Local | PANORAMA

Governance

Participatory governance is a dynamic process under constant review and consolidation.

Currently, there are significant positive results in terms of consultation and the definition of management strategies. The aim is to strengthen the participation ofstakeholders in active and consensual decision-making.

There is a good articulation of those involved in the project at the local level regarding the sustainability of the processes to ensure participatory governance.

The participation of local stakeholders, especially citizens, from the beginning of the management process favored the governance, implementation and enforcement of the protected area's conservation proposals.

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Financial sustainability

The funds for managing the conservation area are guaranteed because the municipality annually allocates resources for current expenses (personnel and operations) and investment expenses (programs), in addition to contributions from cooperation and environmental compensation funds.

If this trend continues, the area's management has sufficient funds to be able to sustain itself economically over time.

There is a strong interest on the part of civil society organizations and institutions to conserve protected areas.

The allocation of the company's own resources and the proper management of funds from national and international cooperation were essential to achieve the established goals.

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Institutionality

The Decentralized Autonomous Government - GAD - of Limón Indanza has generated a series of legal and regulatory instruments to strengthen and sustain the management of the conservation area. Therefore, this management is organically linked to the Territorial Development and Management Plan(PDOT), has its own management plan, and is part of the organic structure of the municipality. It also has an ordinance that establishes the regulations for its management and operation.

There is a strong political will to include in the public policy agenda and the management of the conservation area in question.

The political will of decision-makers is fundamental to achieve the institutionalization and permanence of protected area management and conservation processes.

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Promotion of sustainable productive activities to improve local livelihoods.

The promotion of productive activities has been developed through

Assemblies with the communities to reduce pressure on the forest and páramo.
The promotion of investments as an opportunity to improve the livelihoods of the community and also as an example for neighboring communities to follow in terms of changing attitudes towards the conservation of the forest and páramo.
Improvement of the main traditional crops such as wheat, corn and potatoes through technical assistance, technified irrigation and improved seeds.
Improvement of the dairy products production chain through the technification of the cheese, yogurt and blancmange production process, improved pastures and technified irrigation.
Promote aquaculture by raising trout, taking advantage of the availability of good quality water and the demand for protein in the local diet, including markets in nearby cities.
Promotion of alternative crops, such as fruit (avocado, apple, peach, orange) and technical assistance.

Articulation of wills between investors and the community in favor of sustainable activities

The impacts and results must be palpable in the lives of local community stakeholders so that they strengthen their commitment to ACA management. In other words, a before and after in people's lives in reference to the implementation of project management.

Something key in the whole process has been the creation of the QUIROZ-CHIRA WATER FUND, a mechanism of retribution for ecosystem services (or payment for environmental services), since 2014, which receives financial contribution from the irrigators of the coastal valleys, who benefit from the water that is "produced" in the highlands of Ayabaca and Pacaipampa, where the environmental conservation area is located. This finances part of the activities and the other part is managed by the community itself, with support from the municipalities and international cooperation.

It is also key to maintain good and permanent communication with the community.

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Active participation of local communities

Restoring the páramo, with native species (alder and queñual).

Paúl Viñas

This is a key element for the success of the ACA in terms of good use of the area's natural resources. Active participation has allowed for a clear perspective of the responsibilities and duties of the communities with respect to conservation, thus achieving recognition of an environmental conservation area by the provincial municipality, making good use of local resources and benefiting the greatest number of families in the area.

There has also been an interest in the organization and active participation of the communities in the management of the ACA.

The favorable factors were 3, namely:

Continuous training on topics of importance of natural resources.
Agreements reached and approved by the community assembly on the use, exploitation and protection of natural ecosystems.
Promotion of sustainable productive activities.

Local communities need to be empowered in the ACA management process.

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A strong ecosystemic framework for the management of the area.

The adoption of an ecosystem approach to protected area management was and is crucial in this case.

The San Pedro de Vice Mangrove is a threatened habitat that supports and sustains the life of numerous endemic species of both plants and animals.

Because of this, it is vitally important not only to work at the species level but rather, considering the habitats as functional, global ecosystems, to manage them in an integral way by focusing on the management and conservation of land and water.

In other words, preserving living resources.

The success in the implementation of this ecosystem focus has been due to the factual and technical understanding of the importance of mangrove management as an ecosystem, as well as the fact of having obtained RAMSAR certification , a situation that has officially demonstrated the importance of the care and preservation of the mangrove system in the area .

This vision must be integrated, internalized and materialized in the daily actions of the inhabitants in order to fully understand the dynamics of the area's management and protection.

