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Lessons from Canada: Community Involvement in Coastal Restoration

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The climate and ecology of Canada’s Maritimes and coastal Nicaragua are very different, but just like in New Brunswick, Nicaragua’s “coastal areas support economic, cultural, and recreational activities, as well as a diversity of flora and fauna.” For these reasons, and more, the findings in this paper from CAKE (Climate Adaptation Knowledge Exchange) are relevant to us:

Like the authors of this study, we are interested in exploring “the potential for humans to adapt and use technology to overcome economic [and environmental] damage” in the face of climate change. Also like the authors, we think that important steps in any restoration project include local data collection, risk assessment, interviewing for stakeholder opinions, mapping physical characteristics, local training, and conducting community workshops.
Our Coastal-Marine Research Project includes many of the same strategies and methods as this study, and we are pleased to be able to compare notes with and learn lessons from our fellow conservation scientists in Canada. Our experience lends support to the authors’ conclusion that successful adaptation to climate change is a holistic approach based on the relative strength of social and economic systems, the health of the local environment, and the reach of a local information network.

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Paso Pacifico’s Executive Director Sarah Otterstrom and Communications Director Wendy Purnell just returned from SIMA’s 22nd annual Waterman’s Weekend, where Paso Pacifico was honored as one of their 20 beneficiaries! The turnout included more than 675 of the surf industry’s most notable environmental stewards, and the event raised over $400,000 for non-profits like us that work to conserve ocean resources.

Sarah Otterstrom, Paso Pacifico’s Executive Director
Photo: shop-eat-surf.com

Jessie Creel with Paso Pacifico’s Wendy Purnell
Photo: shop-eat-surf.com
Paso Pacifico enjoyed a festive weekend and was able to meet organizations and individuals who are as enthusiastic about the environment as we are! The weekend’s itinerary included the Annual Waterman’s Classic Golf Tournament at Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana point on August 11 and the Annual Waterman’s Ball at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel on August 12.
Honorees were chosen for their impact on the sport of surfing as well as their work in ocean conservation, and included big wave surfing champion Greg Long as Waterman of the Year, former Malibu mayor and environmental activist Jeff”Zuma Jay” Wagner as Environmentalist of the Year, and Hawaiian big wave surfer and board shaper George Downing with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Paul Naude with the weekend’s honorees George Downing,
Greg Long and Jefferson “Zuma Jay” Wagner
Photo: Brent Hilleman via business.transworld.net
For more information on the weekend’s activities and beneficiaries, as well as details on the work we’ve accomplished with SIMA’s grant money, see the post below!

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This month we’re reflecting on our ELLAS program, and the commitment we made to the community at the Clinton Global Initiative

  • Five women launched one sea turtle nursery which protected over 6500 sea turtle hatchlings and transformed the way their community interacts with turtles.
  • 2010 was the first time in 25 years turtles hatched on the community beach, after a quarter century of all nests routinely being poached.
  • Native tree nurseries employ 20 women, who grow saplings, reforest watersheds, and plant trees which will offset over 70,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases.
  • 200 girls regularly participate in environmental education programs to learn about the role of wildlife in forests and how their actions can protect migratory birds and endangered spider monkeys.
  • 500 youth, including girls, cleaned up beaches and watersheds, removing over ____ (units) of trash and improving the health and water quality of communities along 22 km of coastline.
  • Two organic gardens were established in two communities and are managed by ten women.
  • One eco-tourism company run by women secured a small business loan allowing it to expand its kayaking and guided nature hikes.
  • Two national news stories highlighting the role of women leaders developing eco-tourism destinations were featured in Nicaraguan media.
  • 35 households now use portable solar light, allowing women to safely carry out household work and support their children during evening studies.
  • One outdoor education and leadership program for early adolescent girls is ready for a September 2011 launch date.

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From the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Nicaragua Sea Turtle
Conservation Program we are pleased to announce the new WCS-Nicaragua
Youth Group blog. This blog has been created by a group of young
adults from Pearl Lagoon, located on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua,
as a tool that allows them to broadcast their activities in support of
sea turtle conservation while learning computer skills and engaging
them in collective writing. We invite you to visit the blog!

Any comment or experience that you might want to share with them will
be greatly appreciated, as it will spark their interest and provide
them with first-hand information about other conservation initiatives
around the world.

You can visit the blog by clicking on: http://wcsyouthgroup.wordpress.com

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Desde el Programa de Conservación de Tortugas Marinas de la Wildlife
Conservation Society (WCS) en Nicaragua nos complace anunciar el nuevo
blog del Grupo Juvenil de la WCS en Nicaragua. Este blog ha sido
creado por un grupo de muchachos de Pearl Lagoon, en la costa Caribe
de Nicaragua, como una herramienta que les permita difundir sus
actividades en favor de la conservación de las tortugas marinas
mientras aprenden a manejar la computadora y a redactar pequeños
escritos en grupo. A pesar de que el blog está en creole (inglés),
ellos también entienden español. Queremos invitarles a que lo visiten!

Cualquier comentario o experiencia que quieran compartir con ellos
será bienvenido ya que aumentará su interés y les proporcionará
información de primera mano sobre otras iniciativas de conservación en
distintos puntos del globo.

