Regional environmental and natural resources management

The project will be implemented by several institutions, including PVOs, the Tropical Agriculture Center for Research and Education (CATIE) in Costa Rica, the Panamerican Agricultural School, and U.S. agencies, including USDA, the National Park Service, and the Peace Corps. To support enlightened environmental policies, the project will inventory existing legislation and policies, analyze policy options, conduct policy dialogue, monitor policy impacts, and disseminate its findings widely. There will be five activities to promote environmental awareness and biodiversity conservation: (1) improved regional strategic planning through decisionmaker workshops, environmental monitoring, publication of a regional environmental profile and maps, and conservation strategy papers; (2) increased environmental awareness by developing an awareness strategy and mass media programs, providing training in environmental IEC, and developing educational materials and pilot interpretation programs; (3) support for environmental specialists via M.S. training, research grants, and a clearinghouse for faculty exchanges, scholarships, and TA; (4) a regional wildlands management program, including 5 pilot reserve and buffer zone projects, development of "conservation corps" to supplement pilot site staff, and grants for similar activities by Peace Corps volunteers; and (5) improved information management, by supporting national data centers, standardizing data entry and analysis, and preparing software and manuals. With respect to sustainable agriculture and forestry, the project will focus on three areas. (1) Watershed management activities will include regional coordination, TA for national entities, research, and M.S. and other training. (2) Natural forest activities will demonstrate the viability of commercial management of lowland humid broadleaf forests in Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala via outreach activities, establishment of at least 15 demonstration areas, and training, research, and marketing support. (3) Plant protection activities, including integrated pest management (IPM), will include research, formal and informal training, diagnostic services, and information management and dissemination. Several activities, not included in the initial authorization, will be added later, e.g., strengthening CATIE, upgrading private sector pesticide regulation, and establishing seed banks for farm forestry. Amendment of 12/90 adds tree planting and pesticide management components. (1) The tree planting component, MUCHALENA, continues two previous projects, LENA (5960089) and MADELENA (5960117), and will promote planting of multipurpose trees on small and medium-sized farms. MUCHALENA will implement outreach activities through existing networks institutions and projects, and will work to integrate second and third level institutions (NGOs, cooperatives, community groups) into these networks. The project will train some 1,700 extension personnel and provide them with TA and materials; in addition, 12 M.S. and 9 other trainees will be funded. The project"s forestry management information system and the CATIE documentation center will be upgraded. The pesticide component will: (1) disseminate messages to farmers, extensionists, doctors, etc., about pesticide poisonings and proper pesticide use through posters, radio spots, manuals, courses, etc.; (2) strengthen private laboratories" pesticide testing and research capabilities; (3) upgrade the regional pesticide reference laboratory which monitors quality at other laboratories; and (4) offer TA to governments and agencies to develop standardized regulations for pesticide importation and use. (PD-ABC-418) Amendment of 8/8/91 finances an analysis by CATIE of fuelwood production and consumption in El Salvador. (PD-KAX-286) Amendment of 11/16/92 supports IPM programs for Nicaragua"s coffee sector, including training for National Coffee Council (CONCAFE) researchers and extensionists and for coffee producers. (PD-ABI-122)