Reconstruction of the social fabric as a catalyst element

This project has helped to rebuild the social fabric, allowing neighbors and members of the villages to get to know each other and work together through training (Agroforestry Field Schools) and the implementation of productive group activities such as beekeeping, community conservation areas and demonstrations plots in the villages, allowing the recovery of values such as trust, credibility, friendship and the definition of rules of the game and co-responsibilities. One of the most important elements of the project is to achieve the union between the people of the villages and the institutions and organizations dedicated to promoting sustainable development.

  • Mutual cooperation
  • As local as possible: Project staff come from the region and are farmers themselves. Selecting staff as locally as possible has ensured that challenges are addressed appropriately and in a timely manner and has increased confidence in the project process and outcomes.
  • Willingness to be flexible to the community's needs: Each farm cohort (vereda) has unique challenges and needs, and adapting to them with flexibility has ensured that the veredas can strengthen and enhance their opportunities based on their interests.
  • Connection to the territory: The project has strengthened the opportunities for families to return and stay longer on the farms to carry out planned activities, especially women and children who were displaced to the urban center during the years of violence.
Internal and external financial sustainability

The financial resources for developing policies and actions aimed at environmental recovery, protection, and conservation come from both national and international aid from public and private institutions.

The initiative is part of the 2019-2023 Action Plan of the Local System of Protected Areas Committee (SILAP, Sistema Local de Áreas Protegidas) of the Municipality of San Juan Nepomuceno and the strategies of the Los Colorados Flora and Fauna Sanctuary Management Plan to guarantee its biological viability, which is why long-term continuity of the activities is expected.

  • Roles: Articulation of stakeholders' roles and investment of long-term resources.
  • Trust: Trust in the partnership, both from an institutional and stakeholder point of view, which bridges times of financial difficulties.
  • Playing to your strengths: Several organizations work on nature conservation in the region; therefore, leveraging each organization's strengths opens up more funding opportunities.
  • Trust: The project has led to the construction of trust around the relevance of sustainable resources management on different public and private scales (governance), which increases the likelihood of continuity and funding.

     

Monitoring nature mixing people and cultures.

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. mixed couples are the best opportunity to exchange experiences and to break down cultural barriers.
To create a model of integrated development of the scenic and the urban areas and raise local communities’ living standards

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.  

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

Thorough data analysis was conducted on recent years' tourism in Changbaishan, and the ecological carrying capacity of Changbai Scenic Area was hence determined based on science. A scientific and sound tourism plan was formulated based on statistics. Securing sufficient funding ensured the implementation of the planned projects. A number of mechanisms and measures are put in place to ensure an accurate calculation of the number of visitors of the day and a forecast in the following 3 days, such as merging the two ticket-checking points, real-name ticketing, ticket-booking based on the selected time of entry. When the crux comes, such measures as ceasing ticket sales and imposing restrictions on the number of visitors can effectively avert overcrowding in the scenic areas and raise the level of comfort for visitors.

The administrative agency also innovated in ecotourism practices, developing the urban areas as part of the scenic area, promoting economic development in neighbouring communities and increasing their income and job opportunities. Thus the administrative agency was able to not only improve the tourism quality, but also enhance ecological protection and stimulate the development of various industries in the neighbouring communities.

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.

Creating awareness and knowledge about EbA

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.
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.

 

Education, training, and other capacity building for the community

IFAW is increasing wildlife security in the Amboseli landscape by equipping community wildlife rangers with expertise and skills through training in human wildlife conflict mitigation and providing operation resources such as rations, salaries, GPS-equipment, uniforms and a patrol vehicle for use by the rangers.

IFAW also initiated an education scholarship to offer financial support to 60 students to pursue studies in high school, tertiary colleges and universities, and 50 community wildlife scouts. By providing education scholarships and wildlife ranger capacity building, IFAW ensures inclusive and equitable education and promotes lifelong learning opportunities and alternative livelihoods for the local community. 

IFAW is also working with local women to develop markets for income-generating activities such as beadwork and livestock management. By creating a boarding secondary school for girls and facilitating income generation among women, the project promotes gender equality and empowerment for all women and girls in Amboseli, thus, leaving no-one behind.

One of the most enabling factors in this project was the fact that the main stakeholders and owners of the land recognized that that habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation was an issue for both widlife and people and that they needed to do something about it.. By partnering up with the OOGR and the KWS, the project ensured community engagement and promotes peaceful and inclusive societies for the sustainable development of the local community and even provides a model to follow for other communities.

Buy-in from the local communities and the government (KWS) is extremely important to the success of the project. As advice to other implementers, working within existing governmental frameworks can help with implementation. At the same time, working hand and hand with local communities is essential to ensure buy-in and that project activities and interventions are actually leading to desired outcomes.

Collaboration with the Olgulului Olalarashi Group Ranch and KWS

Amboseli National Park is home to some of Kenya’s largest elephant populations which depend on the surrounding community land for migration. In 2008, the land stakeholders recognized that the habitat loss threats, degradation, and fragmentation would lead to the loss of livelihoods and tourism revenue and opted to ensure the ecosystem’s sustainability. IFAW therefore partnered with relevant stakeholders to secure critical corridors and dispersal areas for elephants in community areas of the Amboseli landscape. To achieve this, IFAW implemented a multi-year commitment to secure 26,000 acres as wildlife migratory and dispersal land in the Amboseli landscape (the Kitenden Corridor, one of the last remaining elephant migratory corridors connecting Kenya and Tanzania).

The strategy for the leased land was to develop the Kitenden Community Wildlife Conservancy, which will continue to offer a three pronged benefit to wildlife and its habitat, the local community (through eco-friendly, compatible tourism, and enterprise projects), and investors through tourism development and investment. In 2017, IFAW worked with the local Maasai community to register the Kitenden Conservancy Trust - an important step toward securing this portion of land as a community-owned conservancy that supports sustainable livelihoods.

IFAW partnered with the community of the Olgulului Olalarashi Group Ranch (OOGR, which surrounds 90 percent of the park) in order to ensure that the wildlife protection benefits were connected to human wellbeing improvements. For example, the securing of the Kitenden Corridor would not have been possible without IFAW’s commitment to sign separate agreements with 2,600 indigenous landowners. This has led to remarkable benefits for both the people of the community and the wildlife of the Amboseli National Park. Combining the expertise of science-based wildlife conservation and development initiatives within the community turned out to be essential and should be applied to future projects. Incorporating community input in a structured and profound way has led to unique interventions tailored for this specific community and interventions that are sustainable and popular among the community. Both the local leadership and the community have been heavily involved since the beginning of the project.