Improving biodiversity mainstreaming in the agro-forestry and fishery  sectors in SÃ£o TomÃ© and Principe To mainstream biodiversity conservation into agro-forestry and fishery production and management and minimize the negative impacts on biodiversity caused by the development of the agro â€“ forestry and fishery sector, while enhancing the contribution of ecosystem services to livelihoods in SÃ£o TomÃ© and PrÃ­ncipe Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency. Socio-Economic Benefits180. The project will promote socio-economic benefits through the creation of policy, institutional and fiscal frameworks that promotes the mainstreaming of biodiversity into agricultural value chains development and financing mechanisms and through the integration of biodiversity in the agro-forestry and fisheries sectors.181. The project will reinforce technical skills within the associations/ cooperatives (export crops), with a total of 5,850 beneficiaries and will also benefit 600 producers who are not members of local cooperatives. In order to increase production capacity and contribute to food and nutritional security, the project will promote activities aimed at preserving: (i) water, which is abundant during periods of heavy rainfall, but deficient during the "gravana" period (extended drier season) when it is most needed for agriculture production; and (ii) arable soils, which are rare in the country. At the same time, the project will address gaps in terms of international certification and labelling standards, observed in the cocoa, coffee, palm oil value chains and practices, as well as in the forestry sectors. By promoting certification and labelling, the project will contribute to creating and positioning STP on the national, regional and international markets for certified organic agroforestry products and will create income opportunities for local farmers. The project intervention will also increase agricultural productivity and soil fertility through crop diversification.182. The project will link the agricultural support to the sustainable forest management. The project will support the implementation of the National Forest Restoration Plan, namely the option 6: Restoration of agroforestry systems with cocoa and coffee on private lands and in agricultural lands demanding irrigation systems working closely with the agricultural cooperatives (beneficiaries of COMPRAN project). The objective of this restoration option is to restore shade forests for improved agricultural production of cocoa, coffee, pepperor vanilla. This restoration option will be implemented on the basis of a partnership agreement with the country's agro-forestry cooperatives, through support for tree-planting activities and enrichment of the producers’ plots. This will also support the reduction of CO2 emissions and their certification through Plan Vivo (1.1.3).183. In the fisheries sector, the project will develop and test the implementation of a sustainable fishing certification mechanism in the island of Príncipe (this pilot test will be used to draw lessons and produce recommendations for expansion to other areas in the country). This mechanism will target local restaurants and hotels as potential buyers of premium certified products; these clients should also act as a channel for disseminating information on local marine biodiversity and sustainable fisheries to national and international tourists. This process will also contribute to better and more stable sources of income for local fishermen. 184. The project will also contribute to reinforce capacities in the fisheries sector through a training and capacity building programme in the marine economy sector and sustainable fisheries. This will be key to finding solutions that assure the balance between the sustainability of marine resources and the sustainability of the livelihoods of coastal communities.                     185. Overall, the project will promote socioeconomic benefits for local communities, farmers, and fishers by not only ensuring that poverty reduction and development processes do no harm to biodiversity, but also recognising the potential of biodiversity for achieving desirable development outcomes. This change in mindset – only achievable through an integrated approach to mainstreaming biodiversity – will be key for creating sustainable and long-lasting behavioural change within the multiple sectors. By promoting enhanced food security and improved household incomes, local communities, farmers, and fishers will be incentivised to apply more environmental-friendly practices. Enhanced food security and improved household incomes will occur through project for support to marketing, agricultural productivity and nutrition (e.g. certification, micro-projects).