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Equator Initiative Case StudiesLocal sustainable development solutions for people, nature, and resilient communities
Costa RicaTALAMANCA INITIATIVE
Empowered live
Resilient nation
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UNDP EQUATOR INITIATIVE CASE STUDY SERIES
Local and indigenous communities across the world are advancing innovative sustainable development solutions that wo
or people and or nature. Few publications or case studies tell the ull story o how such initiatives evolve, the breadth
their impacts, or how they change over time. Fewer still have undertaken to tell these stories with community practition
themselves guiding the narrative.
To mark its 10-year anniversary, the Equator Initiative aims to ll this gap. The ollowing case study is one in a growing ser
that details the work o Equator Prize winners vetted and peer-reviewed best practices in community-based environmenconservation and sustainable livelihoods. These cases are intended to inspire the policy dialogue needed to take local succ
to scale, to improve the global knowledge base on local environment and development solutions, and to serve as models
replication. Case studies are best viewed and understood with reerence toThe Power o Local Action: Lessons rom 10 Years
the Equator Prize, a compendium o lessons learned and policy guidance that draws rom the case material.
Click on the map to visit the Equator Initiatives searchable case study database.
EditorsEditor-in-Chie: Joseph Corcoran
Managing Editor: Oliver HughesContributing Editors: Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Erin Lewis, Whitney Wilding
Contributing WritersEdayatu Abieodun Lamptey, Erin Atwell, Toni Blackman, Jonathan Clay, Joseph Corcoran, Larissa Currado, Sarah Gordon, Oliver Hughe
Wen-Juan Jiang, Sonal Kanabar, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Rachael Lader, Patrick Lee, Erin Lewis, Jona Liebl, Mengning Ma,
Mary McGraw, Gabriele Orlandi, Juliana Quaresma, Peter Schecter, Martin Sommerschuh, Whitney Wilding, Luna Wu
DesignOliver Hughes, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Amy Korngiebel, Kimberly Koserowski, Erin Lewis, John Mulqueen, Lorena de la Pa
Brandon Payne, Mariajos Satizbal G.
AcknowledgementsThe Equator Initiative acknowledges with gratitude the Talamanca Initiative, and in particular the guidance and inputs o Diego Lynch
photo credits courtesy o the Talamanca Initiative. Maps courtesy o CIA World Factbook and Wikipedia.
Suggested CitationUnited Nations Development Programme. 2012. Talamanca Initiative, Costa Rica. Equator Initiative Case Study Series. New York, NY.
http://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/events/2012events/Book_Launch/power%2520of%2520local%2520action%2520final%25202013%25208mb.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/events/2012events/Book_Launch/power%2520of%2520local%2520action%2520final%25202013%25208mb.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/events/2012events/Book_Launch/power%2520of%2520local%2520action%2520final%25202013%25208mb.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/events/2012events/Book_Launch/power%2520of%2520local%2520action%2520final%25202013%25208mb.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/events/2012events/Book_Launch/power%2520of%2520local%2520action%2520final%25202013%25208mb.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/index.php?option=com_winners&view=casestudysearch&Itemid=858http://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/events/2012events/Book_Launch/power%2520of%2520local%2520action%2520final%25202013%25208mb.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/events/2012events/Book_Launch/power%2520of%2520local%2520action%2520final%25202013%25208mb.pdf -
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PROJECT SUMMARYSince the late-1970s, local NGO Asociacin ANAIhas promoted sustainable arming practices in ruralcommunities living within the Talamanca region o CostaRica. Home to one-third o the countrys indigenous people,the canton ranks lowest in many key socioeconomicindicators, including human development, yet is hometo some o the countrys richest biodiversity. This naturalheritage was threatened by overreliance on cacao armingas a monoculture, which has contributed to a vicious cycleo orest clearance and loss o soil productivity.
Asociacin ANAI has acted as an incubator or community-based action that seeks to address these persistent socialand ecological challenges. Chie amongst these localinitiatives have been sustainable agricultural approaches,inspired by ANAIs regional Finca Educativa training centre.Peer-to-peer learning has also been applied in marineand coastal settings, through endangered turtle speciesconservation, and in developing ecotourism ventures.
