Partnerships with local partners

Partnerships with the provincial Taskforce, which oversaw the project's activities in general, and the provincial Agriculture Extension Center and Farmers’ Union helped achieve the expected results despite travel restrictions owing to COVID-19.

 

Partnerships with these local partners also led to the later integration of the project’s interventions into provincial partner’s programmes.

* Engagement with all levels of government in the province, specifically, at the project's sites, was critically important to establish the partnerships

* Endorsement of the project at national level was critical to ensure provincial and local buy-in

* Widespread availability of smartphones and access to network and desktop computers was vital to ensuring progress even during the pandemic's travel restrictions

* Building strong partnerships is a risk-reduction strategy, as shown during the pandemic wherein local partners were able to conduct many activities with guidance remotely by expert staff

 

Wildlife surveillance for One Health intelligence

Financing support for multi-sector surveillance of zoonotic diseases in wildlife and along wildlife trade chains is essential to improve understanding of pathogen diversity, disease dynamics and potential risks posed by wildlife trade, to support evidence-based decision making, monitor emerging pathogens and support targeted future surveillance and mitigation investments

Long-term financial support for sustained wildlife surveillance: in the field, in the laboratory and for associated data analysis to inform decision-makers and support reporting through One Health coordination platforms 

It is a challenge to secure funding for longer than the typical short cycles associated with government priorities to really make a difference in capacity and system building. Wildlife and environment sectors typically receive less funding and attention compared with livestock and human health, despite their clear linkages to both and increasing risks of emerging diseases of wildlife origin. 

 

Building long-term, multi-sectoral, trans-disciplinary partnerships and capacities

Building long-term partnerships and capacity for multi-sector surveillance of zoonotic diseases along wildlife trade chains promotes and supports effective One Health collaboration from the spillover frontlines to national and international policy makers, and improved understanding of pathogen diversity, disease dynamics and potential risks posed by wildlife trade. Platforms for regular multi-sector discussion between animal health, environment, enforcement, and human health sectors, as well as with and amongst international and multi-lateral partners, is essential for open discourse and sharing of information on the risks, challenges and opportunities for pandemic prevention. This is critical to improve cross- sectoral trust, understanding, communication and coordination to increase opportunities for effective legislative change and cultural shifts.

Openness of host governments to coordination between environment, law enforcement, animal health and human health sectors and investment of time and personnel from those sectors in wildlife surveillance for One Health intelligence; patience; funding; One Health coordination platforms

Trans-sectoral coordination and support from the government is essential from the beginning to ensure effective surveillance for diseases of zoonotic origin along wildlife trade chains and to promote understanding and sharing of findings. Openness of national governments to make science-based policy changes to reduce health risks posed by wildlife trade is essential for meaningful, long-term impact. 

Monitoring + Evaluation

Given the lack of experience and the high need for learning and improving the solution, M+E is key. Starting in the nursery how the different seedlings develop, then after planting and in regular intervals. this allows improving the design, to determine the need for soil improvement, suitability of individual species on respective sites and many other aspects - including upscaling to other areas and countries with similar needs and circumstances.

- Capable institutions and link / partnerships to scientific organizations and individuals

- Local ownership and dedication, also beyond the project's lifetime

- a sound and realistic monitoring system from the outset

M+E needs to focus and should be carried out by knowledgeable and dedicated individuals and organizations. It should also involve the local landowners and their traditional knowledge

Implementación de estrategias para fortalecer la conservación y la salud de vicuñas y de su hábitat

A partir de la coordinación multisectorial, las comunidades realizan el registro de sarna durante los censos poblacionales y en las capturas para esquila y liberación, en formularios oficiales de la autoridad en biodiversidad nacional. Se espera que el área protegida implemente el uso de indicadores ecológicos y epidemiológicos para la mejor toma de decisiones de conservación. Los ganaderos locales reciben capacitaciones en manejo sanitario y productivo de alpacas coadyuvando a mejorar la salud del ganado y a disminuir el potencial de transmisión de enfermedades. Finalmente, a través del Grupo Interinstitucional de Trabajo en “Oro Responsable” se realizan escuelas de campo piloto para aplicar las mejores prácticas, técnicas sociales y ambientales disponibles, que permitan mitigar el impacto de la minería aurífera en las comunidades.

