Scaling-up and sustainability of adaptation measures
Assembly of the Binational Committee of the Sixaola River Basin
IUCN @ Elías Cruz
Meeting with community members
IUCN @ Paula Cruz
Agrobiodiversity Fair in Talamanca
IUCN @ Paul Aragón
Promoting EbA measures with a high level of community involvement and binational ties was an effective way to achieve greater interaction between community, municipal and national actors, and also between peers (network of resilient producers; local government encounter). The results are, on the one hand, greater local empowerment, and on the other, scaling-up of EbA measures both vertically and horizontally. Thus, contributions are made towards institutionalizing EbA and creating conditions for its sustainability. The replication of the integral farm model arose from networking between producers, communities and local governments, and from a regional project with the Binational Commission of the Sixaola River Basin (CBCRS) that provided the financing. The Agrobiodiversity Fair, the work of producers as a network, and the Binational Reforestation Events, which are now all under the auspices of local and national institutions, were important mobilizing forces of change and spaces for exchange and learning. In the vertical sense, the scaling-up of EbA included working with the CBCRS to integrate EbA in the Strategic Plan for Transboundary Territorial Development (2017-2021), and with MINAE in the National Climate Change Adaptation Policy of Costa Rica.
Much of the work was accomplished thanks to the channelling and guiding role of the CBCRS (created in 2009) as a binational platform for governance and dialogue, and the ACBTC as a local development association. Both advocate for local and territorial interests and know the gaps and needs that exist in the area, and with this project were able to address the challenges that communities face and improve governance in the basin, promoting an ecosystem approach and a broad participation of actors.
Coordinating efforts through the CBCRS has shown that it is more cost-effective to work with existing structures and governance bodies, with powers and interests in the good management of natural resources and in achieving an appropriate representation of key actors, than to aim to create new groups or committees to deal with EbA issues.
Improving multilevel and multisectoral governance is a fundamental part of effective adaptation. Here, the role of subnational governments (such as municipalities) needs to be underscored, since they have a mandate in the management of the territory, but also responsibilities in the implementation of national adaptation policies and programs (e.g. NDCs and NAPs).
The identification of spokespersons and leaders (amongst men, women and youth) is an important factor in effectively fomenting the uptake and up-scaling of EbA.
“Action learning” and monitoring to increase capacities and knowledge
Field work with the community
IUCN @ Paula Cruz
School presentation at the Agrobiodiversity Fair
IUCN @ Pablo Cambronero
Avoiding soil erosion
IUCN @ Jeimy Carranza
In addition to training and supporting communities to implement EbA measures through their productive practices, the aim is to generate evidence on the benefits of these measures and create conditions for their sustainability and up scaling.
The socio-environmental vulnerability of 7 communities in the Sixaola River basin is examined in order to then identify and prioritize EbA measures.
Diagnoses are made (productive, socioeconomic and agro-ecological) to identify families with a commitment to transform their farms and select those with the greatest potential to become integral farms.
Technical support is provided to communities, complemented with traditional knowledge, to ensure that EbA measures contribute to food and water security.
Exchanges and training are organized for producers (men and women), indigenous authorities, youth and municipalities on climate change, food security, natural resource management, organic fertilizers and soil conservation.
Monitoring and evaluation is carried out to understand the benefits of EbA measures, and inform horizontal and vertical up-scaling.
Activities, such as the Agrobiodiversity Fair and binational reforestation events, are carried out collaboratively with local actors.
IUCN’s and ACBTC’s years of previous work with the local communities were a key enabling factor to ensure effective and inclusive participation processes, achieve a high level of ownership of EbA measures, and empower stakeholders (in this case, producers, community groups, municipalities and Ministries).
The binational agreement between Costa Rica and Panama (from 1979 and renewed in 1995) facilitates work at the binational level and inter-sectorial coordination, and endorses the Binational Commission for Sixaola that operates since 2011.
Self-diagnosis of vulnerabilities in the face of climate change (in this case, through the CRiSTAL methodology) is a powerful tool that allows communities to jointly prioritize what is most urgent and important and achieves greater collective benefits.
Applying the "action learning" approach at the community level allows for a better understanding of multiple concepts related to EbA and creates a community of practice that values and takes ownership of adaptation measures.
It is important to recognize the complementarity between scientific and traditional knowledge for the implementation of EbA measures.
Building an Endowment for Sustainable Community Protected Area Management
YUS Conservation Area
Woodland Park Zoo
Financial sustainability is an overarching aim for YUS landscape management. Woodland Park Zoo, with the help of Conservation International’s Global Conservation Fund and other donors, established a two million dollar endowment for the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program and the YUS Conservation Area in 2011. The non-sinking endowment is managed by Woodland Park Zoo (WPZ) and follows procedures outlined in WPZ’s Operations Manual. Four percent of the interest earned by the endowment is to be disbursed annually by WPZ in accordance with TKCP-PNG annual plans and budget formulated in December of each year, and is designed to provide partial funding for core landscape programs in perpetuity.
Partnership with organization that has expertise in establishing protected area endowments.
Long-term institutional support for endowment fund management (Woodland Park Zoo).
It is important to link the allocation of endowment funds to clear outcomes in TKCP-PNG annual plans, and to the long-term targets of the YUS Landscape Plan.
