Conserving Biodiversity and Restoring Ecosystem Functions in and around the Day Forest National Protected Area To protect and restore biodiversity, forests and ecosystem functions and enhance the livelihoods of vulnerable communities in the degraded mountain landscapes in Djibouti. Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency. The project as written is designed to deliver substantial socioeconomic benefits to the people of the Day protected area, as well as many other national stakeholders, including the government ministries and their staff working with the project, private sector suppliers and retailers, local experts and academics, and the country as a whole through a presumed increase in GDP due to improved environmental tourism.    It will do this through several routes. First, the project is creating jobs through land rehabilitation work in both forests and rangelands. It is also creating jobs through tourist infrastructure rehabilitation work, the PA itself (maintenance, entrance gate and guarding) and the operation of a feed mill. Finally, it is aimed to improve and expand incomes from existing livelihoods, namely those involving weaving, producing dairy products, and honey and jams. It is also increasing revenue for the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD) by introducing a Day PA entrance fee system, which will not only create jobs through financing ecoguards and park managers, but ideally will also be successful enough to support continued protected area expansion and rehabilitation work.    The project was framed around ecotourism and voluntourism for the specific reason of sustainability. All of the activities proposed in the project aim to directly improve the environment in and around the Day PA and the livelihoods associated with it. But, by improving the park ecosystem, improving tourist infrastructure and marketing, and improving the products produced by locals, it is expected that significantly more tourists will visit the PA, pay the entrance fee, pay camping fees, buy more products from locals, and therefore generate both local and national revenue. If this is successful as planned, these tourist revenues will continue far beyond the end of the project. If the revenues are properly reinvested into Day PA or other PAs, these revenues can support national socioeconomic development goals, increased GDP and make Djibouti the tourist destination it should be.    Global environmental and adaptation benefits are achieved primarily through the first two components, and partially through the third component. In the first component, the project aims to improve PA governance, specifically in the Day PA, but the lessons learned can be applied to other PAs in country. Governance will include better management planning, official PA gazettement, and better on-the-ground practices, including demarcation of the PA, hiring ecoguards to patrol and manage it. These activities are designed to actually protect the PA (as of now it is designated as a PA, but nothing is enforced) and allow it to undergo some natural regeneration.     The second component achieves adaptation and environmental benefits by using permaculture and nature-based solutions to transform the land to reduce erosion, improve water retention in the soil and allow plants to grow again. This component works directly to reforest the land, which should play a role in moderating the micro-climate, and it works directly to rehabilitate rangelands with drought-resistant and locally appropriate plants. This brings adaptation benefits by helping the people of Day PA feed themselves and their animals despite the expected changes in climate. Finally this component is using water catchment structures (fogharvesters and rooftop rainwater systems); this is also a major adaptation activity given that the biggest challenge faced by the people of Day PA is a lack of water for both personal needs and agricultural purposes. Given the climate predictions for the area, it is extremely important to capture water for drinking use, and ensure the land is able to absorb and channel rains when they come.    While the final component is largely focused on the socioeconomic benefits described above, it also will deliver some environmental and adaptation benefits through encouraging sustainable livelihoods that reduce pressure on the natural resources of the Day PA. Also, if successful as planned in attracting volunteer tourists, this component will be able to expand the area that is reforested and rehabilitated beyond project goals, bringing further environmental and adaptation benefits to the land and people.