This grant mechanism was specifically created to address the pressing challenges that arose during the pandemic.
The pandemic’s wide-reaching effects hit these areas particularly hard, causing a sig- nificant decline in tourism, which is a ma- jor source of income for both protected are- as and surrounding communities. The sudden border closures, travel restrictions, and lock- downs caused an immediate halt to tourism, leading to the collapse of local economies that were heavily dependent on international visi- tors. The impact was not only economic but also environmental. The reduction in rang- er patrols and operational funding led to an increase in illegal activities such as poaching and the harvesting of natural resources, fur- ther endangering biodiversity in these areas.