Monitoreo y seguimiento.

El monitoreo y seguimiento del proyecto de enriquecimiento del bosque secundario es fundamental para el éxito de este, ya que la vegetación circundante a los árboles plantados podría afectar el crecimiento de los mismos y la vegetación del sotobosque de tipo enredadera podría dañar físicamente los árboles hasta afectarlos severamente.

Las actividades de mantenimiento consisten en eliminación de malezas circundantes a los árboles establecidos y verificar un buen acceso a iluminación natural para acelerar el crecimiento de estos. La limpieza de las franjas establecidas para los árboles plantados se realizará de forma manual a un ancho de uno o dos metros por toda la longitud de cada franja. Esta actividad se realizará cada dos meses en los 18 primeros meses.

En este proyecto se realizaron dos días de campo con los propietarios de las áreas de bosque, colegas ingenieros forestales, autoridades gubernamentales y académicas para presentar los resultados de la evaluación de los bosques secundarios, los resultados obtenidos y conocer la opinión de los propietarios de los bosques secundarios sobre la intensión mantener estas áreas bajo la cobertura actual y los beneficios de no realizar cambio de uso del suelo.

- Se asegura el éxito de las actividades ejecutadas.

- La iluminación a los árboles plantados es vital.

- Es importante divulgar las buenas experiencias para que sean replicadas.

- Es muy importante involucrar al propietario de la finca en las actividades porque él es quien va a continuar con el seguimiento del trabajo.

- La restauración es un proceso lento y de paciencia.

Desarrollo de capacidades en la comunidad local

Es importante que las personas involucradas entiendan los principios de la polinización; ¿qué es la polinización gestionada?, ¿qué implica?, ¿cuáles son los posibles riesgos y los resultados esperados? Para esto se realizaron una serie de capacitaciones.

El nivel de apropiación e interés en el proyecto es un factor determinante para su desarrollo y continuidad. Toda la información es valiosa y las partes involucradas deberían tener claridad desde lo que es un calendario floral y las características de floración del cultivo, hasta la estructura y funcionalidad de la abeja. Asumir que las personas ya cuentan con cierto conocimiento puede generar accidentes o resultados poco satisfactorios en la polinización gestionada.

Se requiere la disposición de la comunidad local a aprender y participar. También una persona o grupo de personas expertas no solo en apicultura y polinización sino también con la destreza de enseñar y llegar a múltiples públicos. El espacio en que se realizan las capacitaciones debe tener buena acústica, sombra y ventilación.

Es bueno concertar los días y horarios de las sesiones de capacitación con la comunidad para que no interfieran con sus labores diarias. El material audiovisual debe ser muy claro y concreto con alto uso de ilustraciones. La mejor forma de aprender es haciendo, por eso sesiones prácticas en campo y laboratorio son las que la comunidad más aprovecha y recuerda.

Holding activities to build capability and improve awareness

The ABS project has been widely promoted throughout Guangxi, with about 50 promotional activities, 20 training sessions and related meetings, and more than 10,000 participants online and offline, to help with Guangxi ABS legislation and benefit-sharing.

These activities not only enhance the capacity building of relevant personnel, but also raise public awareness of biodiversity conservation and benefit-sharing.

Public awareness of - and public support for - program activities ensures success.

Improve the construction of the access and benefit-sharing system for biogenetic resources

Guangxi establishes a cross-sectoral coordination and cooperation mechanism and a stakeholder coordination mechanism.  A management mechanism for access and benefit sharing of biogenetic resources is established under the comprehensive governance of the department in charge of ecology and environment and the supervision of the departments related to development and reform, agriculture and rural areas, forestry, etc. The project management is carried out at the provincial, municipal, and county levels so joint efforts can be made in ensuring the access and benefit-sharing of biological heritage resources.

Experts from 31 universities, research institutes, and other relevant units, such as Minzu University of China, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Guangxi University, were hired to form a provincial technical expert team to provide consultation and technical support for the access and benefit-sharing of biogenetic resources in Guangxi.

It is necessary to improve the construction of the access and benefit-sharing system for biogenetic resources.

Signing of transitional agreements for Participatory Ecological Restoration (REP)

The agreements are made in order to preserve the integrity of AFIW National Park through the liberation of transformed areas through restoration, rehabilitation, recovery, sustainable use and conservation processes.

The following methodological route was developed for this process:

  • Socialization of the strategy and the Local Sustainable Development program of the European Union.
  • Work plan agreement.
  • Field day and survey of property information.
  • Socialization of the results and selection of beneficiaries.
  • Workshops on the content and scope of the agreement and construction of the portfolio of alternatives.
  • Signing of the REP agreements was framed within the procedures established by the National Natural Parks within the guidelines of Participatory Ecological Restoration and the strategy of Use, Occupation and Tenure.
  • Process of acquisition and delivery of inputs and materials for good living.
  • Follow-up and monitoring of REP agreements.
  • Available funding sources such as budgetary support from the European Union.
  • Willingness of key stakeholders to sign transitional agreements for Participatory Ecological Restoration.

