Monitoring | PANORAMA

Plan de vida, como instrumento de gestión

Este "plan de vida" funciona como una herramienta integral de gestión que toma en consideración la preservación de zonas de vegetación natural, su restauración, la continuidad del paisaje, generando a su vez alternativas productivas sustentables y consensuadas con pobladores locales.

Para lograr la efectiva implementación del Plan de Vida, ha sido clave el establecimiento de acuerdos sociales de uso del suelo para restaurar y promover la regeneración natural del bosque y fortalecer el sistema de control y vigilancia para una buena gestión y mejor gobernanza. Resaltamos que la promoción de la participación comunal ha sido muy importante y ha generado espacios para sensibilizar y educar a la población, y así, lograr la consecución de los objetivos propuestos.

Un aprendizaje que nos deja esta experiencia es que debemos contar con el apoyo de la comunidad y un gran sentido de concientización de todos los actores involucrados para seguir trabajando juntos y educándonos para mejorar las técnicas de producción sostenibles que permiten un menor imparcto negativo en el ecosistema y en nuestro medio ambiente, nuestro hogar.

Implementation

Monitoring

Local

Transforming a scientific monitoring in a social and touristic event

After the restaurant, ready for the census !

Emanuele Perez

Becoming friends, having lunch before the deer census

Emanuele Perez

Explanations by the Park staff

Emanuele Perez

Scientific monitoring tools become multitask tools

Arianna Sanesi

The management of protected areas through conservation activities is normally separated from tourist use activities. Creating a connection between the two activities can be a tool to solve many problems, showing everybody that the Park's activities are part of a single and complex strategy.

The red deer census in Foreste Casentinesi National Park is at the same time an important action of wildlife monitoring and a big touristic event, based on high quality tourism. It directly involves, during four days in low touristic season, local accomodations like mountain huts and "agriturismi" (farms), environmental guides and interpreters, restaurants and other economic enterprises.

The volunteers involved in the census are on average young and obviously take this opportunity also as an opportunity for recreation in nature and meeting people with their same passion. The census activities and the presence of hundreds of voluntueers from many Italian and foreign locations are quite visible to all the local population, also through the media.

Thanks to the deer census, the National Park becomes the venue for a major national event of conservation and this is much appreciated by the local communities.

One of the keys for managing national parks is to use forms of development as conservation tools. The deer census, as organized in the Casentinesi Forests National Park, is an excellent example of this strategy. Thanks to the census, the local people look at the deer and its conservation activities as an opportunity for socio-economic development.

At the same time, the volunteers find a rare opportunity to be protagonists of the park management for a couple of days, feeling themselves being real part of it.

This experience demonstrates how environmental conservation can coincide with opportunities for sustainable socio-economic development.

Mejoramiento de las condiciones socio-económicas a partir de la conservación

Desde el punto de vista social, el modelo del proyecto logra de una manera razonable y a costo efectivo, en un tiempo relativamente rápido (1-2 años), generar condiciones de producción que mejoran la calidad de vida de las familias de los beneficiarios por dos vías: la incorporación de una dieta más variada y que supone mayor cantidad de verduras, frutas y proteínas (gallinas y huevos) y la diversificación de actividades productivas que a su vez incrementan los ingresos económicos percibidos por las familias.

Pasaje de actividades no sustentables a actividades sustentables, con notorios resultados positivos en ese proceso respecto de estas actividades y de las formas de producción.

Se tiene evidencia de la inmportancia de este bloque de construcción a través de la comparación de la situación pre y post implementación del proyecto, y estos datos se complementan con información y cifras sobre la producción post-fase, que permiten dar cuenta de la magnitud del cambio logrado en términos de mejoramiento de la calidad de vida de los beneficiarios. Esto, en tanto que varios de los sistemas productivos generan sus beneficios económicos después de finalizada la fase de apoyo directo lo que supone una gran lección aprendida.

Implementation

Monitoring

Local

Reconstrucción del devastado tejido social como un elemento catalizador

Con este proyecto se ha logrado la reconstrucción del tejido social, permitiendo a vecinos y miembros de veredas conocerse y trabajar mancomunadamente en el marco de las capacitaciones (Escuelas de Campo Agroforestal) y la implementación de actividades productivas grupales como la apicultura y la parcela demostrativa veredal, permitiendo un rescate de valores como la confianza, la credibilidad, la amistad y la definición de reglas de juego y co-responsabilidades. Quizás uno de los elementos más importantes del proyecto es lograr la unión entre las personas de las veredas y las instituciones y organizaciones dedicadas a promover el desarrollo sostenible.

