Gef-iw5 etps mangroves

U.Appropriateness of New Technology and Methodologies to be applied by the Project

The project uses an ensemble approach to bring relevant tools and methods together through the international technical advisory group as part of the regional mangrove open initiative and cultivating opportunities with existing collaborators (e.g. Duke University, International Blue Carbon Policy Group) and global projects such as the Blue Forest, Blue Carbon and WAVEs to better evaluate ecosystem goods and services. These tools work to quantify the value of mangroves, helping countries internally justify investments that improve the long-term outlook for mangrove areas.

Ground-truthing of new ES methodologies will take place at the demonstration sites of the Gulfs of Guayaquil and Nicoya with results and benefits generated by the application presented to policy makers and managers. It is expected that the CPPS technical forum will also bring new tools to the table such as the use of drones for mapping and vigilance, development of GIS for planning and decision support systems, new methods for improved carbon estimations and aerial vegetation mapping techniques from ortho-rectified imagery, LIDAR etc. The intention is that the practical connotations of these concepts be considered and adopted by stakeholders in other localities through trans-boundary learning, hence replicated, effectively amplifying knowledge and conservation benefits for the communities involved and the wider ETPS region.

V.Project Stakeholders

All four project sites are relatively large, multiple use estuarine gulfs with a wide range of stakeholders ranging from small-scale fishing communities to large, sophisticated urban centers where main governmental decision-makers, the private sectors, universities and the urban populaces reside.

As has been the case of nearly ten years of implementation of the ETPS program, this project will build on a broad partnership with public and private organizations in the planning (PPG) and implementation phases of this project. The organizations most relevant to mangrove conservation will be the primary participants in the project’s consultative activities and will be beneficiaries of training. A summary of the most relevant stakeholders and their roles is provided (Table 3).

Table : Project Stakeholders
Stakeholder	Interests in the Project	Stakeholder Influence in the Project	Project Effect(s) on Stakeholder
CPPS Comisión Permanente del Pacifico Sur (Southern Pacific Permanent Commission)	A project implementing partner with CI and UNESCO, the CPPS leads the development of the regional mangrove strategy (the central thematic element of Component 1)	A key platform at the regional level, based in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Three of four countries in the project (Ecuador, Colombia and Panama) are contracting parties to this regional body with Costa Rica engaging as a participating non-CPPS party in the mangrove initiative.	The project will help facilitate CPPS as a strategic agency and host of a Mangrove Technical Working Group within which other stakeholders will provide inputs towards the finalization/ implementation of regional strategy.
National Ministries of Environment (and other relevant national level ministries and authorities)	Regional strategy development and implementation National and local mangrove strategy and policy strengthening	We will engage with the Ministries of each country responsible for topics related to the environment or aquatic resources and those with authority on protected areas. These actors will contribute to the regional mangrove strategy within the framework of the Mangrove Technical Working Group created within CPPS. At the national level, they are the main leaders of their respective national mangrove strategy creation, revision and implementation, as well as leaders for the development of stronger regulations, national enforcement and incentives conducive to mangrove conservation.	Support in the development of effective national mangrove resource management plans and policies within a regional framework through directed assessments, dialogue, interchange of technology and experiences.
Conservation and protected area administrators. Coastal and watershed coastal and land planners/managers.	Implementation of field conservation action National and local mangrove strategy and policy strengthening	Administrators will be key actors in the development of mangrove management plans and are key actors encouraging and maintaining viable networks of protected areas. Similarly the managers, planners and other relevant administrators for the coastal and watershed regions associated with the field sites will be actively included in the PPG stage of the project and the implementation of the project as appropriate.	This projects aims at improving the management of mangroves areas in and/or near existing protected areas rich in mangrove ecosystems and thus through active participation of representatives and administrators should help advance the agenda for existing and candidate protected areas.
Local civil society organizations	Implementation of field conservation actions	Existing local associations, cooperatives or similar organized groups with basic governance systems associated with management of natural resources are users and beneficiaries of the services and goods specifically provided by mangrove ecosystems. We will seek their engagement and collaboration with the project.	Project activities will look to strengthen and support constructive actions and policies that benefit and encourage the sustainable use of mangrove resources.
Local and regional private users of mangrove associated coastal areas (incl. related industry groups e.g. shrimp farmers, tourism developers and operators, farmers operating within watershed etc.)	Adapting and prioritizing elements of the mangrove conservation agenda with private operations.	Private users of the mangrove areas and the reef to ridge areas relevant to the mangrove sites (specifically including those users generating impacts on mangroves) will be identified through the PPG process and into the Full Project. This includes coastal users such as shrimp farming and tourism but also other users in the watershed such as farmers causing changes in freshwater flow and quality and fishermen dependant on mangrove associated fish populations.	Depending on the sites and the receptiveness of the users, they will be actively included in the PPG stage of the project, implementation of the project or will be the target audience for outreach and communication efforts. This category does not apply to Colombia’s national regulated areas.
Ethnic communities / community councils (Colombia)	Potential for Implementation of field conservation actions	Afro-Colombian local communities are important stakeholders in some mangrove areas and historically traditional custodians of their natural resource. In Colombia the Valle de Cauca region (Gulf of Tortugas) is home to 46 indigenous and black community reserves. CI-Colombia reports that this is a particularly challenging region to work in. Given a complex domestic situation close coordination with the Colombian authorities is obligatory. Particular attention will be given to assessing the scope for access-to and support of sustainable communities in this region.	During the PPG phase the project will develop the Indigenous Peoples Plan (scoped to Afro-Colombian Communities [ADC]) with guidelines to engage Afro descendant community leaders and encourage involvement through the project planning process (community led measures for sustainable practice and outreach). ADC communities include the High Anchicayá Community, Bazán Bocana Community, Córdoba and San Cipriano Community, middle and high Dagua river zones Community, Cajambre river Community, and Calle Dagua Community. Indigenous communities situated further inland are not considered actors for this project (the Waunaan of the Guayacan Sant Reserve and the Dagua river Reserve, and the Embera of the Naya river Reserve).
Local communities	Implementation of field conservation actions	This project will seek participation and inclusion of three to five local communities most relevant to mangrove conservation planning and practice in the final selection of 2-5 field conservation sites. Local communities’ contribution to the project will include participation in the development of mangrove management plans, and in field action for mangrove conservation and restoration.	Both primary users and beneficiaries of the mangroves and those who from living near mangrove ecosystem indirectly benefit from the mangrove ecosystem’s goods and services will be actively engaged in project development. Note that in Colombia Afro-descendant communities are considered by authorities as local communities.

Other regional actors include Ramsar whose mangrove and coral conservation strategy is relevant and complementary to the CPPS regional open mangrove initiative and the international cooperation agencies where complementarities exist between multilateral and bilateral projects. The Ministries of Foreign affairs of Colombia and Ecuador will be approached when looking at questions and solutions for trans-boundary mangrove conservation and sustainable development during the national policy exercises (Component #2). Each CI-country office works with a range of NGOs, universities and private research centers when developing and implementing activities. A more exhaustive list of institutions is provided in the SEP (Appendix VIa) and a bank of contact details is maintained by the EA.