As a contribution to land use planning and conservation objectives of the protected area, workshops were held to socialize and agree with the prioritized families on a land planning proposal that would contribute to improving their living conditions without altering the natural dynamics of the ecosystems. These workshops considered information corresponding to the PA zoning and its permitted activities, taking into account that the zoning process is proposed by the PA as a proposal presented to them. Based on the above, PA management was identified as a process that should be carried out jointly with the stakeholders involved in the search for sustainable improvement of their production systems.

Operating scheme for ecotourism services

The ecotourism services concession program in Colombia's National Natural Parks (PNNC) began to be implemented in 2005, with the objective of providing better attention to visitors and allowing the park to focus its efforts on conservation activities. The concessionaire's operations are based solely on the provision of ecotourism services, maintenance and improvement of infrastructure, provision of assets, and environmental sanitation, all under legal regulations and with monitoring by PNNC. In addition, the ecotourism offer is based on the natural, historical, and cultural attractions that make Gorgona NP an interesting destination.

  • Creation of a regulatory framework for private participation in ecotourism services in Colombia's National Natural Parks" in 2005.
  • Existence of a general infrastructure for lodging, cleaning, waste management, food services, and nature tourism.
  • A business model that recognizes the volume of visitors as an element that can favor conservation.
  • Need to generate connectivity in the region and reasonable access to the Sanguianga-Gorgona region.
  • It is important to advance in the more effective incorporation of the community, which can produce more benefits to the parties, with a less hotel-like vision, establishing a well differentiated management for operators and seasons, with the purpose of balancing costs for all parties.
Design of experiences based on natural, historical and cultural attractions.

The design of experiences based on natural, historical, and cultural attractions is intended to promote environmental awareness and convey the importance of conservation of the marine protected area. The process for designing these experiences is based on national guidelines and advances in the knowledge of Gorgona NP, including continuous dialogue with visitors and stakeholders in the territory. Subsequently, the information is analyzed in an integrated manner, and interpretation scripts are developed for terrestrial and marine environments that are made viable through operational and logistical support according to the capacities of Gorgona NP. Some experiences that have been identified are: Enchantments of the Deep and Cultural Heritages and the Enchanting Island. Finally, the positive and negative impacts of ecotourism activities are monitored and satisfaction surveys are conducted.

  • Resolution 1531-1995 regulates activities in the PNNG, for the entry, stay, and permitted and disallowed activities of visitors.
  • Definition of tourist carrying capacity for the three main beaches of the PNNG, with total average estimates between 80 and 120 people, and restrictions for specific trails. For the 9 main dive sites, total averages are between 27 and 60 divers per day, depending on weather conditions and operational capacity.
  • Need for updated information on natural attractions based on traditional knowledge, monitoring and research.
  • Implementation of global, national, regional and local ecotourism priorities, according to the dynamics of the territory.
  • PNN officials' knowledge of the territory for the educational processes of trail interpretation.
  • Among the aspects to improve, it is important to provide continuity to the administrative, technical, and operational processes, which should be balanced between the needs and expectations of the communities and the development of the nature tourism sector.
Art Photography

We document and promote our work through art photography. Pictures are powerful, as they are visual materials that people can see. They make messages around conservation more impactful among the community members we work with.

We engage professional photographs to join and document expeditions. So far, we have a portfolio of more than 17,342 pictures.

  • Keen to involve artists in supporting conservation work.
  • Revisiting our local traditional conservation methods involved working with artists and cultural practitioners.
  • Art and culture is a tool Africans have always used and continue to use to educate wider communities to love their nature.
  •  Visual art is the best tool to send a message faster and more powerful to communities, especially young people.
  • Art and culture reconnect personally to his/her roots.
Strong Partnership

We established strong partnerships with the Nature Reserves government authorities (Tanzania Forest Service Agency (TFS), as well as with the Department of Natural Resources and Tourism and Youth Development. They provide continuous support, whether it is the use of a vehicle, the delivery of permits, recommendation letters, or waive camping fees to our team and skills.

We also maintain good partnerships with local communities, who propose new activities, and new camping sites to extend the eco-tourism offer and support in installations of sign boards. EAMCEF provided funding $10,000 to support ecological and cultural tourism by empowering the Choma community found adjacent to the Uluguru mountains. Nafasi Art Space provided training in developing art program and fund $1000.

Report and continuous activities updates sharing with stakeholders.

 

Updating about and involving others in our work and cooperating with our partners have improved and shaped positive impact to our communities. For example they have formed an ecotourism group called Choma ecotourism group to manage ecological and cultural tourism development.

Team determination

Our work involves self-motivation and self-financing. TEG team determination to support the conservation of biodiversity and empowerment of youth living adjacent to nature reserves includes organizing online exhibitions and online behaviour change campaigns. With or without external support, TEG staff have volunteerly engaged with donors, government officials, and communities in designing the program, fundraising, and implementing it.

TEG founders and Alumni internal support in skills development trainings, in conducting baseline surveys and reflections on issues relating to conservation, in connecting with stakeholders, and financing of some of the activities.  

As a youth organization we have been growing by first willing to invest in ourselves, in our credibility and capability before attaching donors and partners. TEG Team and TEG alumni’s determination was our only asset to do that.