hotspot, and the Coastal Forests became a separate hotspot, the Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa.
- Increase the ability of local populations to benefit from and contribute to biodiversity conservation, especially in and around Lower Tana River Forests, Taita Hills, East Usambaras/Tanga, Udzungwas and Jozani Forest.
- 1.1 Evaluate community-based forest management initiatives in the hotspot to determine best practices.
- 1.2 Promote nature-based, sustainable businesses that benefit local populations.
- 1.3 Explore possibilities for direct payments and easements (Conservation Concessions) for biodiversity conservation and support where appropriate.
- 1.4 Build the capacity of community-based organizations for advocacy in support of biodiversity conservation at all levels.
- 1.5 Support cultural practices that benefit biodiversity.
- 1.6 Research and promote eco-agricultural options for the local populations.
- 1.1 Evaluate community-based forest management initiatives in the hotspot to determine best practices.
- Restore and increase connectivity among fragmented forest patches in the hotspot, especially in Lower Tana River Forests Taita Hills, East Usambaras/Tanga and Udzungwas.
- 2.1 Assess potential sites in the hotspot for connectivity interventions.
- 2.2 Support initiatives that maintain or restore connectivity.
- 2.3 Monitor and evaluate initiatives that maintain or restore connectivity.
- 2.4 Support best practices for restoring connectivity in ways that also benefit people.
- 2.1 Assess potential sites in the hotspot for connectivity interventions.
- Improve biological knowledge (all eligible sites).
- 3.1 Refine and implement a standardized monitoring program across the eligible sites.
- 3.2 Support research in the less studied of the eligible sites.
- 3.3 Monitor populations of Critically Endangered and Endangered species.
- 3.4 Support research in the hotspot to facilitate Red List assessments and re-assessments for plants, reptiles, invertebrates and other taxa.
- 3.5 Compile and document indigenous knowledge on sites and species.
- 3.6 Support awareness programs that increase public knowledge of biodiversity values.
- 3.1 Refine and implement a standardized monitoring program across the eligible sites.
- Establish a small grants program (all eligible sites) that focuses on Critically Endangered species and small-scale efforts to increase connectivity of biologically important habitat patches.
- 4.1 Support targeted efforts to increase connectivity of biologically important habitat patches.
- 4.2 Support efforts to increase biological knowledge of the sites and to conserve Citically Endangered species.
- 4.1 Support targeted efforts to increase connectivity of biologically important habitat patches.
- Develop and support efforts for further fundraising for the region.
- 5.1 Establish a professional resource mobilization unit, within an appropriate local partner institution, for raising long-term funds and resources for the region.
- 5.2 Utilize high-level corporate contacts to secure funding from the private sector.
- 5.3 Train local nongovernmental organizations and community-based organizations in fundraising and proposal writing.
- 5.1 Establish a professional resource mobilization unit, within an appropriate local partner institution, for raising long-term funds and resources for the region.
Read more about CEPF's strategy in the Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests Hotspot in our ecosystem profile (PDF - 1 MB).