IInauguración de un sistema restaurado de manejo del agua – Miraflores, Perú.
The Mountain Institute
Strengthening community organization and institutions
A pasture and water management plan was developed to promote integrated management of pastures, water and livestock resources throughout the communal territory of Miraflores. The goal was to strengthen community organization so that water could be distributed more effectively and grazing areas could benefit from improved rotation. The process to develop the management plan was facilitated by The Mountain Institute using a methodology to strengthen capacities, stimulating collective and social practices within the community. The plan is defined as a set of ideas that emerge from a given population, based on their own perspectives. This is achieved by means of an in-depth process of analysis. The management plan can also serve as a tool for local management in the medium term.
According to the keen interest of this community, analysis and planning have focused on grasslands and water. The plan also encouraged the community to establish a committee to maintain and operate the renovated water infrastructure so that the water continues to flow and grasslands continue to be irrigated.
- Local population’s interest and commitment
- Participation of the Nor Yauyos Cochas Landscape Reserve (NYCLR) team
- Commitment and support from the communal and municipal authorities
- Aligned interests between the project and NYCLR, the national authority for protected areas (SERNANP), the community of Miraflores and the municipality
- Participation of local and external experts and useful, positive interactions between them and community members
- Participatory approach, participatory action-research methodology, and effective communication
- Given the community’s initial lack of confidence in external institutions, the consistent presence of The Mountain Institute field staff and their involvement in the day-to-day life of the community was very important. Communication activities helped to raise levels of trust and participation, as well as local ownership.
- It is essential that the field team be trained in applying the participatory approach, using participatory tools and facilitating collective learning.
- To develop the community’s capacity to handle management plans, it is important to strengthen their links with local and/or regional governments that can foster the community’s initiative and will likely be involved in the plan’s implementation.
- It is important to dedicate even more time to the participatory design and implementation of the pasture and water management plan.
- It's helpful to promote consolidating governance arrangements.