Science and Communities - Lines of action - Panamá
- Details
- Published on Friday, 03 February 2012 17:37
- Written by marviva
The Science and Communities program in Panama works on the consolidation of inter-institutional and community alliances and agreements that are essential for strengthening interest in coastal and marine conservation and positioning the Marine Spatial Planning approach as a key tool in regional development planning.
It focuses on:
Productive alternatives:
The foundations have been set for a platform of alternative economic activity that sustainably uses the resources of the area through the development of ecotourism micro-enterprises in the communities. There are now 11 initiatives offering lodging, marine transport, food and trail hiking services, most of them managed by fishers who are now complementing their livelihoods with ecotourism.
With support from major partners such as the United Nations through its Small Grants Program and the Inter-American Development Bank through its FOMIN program, work is being done on obtaining the first guide certifications for cetacean-watching in Panama, where more than 27 are already pre-registered in the process.
Micro-finance models are being introduced into fishing communities as a means of community micro-enterprise activation, through the Community Enterprise scheme developed by Foundation FINCA Costa Rica; now in Pedregal and Remedios of Chiriquí province, Community Enterprise activities are now being self-funded with more than US$15,000.
Commercialization chains:
Through a characterization of the commercialization chain of the hydrobiological resources in the Gulf of Chiriquí, groups of fishers are identified for developing a value chain project that will enable them to obtain better income through direct access to local markets linked to responsible fishing.
The Inter-American Development Bank is also a partner in the implementation of commercialization chain projects with the groups that harvest black conch and lobster.
Community strengthening:
Community assessments have been made of the region that describe some 80 current and potential leaders in eight communities of the Gulf of Chiriquí, with whom direct contact has been made and work is being done on the community strengthening program through community leadership training that will enable these leaders to adopt environmental principles and promote their active participation in governance processes.
Conservation management agreements:
Conservation International is providing support for the implementation of the “Planning and management of the mangroves of David, Gulf of Chiriquí” project that is being developed with the active participation of forest and fishery resource users.
