GT0012 Guatemala: People­Centred Conservation & Ecodev. in Sierra de la Minas Biosphere Reserve



Project Summary:

The Ecodevelopment project in the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve is focused on environmentally­sound economic development and conservation education in and around the Sierra de las Minas Reserve, as a counterpart and complement to other ongoing protection and management efforts. The overall goal of the project is the conservation and sustainable use of the region's natural resources in perpetuity and achievement of human well­being through the development of sustainable livelihoods.
Priority Biomes % Strategies %
Forests 90
Consumption & Pollution 0Freshwater Ecosystems 10 EE & Capacity Building 40
Oceans and Coasts 0 Protected Areas 20
Non-Priority Biomes 0 Species 0
Non-Biome Specific 0 Sustainable Resource Use 40
Treaties & Legislation 0
Non-Priority Strategies 0

Project Background:

The Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve lies in northeastern Guatemala, with an area of approximately 236,000 ha of rugged mountainous terrain, encompassing seven life zones and species­rich cloud forests. Numerous rare and endangered plants and animals such as the quetzal, jaguar, possibly the harpy eagle, tapir, white monk orchid and high numbers of endemic plants and invertebrates are found in the area. While relatively inaccessible due to its extremely rugged topography and lack of roads, the area has come under increasing threat in recent years primarily from the expansion of the agriculture frontier up the slopes of the Sierra, with resulting deforestation from land clearing and agriculturally­induced forest fires. The second major threat to the area has been uncontrolled and ecologically­unsound lumbering, as the Sierra houses extensive timber resources. Hunting is an additional pressure on the wildlife resources of the area. WWF involvement in this region began in early 1989, with support to Defensores de la Naturaleza, a Guatemalan NGO long interested in the area, to complete the technical and feasibility study of the area required for its specific legal establishment as a Biosphere Reserve in 1990. WWF has subsequently worked with Defensores to develop an overall integrated conservation and development project whose goals are to: protect the biodiversity and forests of the Sierra; maintain and improve the watershed functions; improve the quality of life of local residents in accordance with sustainable utilization of the natural resources in the area; and promote scientific research in the area.

Project Objectives:

1. To strengthen and expand training and extension by involving farmers from 50% of the communities in sustainable agricultural production of corn and beans through adoption of technologies to conserve soil and build fertility.

2. To develop a forestry programme focused on provision of technical services for sustainable management of timber and non­timber forest products and strengthening local capacity for managing community forest resources.

3. To develop a cadre of local promoters and technicians to extend agricultural and forestry work geographically.

4. To develop new training and extension activities in social organization, marketing, processing and storage.

5. To integrate the environmental communication project activities into the extension and training work and incorporate ecological learning into all extension activities.

6. To continue to build support and capability to positively affect the reserve among the region's decision makers through training and communication.

GT0012.1: Ecodevelopment Project in the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve (Jan. 92 - Dec. 96)

Activity Background:

In November 1993, DFN completed an evaluation of field activities and reached several important conclusions: 1) the sustainable agriculture activities have a high adoption rate and need to be expanded in order to reach communities not yet covered; 2) greater emphasis should be given to organization and training of women; and 3) environmental education, especially information regarding the importance of the SMBR and the role of DFN, need to be better integrated into community extension and outreach activities. DFN incorporated these elements into an overall programme called Ecodevelopment.

Activity Objectives:

1. To improve the quality of life of the local populations through rational resource management and increase sensibility and respect for nature.

2. To increase agricultural productivity and sustainability to improve the standard of living.

3. To strengthen womens' participation, giving emphasis to transmission of personal values towards nature and sustainable resource use.

4. To train local residents in improved resource management and conservation, and develop legal, community, and institutional mechanisms for conservation.

Activity Biomes:

Tropical Moist Forest.

Activity Methods:

Agriculture Management; Community Conservation; Education; Forest Management; Institutional Support and Development; Protected Area Management; Programme / Project Development.

Activity Species:

Resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno).

