A brief site-level profile (baseline) was developed to assist in understanding the governance gaps and issues in the targeted protected areas. In this case, a SAGE too was identified to assist with a quick assessment of governance issues. This process also helped to identify key stakeholders relevant to the implementation of the project at the site level.
The community buy-in, and commitment from the government and other stakeholders made the process more participative. The use of the SAGE tool encouraged more interaction and contributed to the implementation of the project. The Technical staff and field-based teams were also always available to guide the process through.
The baseline survey to establish site level profile and governance gap analysis required cooperation and collaboration from other stakeholders, especially the traditional leadership and government. It is also a slow process and requires adequate planning and preparation.
Via behaviour change communication increasing the demand for improved cookstoves
The project is putting a heighted focus on demand side measures in terms of behaviour change communication targeting especially rural areas. By this the project aims at increasing the knowledge of the target populations on the benefits of ICS to ensure that households buy ICS and integrate them into their cooking energy system. in order to further mainstream and increase efficiency of the outreach different partners and networks are involved.
To increase the demand on a larger scale the project is implementing widely ranging demand side activities. These include i.e. broadcast via the national as regional radio stations, product placement in soap operas, sensitisation of local leadership and government extension workers as well as caravan events and cooking performances on local markets and in communities.
To kick-start this development the ICS market in the relevant country or region must have moved already from the from Pre-Commercial towards Pioneering stage which means that there is a growing awareness in the market on the technologies and its benefits and early adopters already use the technology.
Sustainably scaling up the production of improved cookstoves
Supporting artisanal, professional and business class ICS producers in scaling up their production by providing them with tools to increase the efficiency of workshop processes as well as business development services to enable them to increase their sales.
The project is using a market-based approach to facilitate of the growth of the ICS market. In terms of this approach the project enables the supported ICS producers to significantly increase their production of climate friendly cookstoves as well as their market reach. Furthermore, the ICS producers access to market-based finance is facilitated by the project. This is further supported by demand side measures to increase the knowledge on the benefits of improved cooking technologies especially in rural areas as well as improving the enabling environment.
To kick-start this development the ICS market in the relevant country or region must have moved already from the from Pre-Commercial towards Pioneering stage which means that there are already a few mostly informal low-sales volume artisanal ICS businesses and existing but weak distribution channels that are mostly situated in urban or peri-urban settings.
The agreement for the use and management of hydrobiological resources and fishing activity in the Tumaradó marshes is an effort between the PNN Los Katíos (PNNLK) and the Tumaradó Community Council (CCT), formed in 2012, is coordinated by a local committee that is composed of 4 representatives, 2 from the CCT and 2 from the Park, and its purpose is to develop actions, competencies and responsibilities that promote conservation within the PA, mainly through fishing regulations that include the establishment of minimum catch sizes, permitted fishing gear and reserve zones.
Initially it was signed for 5 years, then the community stated that it should not have an expiration date; therefore, the agreement continues to be implemented.
-The community of Tumaradó built the agreement jointly with the PA.
-It reflects local feelings and knowledge for the implementation of the measures.
-Results have been seen over the years with respect to the measures set forth in the agreement, benefiting not only the environment but also the community.
Established coordination bodies: follow-up committees.
-Analysis of the information obtained as a result of monitoring.
-Socialization of the information with the community for management decision making.
-It is possible to conserve resources jointly between the community and PNN Los Katíos.
-Good relations and governance processes are maintained with the communities and the institution.
-Better biological and ecological knowledge of the fishery resources has been obtained.
The Specific Agreement for the Use and Management of hydrobiological resources and fishing activities in the Tumaradó marshes signed between Los Katíos NP and the Tumaradó Minor Community Council on April 24, 2012, is derived from a previous agreement (called Agreement 001) between the Park and the communities of the lower Atrato, which decided to conserve and make good use of hydrobiological resources.
Both agreements arise as part of the results of an international cooperation project whose products corresponded to the signing of 2 agreements framed in the conservation with different communities; one of them was with the indigenous community of Juín Phubuur, which was an agreement of wills and the other was the agreement for the use and management of Tumaradó.
Thanks to PNNC's compliance, constant communication and work with the communities, as well as the benefits received in terms of new experiences, knowledge and opportunities, the community had the necessary confidence to reach an agreement that has been maintained for the last 10 years.
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-Trust between the signing parties (PNN Los Katíos and Tumaradó Community) and compliance with the provisions of the agreement.
-Constant socialization of the agreement, in order to reinforce its knowledge and make it known to future generations.
-Practicality and adjustment to new contexts, understanding the changes in the environment and social context.
-When good conservation management is carried out, communities are willing to participate actively and permanently.
-With the approach of knowledge integration, it is possible to establish more practical and beneficial rules of the game for the parties involved.
Preschool students on a tour of the Güergüerense micro-watershed.
