LAC regional project paper : parks in peril [PiP]

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) will work through local NGOs and host government agencies to implement the project. The management of a park in peril will begin with surveying the park"s critical boundaries, posting them, and in some cases installing fences and gates to keep out livestock. Park rangers and extensionists will be recruited, given on-the-job training, and equipped to spend long periods of time in remote areas, managing biological resources, promoting sustainable resource use with local communities, and monitoring illegal activities. Entrance stations, headquarters, and back- country outposts will be constructed for use by park personnel and researchers. Basic food supplies, fuel, and spare parts will be provided. TNC will work to develop innovative financial mechanisms (e.g., debt-for-nature swaps) to ensure long-term maintenance of the protected areas. Funds will also be solicited from foundations and individuals at the national and international levels. The 20 target sites will be chosen from the following 30: Rio Bravo Reserve (Belize); Amboro and Noel Kempff Mercado National Parks (Bolivia); Chingaza and La Paya National Parks (Colombia); Talamanca, Osa Peninsula, and Tortuguero Reserve Complexes in (Costa Rica); Trois Pitons National Park (Dominica); Jaragua and Los Haitises National Parks (Dominican Republic); Machalilla, Podocarpus, and Yasuni National Parks and Cayambe-Coca Ecological Reserve (Ecuador); Maya Biosphere Reserve and Sierra de las Minas (Guatemala); Blue Mountain Forest Reserve (Jamaica); Sian Ka"an and Calakmul Biosphere Reserves, El Ocote and El Pinacate Forest Reserves, El Triunfo Ecological Reserve, and Ria Celestun/Ria Lagartos (Mexico); Darien Biosphere Reserve and La Amistad NP (Panama); Defensores del Chaco (Paraguay); and Yanachaga-Chemillen and Tabaconas-Namballe National Parks and Pampas del Heath National Sanctuary (Peru). Amendment of 7/30/91 extends the project 1 year, adds 10 additional sites and expands activities in community outreach, baseline environmental studies and monitoring, and strengthening of TNC"s capacity to implement the project and find sustaining financial resources for the parks. (PD-ABD-617) Amendment of 7/28/95 extends PACD 2 years to 9/99 and funds activities for FY95-FY99. The project will continue to protect 23 active sites and will initiate protection at 5-7 additional sites. Increased emphasis will be put on balancing themes," especially during the last 2 years, so that local partners can carry out conservation activities when the project ends. These themes include: conservation science and policy; long-term financial planning and sustainability; work with local peoples; and production and dissemination of learning tools. TNC will, inter alia: (1) strengthen local institutional capacity to establish infrastructure at the sites and conduct applied studies; (2) achieve a level of financial security for at least 23 of the new total of 28-30 sites by developing financial management plans, providing training, lobbying for host government support, and developing long-term funding sources and mechanisms; (3) increase opportunities for direct participation of indigenous communities (especially women) in natural resource management in and around project sites by providing TA, training, and educational campaigns and by working with partners to establish environmentally sound policies on issues such as land use/tenure; (4) strengthen conservation science and biological monitoring, through use of TNC"s Rapid Ecological Assessment and through on-the-ground and remote sensing techniques; (5) assist partners in initiating dialogue and identifying program opportunities with other organizations; and (6) use regional workshops, publications, etc. to disseminate lessons learned. (PD-ABM-685)