KEY FACTS
EQUATOR PRIZE WINNER: 2002
FOUNDED: Late 1970s
LOCATION: Talamanca, south-east Costa R ica
BENEFICIARIES: Over 20 grassroots organizations
BIODIVERSITY: Wildlife refuge & marine turtle conservati
3
TALAMANCA INITIATIVECosta Rica
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Background and Context 4
Key Activities and Innovations 6
Biodiversity Impacts 8
Socioeconomic Impacts 9
Policy Impacts 10
Sustainability 11
Replication 11
Partners 11
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4
he canton o Talamanca lies in the south-east o Costa Rica, bordered
y Panama and the Caribbean. It is the countrys poorest region in
ocioeconomic terms and the richest area in terms o biodiversity
nd tropical orest ecosystems. Stretching rom the highest point
n the country to sea level, the 2,800-square kilometre region is
ome to approximately 32,500 people, as well as many plant and
nimal species that are ound nowhere else in the world. The area
hat straddles Costa Rica and Panama, La Amistad International Park,
was declared a World Heritage Site in 1983, and, along with Chirip
nd Cahuita National Parks, covers approximately 55 per cent o the
antons territory. In total, 88 per cent o the region is under ocial
rotection. Yet Costa Rica has one o the highest deorestation rates
n the world. Tropical rainorests maintain almost all their nutrientsn the trees and animals, unlike temperate orests where much o the
utrient wealth is in the soil. Consequently, when a orest is cleared
lmost all the nutrients are lost and the original orests cannot be
egenerated.
Pervasive poverty and over-reliance on cacao
alamanca is home to around one-third o Costa Ricas indigenous
opulation, numbering more than 11,000, primarily rom the Bribri
nd Cabcar groups. The canton sufers rom pervasive poverty.
n 2009, its human development index was the lowest-ranked
all Costa Rican cantons. The inant mortality rate was 12.89 per
housand in 2009, but as recently as 2003 it had been as high as 22.5er thousand. In 2010, only just over hal o Talamanca inhabitants
ad access to either piped or septic tank sanitation. One o the main
ources o income is agriculture, and particularly cacao; traditionally,
armers have relied heavily on the intensive cultivation o cacao
n monoculture plantations. When, in 1979, cacao trees became
nected with a ast-spreading ungal disease, the local agricultural
conomy in Talamanca was let devastated. Farmers were orced to
lear the land to raise cattle, cut the trees or timber, and introduce
ntensive arming methods to produce short-cycle cash crops,
ontributing to a vicious cycle o widespread deorestation.
Asociacin ANAI
Recognizing that this would only lead to the destruction o the re
however, a local initiative has worked to re-introduce indige
agricultural techniques, diversiy arming and develop ecotou
among other alternative livelihood activities, to conserve
regions natural environment and improve local wellbeing. In 1
to stop tree harvesting and the selling o land or ranching, a
NGO called Asociacin ANAI began encouraging armers to
into practice methods that both conserved the environment
generated income.
Asociacin ANAI had begun as a loose coalition o North Amebiologists and Talamancan armers dedicated to raising aware
among the regions agrarian community o sustainable arm
practices. Eforts were initially ocused on an experimental arm
in the surrounding community o Gandoca. Through experie
learning and ongoing assessments o local needs, the associat
work became entrenched in its beneciary communities, an
local people began to exercise an increasing level o owner
over its projects, conservation-development linkages became m
apparent to its member armers. As condence in ANAI grew, t
linkages gained more attention. The rst ormal recognition o
groups work came in 1985, when the association partnered
local communities and the Costa Rican government to esta
the 25,000-acre Gandoca Manzanillo National Wildlie Reuge incoastal part o Talamanca.
