Since 2000, the COMPACT programme has been working with communities living in the vicinity of eight World Heritage Sites in Africa, Asia, Meso-America and the Caribbean. Through extensive on-the-ground experience and a participatory methodology that integrates an evidence-based approach, COMPACT has rigorously tested the claim that communitybased initiatives can signifi cantly increase the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation in globally signifi cant protected areas while alsoimproving local livelihoods.

The toolkit includes a range of case studies to highlight the diversity of approaches that communities already use to manage their own areas, and to show how these lessons can be applied to form a “global learning network” of ICCAs.