Mutua cooperación

El proyecto ha fortalecido las oportunidades de las familias de retornar y mantenerse más tiempo en las fincas para la ejecución de las actividades planificadas, especialmente las mujeres y niños que fueron desplazados al casco urbano durante los años de violencia.

Implementation

Monitoring

Local

Sostenibilidad financiera interna y externa

Los recursos financieros para desarrollo de políticas y acciones orientadas a la recuperación, protección y conservación ambiental, provienen de ayuda tanto nacional e internacional, de instituciones públicas y privadas; participan así, sendas entidades.

La iniciativa hace parte del Plan de Acción 2019-2023 del Comité del Sistema Local de Áreas Protegidas (SILAP) del Municipio de San Juan Nepomuceno y de las estrategias del Plan de Manejo del Santuario de Fauna y Flora Los Colorados, para garantizar su viabilidad biológica, razón por la cual se espera continuidad a largo plazo de las actividades.

Articulación de los roles de los actores e inversión de recursos a largo plazo.

Construcción de confianza en distintas escalas, unión para gestíón sostenible de los recursos.

Implementation

Monitoring

Local

Monitoring nature mixing people and cultures.

Hunters, students, rangers togheter

Gloria Grillanda

Becoming friends in the middle of the forest

Arianna Sanesi

One of the most important recipe for the success of the deer census is that each couple of operators has to be composed of people from different categories: beginners with experts, hunters with animal activists, rangers with students, people from different regions, etc.

Every night the couples composition is different, so all the participants have the opportunity to meet different people and different areas of the National Park.

Also the social and scientific events are organized to emphasize the occasions of experience exchange between all different kinds of participants.

The entire organization is focused on mixing participants of different categories as an important rule for the succes of the project.

The registration and logistics organization software created and managed by the Park agency do not allow the participants to express rigid preferences on accomodation and on pairing with specific persons during the official activities.

All participants are being informed why these rules are so important.

Combining people of different categories is an important rule for this monitoring activity, mainly for three reasons:

operators of the same category could have an interest in altering the data on the censed number of deer: if hunters declare more deer they could be called to reduce that number; for the same reason animal activists could have the interest in declaring a reduced number.
in the past, it happened that couples of operators of the same category (expecially hunters, that are obliged to partecipate to have the hunting permission) decided to rest in the forest instead of counting deer in a proper way. Mixed couples are controlling each others.
mixed couples are the best opportunity to exchange experiences and to break down cultural barriers.

Monitoring

Documentation and dissemination of results

Subnational

National

To create a model of integrated development of the scenic and the urban areas and raise local communities’ living standards

Er’dao Baihe Town

Rongjie Zhang

In order to reduce the pressures on the environmental capacity of Changbai Mountain Scenic Area, a total of RMB6 billion has been invested since 2010 to build 32 new scenic sites and 10 squares at and near Er’dao Baihe Town, a town neighbouring the northern part of Changbai Mountain Scenic Area. In 2019, Er’dao Baihe Town was rated as an AAAA Scenic Area, one of the national exemplary areas for integrated tourism, and accredited as an international Cittaslow town by Cittaslow International. Er’dao Baihe Town has become an open and free-of-charge scenic area and aims to offer high standard services for tourism, leisure and recreation. While providing high-quality and well-managed leisure space for local residents, it also help stimulate the development of accommodation and catering businesses in Changbai Mountain’s neighbouring communities. A new development model of sharing and co-building that serves tourists and brings happiness to local residents is hence achieved.

1. Thorough data analysis was conducted on recent years’ tourism in Changbai Mountain and the ecological carrying capacity of Changbai Scenic Area is hence determined based on science.

2. A scientific and sound tourism plan was formulated based on statistics. 3. Secured sufficient funding ensured the implementation of the planned projects.

Special attention should be given to localisation during the urbanisation process of the scenic area. Native ecology should still be the underpinning foundation and preserved as most as possible. The emphasis should be put on maintaining and highlighting local distinctive features instead of the sheer scale of urban development. It should be avoided that the authenticity of local landscapes or characteristics are destroyed only to copy a model of other places or cities.