The Talamanca Initiative
From 1985 onwards, the association evolved rom a loose coal
o ounders with a very local and thematically-limited ocus
consolidated organization with a regional ocus, working with
communities o all o the regions ethnic groups. ANAI prom
a broad menu o sustainable development alternatives
projects that were embraced by the cantons local and indige
Background and Context
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55
ampesinos. Due to its close association with local people, this work
ame to be known collectively as The Talamanca Initiative, and gained
ational and international credibility or its pioneering integration o
ustainable development and community-led conservation.
One o the goals o ANAIs work in Talamanca has been to act as a
upport agency or the incubation o local and regional initiatives,
acilities, and grassroots organizations, the management o which
s transerred to local communities over time. Over the course oeveral years, ANAIs staf would meet on a weekly basis with armers
rom a particular community, and monthly with representatives
rom all o Talamancas communities, designing a regional
rogramme to address sustainable development and conservation
ssues. Among the rst initiatives sponsored by ANAI in this way
were the Association o Small Producers o Talamanca (APPTA) and
he Talamanca Caribbean Biological Corridor Association (CBTCA),
oth leading actors in the Talamanca Initiative. The association
lso sponsored the creation o Finca Educativa, a regional training
entre, and the establishment o several community savings and
oan groups.
Many o these groups are now sel-sustaining organizations, carrying
ut the initiatives activities independently rom ANAIs supervision.
he association continues to act in its sel-designated role as an
ntermediary or Grassroots Support Organization. ANAI acts as
acilitator, providing strategic and managerial support, and has
ranched out into activities such as biomonitoring.
A common core belie o the Talamanca Initiative is that the key
o conservation and sustainable development is the successul
management o these issues by the local people. The work o
he Talamanca Initiative is guided by ve core principles: i) no
nherent contradiction exists between economic development and
nvironmental conservation (i communities and nations are tohrive, development and conservation must take place together);
) the best stewards o the tropical lowlands are the regions
ampesinos and Indian armers who have dedicated their lives to
hese lands; iii) all natural tropical areas that are not protected will
e radically altered during our lietime and we must work to protect
hese areas and preserve their biodiversity or uture generations to
njoy; iv) the natural orest and other unique primary ecosystems
re Talamancas most economically valuable asset in the long term;
nd v) a successul strategy to address these issues must successully
ntegrate environmental, social, economic and organizational needs.
If communities and nations are to thrive
development and conservation must tak
place together
Diego Lynch, Asociacin ANAI
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6
Key Activities and Innovations
he primary project catalyst was the need to nd an alternative to
acao as a source o income. This built on widespread recognition
uring the 1980s among Talamancan armers that diversicationwas the answer to sustaining their livelihoods. ANAIs vision was
o minimize destructive practices by establishing diversied
groorestry systems which would not only mimic the unction
o the natural orest (as does traditional cacao arming) but also
produce enough income rom a small area to enable each armer to
preserve a portion o natural orest. This combination o agroorestry
nd natural orest would also provide or the sustainable harvest
o wood or other products such as medicinal plants or watershed
protection, tourism and the arm amilys own use.
ANAI began by planting crops on its experimental arm in 1978,
ventually planting more than 150 species o ruit, nut and spice
rops that they identied rom the worlds lowland rainorest areas
s having potential to be integrated into Talamancas small arm
ystems. This included bananas and many types o ruit trees which
were not previously common, such as araza, sapoti and jackruit.
etween 1985 and 1990, more than two million cash crops, ood
rops and trees or timber were planted on the regions amily arms,
reating a larger and much more diverse resource base. The variety
o plants and trees mimicked the variety in natural orests and so
elped to support biological diversity a key to sustaining insect lie
nd allowing the surrounding orest to thrive.
Using the inormation gathered during the crop trials, ANAI helped
ocal armers establish tree nurseries in every community oalamanca, an innovative approach that allowed the distribution
o the new crops and new varieties o cacao to communities ar
rom the nearest road. ANAI learned early in the process that most
ommunities had little experience in coming together in groups to
make decisions and solve problems, so the nurseries became a ocal
point or completing work, learning about crops and allowing the
ommunity to work together.
