Mission

The Socotra Conservation Fund seeks to conserve the globally significant and endemic biodiversity of the Socotra Archipelago (Republic of Yemen) by supporting the proposal and funding of projects that promote environmental education and awareness, protected areas management, sustainable use of resources, ecotourism, as well as scientific research and capacity building.

Objectives

There are two levels of objectives, cross-cutting and specific, that guide the activities of the Socotra Conservation Fund:

Cross-Cutting Objectives

• Improve the capacity of the people of Socotra to design and implement conservation projects
• Support conservation and sustainable development in the Socotra Archipelago
• Foster communications and cooperation between Yemeni, and International entities involved in the conservation and sustainable development of the Socotra Archipelago
• Improve community ownership and control of resources in the Socotra Archipelago
• Support environmental education and awareness in the Socotra Archipelago
• Foster scientific research and technological improvements supporting conservation and sustainable development in the Socotra Archipelago
• Link biodiversity conservation with sustainable development in the Socotra Archipelago

Specific Objectives

• Identify and preserve endangered and endemic species, as well as their habitat
• Support existing local conservation and sustainable development efforts
• Support the implementation of the Conservation Zoning Plan for Socotra Archipelago (Presidential decree no. 275, 2000 of the Republic of Yemen)
• Improve sustainable fishing techniques and practices
• Support environmental assessment of proposed development projects
• Build eco-tourism capacity at local level
• Improve waste management
• Preserve local culture, knowledge, and traditions
• Ensure that benefits of resource development are equitably shared at local level in the Socotra Archipelago
• Raise public awareness of the conservation and cultural importance of the Socotra Archipelago in Yemen and internationally