Transboundary conservation in the Selva Maya through park ranger exchanges

Full Solution

by Rudy Herrera, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

Parque Nacional Mirador Rio Azu

Selva Maya Programme GIZ

Through the exchange of park rangers from two natural protected areas of global importance at the border of Guatemala and Mexico, managers of these advanced in the identification of common challenges and developed joint agendas. As a result, both sides implemented concrete bi-national actions improving communication, control and surveillance strategies, reducing threats to regional biodiversity and hence elevating the transboundary protected area governance.

Last update: 10 Jul 2019

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Context

Challenges addressed

Inefficient management of financial resources

Poor monitoring and enforcement

Poor governance and participation

Lack of legal framework, limited communication and collaborative safeguarding were the three major challenges. The two protected areas face the same challenges but lack the legal framework to cooperate. Efforts to protect the natural heritage and ecosystem services are parallel rather than coordinated. Hence communication is limited and resources are used inefficiently. Additionally the linear extension of the border is significant, demanding the improvement of collaborative efforts to safeguard it.

Scale of implementation

Subnational

Ecosystems

Temperate evergreen forest

Theme

Habitat fragmentation and degradation

Connectivity / transboundary conservation

Ecosystem services

Legal & policy frameworks

Indigenous people

World Heritage

Policy and legislation, Management planning, Science and research

Location

Guatemala and Mexico

Central America

North America

Process

Summary of the process

Although the Selva Maya, shared by Belize, Guatemala and Mexico, has been recognized for its global importance, there are few efforts to elucidate that this ecosystem is shared by three countries. A more collaborative approach and awareness therefore need to be in place to reduce the existing threats inside and around numerous protected areas. Transboundary exchanges among park rangers between two bordering protected areas are useful to recognize the main problems they share and what specific actions should be developed. It also gives the opportunity for rangers and managers to learn from each other and exchange experiences. Building a common collaborative platform through workshops helps to put together a joint action plan which is subsequently implemented. To increase the capacity of the rangers, several workshops are conducted to tackle specific training needs like fire suppression and biological monitoring. Along with the technical exchange it is crucial to raise political awareness and lay the groundwork for legal agreements through political stakeholder groups at an institutional level above the protected areas.

Building Blocks

Transboundary exchange to define common activities

Due to the multiple threats to the integrity of the ecosystems that are shared between Guatemala and Mexico, directors and rangers of the institutions responsible for the administration, management and protection of the respective protected areas decide to carry out exchanges. These exchanges serve to define activities that contribute to reducing existing threats. As a result of the exchanges, the implementation of binational management and conservation strategies are continuously defined in a strategic plan for control and collaborative monitoring, aimed at, among others, minimizing the illegal trafficking of flora, fauna and archaeological remnants.

Enabling factors

Both protected areas need to recognize shared threats and be willing to tackle them under a joint vision. Both sides also need to be able to mobilize park rangers and make them feel that they are working together as equals to reduce environmental threats.

Lesson learned

Park rangers carry important knowledge about the environmental threats. If they receive motivation to work together and exchange their knowledge they can contribute to develop effective conservation strategies. The different capacity levels and skills of park rangers from either side aid collaborative learning. Political conditions (for instance lack of legal framework) can be an obstacle to initiate the exchange and be a challenge in implementation.

Regular review of the Annual Operative Plan (AOP)

During the aforementioned exchanges, park rangers identify, review and analyze the major shared threats, the local communities involved in illegal activities and the need to strengthen local capacities. Based on this an Annual Operative Plan (AOP) is developed and a regular review process is carried out concerning the progress of the implementation of the AOP. This review is conducted jointly by the managers of the border area institutions in order to mitigate threats, identify shared tasks and promote synergies between the institutions. The review of the Annual Operative Plan serves the staff to keep on track regarding the implementation and allows for the plan’s adaptation to changing conditions if necessary.

Enabling factors

A clear understanding of the environmental and geographic context is essential. It will be useful to identify leaders (park rangers) to push the process

Lesson learned

Every year, each protected area develops their own AOP. The contents of the transboundary and national AOP should not be merged. Therefore the transboundary AOPs should cover only those aspects which are not covered by individual plans. It is helpful to avoid park ranger turnover in order to guarantee the continuity of the implementation process and obviate to return to the start of the process.