- Se desarrollaron participativamente con las comunidades locales y autoridades cinco instrumentos técnicos para la gestión y toma de decisiones por la Asociación de Comunidades manejadoras de Vicuñas de Apolobamba, el área protegida de Apolobamba.

- Se realizaron acuerdos de buena voluntad entre mineros auríferos locales, comunidades manejadoras de vicuñas, autoridades originarias y el área protegida, para la conservación de las vicuñas y del hábitat. Esto debido al impacto de la minería sobre los bofedales y pastizales y por el uso de mercurio.

- Los instrumentos desarrollados en conjunto con las comunidades locales y la ACOFIVB les permiten realizar una mejor gestión de sus actividades y en conjunto con el área protegida de Apolobamba y también son de utilidad para las demás asociaciones manejadoras de vicuñas en Bolivia.

- Aunque se ha involucrado a cooperativas mineras legales en la conservación de la especie y de su hábitat, existen otras numerosas actividades mineras ilegales que representan un nuevo reto para la gestión del área protegida y de las comunidades locales para la conservación y la salud de las vicuñas y otros animales silvestres, de los animales domésticos, de los humanos y del paisaje en su conjunto.

Desarrollo de capacidades en bienestar animal, bioseguridad y obtención de fibra de mayor calidad

Se capacitaron a las comunidades manejadoras de vicuñas y guardaparques durante las campañas de captura (aprovechamiento de la fibra) y liberación de vicuñas silvestres. Los temas abordados incluyen: procedimientos adecuados de bienestar animal y bioseguridad para prevenir la transmisión de sarna, entre animales, y por instrumentos y accesorios de trabajo; bioseguridad frente al Covid-19 para prevenir la transmisión entre personas y de personas a animales silvestres capturados. Asimismo, se realizaron capacitaciones en esquila mecánica y predescerdado de la fibra, en ambos casos, para incrementar la calidad de la fibra de vicuñas obtenida durante las capturas y proporcionar un mayor valor agregado a la misma, ampliando los beneficios para la comunidad.

- Se tiene apoyo de las comunidades manejadoras de vicuñas de Apolobamba y del área protegida de Apolobamba.

- Se cuenta con un equipo técnico experimentado de veterinarios e ingenieros zootecnistas y agrónomos para el desarrollo de estudios, capacitaciones y gestiones con los actores locales y nacionales.

El trabajo conjunto y complementario del equipo técnico de WCS y de la ACOFIVB con las comunidades locales y con el área protegida de Apolobamba han generado capacitaciones con una visión de Una sola Salud, capacitaciones que fueron favorables para que las comunidades locales identifiquen que la conservación y manejo de las vicuñas también involucra el cuidado de la salud de especies animales silvestres, domésticas y de las personas, a la vez que obtienen fibra de mejor calidad y reciben mejores ingresos económicos.

Monitoreo y vigilancia del estado de las poblaciones y de la salud de vicuñas

El monitoreo de las poblaciones de vicuña, realizado en 2006, 2018, 2019 y 2021, evaluando la sarna sarcóptica y otros parásitos en Apolobamba, estableció que la especie mantiene su ratio de incremento poblacional, y que en su mayoría los individuos son saludables. Las prevalencias de sarna son bajas y afectan principalmente a las vicuñas crías y las de mayor edad con una menor condición corporal. Esta enfermedad es actualmente endémica y con bajo impacto, siempre y cuando las vicuñas cuenten con suficiente alimento para mantener una buena condición corporal. Por otro lado, debido al incremento de las actividades mineras, de 50 a 231 en los últimos 10 años, y el uso aproximado de hasta 6 kg/mes de mercurio por cada actividad, ya existe evidencia de contaminación en la especie. Esto se ha verificado mediante registros de mercurio total en sangre de vicuñas, así como en anomalías celulares (genotoxicidad), y representa una amenaza local para la salud humana y de animales silvestres y domésticos.