Pueden visitar el blog haciendo click en: http://wcsyouthgroup.wordpress.com

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Earlier this month, the first ever Census of Marine Life was published, a culmination of a decade of research. Nearly three thousand scientists from around the world worked together to establish an oceanic baseline for future study.

The census includes over 240,000 marine species (presumed to be 25% of the total number of species in the worlds oceans) and has three points of focus:
  1. diversity
  2. distribution
  3. abundance
“The census found life everywhere we looked,” Ian Poiner, chairman of the scientific steering committee, told Science, ” and it is much more complex and interconnected than we expected. Probably the other [key finding] is that we humans have had far more impact on the oceans than we had imagined.”
We look forward to further studies from this bottom-up approach to conservation science and will continue to empower citizen scientists and advance our own understanding of the marine ecosystems in the region where we work.

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This week only, you can support Paso Pacífico by participating in this e-Bay auction for one of eight solar powered, designer handbags. Proceeds will go to supporting Paso Pacífico’s program in partnership with Portable Light, which distributes solar-powered lights to women and children in energy-poor Nicaraguan communities. For the many families without electricity, simple nightly tasks like finishing homework or cooking dinner become possible for the first time. Additionally, Paso Pacífico and Portable Light worked together to develop a prototype suitable for use in the field, which includes a soft red light that allows our sea turtle rangers in Nicaragua to monitor these light-sensitive animals without disturbing them.

Elle Magazine, Portable Light, and eight acclaimed fashion designers, such as Tommy Hilfiger and Diane von Furstenberg, collaborated to create the handbags, each outfitted with flexible solar panels that power HBLED lights, USB ports, and a battery pack which allows you to charge your iPod, camera, or phone. These one-of-a-kind bags are on auction THIS WEEK only, until July 15th. All proceeds from the auction will go to Paso Pacífico and Portable Light’s other partners, giving us the resources to continue our mission to protect the environment while empowering local communities. Place your bid today, and be one of the first to join in a new era for fashion and sustainable energy!

For more information about Paso Pacífico and this project, visit our website or watch a Flickr slideshow to see photos of the Portable Lights in action.

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Tropical forests store a fifth of the world’s carbon emissions, making our conservation efforts in Central America a particularly important climate change solution.

Last month, we partnered with Nicaraguan NGO FUNDENIC to host a well-attended forum on the Climate Change-related Challenges and Opportunities for Biodiversity in Nicaragua. Our Executive Director, Sarah Otterstrom, presented on “Components for Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts. Other presenters included Tim Lattimer, the US Department’ of State’s Environmental Director for Central America; Tito Sequeira, from the Coalition of Rainforest Nations. and Dr. Jaime Incer Barquero of Fondo Natura and FUNDENIC. 

Nicaragua is already vulnerable to extreme weather conditions, and the frequency and severity of extreme storms is likely to increase with climate change in coming years. In fact, Nicaragua is considered the third most vulnerable country globally to extreme weather events, according to the 2009 Global Climate Risk Index, thus the need to protect the country’s natural resources is becoming ever more critical. Forums such as this are important for increasing dialogue and developing adaptive responses to climate change impacts.

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ECO TALLERES EN ALTERECO

CELEBRANDO EL DlA DE LA TIERRA 2010

Carla taller es de 12.30 a 2 pm
Almuerzos a precios cómodos estarán disponibles
Del Hospital Monte España, 1c y media a llago, pegado a Mama Delfina

15 Abril
Jardines FeIices con Abono Orgánico y Lombrices
Kevyn Wightman y Ligia Belli
Vivimos diariamente el problema de la basura. Desechamos una gran cantidad de residuos que se podrían aprovechar para producir un abono orgánico de alta calidad. Aprendamos aprovecharlos y devolverle algo a la tierra que tanto nos da. Tengamos “Jardines Felices con Abono Orgánico y Lombrices”.

22 Abril
Paso Pacifico: Promoviendo una sociedad Nicaragüense responsabll con la Fauna Silvestre Liza Gonzalez
Presentación de un video educativo sobre la problemática alrededor de comercio ilegal de fauna silvestre en Nicaragua, sus impactos en la reducción de las poblaciones de muchas especies y un llamado a la sociedad nicaragüense a ser parte de la solución no comprando animales ni productos de fauna silvestre. Además, se presentaran productos altemativos elaborados por artesanos nicaragüenses.

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If you’re traveling to Central America and interested in the incredible diversity of the Pacific slope of Nicaragua, please consider taking a tour with Explore La Flor, an eco-tour company born of our initiative to empower communities by launching entrepreneurs and training community nature guides.
As the tourism sector grows in Nicaragua, nature tourism has the potential to provide economic benefit to local communities while also supporting conservation efforts.
Paso Pacifico provides training and business development for hospitality entrepreneurs from rural villages. After extensive nature guide training these young adults launched Explore La Flor.

Photo: Community guides in their kayaks explore
the mangrove forest in an estuary near Ostional.
(Not pictured: the Howler monkeys sounding off in the trees.)

 

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