Etnobiología para la Conservación A. C.

An Overview Of Our Solution

In the Mayan forest community’s own reserves (RFCM) in Mexico´s Yucatan Peninsula (YP), farmers combine traditional ecological natural resources management practices with biodiversity conservation. These reserves form a network of biological corridors and habitats that has gone unnoticed by governments and NGOs. These reserves are at risk due to the weakening of the "common good" normativity that for centuries has governed them; the increasing demand of land by the growing population; and by economic incentives programs, that although well intentioned, promote unsustainable land management practices. This project aims at replicating the success our organization has had working with Yucatan Mayan communities through the recovery of traditional forest management practices as a tool to promote food security and to conserve cultural landscapes and biodiversity.

Who is this solution impacting?

Community Type

Rural

Organization type

Nonprofit

Ecosystem (select all that apply)

Forests

Population impacted

6,000 people average

Size of agricultural area

37,338 km2

Production quantity

1,200 to 1,500 kg/ha

People employed

300 people

Describe your solution

Etnobiologia para la Conservacion, A.C. considers a priority to promote the RFCMs as a model of conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in agricultural landscapes. RCFMs are a fundamental part of the Mayan cultural landscape of the PY. We estimate that only half the Mayan villages in the region still retain their RFCMs and the rest have lost them. We propose five lines of action: 1) To document indigenous traditional ecological knowledge in relation to the normativity, management practices, use and conservation of natural resources in the communities with RFCM in good condition; 2) To train indigenous and peasant farmers through participatory and practical workshops to implement and disseminate ecological restoration practices, and in turn, train others in their communities with degraded RFCMs, 3) To promote the creation of a RFCM community of practice, as a mechanism for rescuing traditional values and knowledge, empowerment, appropriation, decision-making, information exchange and support among communities; 4) Increase the awareness on the importance of RFCM among government institutions, NGOs, and other indigenous and rural communities; and 5) To contribute to the development of public policies that promote the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources through community based mechanisms such as the RFCMs.

Describe your implementation

• Specific… Identify communities with degraded RFCMs Develop vegetation cover, spatial distribution, and land use maps of RFCMs Identify RFCMs’ degradation factors via community meetings and interviews A cycle of 8 participatory workshops for landowners, youth and authorities on the cultural, traditional, economic, environmental, restoration, and rehabilitation aspects of conservation Establish restoration and rehabilitation demonstration plots, together with follow up and technical advice in communities with degraded RFCMs Exchanges of experiences between Mayan leaders and young people with preserved and degraded RFCM. • How you ensured… Through a comprehensive training and outreach strategy aimed at strengthening governance, technical, ecological restoration skills and awareness of key partners • Enabling… 32 years of experience working with Mayan communities has allowed us to establish trusting relationships with them. We are currently working with them in the pilot phase of this project (funded by USFWS). We have great working relationships with all the stakeholders in the area. Our proposal supports the Mexican NPAs, Climate Change, Biodiversity, and Invasive Species strategies Key… Decades of work experience in the region Ability to establish trusting partnerships with communities Empowerment of communities Achieve change in community attitudes and behaviors about the importance of sustainable use of natural resources and RFCMs Financial support to extend the project scope to other communities with RFCMs in the region Any… Logistics: we'll coordinate activities and logistical aspects of the project based on the time availability of the participants Internal conflicts among communities: will be avoided by developing a mutually respectful work environment, as well as, the governance, communication and decision making skills of the participants Funding: we'll seek financial support from national and foreign donors

External connections

We consider essential to strengthen our working and collaboration ties with Calakmul NPA and the Calakmul Community Forestry Association, with whom we have successfully carried out efforts that combine conservation actions with those that can meet the needs of the local population through the sustainable development of economic alternatives based on timber and non-timber products. With both institutions we have collaborated in landscape planning for better decision making at the community level with a special emphasis on strengthening ecological sustainability and social capital. Other key partners include the Southern Border College of Mexico (ECOSUR), as well as federal governmental institutions such as SEMARNAT, INECC, CONANP and CONAFOR. International partners include the US FWS (which is funding the pilot phase of this project and nominated us for this funding opportunity) and the Society of Restoration Ecology. While working with our partners, we have assemble a group of multidisciplinary experts in topics that range from climate change, ecology, and forest management, through social organization, governance, community based development. Our partners serve as a training instructors and project advisors

What is the environmental or ecological challenge you are targeting with your solution?

The RCFMs, the tropical rain forest biodiversity around them, and ecosystem services they provide are at risk due to the weakening of the "common good" normativity that for centuries has governed them; the expansion of the agricultural frontier; and by economic incentives programs, that although well intentioned, promote unsustainable natural resources and land management practices. The RCFMs are unique remnants of mature vegetation that sustains high levels plants diversity, making them an excellent example of traditional use of natural resources, conservation and connectivity amidst agricultural landscapes. These RFCMs function as biological corridors and reservoirs of threatened species around 15 protected natural areas of the Yucatan Peninsula; provide environmental services; are a source of food; and protect the surrounding towns from hurricanes and fires generated by agricultural fires.