GT0016 Guatemala: Guatemala ­ Trust Fund for Conservation

Project Summary:

The Guatemala Conservation Trust is a long term mechanism to support conservation action in priority geographic and thematic areas and promote discussion of conservation and sustainable development issues. It functions as a legally inscribed entity with backing of the relevant institutional and financial management entities of Guatemala. It has full­time administrative management, professional financial and legal advisors, a trustee, and formal procedures and guidelines for project decision­making, financial disbursement mechanisms, and selection of new members. WWF sits on the board together with four Guatemalan NGO partners and the government management authority as advisor. Projects to create and manage protected areas, build conservation capacity, promote sustainable resource use, and protect species of special concern are developed by these organizations and others that may apply for financing. The trust is designed to cover operational costs and make grants through conservative investment policies that permit sequestering an interest allotment to continue capitalization. WWF assists in attracting attention and support to the trust, participates actively in decision­making regarding disbursements, operational and administrative structure, procedures and systems, and in general discussion of Guatemala conservation issues. The GCT is a non­traditional mechanism by which WWF will decentralize our programmatic decision­making and financial responsibilities in this important country of the Central American focal unit.
Priority Biomes % Strategies %
Forests 0Consumption & Pollution 0
Freshwater Ecosystems 0 EE & Capacity Building 100
Oceans and Coasts 0 Protected Areas 0
Non-Priority Biomes 0 Species 0
Non-Biome Specific 100 Sustainable Resource Use 0
Treaties & Legislation 0
Non-Priority Strategies 0

Project Background:

Guatemalan conservation took a significant step towards self empowerment with the formation of a trust fund in 1991 to support protected areas planning and management, environmental education, biodiversity research, sustainable use of wild resources, technical training, and other activities that promote sound linkage between conservation and national economic development. WWF joined with Defensores de la Naturaleza, Fundación Interamericana de Investigación Tropical, and Fundación Mario Dary Rivera in establishing a board to oversee financial management of the fund and development of spending programmes. A government representative participates as a non­voting member. The board's representation may increase to include a maximum of nine member organizations. WWF staff were instrumental in designing and creating the administrative and legal framework for the trust. The fund was capitalized initially with USD155,000 of WWF general funds authorized in FY91 and 92, a private donation from UK of USD370,000 authorized in FY92, and USD290,000 from conversion of donated commercial debt held by the Bank of America in FY93. The fund is expected to attract additional contributions from bilateral and multilateral aid agencies, the GEF, and other sources both public and private sectors to reach the target endowment of USD5MM. The fund is managed by a professional financial management agency and receives annual audits by a leading international accounting firm. It is structured as a long­term endowment that grows over time by sequestering 20% of the interest generated from the investment instruments, which will be predominately low risk Guatemala Government issued bonds. Annual interest income will fund a variety of conservation programmes. Project execution will be the responsibility of a range of Guatemalan NGOs (including non­members of the Trust Fund board) that have demonstrated experience in the conservation arena. Project executants will be accountable to the board. WWF promotes the trust as an important forum for discussion and consensus building within the Guatemala conservation community.

Project Objectives:

1. To build conservation capacity and financial and policy self­reliance in Guatemala by providing a mechanism for permanent financing of priority conservation activities and establishing a forum for discussing and resolving conservation and development conflicts and issues.

2. To decentralize the WWF Conservation programme in Guatemala.

GT0016.1: Participation in Guatemala Trust Board Meetings (Jul. 93 - Jun. 96)

Activity Background:

WWF participation on the Guatemala Conservation Trust will continue under the supervision of Miguel Cifuentes and backed up by Steve Cornelius. WWF's responsibilities and role on the board will be clearly described in a cooperative agreement with the Trust. Our involvement will include participation in all decisions and actions relevant to the four founding members of the Trust, except those reserved for direct beneficiaries.

Activity Objectives:

See Project Objectives.

Activity Methods:

Institutional Support and Development; Programme / Project Development.

GT0016.2: Leverage capital investment for GCT endowment (Jul. 93 - Jun. 96)

Activity Background:

Though WWF will not dedicate general funds to complete the Guatemala Conservation trust endowment, we will work actively with the other GCT members to encourage bilateral, multilateral, and private foundation participation.

Activity Objectives:

See Project Objectives.