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| 1. Project Details |
| Author or Responsible Organization |
|
R D Smith and E Maltby. (2003) 'Using the Ecosystem Approach to Implement the Convention on Biological Diversity: Key issues and case studies. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK x + 118pp. |
| Project Title |
|
Chocó ecoregion project,Colombia |
| Date of Publication |
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| Project Status |
|
Ongoing |
| Project Start Date |
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| Project End Date |
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| Countries |
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Colombia |
| Regions |
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Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Funding Source |
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| 2. Background to Project |
| Project Issue/Problem Statement |
|
Although the Chocó region in northwest Colombia is one
of the most diverse and biologically rich regions in the
world this biodiversity is increasingly threatened by socio-
economic and development pressures. Efforts are being made
to promote local conservation and sustainable development
initiatives. |
| Project Description |
|
Seven years ago WWF was using the Ecosystem Management
framework in order to identify, conserve and manage
natural areas. Under this approach, conservation was the
main priority. However, it was recognised that there was
a need to complement this strategy with an assessment
of socio-economic variables in order to reduce the threats
and pressures on the ecosystems and natural resources of
the Chocó Region. As a result, a regional project is being
implemented using the following strategies:(1)promoting
conservation and protection of indigenous populations,
Afro-American territories and ecological reserves;(2)
promoting sustainable management of forestry resources
and agricultural systems;(3)strengthening local and
regional organisations and capacities; and (4)analysing and
influencing policies that will define the development of the
region.
The main results of the project were:(1)establishment
of public and private protected areas and indigenous and
ethnic reserves;(2)formulation of a Forestry Management
Plan;(3)implementation of sustainable forestry and
agricultural productive systems;(4)formulation of actions
to promote conservation of riverbanks; and (5)promotion
of domestic animal rearing. Capacity building was also
addressed. |
| Highlighted Aspects of Ecosystem Approach |
|
• Conservation, equitable sharing of benefits and
sustainable use of resources were simultaneously
addressed.
• The case study did not illustrate the need to understand
the functional relationships of ecosystems.
• In the Chocó region the goods provided by the fauna and
flora included: water resources, wood, secondary forest
resources, CO 2 absorption, mineral soil storage, genetic
information, landscape, genetic diversity, soil erosion
control, fishery resources and tourism. Local communities
as well as other components of external markets were
recognised as the beneficiaries of these goods and
services.
• Adaptive management was not illustrated or tested in
this case study.
• The local level proved to be the appropriate scale for
many reasons, although the regional and national scale
also applied due to the national park system in the area.
The project promotes institutional relationships between
the parks and the local communities.
• Linkages between different local groups such as
indigenous people, Afro-Americans, mestizos, farmer
communities, local NGOs and governmental organisations
were highlighted. These “inter-institutional alliances ”
aimed to build local capacity to influence the decision-
making process and the region ’s future development. |
| Conclusions |
|
•Valuable indigenous information was gleaned from the
auto-diagnosis strategy as well as the establishment of
the collectively managed areas for the Afro-American communities.
• Success of territorial management relies on local
community organisations and their internal regulations.
• Private reserves have been identified as suitable areas for
conservation and environmental education.
• Inter-institutional alliances are an effective strategy for
identifying solutions and for policy and decision-making. |
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| 3. Sectors and Biomes |
| Sectors |
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Forestry |
| Biomes |
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Forest Biodiversity |
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| 4. Tools and Approaches |
| Tools and Approaches |
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Relevance
Score |
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Further
Information |
| Public Participation |
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3-High |
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| - Local community approaches |
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3-High |
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| Governance, Law and Policy |
|
3-High |
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| - Policy development, planning and reform |
|
3-High |
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| Protected Areas and Land Use Policy |
|
3-High |
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| - Protected/managed areas |
|
3-High |
|
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| Cross-sectoral Research and Working |
|
3-High |
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| Indicators |
|
3-High |
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| 5. Issues |
| Issues |
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Relevance
Score |
| Public Participation |
|
3-High |
| Sustainable Use of Biodiversity |
|
3-High |
| Traditional Knowledge, Innovations and Practices - Article 8(j) |
|
3-High |
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| 6. Ecosystem Approach |
| Principles and Operational Guidance |
|
Relevance
Score |
|
Reason
(Only if NOT relevant) |
| Principle 1: The objectives of management of land, water and living resources are a matter of societal choices |
|
3-High |
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| Principle 2: Management should be decentralized to the lowest appropriate level |
|
3-High |
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| Principle 3: Ecosystem managers should consider the effects (actual or potential) of their activities on adjacent and other ecosystems |
|
3-High |
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| Principle 4: Recognizing potential gains from management, there is usually a need to understand and manage the ecosystem in an economic context |
|
3-High |
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| Principle 5: Conservation of ecosystem structure and functioning, in order to maintain ecosystem services, should be a priority target of the ecosystem approach |
|
3-High |
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| Principle 6: Ecosystem must be managed within the limits of their functioning |
|
3-High |
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| Principle 7: The ecosystem approach should be undertaken at the appropriate spatial and temporal scales |
|
3-High |
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| Principle 8: Recognizing the varying temporal scales and lag-effects that characterize ecosystem processes, objectives for ecosystem management should be set for the long term |
|
3-High |
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| Principle 9: Management must recognize the change is inevitable |
|
3-High |
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| Principle 10: The ecosystem approach should seek the appropriate balance between, and integration of, conservation and use of biological diversity |
|
3-High |
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| Principle 11: The ecosystem approach should consider all forms of relevant information, including scientific and indigenous and local knowledge, innovations and practices |
|
3-High |
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| Principle 12: The ecosystem approach should involve all relevant sectors of society and scientific disciplines |
|
3-High |
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| Operational Guidance B: Enhance benefit-sharing |
|
3-High |
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| Operational Guidance D: Carry out management actions at the scale appropriate for the issue being addressed, with decentralization to lowest level, as appropriate |
|
3-High |
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| Operational Guidance E: Ensure intersectoral cooperation |
|
3-High |
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| 7. Lessons Learned and the Outcomes |
| Lessons Learned |
|
•Valuable indigenous information was gleaned from the
auto-diagnosis strategy as well as the establishment of
the collectively managed areas for the Afro-American communities.
• Success of territorial management relies on local
community organisations and their internal regulations.
• Private reserves have been identified as suitable areas for
conservation and environmental education.
• Inter-institutional alliances are an effective strategy for
identifying solutions and for policy and decision-making. |
| Outcomes |
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| Other Information |
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| 8. References |
| References |
|
Smith, R.D. & Maltby, E. (2003) Using the Ecosystem Approach to Implement the Convention on Biodiversity: Key issues and case studies. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, Uk x + 118pp. |
|
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| 9. Contact Details |
| Contact Person |
|
Ms. Diana Mortimer |
| Job Title |
|
Ecosystem Approach Officer |
| Organization |
|
Joint Nature Conservation Committee |
| Address |
|
Monkstone House, City Road, |
| Postal Code |
|
PE13 4LA |
| City |
|
Peterborough |
| ZIP/State/Province |
|
Cambs |
| Telephone |
|
+44 1733 866857 |
| Fax |
|
+44 1733 555948 |
| E-mail Address |
|
diana.mortimer@jncc.gov.uk |
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