Transboundary exchange workshops and training for rangers

To raise capacity within the protected areas and foster exchange, a series of area specific capacity development initiatives are carried out. As such rangers participate in training workshops concerning integrated fire management within transboundary protected areas. The Fire Brigade Commissaries from communities near the protected area are invited to participate in order to learn about the issue from an international perspective, raise their awareness and ensure their active participation in solving and mitigating threats of forest fires. A biological monitoring workshop to standardize the record keeping of wildlife and species specific threats is also carried out. Additionally, exchanges of experience in joint patrols to detect illegal activities and exchange information on observations of wildlife are conducted.

Enabling factors

Through these workshops and training, park rangers must feel that they are part of the solution in order to reduce threats (poaching, fires, enhance wildlife distribution knowledge, etc) in the area. . An incentive can be the increase in knowledge about a specific topic. It is also crucial to encourage a teamwork perspective to strengthen a collaborative ambiance.

Lesson learned

A clear understanding of the training needs, especially those that can reduce threats at the transboundary level, are crucial for the success and enhanced conservation action. When there is involvement from the federal (politically higher) level in the preparation and execution of these workshops, it seems there is an increase in not only ranger´s but also in local communities` participation.

Transnational institutional working group

In order to lay the foundation for a future legal framework for transboundary protected area management, a supplementary strategic working group is formed. The working group acts as a political mechanism fostering the protected areas` exchange and to facilitate the decision making process aimed at solving the series of threats to the ecological integrity of the region. The working group is anchored at an institutional level above the protected areas (federal level) within the respective countries and works towards the establishment of legal agreements to foster transboundary management.

Enabling factors

The will of one or more relevant departments/secretariats/ministries at the federal level is essential in establishing a more strategic and politically relevant working group. It is important to raise confidence and create a transparent environment along the process.

Lesson learned

If continuous dialogues are fostered, it will be easier to bring stakeholders from a politically higher level together. It is also relevant to raise ownership regarding the idea that transboundary and collaborative efforts are crucial for the maintenance of environmental services, wildlife protection, and the like. This ownership at the protected area level and above will support the subsequent implementation of activities.

Impacts

Improved coordination between the management authorities of both natural protected areas. Based on a common plan and a shared working agenda, there is more communication between local authorities that facilitates appropriate decision making and effective protection. This in turn benefits the integrity of the ecosystem and its services. Improved institutional presence and strengthened capacities within the communities along the border. Both protected areas dedicate their time and personnel more efficiently to generate environmental awareness about the importance and benefits of protecting this shared forest. Strengthened capacities of park rangers on key aspects like fire management and biodiversity monitoring. Through specific trainings and exchanges, park rangers have improved their capacities and developed common strategies to reduce impacts of illegal hunting, fires and illegal logging. A joint monitoring program for key species like jaguars, tapirs, and others has also been developed. This in turn reduces illegal activities like poaching and leads to a better understanding of the wildlife population dynamics of target species

Beneficiaries

Local communities in and around the protected areas and park rangers.

Story

Paco Asturias the director of the protected area on the Guatemalan side is a dedicated man with the mission to protect his forest, the heart of the Selva Maya. Paco spends much time in the forest, supervising his park rangers as well as planning surveillance and monitoring schedules. He is constantly aware that the resources he has available are limited and the challenges seemingly endless. However, ever since the exchange with Mexico started, he knows that the neighbors up north face the same challenges, maybe even greater ones. And since they work together, the overall surveillance and monitoring is more effective because the park rangers from both sides combine forces along the border. Paco can see his park rangers` motivation rise when joint activities with Mexico are planned and they get to exchange their challenges with colleagues from a different but yet so similar park. Even more so, when the directors of the protected areas commission on either side of each county come together as part of the strategic group, he can see the appreciation the rangers feel and the motivation it gives the entire team. His own personal motivation is boosted as well - seeing the increase in efficiency of the surveillance, the number of detected illegal activities and the rising capacity of his staff, he is content and has hope for the future of the Selva Maya and it´s heritage.