Adding value to local harvests
To make crop diversication economically viable, the Associo Small Producers o Talamanca developed local proce
inrastructure and marketing strategies. Markets were sec
by applying or and receiving air trade and organic certica
rom internationally recognized organizations. ANAI then wo
to: identiy the potential or growing and marketing organ
grown crops; identiy markets, both locally and internationally
establish an organic certication programme (the rst o its kind
small armers in Costa Rica, ultimately arranging certication o
rst 500 arms.
This approach has been so successul that over 1,000 armers
established organic agro-ecosystems, combining commercial c
with ood security strategies. The Association o Small Produce
Talamanca has become the largest volume producer and export
organic products in Central America, generating an average an
income o USD 500,000 to date. Revenues are channeled into
local economy through a large number o amily armers. In
demand or organic cacao has outgrown supply, so the progra
is being expanded to neighboring countries to meet demand.
A regional centre o excellence
In 1991, a locally-run regional training centre known as F
Educativa was established in the Talamanca Indigenous Res
It was constructed by tits users and is managed by a local bo directors and executive committee. It serves over 2,000 pe
per year, providing courses and workshops in agriculture, he
appropriate technology, and conservation or example,
concept o endangered species, reorestation, and the relation
o individual animal species with their habitats. Leadership tra
programs have ocused on empowering local people to un
as community leaders, and this has served, among other th
to strengthen community-based organizations. Environm
education in local primary schools has been undertaken since
early 1990s.
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Forest conservation
o conserve the regions orest and avoid the extraction o timber
t the lowest negotiable price, the initiative developed low-impact
perations that would produce a value-added product in the
ommunity. In addition, they purchased land as a last resort to save
he land rom immediate deorestation; provided legal assistance
n matters ranging rom resolution o land tenure disputes to
norcement o orestry and wildlie laws; replanted native species;nd developed integrated land management plans.
As an example, members o ASACODE, a local group which
ocuses on sustainable orestry, have all been trained to develop
management plans or selective sustainable logging, to navigate
he complex permit processes, to harvest trees so as to minimize
amage, to extract logs using animal traction (water bufalo), and
o process the wood at their own sawmill. Unlike conventional
oggers, ASACODE members also consider conservation needs and
lternative options, such as non-traditional orest products and
cotourism. As a testament to the success o their work, the arms
eing managed by ASACODE have been certied as meeting all the
riteria or sustainability set out by SmartWood, an international
ertication agency or sustainable orestry.
Ecotourism
Costa Rica had been exploited in the past by businesses and
ntrepreneurs that developed the land or tourism with little regard
or the environment or the local people. In contrast, the Talamanca
nitiative recognized the potential to draw urther income into the
egion by developing a sustainable ecotourism market. The growth
o tourism in Talamanca has exploded since 1985 and has b
recognized as a double edged sword, representing both destru
elements and opportunities. Thereore, the emphasis has b
placed on proper planning and management o activities
local people. The early work o two ecotourism lodges inor
and guided ecotourism activities by other groups. The pion
demonstrated that locally controlled ecotourism can make
organizations stronger and more sustainable.
In 1998, 17 associations and businesses ormed the Talaman
Community Ecotourism Network to acilitate close organizat
relations, product development, inormation and idea sha
training, collaborative planning, production o promotional m
and participation in ecotourism airs. There are now ve ecotou
lodges, which are all owned and managed by commu
organizations. The revenue earned goes directly to the am
in the community who have set up small amily businesses.
tangible benets rom conservation have been an essential pa
the process o developing support or conservation among the
poor. The Talamanca Network also decided to create a conserva
und, into which they contribute a percentage o all ecotou
income.
Scaling out: 1998 to present
The initiative currently involves collaboration and coopera
between more than 20 grassroots organizations, represen
around 1,500 small producer households, and Costa Ricas Min
o Environment and Energy. Participants include men and wo
o all the social and ethnic groups o the southern Caribbean re
o Costa Rica, including Aro-Caribbean, indigenous, and me
peoples.
