Effective communication is an important aspect of the IMET assessment. Of course, effective communication between the project implementers and other stakeholders, including the funding institution(s), is needed during project development and implementation. However, in the IMET assessment, it is critical that the results of the assessment are effectively communicated to stakeholders. The stakeholders include those involved in the assessment and others who may not have participated. In our case, we organised an information sharing event at the national level to which different national stakeholders were invited. In addition to the presentations made at this event, information packs providing an analysis of the IMET results were shared with all participants. We also developed a summary results banner that was later deposited (and still is) at our project office. It is the first thing anyone sees when they walk into our office. We also developed simplified brochures in three local languages for community stakeholders.
A simple communication strategy was included in the project design. It detailed how results would be shared with stakeholders of different backgrounds.
To effectively communicate, we must acknowledge that we all perceive things differently. As a result, understanding others' social context must serve as a guide for our interactions with them, and we must use this understanding to choose the best means of communication. The methods you use to approach learned people or technocrats may not work for local communities. For instance, we found out that our local communities could not interpret the indices shown in our analysis report because, in their context, percentages did not mean anything. We therefore translated the indices into simplified explanations that they would make sense of.
Institutional (and financial) capacity for co-management of a MPA
The Toledo Institute for Development and Environment was established in 1997 by local communities in southern Belize to combat illegal fishing and harvesting of the West Indian Manatee. The organization aims to strengthen natural resource management and community stewardship within the Toledo landscape and seascape by supporting biodiversity and communities, whilst contributing to national sustainable development goals.
Over the years, TIDE has successfully managed three protected areas, including the Port Honduras Marine Reserve. TIDE has continually demonstrated its capacity to effectively manage protected areas and in October 2022 its institutional knowledge enabled the NGO to add Cayman Crown to its portfolio as its fourth co-managed area in southern Belize.
TIDE has over 20 years of experience in the co-management of protected areas, including the Port Honduras Marine Reserve.
The NGO has a proven track record in successful fundraising for the management of protected areas. For example, TIDE had secured funding for an enforcement team to oversee management of Cayman Crown prior to obtaining co-management.
Adequate infrastructure at the field station to house the enforcement team and meet subsistence needs. This also showed commitment on behalf of TIDE to MBECA for long-term management of the site.
Having the proven experience and institutional knowledge in the field facilitated TIDE reaching to an agreement with the relevant government agencies for co-management of Cayman Crown. Likewise, having funding available to implement activities.
A change in government administration in November 2020, brought the establishment of the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation and a change in the National Co-Management Framework for Marine Protected Areas. The creation of the framework has been ongoing since 2020 and has delayed TIDE's application as co-manager of Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve. With funding commitments to conduct enforcement at the reserve, the delayed designation of TIDE as co-manager of the MPA meant a delay in effective management of the Cayman Crown reef.
With a limited timeframe for implementation, TIDE, MBECA and BFD signed an memorandum of understanding (MOU) for TIDE to co-manage Cayman Crown and two established FSA sites within SCMR. This required continuous communication among the entities that resulted in a mutual agreement valid for one year. A rollout of the National Co-Management Framework is expected for 2023. In the interim, Cayman Crown, a highly biodiverse reef found lying between the maritime borders of Belize and Guatemala, is being effectively managed through the strengthening of partnerships.
Willingness on the part of the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation, Belize Fisheries Department, and TIDE to come to an agreement for co-management of the Cayman Crown.
Continuous communication among all entities involved during the process, especially in the development of the memorandum of understanding.
Continuous and open communication with government authorities is necessary improved collaboration and achievement of common goals, especially for the conservation of natural resources.
In order to manage parks sustainably, access to traditional resources is frequently restricted or changed. Such impacts must be reduced since local residents and resource users must directly or indirectly benefit from the MPA and be fully included in the solution. To steer local stakeholders away from the ongoing overexploitation of their mangrove and fishery resources, the development of environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative revenue creation was created. Apiculture was chosen to demonstrate that income can be generated from mangroves and other plants without destroying them and losing their ecological benefits. This activity has strengthened the two fishing associations and illustrated that they can cooperate to execute activities outside of their "normal" operations, the members stand to gain from it.
Strengthening the existing beekeeping cooperative
Training beneficiaries in honey harvesting techniques and business management
Women (fishermen's wives) were more engaged than the actual fishermen who were busy spending long hours in the sea.
