Conservation Landscapes Program - CLP Dry Ecosystem Conservation in the Caribbean: Quarterly Performance Report

The program focuses on implementing land use management tools at the landscape level, restoring connectivity with a biodiversity-friendly productive matrix and ecological corridors. Improved smallholder agroforestry practices, installing connectivity tools in larger agricultural areas, implementing silvo-pastoral systems, and sustainable use of natural resources will guarantee ecological integrity by enhancing connectivity, covering soils to prevent erosion, promoting watershed protection, and maintaining species diversity. The program's main beneficiaries are indigenous, campesino communities, and local organizations associated with the target areas. Non-governmental organizations will develop proposals combining economic, environmental, and social components, addressing the main threats on the tropical dry forest ecosystem with community participation and capacity-building. Public-private alliances will be fostered for sustainable production, and other public stakeholders will be engaged for better decision-making related to tropical dry forest ecosystem conservation. Implementation partners were selected according to the locations of the work plan, and agreements were signed with each of the families selected in the regions of Nodo Kankuamos, Nodo Colorados, Nodo Piojó, and Nodo Guajira. Planning and characterization at the farm level were conducted with each of the families to define implementation activities. This has allowed for improved territory planning at a broader landscape level, since the sum of the conservation agreements that will be signed with each farm owner will define the connectivity corridors and their associated production systems. The program started projects that aim for conservation through sustainable production systems. The corozo palm value chain innovation project was initiated, and the methodology to design clean cook stoves based on the context of the tropical dry forest ecosystem was finished. Palm tree species research and information systematization with Universidad Nacional to produce economic alternatives for communities living in or close to dry forests have initiated. In Nodo Colorados, a grant was granted to Fundación Herencia Ambiental Caribe to connect Los Colorados Fauna and Flora Sanctuary with Cerro Maco in the department of Bolivar. Conservation pre-agreements were signed with 56 families, and implementation activities have begun with the isolation of 10.08 hectares of two important connectivity areas. In Nodo Guajira, a grant was approved for Fundación Cerrejón Agua para La Guajira to increase the connectivity of forest patches in this region and create a link between Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Ranchería River. In Nodo Kankuamos, a grant was granted to the Kankuamos indigenous association Asoprokan to link El Santuario de Vida Silvestre Besotes with the region of Murillo in the Cesar department. Farm planning with each of the families and the development of arrangements of the silvo-pastoral systems have been initiated. In Nodo Piojó, an agreement was signed with Fundación Ecosistemas Secos de Colombia to establish the connectivity corridor local promoters were trained, and a plant nursery was built. The program has made significant progress in the first quarter of 2014, with the signing of conservation pre-agreements with 56 families in Nodo Colorados and the initiation of implementation activities. The program has also started projects that aim for conservation through sustainable production systems, including the corozo palm value chain innovation project and the clean stove project. The program's focus on community participation and capacity-building has been a key aspect of its implementation, with the involvement of local organizations and communities in the development of proposals and the implementation of conservation activities.