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8
Impacts
BIODIVERSITY IMPACTS
The initiatives conservation impacts have included both terrestrial
nd marine ecosystems. The Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlie
Reuge, stretching or 30 km along the Caribbean coast, was
established in 1985 as a direct result o Talamanca Initiative actions,
n partnership with the Costa Rican Ministry o the Environment
nd Energy. This reuge (now an ocially recognized RAMSAR
ite) protects many species o endemic plants and animals, serves
s Costa Ricas last remaining reuge or manatees and other
endangered species, and contains a diversity o unique wetland
ecosystems ound nowhere else in the country. A co-management
plan implemented in the reuge, the rst o its kind in a Costa Ricanprotected area, has served as a model o communities, NGOs, and
governments working together or the benet o local people and
he areas unique biological resources. The reserve has provided a
timulus or the local ecotourism trade, bringing economic benets
o neighbouring communities.
Protecting an endangered marine species
The Talamanca Marine Turtle Conservation Program, started in 1992
n the community o Gandoca, has saved thousands o leatherback,
green, and hawksbill turtle eggs rom predation and poaching,
bringing stability back to the local populations o these endangered
nimals. Sea turtle conservation has become the economic motoror this community, generating six times more income than was
previously generated rom the harvesting and selling o turtle
eggs, through the provision o services to the project volunteers
nd tourists. As one o the most successul projects o its kind in
he world, Gandoca has become a center or the training o turtle
onservationists throughout Central America and the Caribbean.
Talamanca is one o the ew places in the world where leatherback
ea turtle populations are growing.
Quantiying the benefts o agro-ecology
Scientic validation o the role that small arm agro-ecosys
can play in biodiversity conservation has been achieved thro
various research initiatives, the most notable having been publi
jointly with The Nature Conservancy in a study which illustrate
importance o these agro-ecosystems as integral parts o an ov
conservation strategy that simultaneously protects biodive
and improves economic prospects. As habitat or a wide varie
plants and animals, these systems are an important compleme
primary and secondary orest habitats, and create wildlie corr
linking conservation areas. The opportunities that this present
marketing certain products as environmentally riendly and riendly, with consequently higher revenue or small armers
being actively pursued.
Ecosystem restoration and biomonitoring
Reorestation with native tree species has been carried out by
than 1,600 arm amilies. A total o 115 small armers are curre
receiving carbon ofset payments or conserving over 6,000 hec
o their orests. This programme area, along with other conserv
projects currently being implemented as part o the Talam
Initiative, have benetted rom rigorous monitoring by Asocia
ANAI. Through a participatory biomonitoring initiative ocuse
resh water streams, or instance, local communities are gathevaluable inormation or appropriate land-use planning and dec
making. Other monitoring eforts have ocused on particular spe
Central Americas only permanent raptor migration monito
programme has recorded more than 2.9 million birds o prey
season, becoming not only the second highest count in the w
but also a living laboratory or conservation education and a
opportunity or integrating conservation with ecotourism initia
Numerous scientic, conservation and sustainable developm
oriented studies have been carried out, including a Rapid Ecolo
Assessment, Site Conservation Planning, the identication o
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pecies, the ecology o estuarine habitat use by the Atlantic tarpon
Megalops atlanticus), sustainable orest management planning,
and biological inventories o diferent taxa and ecosystems.
SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS
A key actor in the success o the initiatives projects, and their high
degree o local ownership, has been the benets brought to local
arming and shing communities.
. Turtle conservation
For years in Talamanca, local people took sea turtle eggs rom nests
and sold them throughout Costa Rica, a tradition that has had a
erious impact on the endangered reptiles. Virtually all sea turtle
eggs were being lost to either poachers or domestic animals. The
Talamanca Marine Turtle Conservation Programme was designed
as a response to this situation. ANAI worked with a local shing
community to plan and implement a new approach which both
protects the turtles and provides income. Traditional conservation
measures, which attempt to protect turtles and their eggs, are
normally undermined by local community members incensed atosing an important source o income. This problem afects most o
he worlds turtle beaches and in Talamanca the community initially
esisted limitations on their access to the eggs. To address this, it
was necessary to: i) create better economic alternatives that are
dependent on the conservation o the sea turtles; ii) educate, train
and empower the community; and iii) enroll volunteers to patro
beach nightly to protect eggs rom poachers rom outside o
community.
