Post on 12-Apr-2017
Consejo Regional Tsimané MosetenePilón Lajas, Bolivia
Veronika Feheregyhazy & Nina SchneiderEnvironment Management & Sustainability (in collaboration with SID/UNIDO)
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Foundation & Context-Declared UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1975.-Trigger: March for the Dignity and Territory of theIndigenous Lowland Villages in La Paz in 1990
-Pilón Lajas protected as: Original Community-Based Territory (TCO) and Biosphere Reserve (BR)
Consejo Regional Tsimané Mosetene established to:-Negotiate on behalf of its inhabitants-Defend & strengthen rights of communities-Manage technical & economic support based on landmanagement/human development-Preserve natural and cultural heritage of territory
The Region: Pilón Lajas Biosphere Reserve-Geographical Area: ~4,000,000ha-It is pressured by 2 major, bordering colonizations-There are 2 sub-regions within: Yungas; MadeiraHumid Forest containing great biodiversity value:
-162 timber species: palm, hardwood-755 animal species: spider monkey, lowland tapir
Indigenous Communities-In 1998, 80% of local residents are from the 22indigenous Chimán, Tacana and Mosetene tribes.-They have been pressured by mestizos & settlerssince 1970
Governance Approaches
Initiative & Analysis
Key Initiative: The Management Plan and Life Plan Valid: 2007-2017
“…Consolidate the territory, productive sector and basicservices of the Biosphere Reserve and Communal Lands inorder to address the needs of the communities, improvequality of life and strengthen management capabilities, andintegrated land management.” (Equator Initative, 2012, p. 6)
Innovations, Impacts & Analysis
Initiative’s Contributing Innovations tothe field of Environment Management
Recommendations
Sources*
Implications
Problem-Solving
Problem: Timber-exploitation by individuals
contractors within Indigenous communities
Solution: Employment at six field stations to increase
control over illegal logging.
Voluntary Sector
Goal: Ecotourism and need for diversified income
sources/economic development
Trigger: $250,000 provided by voluntary sector (int’l NGOs and agencies) to
create Mapajo Indigenous Tourism Enterprise
Regional
Goal: Sustained ecological maintenance of Pilón Lajas region and bordering areas.
Solution: Integrated and participatory monitoring program developed for
Management Plan & Life Plan’s 7 programs.
Management Plan &
Life Plan
Admin. and Management
Conservation and Biodiversity
Protection
Development & Sustainable Use
of Natural Resources in Indigenous
Communities
Tourism, incl. Ecotourism.
Participatory & Integrated
Monitoring and Scientific Research
Env. Training, Education,
Communication & Dissemination
Equity-building Co-Management
& Regional Integration
Initiative's Impacts
Biodiversity: - Recovery: Recovery of timber/animal species - Protection & Management: Critical mapping/zoning areas- Information & Accountability: Biodiversity tracking, and informed consent for indigenous populations
Socioeconomic:- Avg. 30% increase in income due to small-scale agricultural projects, funded by CRTM- Eco-tourism facilitated social entrepreneurship, bilingual education grants and health spending
Policy:- Institutionalization of Participatory Governance - Informed consent for indigenous populations regarding environmental projects
Developing Alternative Livelihoods
Combining Local Knowledge with
Management Innovation
Strengths:
• Recovering of rare flora and faunapopulations, biodiversity potential
• Strict protection policies
• Participatory governance
• Capacity building programs
• Projects for the creation ofalternative livelihoods, whichreduces dependency on criticalforest resources
Weaknesses:
• Accessible zones are colonized
• Few econ. development programs
• Economic and ecological base linedata for the region is lacking
• Not very attractive for tourists(because of poor accessibility &hard-to-spot charismatic animals)
• Dilapidated infrastructure
Opportunities
• Collaborative mapping and zoningof areas to assist ecological plans
• Intensifying Eco-tourism andrelated low-impact activities,thereby increases income andmarketing
Threats
• Land Invasion from settlers
• Poverty trap: Lack of sources ofincome may lead to exploitationof natural resources.
Analysis of Impacts
Strengths
• Participatory Approach
• CRTM’s successful governancerole in representing communityinterest & development goals
• Legal status of region is very welldefined
Weaknesses
• Financially not yet self-sufficient,reliance on external funding
• Consumers remain unaware ofPilón Lajas outside immediateregion
• Field stations (to counter illegallogging) and infrastructure is inneed of renovation/repair
Opportunities
• Increased marketing & awareness
• Support from variety of differentorganizations, risk diversification
• Best-case practice/case study forother similar projects in Amazon
Threats
• Lack and uncertainty in long-termfunding, hand-to-mouth finances
• Threat of land invasion and illegallogging due to settlements
Analysis of Initiative
Financial Self-Sustainability
• Necessary to step away from purely external funding and concentrate more on improving local entrepreneurship, sustainable agro-forestry and professional formation.
Awareness
• Without an increase in consumer and international awareness, securing funding and attracting tourists is difficult, considering that Bolivia has many well-known and larger national parks, competitors to Pilón Lajas
Reduction of Pop. Growth & Land-Use
• Necessary to reduce pressure on the environment. Careful population density and human settlement monitoring.
• Solution needs to be found for the new settlers, e.g. sustainable economic development programs.
Dual Identify & Purpose
• Biosphere Reserve
• Communal Lands, two identities with legal and governance criteria to meet
• Makes sure both social and environmental sustainability aspects are fully integrated into protection plan
Governance Approach
• Participatory approach, inclusive of multi-level concerns (e.g. indigenous, experts, government, etc.)
• Serves as best-case environmental management model for similar protected areas. Institutionalized governance approach.
Equator Initative. (2012). Tsimané Mosetene Regional Council, Pilón Lajas, Bolivia. New York: Equator Principles.
Pauquet, S. (2005). Diagnosis of the Pilón Lajas Biosphere Reserve and Communal Lands. La Paz, Bolivia: ParksWatch Bolivia.
Peredo-Videa, B. (2008). The Pilón Lajas Biosphere Reserve and Indigenous Territory, Beni, Bolivia. Oxford: Green College, Oxford University.
*Further references available in the academic paper, supervised by Prof. Sabine Sedlacek