Monitoring

Documentation and dissemination of results

Data recovery and identification

The Administration Bureau arranges the office workers to identify, classify and input data according to the staff, human activity information, and animal resource information. The office workers distinguish the photos of the human activities, and determine the specific information of the personnel (community personnel or not ).

1. Recycle and appraise camera data timely in accordance with the plan.

2. Maintain equipment regularly.

3. The identification of the camera data must be unified.

4. Carry out follow-up work immediately for discovered human activities.

5. Corresponding reward and punishment mechanisms.

1. Number the camera´s data cards uniformly to avoid data confusion.

2. Replace the malfunction cameras timely.

3. Arrange fixed staff to identify the data.

Monitoring

Documentation and dissemination of results

Local

Subnational

Creating awareness and knowledge about EbA

World Environment Day celebration with local organisations and government

Dil Bhattarai

Community and school children participating in the World Environment Day celebration

Dil Bhattarai

Local youth conserving water sources, Makwanpur, Kaski

Anu Adhikari

Because Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) was a completely new concept to the stakeholders and communities, it was essential to build awareness about EbA and its potential benefits. Prior to this, the communities’ model of development was deforestation and overexploitation of plant species, which negatively impacted biodiversity. Training on EbA was first given to local partner organisations and then to community members, with a focus on how the EbA approach addresses climate change and helps communities address other issues such as income generation. After the trainings, a series of awareness-raising activities were conducted, including the publication of brochures, signboards, posters, and other materials. The objective was to demonstrate the different activities to be implemented, such as conservation of community water ponds, and their positive impacts. After creating awareness about the EbA concept and its practice, the community took a leadership role in implementing activities and was empowered to integrate their local knowledge and skills in water source and pond conservation. Technical experts supported the communities’ local knowledge with technical and scientific expertise.

Active participation of governing bodies, implementing agencies, local communities and other stakeholders
Communication tools such as interactive maps, posters, and videos
Integration of local knowledge and past experience in the construction of ponds (type of materials, suitable locations, etc.)
Practical demonstration of activities
Promotion of citizen scientists as bridges between the project and local communities
Communities leading implementation

Community engagement is crucial. In Panchase, the project targeted engaged community leaders, who in turn motivated other community members to participate.
Participation of diverse groups increases the potential for success and the equitable distribution of benefits. The project sought the participation of community forest user groups and other community groups, including mothers’ group, homestay groups, and agricultural groups.
The project team should have a clear understanding of the environmental, socio-economic, and political context of the area. Tourism in Panchase helped determine the intervention. Increasing the viability of homestays provided an entry point for additional measures.
Maintaining a good rapport with communities and stakeholders fosters trust. Both IUCN and the local NGO regularly visited the site and communities and developed a strong rapport through frequent positive interactions.
Local knowledge: the project used the communities’ local knowledge about pond restoration, water conservation, and water management to develop the intervention.

Implementation

Monitoring

Documentation and dissemination of results

Local

Rehabilitation of the Northern Water Pipeline

We have identified clean water access as a key goal. Clean water access for humans, livestock, and wildlife will prevent wildlife-related injuries and deaths. In September 2012 IFAW conducted research and helped the county secure funding to rehabilitate the Northern Water Pipeline, which supplies water to communities living in the north of Amboseli. When the project is completed by the end of 2019, it is expected to reliably provide water to 300 homesteads, 3,000 people, and more than 6,000 herds of livestock. By rehabilitating the pipeline, the project ensures availability and sustainable management of clean water and sanitation for the Maasai community, and thus, reducing human-elephant conflict due to water access.

Participatory community engagement has led to trust within the community for IFAW and the project. Therefore, in-depth participation of community members in the project has allowed for social sustainability. In addition, after substantial investment in education and capacity, the project largely is run by community members who now have the skills to maintain and expand the infrastructure and initiatives. Because of the local capacity, benefits are clearly outweighed by costs.

A challenge that the project ran into, in particular, was the lack of infrastructure, equipment, and training. Therefore, the project made it a priority to build capacity within the village to build (i.e. the community service center), repair (i.e. the Northern Water Pipeline), or otherwise manage any of the interventions. A lesson that we learned is that it is always better to build capactiy within the community. In our example, not only do local community members now have additional skills they can use on other projects, they have a sense of ownership and pride.