Protecting Ecosystems through Forest Resource Management in Protected Areas

Partnership
Initiative

Background

Guatemala is home to some of the world's most diverse and abundant forests, featuring three UNESCO biosphere reserves (Maya, Sierra de las Minas and Trifinio Fraternidad) and a World Heritage Site (Tikal National Park). More than half of the country's forest cover is found within the Sistema Guatemalteco de Áreas Protegidas (Guatemalan System of Protected Areas - SIGAP), which is directed and coordinated by the Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas (National Council of Protected Areas - CONAP); the entity responsible for supporting the conservation of protected areas and biological diversity in Guatemala through the planning, coordination and implementation of conservation policies and models.

Many of these protected areas are located near the border with Mexico and provide a habitat for Indigenous communities and protected fauna on both sides of the border, which has led to the development of joint conservation strategies and management plans with the Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (National Commission of Natural Protected Areas of Mexico - CONANP). In addition, the challenges of climate change, including the increased risk of fires that originate in one country and spread to another, have led to an increase in joint efforts and the strengthening of cooperation mechanisms for fire prevention and management.

These prevention and conservation efforts are supported by the National Parks Autonomous Agency - OAPN (Spain), an organisation with more than 30 years of experience in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of projects in protected areas, ecosystem management (including forest ecosystems), biological monitoring, and forest fire prevention in Spain, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Since 1997, the OAPN has served as the Secretariat of the Network of Biosphere Reserves of Ibero-America and the Caribbean, working to promote the conservation and management of protected areas together with CONAP and CONANP. Among these actions, the Triangular Cooperation project "Strengthening Conservation and Management Strategies in the Tacaná Volcano Biosphere Reserve" (2009-2012), financed by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), is particularly worth noting. This Triangular Cooperation Partnership has maintained collaboration through various initiatives and has sought to promote capacity building among the member entities for the management of protected areas.
All of the Partnership member entities have experience working with the European Union, as well as under the modality of Triangular Cooperation. The OAPN in particular has participated in a project on sustainable environmental development, within the framework of the ADELANTE 2 Triangular Cooperation Funds.

Entities and roles

Beneficiary entities

Secretaría Ejecutiva del Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas - CONAP

Guatemala

First provider entities

Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas

Mexico

Second provider entities

Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico (MITECO) / Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales (OAPN)

Spain

Development challenges

The development of effective strategies for the conservation and sustainable management of forest resources in protected areas is essential to ensure the livelihoods of local communities, as well as protect the flora and fauna that depend on these unique ecosystems.

Through this Triangular Cooperation Initiative, the knowledge and expertise of the Partnership's member entities in biological monitoring, forest management and fire management was leveraged to develop a model for forest resource management in protected areas, focused on such areas in Guatemala. The model could also be used by other countries in the region, thus contributing to SDG 15 - Life on Land and SDG 13 - Climate Action.

This Triangular Cooperation Initiative promoted capacity building among the Partnership entities to create a model for forest resource management in protected areas, focusing on the protection of ecosystems and the active participation of local communities.

Triangular approach

Guatemala is home to a rich natural heritage, especially with its lush and diverse forests that are located in protected areas. However, this natural heritage faces the impending threat of deforestation and loss of biodiversity. By 2020, forest cover in Guatemala comprised approximately 3,601,567 hectares, representing 33% of its territory. More than 50% of this invaluable tree coverage is protected within the Sistema Guatemalteco de Áreas Protegidas (Guatemalan Protected Areas System - SIGAP), under the management of CONAP.

The Triangular Cooperation Partnership, comprised of CONAP, CONANP and OAPN, recognised the importance of capacity building for forest management in these protected areas. Improved wildlife monitoring tools were also sought as a critical need. This improvement not only renewed the diversity of species, but increased their numbers as well. In addition, the management of forest fires, a significant challenge in the conservation of these ecosystems, was effectively addressed.

In this regard, the development of effective strategies for the conservation and sustainable management of forest resources in protected areas was a top priority, in order to ensure a sustainable future for local communities and the abundant flora and fauna that depend on these unique ecosystems.

The Triangular Cooperation Initiative provided a valuable opportunity to harness the knowledge and expertise of the Partnership member entities. In particular, it focused on areas such as biological monitoring, forest fire management and forest management, which enabled the development of a model for forest resource management in protected areas that contributed to strengthening the effective management of these areas. Although the main beneficiary was CONAP in Guatemala, the model was designed with the aim of being applied in Mexico and other countries in the region, thus promoting regional collaboration and the exchange of good practices in sustainable natural resource management.

Sectoral approach - Contribution to the 2030 Agenda

Primary SDG

Goal 15.4 By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development

Goal 15.2 By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally

Goal 15.5 Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species

Secondary SDG

Goal 13.3 Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning

ADELANTE SDG

Goal 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status

Goal 17.9 Enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted capacity-building in developing countries to support national plans to implement all the sustainable development goals, including through North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation

Territorial approach

Intervention methodology

This Initiative was centred around a training programme held in Mexico, Guatemala and Spain, which leveraged the strengths of each Partnership member entity in the three priority areas (biological monitoring, forest fire management and forest management) to equip specialists and field officers with practical tools that they could immediately apply. At the same time, the model for forest resource management in protected areas was developed with the inputs and insights from the joint actions of the Partnership entities.

The work plan included a specialised consultancy that contributed to an assessment of capacity building needs for CONAP staff and representatives of local communities with protected areas under their administration. Work was also carried out on the design and development of the training programme that was implemented throughout the Initiative.

Subsequently, three seminars were held in protected natural areas in Mexico, Guatemala and Spain; each focusing on one of the three prioritised areas. The first seminar was held in the Sian Ka'an reserve in Mexico and focused on biological monitoring training. The second seminar was held in the protected areas of Petén in Guatemala, centred on forest fire management. The third seminar was held in La Antigua Guatemala and focused on forest management training.

The main activity of the Initiative was a study visit to Spain, where different protected natural areas of both the National Parks Network and the Spanish Network of Biosphere Reserves were observed. These sessions provided an opportunity to learn about the actions and experiences in the three priority areas, helping to consolidate the lessons learnt throughout the Initiative.

The insights shared during the seminars and the study visit were systematised and analysed to jointly create the model for forest resource management in protected areas, which was presented to the public at the end of the Initiative.

Throughout the Initiative, work was carried out under a gender-based approach, with a focus on the environment and climate change, both in terms of highlighting and sharing specific experiences as well as presenting and reflecting these approaches in the joint work, especially in the management model. In addition, special attention was given to promoting the active and inclusive participation of local communities, in line with the Human Rights-Based Approach.

›› Download the Protected area management guidelines (Spanish)

Direct beneficiaries (individuals)

According to Rule 9 of the Guidelines for Applicants: all persons participating in the activities of the Initiative.

Approximately 184 direct beneficiaries participated in the Initiative, all of whom were authorities and technical staff of the Partnership member entities. They received specialised training, participated in study visits and contributed to the formulation of the Initiative's deliverables.

Budget

EU contribution: 155,379.81 €

Co-financing - Triangular Cooperation Partnership: 66,817.82 €

Total budget: 222,197.63 €

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