September ends this year seeing off the world’s largest conservation summit since Covid-19, an event that brought 4,000 people to Marseille between 3-11 to showcase and discuss biodiversity and climate issues, as well as their solutions.

The use of “local action as a powerful tool for change” appears as one of the commitments of the Marseille Manifesto, whereby the Congress commits to “fostering a new approach with a meaningful role for all, from grassroots organisations to governments and communities to corporations”.

The support to the local action is indeed the backbone of BEST, a programme that pursues to enable, empower and strengthen local authorities and civil society organisations in their commitment to their local development and the use of their local ecosystem services.

An example of the work performed by local stakeholders is that of SAERI, a Research Institute conducting scientific and academic research in the South Atlantic, who acts as a local partner for BEST in that region.

From sei whales to plant nurseries, and from forests and biosecurity to seamount and gumwoods. If you want to get some flavour of the details and extraordinary stories of BEST-funded projects in the South Atlantic islands, check out the presentation that Tara Pelembe, Deputy Director Innovation at SAERI, made for the BEST and Beyond Pavilion at the IUCN World Conservation Congress.

Enjoy the video!