By generating six times more income than was previously rea
rom the harvesting and selling o turtle eggs, the project
brought about signicant social and economic benets. It
brought stability back to the endangered turtle populat
losses are now less than ve per cent and local people are stsupporters o the research and conservation programmes that
made this possible. The model is being shared throughout Ce
America and the Caribbean.
ii. Crop diversifcation
Organic crop diversication or Talamancas amily arms was a
ocus o work in the early to mid-1980s. Previously, small ar
had been dependent on cacao as their only cash crop. Ate
arrival o a new ungal disease, monilia, many local armers
without any other resources or options, were orced to sell
land or harvest their trees or lumber. Using community nurs
as a means o producing seedlings locally, as community tracenters, and as ocal points or community organization,
arms were diversied, creating new opportunities to allow s
armers to stay on their land and maintain their traditional w
lie. Now, over 1,500 Talamancan armers have established org
agro-ecosystems, combining commercial crops with ood sec
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trategies, in a multi-storey planting system that mimics the
tructure and unction o the rainorest. Additionally, armers have
een trained in managing the new crops and agricultural systems,
reating many new jobs on their productive, labor-intensive amilyarms while providing signicant environmental benets such as
mproved soil and water quality, biodiversity habitat, carbon dioxide
xation and improved community health.
ii. Value-added processing
APPTA has developed a local processing inrastructure or organic
acao and bananas, quality control checks, marketing strategies,
nd an organic certication program, becoming the largest volume
roducer and exporter o organic products in Central America. In
ddition to creating completely new markets or some products,
he price premium armers are receiving or their certied organic
roducts ranges rom 15- 60 per cent. In addition, eight communityredit and loan associations have been established.
v. Ecotourism
or over 10 years, ANAI has given valuable training to local
ommunities to help develop the skills necessary or community-
ased ecotourism initiatives, including training in nancial
management, small business operation, computer technology,
cology, biology, natural history, and tourism management. As a
esult, 13 community ecotourism ventures have been established in
alamanca, and are a growing source o income or local people and
heir organizations. Five ecotourism lodges (CASACODE, Kekoldi,
ACODEFO, ASODECC, and Yorkin) are all owned anAd managed by
ommunity organizations whose objectives include conservation,
ustainable economic development, community development,
nd, in the case o the indigenous community groups, protection
cultural traditions. The Gandoca community ecotourism venture,
managed by local amilies, provides home-stays, hotels, and services
or ecotourists and volunteers in the ANAI Sea Turtle Conservation
rogramme. The Nature Guides Association or the village o
Manzanillo, managed by an executive committee o member guides,
rovides local guide services. Six other community-based ventures
are beginning to provide services o diferent kinds. All o t
groups are committed to the ideal o ecotourism as both a liveli
and a means or biodiversity and ecosystem conservation.
In 1998, the ormation o the Talamancan Community Ecotou
Network, a collaborative efort which acilitates close organizat
relations, product development, inormation and idea sha
training, collaborative planning, production o promotional m
and participation in ecotourism airs. Communities have seen
tangible results o their earlier work, which has helped them dev
a proactive approach and empowered them to change their s
and economic situations.
POLICY IMPACTS
On a local level, the work o the Talamanca Initiative has le
environmental advocacy and citizen participation in environmactivities. Conservation o biodiversity and ecosystems is
an understandable, even commonplace, concept in muc
Talamanca. The most recent sustained action by the local popul
and their organizations orced the Costa Rican government to r
an environmental impact estimate and efectively end oil dr
of the Caribbean coast. Local people are committed to crea
new approaches that will provide sustainable socioecon
development while protecting their natural environment
unique biological resources.
The Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlie Reuge was establish
1985 as a direct result o the work o ANAI and the Talamanca Initia
in partnership with the Costa Rican Ministry o the Environm
and Energy. Co-management o the Gandoca Manzanillo Nat
Wildlie Reuge is empowering local communities and NGOs,
decision-makers in what was once the exclusive domain o
government. Training o many kinds is helping people prepar
new jobs and better manage their amily enterprises. Training
strategic support has resulted in stronger organizations and be
managed community initiatives.
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Sustainability and Replication
SUSTAINABILITYhe Talamanca Initiative has brought about the creation and
rowth o more than 20 grassroots conservation and development
rganizations, dedicated to maintaining thriving human
ommunities and a healthy environment. Signicant participation
nd leadership by women has been achieved in most o these
rganizations.
Almost all these organizations are based on entrepreneurial activity,
roviding nancial stability, while supporting and subsidising
nvironmental and social aspects o the work. Each activity, project,
nd program integrates environmental, economic and social aspectswhile maintaining both a community and a regional perspective.
he development o new community initiatives ocuses on activities
hat provide tangible benets. A culture o collaboration and has
een ostered. Key stakeholders have made long-term commitments
hat are not limited by time or external unding. Local people have
eceived theoretical and practical training, developing capability
o efectively design, manage and consolidate their own projects.
here is deep mutual respect or the cultural and social heritage o
alamancas various groups, and initiatives are tailored accordingly.
here are active partnerships with almost all local community
rganizations, relevant governmental institutions, private businessesnd landowners. The long-term commitment to Talamanca has
lowly cultivated a sentiment o loyalty to the regions natural
esources by many o its people, based not only on nancial gain but
n an appreciation o its inherent value.
REPLICATION
alamanca Initiative actively participates in various orums,
onerences and workshops to promote strategies, actions, policies
nd laws that urther the integration o socioeconomic development
and biodiversity conservation throughout the Neotropics
sharing and disseminating the Talamanca model, lessons lea
and knowledge and experience gained through this process
Talamanca Initiative strives to inspire, encourage and support o
organizations and communities to develop similar processes.
Tangible results o partnerships beyond Talamanca inc
organic certication and higher prices or more than 2,000 m
indigenous armers in Bocas del Toro, Panama, through work wit
Cooperativa de Cacao Bocatorea (COCABO), and the establishm
o community-based sea turtle conservation programmes in
other sites throughout Central America. Carbon ofset paymen
conservation initiatives by small armers have been extended toentire Atlantic drainage area o La Amistad International Park.
PARTNERS
Talamanca Initiative has provided leadership at many levels, inclu
the main creative energy or the establishment and consolid
o organizations such as the Costa Rican Sea Turtle Conserva
Network and the Central American Sea Turtle Conservation Netw
Other organizations in which key members rom the Talam
Initiative provide leadership include the National Campe
Forestry Board (Junta National Forestal Campesina JUNAFOR
the UNDP-implemented GEF-Small Grants Programme or Costa
the Atlantic Regional Environmental Council, ACTUAR (the NatAssociation o Community Ecotourism Initiatives), WIDECAST (W
Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network),and the Latin Ame
Network or Alternative Development.
The most important partnerships are those that have been devel
within and between the communities o Talamanca. These tie
the result o real exchanges evolving rom cooperation. Talam
Initiative osters an environment where project staf, commun
grassroots organizations, local authorities, businesses, acade
and proessionals work together in pursuit o common aims.
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7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: TALAMANCA INITIATIVE, Costa Rica
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Equator Initiative
Environment and Energy GroupUnited Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
304 East 45th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Tel: +1 646 781-4023
www.equatorinitiative.org
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UNs global development network, advocating or change and
necting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better lie.
The Equator Initiative brings together the United Nations, governments, civil society, businesses and grassroots organizati
o recognize and advance local sustainable development solutions or people, nature and resilient communities.
2012 by Equator Initiative
All rights reserved
FURTHER REFERENCE
Parrish J., Reitsma R., Greenberg R., Skerl K., McLaerny W., Mack R. and Lynch J. 1999.Cocoa as Crop and Conservation Tool in Latin Ame
Addressing the Needs o Farmers and Forest Biodiversity.
Talamanca Initiative Photo Story: vimeo.com/27017143
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