Describe the context in which you are operating

The RFCMs are an example of sustainable use and conservation of natural resources by indigenous communities. They are voluntarily conserved and part of the communal lands. Each RFCM is 1 to 2 km wide and found around indigenous villages. Found in at least 140 communities distributed in an area of 37,338 km2, they cover an area close to 300 km2 (Fig. 1). Compared to areas that have lost their RFCMs to give way to agricultural fields, the RFCMs have mature vegetation, high plant diversity, are source of food and shelter for wildlife, and protect villages from hurricanes and fires. Selective and regulated use of trees is allowed but clearing for agricultural plots or pastures is banned. In addition to the differences in the conservation status of the RFCMs in each community, it's important to consider the sociopolitical realities within to improve the governance and social conditions that allow for ecological restoration and introduction of better practices in areas with degraded RFCMs.

Fig.1. Location of Mayan forest community’s own reserves (RFCM) and protected natural areas in the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico.

How did you impact natural resource use and greenhouse gas emissions?

The training workshops and the demonstration plots will be focused on promoting rehabilitation, restoration and ecological conservation actions. Only native tree species belonging to different functional groups, as well as species threatened or with some conservation status will be planted. From the landscape perspective, the restoration and rehabilitation of RFCMs would help to strengthen the current biological connectivity network formed by this. The techniques that we have used for the management of vegetation in experimental and demonstrative plots are based on traditional techniques used by the Mayan indigenous farmers to eliminate weeds and other invasive species that grow in their milpas (subsistence maize field). These techniques consist of conventional weeding and the thinning of woody shoots and do not require the use of agrochemicals.

Language(s)

Most Maya Indians are bilingual. However, the workshops have the support of a translator.

Water

RFCMs capture water and recharge aquifers. The mature vegetation present in the RFCMs has greater potential for this purpose when compared to the young secondary vegetation predominant of the agricultural landscapes around. The thick layer of litter, bark, and firewood help to retain moisture and rainwater. Their importance is even greater in the face of intense and infrequent rains, as it is expected to happen in the future.

Food Security/Nutrition

The mature vegetation of the RFCMs gives farmers access to the unique products that the forest provides. Many medicinal plants are found exclusively in this area. The old trees are the habitat of creeper plants and several species of epiphytes useful for making handicrafts. Many edible fruits coveted by the indigenous are generated in these forest reserves. Subsistence hunting also takes place in these spaces proving the opportunity to consume free and good quality protein

Economic/Sustainable Development

RFCMs are the closest supply of forest products such as firewood, fruits, forage, construction materials, round wood and game. They function as biological corridors for birds, bats, bees, butterflies, terrestrial fauna, and provide a range of environmental services suitable for the PES and Carbon Markets. Firewood and construction materials are two essential products for the local economy. The tree trunks that support Mayan houses can only be found in RFCMs or in ranches with mature vegetation

Climate

RFCM provide a multitude of environmental services. They serve as a barrier that protects the towns from hurricanes and fires generated by agricultural fires; cool the wind before reaching the village; retain water; and serve as carbon sinks.

Sustainability

The RFCMs is one of the few examples in Mexico where it is possible to use and preserve forest simultaneously. The best proof of the sustainability of these reserves is that some of them date back to pre-Hispanic times. The products and services that these reserves provide to their owners are sufficient incentives for their conservation. Subsidies to the owners of these reserves could distort the original purpose that has allowed their conservation.

Return on investment

We have great interest in promoting and facilitating meetings and exchanges of experiences between Mayan peasant leaders and young people with preserved and degraded RFCM. The activity that in our opinion is a key component of the project is to support the establishment of a community of practice of restoration and ecological conservation that includes the villages with integrated RFCM and in process of restoration. The total cost of the budget amounts to US $ 29,440.00, which is briefly described below. Salaries: $5,400 Workshops supplies: $200 Participants food, lodging and transportation:$14,080 Project team and instructors lodging and transportation: $9,760

Entrant Image

How could we successfully replicate this solution elsewhere?

The RFCMs are exclusive of the YP and rare in other regions with the exception of the Mayan Lacandon community. RFCMs could be considered as a model to be followed in regions that currently have a high density of indigenous and/or peasant populations that have degraded the natural resources around their lands; who are interested in eliminating invasive alien species and want to benefit from incentive programs such as REDD +. Our goal in the next five years is to replicate the project throughout the 130 indigenous communities of the YP and that have RFCM in different conservation states. We are currently working in 15 communities Restored and conserved areas allow communities access to sustainable development alternatives such as ecotourism, bird watching, and hiking. Key partners for project replication include indigenous communities, authorities, and donors. Some national government programs that could contribute to the expansion of the project are: PROCODES, PROARBOL, and PES

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Raíces mayas para la restauración de selvas

Overview