Peatlands in the Tropical Andes.
Towards an international socio-environmental monitoring system

Grant Agreement Nr. WGP2 13-GPI 71

Agreement holder:
   Netherlands Committee for IUCN
   Plantage Middenlaan 2 K
   1018 DD Amsterdam

Country/region: The Netherlands

Activity period: 01-01-?03 / 01-01-?04

Documentation and products available:


Background:

A participatory development of a monitoring system for the biological and socio-economical conditions of High Andean peatlands is needed to conserve and sustainable use peatlands in the High Andes. An identification of the relation between peatlands and rural livelihoods, an inventory of the threats to peatland integrity and the construction of a monitoring system applicable in all Andean countries is needed. The main objective is to provide local, national and international decision makers with an easily applicable monitoring tool of the high Andean peatlands (in p?ramo, jalca y puna) which includes biological and socio-economical aspects, to obtain relevant and understandable information that evidences changes in ecosystem health in time and space.

Brief project description:

The project aimed at developing a monitoring tool for tropical high Andean peatlands to obtain relevant biological and socio-economical information that evidences changes in ecosystem health:

Partners:
NGOs:
Inbio (Costa Rica)
Fundacion Humedales (Colombia)
Grupo Paramo (Ecuador)
EcoCiencia (Ecuador)
Instituto de Montana (Peru)
CGIAG (Bolivia)
Fundacion Proyungas (Argentina)

Internacional NGOs:
IUCN-SUR (Ecuador)
NC-IUCN (Netherlands)
IUCN- CEM (Switzerland)

Science agencies:
Universidad de los Andes (Venezuela)
Universidad de Chile (Chile)
University of Amsterdam (Netherlands)
  1. Completing an inventory on tropical Andean peatlands (from Costa Rica to Northern Argentina). The target group: Decision makers, NGOs, universities, schools, etc.;
  2. Understanding the relation between high Andean peatlands and rural livelihoods through six case studies (high biodiversity and poverty indexes) in different countries and making use of the ecosystem approach of the CBD and IUCN/Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM);
  3. Development of a socio-environmental monitoring system which can be used by local and national management institutions (farmers, municipalities, governments, etc.) based on indicators related to the major threats on the integrity of tropical Andean peatlands
  4. Increasing involvement of the GPI in the Latin American Region, through the international contacts of the IUCN network and its partners.

Results:

Expected
Outputs and Results achieved
Objectives and results:
a.Completing an inventory on High Andean peatlands
b.Understanding the relation between high Andean peatlands and rural livelihoods
c.Developing a socio-environmental monitoring system
d.Promoting the GPI in the Latin American Region
Direct actions:
a.1Inventory of existing information on high Andean peatlands from Costa Rica to Northern Argentina.
a.2.Analysis, compilation and publication of the information.
b.1Identification of critical peatlands in different countries (high biodiversity and poverty indexes) where case study can be carried out.
b.2Execution of short case study on peatland biodiversity, utilisation, socio-economic situation of stakeholders and the relation between these factors.
b.3Analysis and compilation of the results on an international level (six countries).
c.1Theoretical development of a monitoring system for peatlands in the high Andes, based on the diversity of the peatlands, the relation between peatlands and livelihoods and the major threats to the peatlands.
c.2Workshop with specialists of relevant disciplines to validate major threats and identify indicators for a monitoring programme.
c.3Validation of the monitoring system in case study areas together with local stakeholders
c.4Promotion and adjustment of the monitoring system together with decision makers in the six countries
d.1Inclusion by IUCN- Sur of peatlands in their operative plans for the next five years, linked to their strategy for wetlands and Andean ecosystems in general.
d.2Execution by IUCN/Sur of a communication strategy among IUCN-members in the Tropical Andean countries to promote the importance of Andean peatlands.
d.3NC-IUCN participates in GPI-steering committee and support activities influencing policy in NL and IUCN
a.1.In eight countries information on eco-regions was gathered and compiled in Excel data sheets by a network of organisations
a.2Publication on CD ROM and Book Paramos del mundo
b.1-2-3:In each of the eight counties, a site was chosen corresponding to the Ramsar Convention's definition of 'critical' peatland. Of each study site a power point presentation was developed to communicate the information on a wider scale.
Constraints: Information on the Bolivian case was not satisfactory because harsh winter conditions prevented a full inventory. In 2004, a team will revisit the area and will attempt to complete the inventory.
c.1.A discussion paper was prepared on defining a socio-environmental monitoring system for high montane peatlands of Latin America.
c.2-3-4In October 2003 an international workshop of the total project was held in Bogota.
d.1Working relations were established with Ramsar focal points in Ecuador and Colombia. Communication of the discussion paper on the socio-environmental monitoring system also involved the Ramsar focal points of the other six countries.
d-2.In January 2004 IUCN-Sur, Grupo Paramo and Grupo Flamencos disaussed the of cooperation on the strategy development, leading to a further meeting in Quito with the Ramsar focal points, IUCN/Sur and representatives of conservation groups in the Grupo Contacto de Humedales Altoandinos, as well with the IUCN CEM.
d.3NC-IUCN participated in the steering committee and in policy influencing for the peatlands during the IUCN Working Group The Hague, direct to the Minister for Development Co-operation (meeting Dec. 2003) and in Durban (World Parks Congress, 2003), as well to the embassies in the Netherlands.
Constraints
In spite of these efforts, unfortunately the WI/GPI proposal was not awarded within the DGIS/TMF subsidiary system.
Evaluation

The general objectives where achieved and products were attained. Posters and a data base were produced. The material and data obtained from the 8 countries forms the basis for a publication and will be used for environmental policies, legal advice and spatial planning in the Andes. The socio-environmental monitoring system of the Andean peatlands will be very useful for the High Andean Peatland Strategy. The Ramsar focal points are now involved in high Andean peatlands and will cooperate in the High Andean Peatland Strategy. The project strengthened the International Paramo Working Group and involved several international and national NGOs in Andean peatlands. Thanks to the partners of this project three new initiatives were shooting roots in the High Andean Peatlands: WWF Evian Danone; UICN WANI and the Andean P?ramo project (GEF/UNDP).
Local communities will benefit from the implementation of the strategy as their High Andean peatlands which form their natural resource base will be protected. They will benefit daily from the environmental services, such as access to clean water.
The project has contributed to an enhanced awareness on the importance of the High Andean Peatlands, particularly regarding their role in water provision to downstream areas, as well as on the problems they are facing. So far, the existence and the importance of peat for water were completely ignored by decision makers. The socio-environmental monitoring system did stimulate the interests of academic institutions and policy makers.
Strengths: Effective and good coordination with the different parties, systematic standardization of regional and national material, integration of the project results with the 8 Ramsar Focal Points, efficient coordination with IUCN SUR and NC-IUCN.
Weaknesses: problems with coordination, due to distances and heterogeneity of partners; reaching absolute standardization was difficult due to time constraints & different available information from the eight counties

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last update: 20/07/04