GIZ/Fabiola Budde
Members of the water board, together with a group of teachers, students and parents.
GIZ/Fabiola Budde
Basic education students together with Fundación Puca technicians in the micro-watershed.
GIZ/Fabiola Budde
An environmental education strategy was implemented to sensitize the population about the importance of restoring and protecting the micro-watershed. To this end, together with the Puca Community Foundation, tours of the micro-watershed were conducted with different groups of the population. In addition, open meetings were held, organized by the municipality of Las Flores, on environmental issues and the participation of women in natural resource management, among others.
The participation of the educational centers through the educational networks promoted environmental awareness not only among students of all ages, but also among their families who participated in the environmental tours of the micro-watershed.
The municipal councils are an excellent way to achieve citizen participation in the management of natural resources.
The willingness and desire of the communities to restore the micro-watershed contributed to the success of the implementation of the Compensation Mechanism for Ecosystem Water Services (MCSEH).
Environmental education workshops in the micro-watersheds, town council meetings and community assemblies are instruments that raise awareness and empower the population about the importance of natural resources.
It is important in environmental education processes, the full participation of citizens, from all the groups involved in the strategy, to the population in general.
Nursery of the municipality of Las Flores for the production of fruit and timber trees.
GIZ/Fabiola Budde
Producers receive trees to plant in the fields near the Güergüerense micro-watershed.
GIZ/Fabiola Budde
The Green Fund or Environmental Fund is part of the Compensation Mechanism for Ecosystem-Water Services (MCSEH) and is created with the financial contribution of water subscribers in the communities, who, in addition to paying the monthly fee for drinking water service, contribute a surplus earmarked exclusively for environmental management in the micro-watershed.
The municipality, commonwealths, private enterprise, and international cooperation also contribute to this fund. In the case of the Güergüerense Green Fund, its creation means economic resources for the purchase of land within the micro-watershed to be used for forest regeneration and reforestation.
The full municipal corporation demonstrated its commitment to the population and the water resource by approving the creation of this fund, establishing a 50% contribution, while the communities earmarked the other 50% for the purchase of land.
The Environmental Fund is also earmarked for fencing off water intake sites, water quality analysis and gauging.
A strategy was implemented to raise awareness among the families that owned the land adjacent to the micro-watershed, which was intended for crops or livestock, and these lands were acquired for reforestation and forest regeneration.
Natural regeneration contributes to guaranteeing the water supply in the municipality, which is why fencing off the land is necessary to guarantee the water supply.
The areas surrounding the micro-watershed were reforested with timber and fruit trees.
The start towards the recovery of the micro-watershed
Representatives of the communities of Las Flores learning about the experience of the Junta de Agua de la microcuenca Las Balanzas.
GIZ/Fabiola Budde
Representatives of water boards on an exchange tour in the Rio Hondo micro-watershed in San Marcos de Ocotepeque.
GIZ/Fabiola Budde
The process of empowerment of the actors began with exchange tours organized by the Puca Community Foundation, the Forest Conservation Institute (ICF) and the municipality of Las Flores with advice from the PROCAMBIO project, implemented by GIZ.
These exchanges took place in the micro-watersheds of Las Balanzas (in the Güisayote Biological Reserve) and Río Hondo (in the municipality of San Marcos), both in the department of Ocotepeque, where a green fund and the Compensation Mechanism for Ecosystem-Water Services (MCSEH) have been implemented.
The communities were aware that it was necessary to start protecting the micro-watershed if they wanted to guarantee water supply.
Communication between the grassroots organizations and the municipal authorities and institutions present in the territory allowed for adequate coordination.
Knowing the experience of the water boards of the Las Balanzas and Rio Hondo micro-watersheds allowed us to identify how to solve the main challenges at the time of implementing the compensation mechanism and the green fund.
Inter-institutional coordination is key to ensure the participation of all organizations and actors involved in the process.
Blue Parks relies heavily on collaborations with other conservation NGOs, communications and marketing professionals, government leaders, MPA managers, scientists, and local ocean champions. Growing the network of Blue Parks and amplifying the Blue Park standard for conservation effectiveness requires many partners.
Blue Parks has benefitted from the contributions of many partners. These collaborations have been made possible by a growing awareness that MPA coverage alone is not sufficient to safeguard biodiversity -- that we need to fully implement high quality MPAs in order to see conservation outcomes, and most MPAs are not yet well implemented.
These collaborations have also grown out of Marine Conservation Institute's long-standing history as a trusted partner among marine scientists, conservation organizations, and governments.
Nurturing collaborations across multiple sectors (government, NGO, academia) requires clear communication. We have found that regular, though not too frequent, outreach and communication with these partners keeps the collaborations active, and that these communications are most effective when they are designed for the audience, so we often send separate communications to partners in different sectors.
