Since the year 2000, the Community Management of Protected Areas Conservation (COMPACT) initiative of the UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) and United Nations Foundation (UNF) has been working with communities near eight current/proposed 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 approach, COMPACT is demonstrating that community-based initiatives can significantly increase the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation in globally significant protected areas while helping to improve local livelihoods.