Desarrollo de metodología acorde al cultivo

Es importante contar con una metodología que responda a las características y comportamiento del cultivo. Que permita establecer lotes, transeptos, árboles -ver BB 3- y tratamientos para la evaluación del efecto del servicio de polinización de manera objetiva. En el caso del marañón, se establecieron dos montajes por árbol: 1) Control absoluto: exclusión total de polinizadores con mallas que encierran las ramas seleccionadas, 2) Polinización: ramas marcadas y totalmente descubiertas. Al finalizar el periodo de floración y posterior fructificación, se comparan las diferencias entre los dos montajes para a) porcentaje (%) de cuajado de frutos, b) tamaño y peso de la manzana, c) tamaño y peso de la nuez, d) tamaño y peso de la almendra.

Es indispensable tener personal en campo que diariamente pueda trabajar en el cultivo. Ellas/os son quienes mejor capacitados deben estar en cuanto al estudio, sus objetivos y metodologías. Se recomienda hacer un acercamiento con los vecinos de los predios para asegurarse que posibles aplicaciones químicas no vayan a interrumpir con el estudio y generar alta mortandad de abejas. -ver BB1-

La metodología debe ser adaptada a las necesidades de cada cultivo. Por eso es importante conocer muy bien los tiempos y formas de cosecha establecidos. En marañón por ejemplo tuvimos que enmallar una rama adicional -después de estar expuesta a los polinizadores- para que los frutos formados no cayeran al suelo confundiéndose con los demás. Como en este cultivo lo que se aprovecha es la nuez y no el pseudofruto, se deja que estos caigan al suelo y después se recogen manualmente. Que los frutos se mezclaran en el suelo habría ocasionado una sobrestimación de producción.

Estandarización de variables para muestreos

Al momento de realizar ensayos en campo, se busca que los cultivos a evaluar tengan la mayor similitud para que los resultados sean más precisos. Por eso la distancia a centro urbano, la distancia a bosque nativo, la cercanía a fuentes hídricas, la variedad clonal y la edad de los árboles son variables que se deben considerar al momento de seleccionar las fincas. Así como la selección de colmenas con reina de buena postura y con alto interés de pecoreo (conducta de abejas obreras para salir a recolectar polen y néctar de las flores). 

El interés y participación de los productores de marañón es fundamental para seleccionar los predios idóneos para el estudio. También es importante tener claridad de las edades y variedades clonales, así como estudios de suelo. Contar con un histórico de producción anual en el predio es un dato relevante.

No consideramos la calidad de los distintos suelos, razón por la cual no era correcto atribuir el aumento de producción entre lotes/predios exclusivamente a la visita de abejas gestionadas. Condiciones edafoclimáticas pueden también influir en la productividad de marañón.

También sería importante realizar en lo posible el estudio en un área aislada. De esta forma se controla mejor que las colmenas gestionadas efectivamente están visitando en mayor proporción el cultivo objetivo.

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.

Protect biogenetic resources and related traditional knowledge

The protection for wild genetic resources has been formalized, and 20 protection sites for chrysantha have been constructed; guidance is provided for demonstration enterprises to expand the nursery of Siraitia grosvenorii and Camellia nitidissima, which cover an area of 2,000 square metres and 500 square metres respectively.

The project helped to increase the area allocated for growing seedlings of Siraitia grosvenorii and Camellia nitidissima genetic resources, and planted Camellia nitidissima in the wild.

Reducing the utilization of wild resources is key to project success.

Conduct a baseline survey on biological genetic resources and related traditional knowledge

The project team investigated, collected, and summarized the protection, development, utilization, and benefit-sharing of 30 exemplar genetic resources in Guangxi, carried out case investigations and research on the development and utilization of traditional knowledge related to genetic resources of five ethnic minorities in Guangxi Zhuang, including Zhuang, Yao, Maonan, Mulao and Jing ethnic groups.

The establishment of a database for biogenetic resources and their related traditional knowledge in Guangxi, together with the Survey on the Status Quo of Biogenetic Resources and Their Development and Utilization in Guangxi and the Management Requirements, Guangxi Traditional Knowledge Case Study Report and Guangxi Traditional Knowledge Cataloging Report.

The provision of scientific guidance is required for the proper protection, development, utilization and sharing of biogenetic resources in Guangxi.

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.

Pre-action monitoring

Pre-action monitoring activity is needed to define the baseline and quantify the impact of the distinct tasks of the project on the conservation status of the targeted species. In our case, the two study populations were monitored by capture-mark-recapture method from 2005 to 2013. We assessed a population size of 18 individuals (nine per deme) that remained stable with only three new individuals entering the population in nine years of monitoring. Each site consisted of one or two small ephemeral pools where the toads spawned from late March to late September

Pre-action monitoring should be defined prior the begining of the project. Monitoring must consist of standardized methodologies (i.e. same effort and approach), thus enabling replicability along time and space, that allow a quantification of selected metric that in turn allows to quantify the impact of the concrete conservation actions

Our pre-action monitoring was performed by the same staff during the entire course of the of project. This means same effort and efficiency and reduces the inconsistencies among samplings and years.

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.