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Participatory approach to area management.

This has been possible thanks to a seven-year Management Plan , with the objective of "Conserving and sustainably using the biodiversity and natural resources of the Manglares de San Pedro de Vice Ramsar Site".

This Plan focuses on five components

Value of the Ramsar Site
Tourism
Signage and Accessibility
Use of natural resources and
Governance

The participatory approach is crucial in the effective management of the area as it allows local stakeholders to be part of the decision making and implementation of actions in favor of conservation objectives.

The high and effective degree of involvement of the communities in the decision-making and management processes of the area.

One of the lessons learned has been the imperative need for a process of capacity building on conservation issues so that community participation is strategically aligned with the objective of the Management Plan.

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Gestión financiera sostenible, responsable y debidamente fiscalizada

La gestión financiera del área fue llevada a cabo en forma descentralizada, lo que otorgó mayor transparencia al uso de los recursos.

Se ha controlado financieramente todo el proceso de acuerdo a la legislación que apoya el proyecto y el presupuesto destinado al mismo.

Las decisiones tomadas para el destino de los recursos han pasado la aprobación de la Junta Financiera de la Secretaría Municipal de Medio Ambiente, el CONDEMA y de la junta financiera del Municipio, dependiendo de la procedencia de los recursos.

Esto ha sido factible gracias a recursos provenientes de: presupuesto municipal, términos de ajustamiento de conductas ( TAC´s), Ministerio Público, FUNDEMA, Secretaria de Justicia, infracciones ambientales, términos de compromiso ambiental (TCA), recursos de otros proyectos y programas empresarios, la Cámara Estatal de Compensación Ambiental, de términos de compensación vegetal (TCV) entre otros medios de financiamiento.

Todos ellos gestionados y debidamente fiscalizados por los órganos de contralor creados al efecto.

Si bien es cierto que en este tipo de proyectos los recursos financieros y económicos son claves para la implementación y concreción de los mismos, lo más importante que se ha aprendido aquí es que esos ingresos económicos han cumplido con el objetivo gracias a haber aprendido la gran importancia y rol fundamental que tiene una buena fiscalización, control y administración del dinero que forma parte del presupuesto, se ha aprendido básicamente que es imperativo contar con procesos de control transparentes y a la altura de las circunstancias.

Implementation

Monitoring

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Artificial reefs

Another important related activity was the identification of the location of artificial reefs, in order to increase fish biomass by using the reef effect.

The seagrass map later produced by the MPA proved particularly useful to select seagrass-free areas to place these artificial reefs.

The submersion of articial reef was alrrady tested with the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 2009. Moreover, the Senegalese Aquaculture and Mussel Research Centre (CRAMS) located in M’bodiène, north of Joal-Fadiouth, was developing and placing artificial reefs at the same time inside the aquaculture farm.

The fishermen of Joal-Fadiouth became particularly interested in submerging similar reefs in their MPA, in order to attract fish and diversify the fishing activity.

A challenge for the CRAMS was the loss of some fish escaping from the cages, but also the fact that the shadow of the cages tended to attract wild fish as well. This abundance of both wild and escaped farmed fish around the farm attracted local fishermen, which often resulted in damage to the cages and hence to conflicts with the CRAMS team. The team therefore deployed several artificial reefs around the cages (made of mollusc shelves, largely consumed by Senegalese). Not only did the artificial reef effect result in increased fish biomass, but the reef also kept the fishermen off the fish cages.

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Awareness raising activities

In each neighborhood of Joal-Fadiouth, awareness raising activities were conducted. Short films including underwater footage showing fishermen diving in search for seagrass were shown to the broader community of fishermen. The films were projected at night, followed by debates with the MPA management team. While the fishermen were targeted through specific meetings or by listening to the numerous interventions of the MPA team at the local radio, these films and debates were the opportunity to touch the other members of the family and of the neighborhood.

Awareness raising activities such as the projection of films or radio interviewes were regurlarly conducted by the MPA team since its creation. Fishermen and inhabitants were used to hear messages coming from the management team, which had credibility.

This helped to raise awareness around the critical role seagrass beds play as nursery and feeding grounds in their MPA, and to stress the importance of their conservation for both current and future generations of fishermen. Furthermore, additional snorkeling equipment was purchased in order to allow local fishermen to see the seagrass meadows by themselves. The increased awareness of the fishermen around seagrass beds led them to request appropriate MPA zoning and marking, in order to avoid involuntary damages to seagrass caused by either their anchors or the propellers of their engines.

Implementation

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