- Apoyo de comunidades manejadoras de vicuñas de Apolobamba.

- Apoyo del área protegida SERNAP Apolobamba.

- Financiamiento necesario para apoyar la logística de actividades de campo con los comunarios y guardaparques.

- Se cuenta con laboratorio y veterinarios parasitólogos, lo que permite reducir costos de análisis a traves del tiempo.

- Se cuenta con acuerdos con instituciones científicas académicas como el Instituto de Ecología y el Instituto de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, ambos de la Universidad Mayor de San Andrés.

- Todos los resultados de investigación que se obtienen son socializados y entregados a las comunidades y al área protegida SERNAP Apolobamba.

- Los estudios realizados son insumos para la gestión de las comunidades y del área protegida y son oportunidades para el desarrollo de investigaciones de tesis de estudiantes de licenciatura y grados superiores.

- Todas las pruebas serológicas de laboratorio requieren estar previamente validadas para especies silvestres con las que se trabaja.

Empowerment of all actors involved is key

The success of forest management and restoration efforts has also hinged on the knowledge and skills acquired by the local forest organizations such as Village Natural Resources Management Committees. This has enabled the committee members to successfully implement ANR and fire prevention activities while adhering to good leadership skills to allow increased participation in restoration activities.

Community empowerment is a key enabling factor to consider within this building block because activities being implemented by the community members are as a result of the trainings/capacity building efforts by committed extension workers and other community leaders

  1. Training acts as an incentive for communities to participate in restoration efforts because  the knowledge gained is applied on their land.
Strong leadership and partnerships key to restoration

Forest landscape restoration efforts require a willing and enthusiastic social system led by Traditional Leaders who are traditionally custodians of customary land. The success of this solution has largely hinged on strong leadership and partnerships within. 

  1. Community Participation is a key enabling factor that is required for meaningful progress in the activities that are happening in the community. This is because without active participation they will not be any progress.
  2. The political environment also plays a part in enabling restoration. Political leadership that provides guidance to communities for sustainable management of forest resources is always preferred. 
  1. Community Expectations. It is very important to manage the community's expectations through most activities concerning natural resource management. Most communities expect immediate results when it comes to working on forestry restoration and this presents a problem where they can get discouraged like some community members not participating in the activities.
  2. Partnership is Key. For a smooth process of activities, the partnership is key between community members, government officials as well as Non-governmental organisations. It defines the roles to be played by all stakeholders
  3. Leadership. Leadership determines the type of natural resources governance. Strong community leadership has been found to contribute to the better management of forests.
  4. Youth participation is key. In order to have sustainable development, youth involvement is key since youth are the leaders of tomorrow. 
Capitalizing on strong local leadership and partnerships with government and others

The following building blocks have contributed to the success of the restoration realized to date.

  1. Strong local leadership:  Strong leadership by the Traditional Authorities and local committees facilitated participation, engagement, and buy-in.
  2. Partnership with government departments: The GoM delivers timely training and support
  3. Partnership with local and international NGOs.

The organization supported beneficiaries with resources including data, training/capacity building, and in some cases tools. 

The factors that enabled success to date included building on the recognition that local leaders are the most trusted agents of development. Without the buy-in and strong leadership of the Traditional Authority (and his Group Village Headmen), getting the buy-in of the communities would have been extremely difficult, if not impossible.

Lessons learned to date include:

  1. Information, awareness, and advocacy are critical to community-led problem identification and problem-solving, and are prerequisites to community participation in "solutions".
  2. Community participation in development work results in less costs in the implementation of activities.
  3. Partnerships and collaboration with District Council and the Area Development Committee, and with non-governmental organizations are key to sourcing required technical support e.g., ANR and firebreak construction.