An Overview Of Our Solution
- Population Impacted:
- Continent: North America
Address
Nicolos Ruiz 83
29230 San Cristobal de Las Casas,
Mexico
Population impacted
Size
about 8, 400 hectares.
Major Occupations
Local resources the community depends on, and for what purpose
Local threats to resources
Climate Hazards
Level of sensitivity
Level of adaptive capacity
? Diversified or alternative livelihoods The diversification of coffee with vanilla spread represents an alternative source income and basic needs for indigenous farmers in the forest, allowing an economical alternative to not open more land for cultivation or ranching. The introduction of ecological stoves, composting toilets and technologies for water management provide higher quality of life because they improve community environmental health. In addition, the community is aware integrated management of the forest, and derives medicinal plants, defined communal areas for recreation, and has the potential for forest based small-scale ecotourism and the contribution of ecosystem services such as water and oxygen production. ? Improved food security Effective utilization of natural resources of the forest families implement their power, by increasing the funds obtained from the sale of a nature-friendly product. In addition, cultivation of vanilla allows fruit trees to be planted, improved food supplies for farmers ? Improved hazard risk management There are three kinds of improvements in the management of exposure to risk factors: a) the agroforestry diversification reduces vulnerability to droughts and torrential rains, which then preserve and conserve forest cover and soil and groundwater; b) stop the use of land for agricultural activities requiring cutting of the forest, reduces the vulnerability of these communities to their forced displacement for violating environmental laws in protected natural areas. c) Social conflicts over resources, when handled properly do not deteriorate resources such as water and firewood and do not create resource conflicts with neighboring communities and ejidos. ? Improved use of water resources or other natural ecosystem services Helping preserve the hydrologic network and the ecology of the rivers maintains the capacity of the forest to improve aquifers, produce wood, oxygen, and preserve the biodiversity and wildlife of the biosphere reserve Montes Azules
Ecological Costs
Ecological Benefit
Economic Indicators used to measure benefit
- Forest Cover - Area vanilla production
Economic Cost
- Cost to assemble meetings - Training for production, forming frameworks for the production and handling of vanilla - Training for social organization
Economic Benefit
- Generate additional revenue - Increase the purchasing power
Ecological Indicators used to measure benefit
- Financial reporting system for community product
What were/are the challenges your community faced in implementing this solution?
Adverse natural phenomena, mainly heavy rain and strong winds batter the region each year: Processes that have been initiated in other communities for disaster risk reduction are considered before revisiting this project. Risks: Depression of products, poor coordination with the municipality and civil protection to drive these processes. The little organizational strength and fragility of the state market: - Increase in production areas and vanilla partners, - Building a regional process in four communities. Risks: Little interest in the four communities
Climate hazard of concern
How does your solution reduce the exposure of and buffer/protect the ecosystem affected?
N/A
How has your solution increased the capacity of the ecosystem to adapt to potential climate changes?
Montes Azules Natural Protected Area : Environmental education and dissemination about climate change effects Ecosystem: High and medium evergreen Forest: The protection of crops and initiatives that generate processes of assisted regeneration and prohibit the use of agrochemicals is contemplated.
How does your solution reduce the exposure of and buffer/protect the communities affected?
N/A
How does your solution reduce the sensitivity of the communities affected?
Implemented a productive system that has the opportunity to sell and for sustainability with its environment, as well as the rescue of a cultivation system that has been in the Montes Azules since pre-Columbian cultures as well as in the vanilla we find in the area, which is more of a wild species, to proliferate both in the area because we deal with residual crops, in this sense if we are talking about a rescue
How has your solution increased the capacity of local communities to adapt to potential climate changes?
Multiplying the production processes and environmental education to 4 communities, to help alternative ways of life, helps the conservation of the ANP Montes Azules. The ejido la corana Marques de Comillas, has been a community where they have worked vanilla cultivation, where they taught the courses necessary for the other communities that are in the process of developing the cultivation of vanilla
Can this solution be replicated elsewhere?
This model is highly replicable since the first factors for success are solidarity, trust and understanding between communities and rediscovery of their natural resources. The work began with Tzeltal Maya coffee farmers in the ejido La Corona, living in the Lacandon Jungle within the protected area as a biosphere reserve called Montes Azules, from 2008 to date we are replicating this process with the communities of Cerro Chum, Loma Bonita, Aguaperla, Miguel Hidalgo and Benito Ju�rez, respecting their different ethnic and religious diversity of its community-based policy. In a long-term perspective, the most important innovation in restoring ancient pre-Columbian Maya crops like vanilla this species endemic to this region and so far unknown to the current Tzeltal Mayan peasants, second place strategies are contributing to the population?s local indigenous tropical forest guard in a perspective of environmental risk management, third term friendly technologies are promoting environmental health and sustainable agroforestry. If this strategy is consolidated and replicated, it will be bringing new conflict resolution mechanisms to indigenous peoples' land within the new context of climate change and globalization of financial market laws. The solution is innovative as it is comprehensive and not only conservation but a productive strategy, which helps prevent an endangered species is conserved, also brings an identity to the community environment to manage their environment properly, preventing disaster risk for the destruction of the forest. On the other hand, the conservation and respect for the forest prevents the displacement of villagers.