Capacity building for biodiversity conservation on indigenous territories in Guatemala

Project title

Capacity building for biodiversity conservation on indigenous territories in Guatemala

Implementing Institutions

- Fundación para la Conservación de los Recursos Naturales y Ambiente en Guatemala –FCG-

- Asociación Sotz´il ONG

Country/Countries

Guatemala

Abstract

To build capacities among community based indigenous organizations, on follow up to alternatives for communities’ sustainable livelihoods and BD use, management and conservation, to incorporate them to rural value chains improvement in two regions of Guatemala. Compiling and disseminating scientific research data on indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) conducted there supplement these actions, to align projects’ results to BD national strategy and allow implementing communal protocols for access and distribution of ILK on BD conservation at communal lands.

Project Description

Guatemala was included among the planet’s megadiverse countries on CBD, COP10, Nagoya, October 2010. A multicultural and pluri-lingual country that has poverty and lack of sustainable options for biodiversity (BD) conservation as the main drivers for BD loss and increased rural communities’ vulnerability to climate change. To address the causes of these drivers, Guatemala have established actions, which translate into national commitments to CBD, programs and projects that foster sustainable management of BD resources, including BD national policy, strategy and action plan. FCG and Sotz’il have worked together for five years in BD conservation at indigenous peoples’ territories, on alternatives for communities’ livelihoods and organization strengthening and coordination with governmental entities for conservation. FCG and Sotz’il propose to provide follow up to these actions through capacity building on rural value chains improvements using indigenous peoples’ traditional knowledge and their incorporation to BD use, management and conservation of native plants germplasm. Compilation, systematization and dissemination of scientific research/data/information conducted in the work regions will supplement both actions together with contribute to develop a certified course on BD traditional knowledge and benefits distribution. An on-line, user friendly, system will be used to gathered the information on best practices and knowledge gathering for processes to use indigenous and local knowledge on BD conservation, promoting sustainability by including local resources mobilization.

Project Objectives and expected Achievables

Project objectives:

- To strengthen indigenous peoples capacities to manage and implement participatory processes for use of indigenous and local communities’ knowledge (ILK) on best BD conservation practices and their links to actions that foster their sustainability.

Expected achievables:

At end of 1st implementation semester: On-line, user friendly system to gather BD conservation ILK research conducted on two work regions, designed and tested, to provide access to it for indigenous community based organizations. One plan for capacity building on the use of ILK to implement communal protocols for access and distribution of ILK on BD conservation at communal managed lands, rural value chains and BD use, management and conservation of native plants germplasm. Two documented CB plans and their strategies in total. One field external evaluation documented on project activities (Report delivered).

At end of 1st year: A series of ILK capacity-building activities (local training workshops, field application practices, experiences’ exchanges intra and inter community organizations) implemented in both regions following each regions’ plans, which include local CBO and institutional co-financing to foster their sustainability. On-line system gathers information and research on traditional knowledge and biodiversity in the defined territory, to generate the database and make it available to indigenous peoples and local communities. One field external evaluation documented on project activities (Report delivered). External financial audit conducted for the whole project (Report delivered).

At 3rd implementation semester end: One participatory monitoring process of capacity building plans results achieved for each work region, 2 documented processes in total, providing comments, recommendations, and corrective measures if needed, on CB plans implementation. One field participatory monitoring process documented on project activities (Report delivered).

At 4th implementation semester end: 2 additional ILK and/or experiences exchanges implemented and systematized in two work regions. One documented processes, including incorporation of adapted ILK/experiences at CBO project level implementation and interested parties informed through FCG/Sotz’il official means. One participatory evaluation process conducted by an externally appointed evaluation team. (Final evaluation report delivered). End of project external audit (Report delivered).

Timeframe

2 years

Geographic Scale

Sub-national

Seeking Resources for:

Project implementation

Type of Resources/Support needed:

Financial, Technical