Action Plan for Community Management in La Amistad (Costa Rica-Panama) F. Gonzalez, Action Plan JICA-JFY2015

Project Area

3. Project cost: US$ Duration: 4 years. 5. Beneficiary: Over 70 communities located into the protected area buffer zone in both countries. 6. Implementation agency: Quercus Network (Asociación Conservacionista Red Quercus).Red Quercus

Counterpart agencies Ministry of Environment of Costa Rica (MINAE) National System of Conservation Areas of Costa Rica (SINAC) Ministry of Agriculture, Costa Rica (MAG) Ministry of Education, Costa Rica (MEP) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Costa Rica National Institute of Biodiversity, Costa Rica (INBio) National Authority of Environment,Panama (ANAM) Ministry of Agriculture, Panama (MIDA) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Panama Foundation for Integral Development, Community and Ecosystem Conservation in Panama (FUNDICCEP) Japanese Agency for International Cooperation (JICA) The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

SWOT Analysis StrengthensWeakness Protected Area over 400k Hectares Surrounded by indigenous settlements (a sacred site) PILA highly rich in BD Rich in ecosystem services Staff with high values and compromise that includes professionals on biology, natural resources management and project management. Strengthened local based organizations into the PILA Buffer Zone. 2 local based organizations network (CR-Pan). Permanent biomonitoring program with local people participation Limited Governmental budget Less than 25 officers (rangers) in total. Insufficient Indigenous participation on decision making Lack of jointly patrolling activities Indigenous groups are not obtaining direct benefits from the PA Lack of effective coordination between two governments Lack coordination between central governments, local governments and communities. OpportunitiesTrends A consolidated and governmental supported Binational Management Technique Unit for La Amistad (UTEB-PILA). Long term scientific program and projects. 2 UNESCO categories (Biosphere Reserve and Human Heritage). National and International recognizing Available support from NGO’s and international cooperation agencies Social capital increasing in value High potential for rural-local tourism Potential developing of hydroelectrically projects into the PILA-Buffer Zone Expansion of the agricultural frontier Lack of economic sustaining alternatives Extensive pineapple productions affect buffer zone

Regional Background & Issue The lack of communication and articulation between central governments with local governments and communities affects the management of La Amistad Biosphere Reserve and the regional development. The region is rich on biodiversity but poor in economic sustaining alternatives. The link between Biodiversity and Development needs to be reinforced from the top (governments) to the bottom (communities). A regional development strategy based on both exogenous/endogenous approaches is required. The Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) can be considered as a tool for increase the Social Capital towards to improve the Regional Development by the Sustainable Use of Biodiversity. Think globally and act locally is a premise that will be applied towards to reach a regional scope by the implementation of local actions in each country (Costa Rica and Panama).

Overall goal The Action Plan seeks to establish strategic alliances that promote management in La Amistad, through linkages between government, local governments, communities and other stakeholders and key sectors in both countries.

Objectives Contribute to the process of positive change in the behavior of people living around the La Amistad, towards to the sustainable use of natural and cultural resources. Integrate the management of the Wildlife into the Protected Area as an element of local and regional development. Involve different sectors and stakeholders that affect the environment of La Amistad in achieving the conservation objectives of the protected area. Positioning, in the national and international context, the economic and social benefits provided by PILA to the society.

Strategies for local community development The strategy for La Amistad Action Plan consists on articulate a binational community management program to work on ESD, through the implementation of three major components, which maintain a dynamic and a synergy with each other: a) Promoting community participation in protected area management b) Organizational strengthening (both institutional and local) c) Promoting an enabling environment conditions for communities Gender equity and respect for cultural diversity are values ​​that must maintain transversallity with these three components, towards to improve the Regional Social Capital.

Strategies for local community development Different factors that affect community strengthening and development of alternative economic livelihood for communities are considered, among them: If there's an enabling environment. The current level and variety of community participation. The degree of urbanization, ethnic diversity and urban services. The degree of consensus and unity within each community (and between them). The key features of the technology and the economy (such as fishing, agriculture, grazing, hunting, industry, commerce). The degree of organization and the level and nature of management skills. The nature, status and influence of NGOs. The binational relationships between both countries.

Actions Identify the stakeholders in the buffer zone of La Amistad. Strengthen stakeholders through training and other appropriate tools. Strengthen capacity with professional skills in community management. Facilitate processes for presentation of projects of common interest to NGOs. For example, to perform an analysis of the feasibility of ecotourism projects in the communities. Acquire equipment for the performance and work optimization of the officials. Create partnerships with local governments in indigenous territories and communities. Develop a detailed work plan for the Community Management Program that includes a timetable for implementation of activities, budget, and others.

Expected output Local communities within La Amistad buffer zone will play a decisive role in determining the Site’s future as they are the main users of the protected area. We will do this by increasing the regional social capital in local communities to use La Amistad in a sustainable manner whilst ensuring that the central role played by local communities continued survival, is recognized by national and binational authorities and considered in the Management Plan.

Expected Outcomes 1. The project have consolidated a Regional Network that includes at least 40 local based organizations from CR and Pan, supported by both governments through the Binational Executing Technical Unit of La Amistad (UTEB-PILA). 2. The Regional Local Based Organizations Network adopts and improve EducaPILA as the Official Program for Education for Sustainable Development in La Amistad Biosphere Reserve. 3. The UTEB-PILA and the Regional Network have promoted alternatives for economic sustaining based on a strategy that combines endogenous-exogenous development into La Amistad Buffer Zone and other surroundings. 4. The UTEB-PILA and the Regional Network have worked together implementing actions that aims to address the requirements from UNESCO towards to improve the management in La Amistad.

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