Conservation programs must reconcile biodiversity goals with livelihood needs of local and Indigenous communities.

The fourth annual impact report, covering October 2009 to September 2010, focused on assessing GEF contributions to biodiversity and international waters, building on earlier methodological advances and preparing inputs for the Fifth Overall Performance Study.

The evaluation combined document review, stakeholder interviews, and application of the review of outcomes to impacts (ROtI) methodology, with a detailed case study of five biodiversity projects in Peru and preparatory work for an international waters assessment in the South China Sea.

In Peru, GEF projects contributed to biodiversity conservation in and around protected areas and supported alternative livelihoods, especially among Indigenous groups, though evidence of long-term global environmental benefits remains limited. Weak baseline information and insufficient coordination across projects hindered systematic measurement of results, and conservation measures sometimes restricted local communities’ access to biological resources, creating tensions with their livelihood needs.

In international waters, the evaluation initiated a multi-country review to examine how GEF-supported activities influence policies, technologies, and management practices that address transboundary concerns.

The report recommends strengthening monitoring systems in biodiversity, addressing livelihood impacts of conservation more explicitly, and advancing the design of the international waters impact evaluation.