An important component of conserving the marine protected area is public education, communication, and increasing awareness about the value and vulnerability of the marine ecosystem. Capacity building activities were desperately needed and the project provided this opportunity to stakeholders including university students, local government officials, and FoProBiM employees. Everyone was glad to go outside and have real field experiences, which made the classes, both in the classroom and, in particular, the field, extremely well accepted. This was the first "large scale" activity that FoProBiM offered to many sectors, allowing them to meet each other, learn together and create new beneficial contacts. FoProBiM has conducted smaller, more directed activities similar to this in the past. As management operations for the 3-Bays continue to grow, this additional capacity will be crucial for all stakeholder groups.
Outreach activities should be integrated into a program
Training for trainers; train community members to conduct activities
Stakeholder engagement
The addition of university students is key.
Activities carried out within the communities are more effective
This project encouraged the participation of youth and community volunteers to gain support and increase local knowledge of the importance of protecting local ecosystems. Increased community involvement will work to build capacity while empowering and strengthening local conservation efforts. The group of volunteers we currently work with is a mix of residents and visitors, men and women, young and old and from a wide range of backgrounds.
Efforts are made to keep policymakers involved and inform them of the importance of mangroves in general and restoration in particular to gain their support.
Supportive community, whenever activities are anounced they respond readily
the actvities organised for engaging the community are diverse (tours in the mangrove forest, events, presentation evenings) and thus cater to a variety of groups like school groups, junior rangers, general public, science community and stakeholders operating in the area.
Easy access to media outlets.
Momentum reached (having reached a lot of local, regional and international exposure).
Collaborating with other nature organisations helped reach more people.
Advertisements for events could be improved by divulging information through other media channels, e.g. radio.
Organising different forms of outreach activities, such as public presentations, encouraged community engagement.
Even though most residents speak English, communicating in both the local language and English gives a better result.
Reforestation in degraded and sparsely vegetated areas
Planting along the coast
Mangrove Maniacs
Enhancing the conditions in the degraded areas, eleminating threats in the mangrove forest will lead to natural regeneration. However the restauration can be sped up by using nursery grown saplings. New plants from the nursery are used in degraded areas and along the coast to support reforestation efforts. Expanded mangrove forests will form a first line of coastal defense for extreme weather conditions and rising sea levels, supporting an ecosystem-based approach to climate change adaptation and mitigation on the island. This also includes a pilot program to encourage regrowth of mangroves in degraded areas and demonstrate intervention method success.
There was a ready supply of saplings from the nurseries.
Planting mangrove saplings could be done by anybody and was a good activity to raise awareness. Outpanting events always raised enough volunteers in the community
The availability of propagules and good functioning nurseries provided enough plants for the outplanting efforts.
Initially, plastic pots and bags were used (see block 2). The use of biodegradable bags decreased transportation space and handling of the saplings, thus increasing survivability.
CHICOP closely collaborates with representatives from neighboring communities, facilitated through regular village meetings and the establishment of an MPA advisory committee. The park actively engages with the local communities to gather their feedback and incorporate it into the planning and decision-making processes for adaptive management planning and implementation. A recurring 10-year management plan provides the bedrock for the Chumbe project (now in its 3rd iteration). Feedback to planning is collected through in-person interviews and meetings, ensuring open and transparent communication channels with the local communities. Moreover, by providing extensive employment opportunities for the local communities (both on the island, and through supporting a range of off-island enterprises that contribute to island operations, such as sustainable agricultural products, organic soap production and the like), Chumbe fosters mutual benefits, sustainable livelihoods, and ensures strong representation of local community considerations in all aspects of management.
Collecting opinions through regular meetings with the villagers and engaging in discussion with local authorities, such as the Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries and the Department of Forestry, is a key factor for success in ensuring the protection of the island’s biodiversity.
The privately managed governance model adopted by the island brought significant advantages in management without generating conflicts of interest among different stakeholders or changes in priorities by the government.
The successful conservation of Chumbe Island would not be possible without the active involvement, engagement, and support of local communities. The direct contribution and willingness to participate are critical factors for success. It is important to foster an open and inclusive environment where different voices can be heard, and mutual understanding can be built. By actively engaging with and listening to the local communities, a strong sense of ownership and collaboration can be fostered, leading to more effective and equitable conservation efforts