It is necessary to continue to attract additional funding streams for the rest of the core programs, non-core programs, and operational costs not covered by the endowment fund disbursements (WPZ and TKCP continue to submit funding proposals to donors for this purpose).
Improving Community Livelihoods through Sustainable, Wildlife-Friendly Products
Children of the YUS region in Papua New Guinea
Woodland Park Zoo
To ensure the long-term sustainability of the YUS CA, local communities must participate in and benefit from its protection. To encourage community engagement and sustainable development, TKCP builds partnerships to address local needs for livelihoods, health, education and skills training.
The YUS Conservation Coffee program is an integrated approach to optimizing supply for a sustainable crop, while building connections to international markets. By selling farm-direct to Caffé Vita and other buyers, YUS coffee farmers earn revenues more than 35% higher than local market rates. Adequately covering production and transport costs, premium coffee export has become an economically viable industry for YUS communities. TKCP is now working to replicate this success among cocoa farmers by working with the PNG Cocoa Board and chocolatiers to improve local cocoa quality and to identify new markets. In addition, TKCP is facilitating the establishment of a YUS Conservation Coffee and Cocoa Cooperative to strengthen the management and marketing of the two crops.
TKCP's community livelihoods programs have fostered community buy-in for conservation, which is further bolstered by environmental education and community health efforts, ensuring the social and cultural sustainability of TKCP.
Holistic approach to responding to the needs of people and the ecosystems on which they depend.
A wide range of national and international partnerships (government, private sector, academia and the NGO sector) to address economic and social needs of local communities.
Long-term time commitment to working with local communities (TKCP has been in existence since 1996).
Recognition that YUS is a living landscape where human well-being is the result of environmental protection.
Understanding that the tree kangaroo is a special species for YUS. The Matchie’s tree kangaroo is endangered, mainly due to pressures from hunting, a complex and important cultural practice in YUS. The guarantee of its long-term survival is what prompted YUS landowners to create a protected landscape.
Recognition of the need to make a long-term commitment to achieve success with sustainable livelihood initiatives.
Commitment to having the YUS people take a leadership role in creating a vision of what is needed to create a place where wildlife can thrive and where people benefit from looking after the land and sea that supports them.
PNG is one of the most diverse places on Earth — a country with over 850 languages and numerous mountain ranges that have historically limited contact between clans. These clans traditionally manage their own land their own way. Yet over the past two decades, communities scattered across the Huon Peninsula have defied tradition, joining hands to create a community-based group that collectively manages what in 2009 became known as the YUS Conservation Area (YUS CA), the first legally protected area of its kind in PNG. Stretching over 75,000 hectares, YUS encompasses cloud forest peaks towering 4,000 meters high, coral reef on the coast below and tropical rainforest in between. The YUS CA protects not only the Matschie’s tree kangaroo, TKCP’s flagship species, but also a host of threatened species, as well as critical habitat that local communities depend upon for subsistence agriculture, clean water and hunting.
The YUS Conservation Area is managed in partnership among TKCP, the YUS community and the PNG government. TKCP manages the YUS conservation ranger team and the Ecological Monitoring Program conducts community awareness-raising, mapping and facilitates the YUS Conservation Area Management Committee.
A wide range of national and international partnerships (government, private sector, academia and the NGO sector).
Long-term time commitment to working with local landowners to understand community needs.
Working in partnership with local landowners and their families in conservation efforts;
On-going efforts to raise community awareness about the importance of YUS conservation;
Creation of the YUS Conservation Ranger Team;
Creation of YUS Ecological Monitoring Program; and
Establishment of a YUS Conservation Area Management Committee.
Fostering the design, establishment, and long-term management of a protected area in Papua New Guinea requires action appropriate to unique local conditions. Lessons learned for wildlife conservation include:
Significant planning and analysis should precede commitment to a site for conservation work.
Long-term success requires a long-term investment of time (it took more than a decade to establish the YUS Conservation Area).
It is essential to build a trusting and respectful relationship with landowners.
Community needs must be incorporated into conservation goals.
There is a need to build relationships with all levels of PNG government as project stakeholders.
“Action learning” and monitoring to increase capacities and knowledge
Community ownership of adaptation measures based on ecosystems and biodiversity
Scaling-up and sustainability of adaptation measures
Institutional Autonomy for More Efficient, More Effective Administration
UKG has been given several special autonomous rights in public administration delegated by its members under the Local Autonomy Act. In addition to promoting regional-wide administrative works mentioned in the first Building Block, it partially takes over the role of the national administration. For policymaking on important issues, UKG constitutes a special coordination body composed of governors and mayors of UKG members. Each member is appointed as a commissioner responsible for decision-making and implementation for each administrative field/sub-field of UKG, and field offices are set up under each responsible member governments. Furthermore, councils can be set up to discuss important issues of the region with participation of local stakeholders. This governance system ensures that UKG represents the regional voices. Nevertheless, the finance of the Union entirely depends on mandatory contributions from the member governments and subsidies from the national government as the right of taxation is not included in the given rights.
Several special autonomous rights in public administration delegated by the members under the Local Autonomy Act
Establishing a governance system that ensures that UKG represents the regional voices for policymaking on important issues
An intergovernmental organization can administrate cross-jurisdictional issues more effectively and efficiently than the national government when the member governments in the system reflect regional needs and make good use of the local knowledge and network.
