Tourism projects in Central América Value chain Workshop. CI Miriam Castillo Northern Mesoamerica office

Where are we?

Why C.A is important? Biological reasons: -C.A. land bridge between 2 continents. -High endemism, biodiversity, restricted distribution for several species -Examples: The mesoamerican hotspot (south Mexico-Panamá): first in reptiles diversity; 2 amphibians; 3 mammals; 4 birds; 5 plants; 6 freshwater fishes. More species of pine, oak than other region of similar size

but……. -Biodiversity is in danger (one of the highest rates of deforestation in the word), poverty,high population growth rates.

-Cultural reasons: specially south México, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panamá Tourism reasons: millions of tourist visit the region each year.

Northern C.A.

What are we doing? CEPF PROJECTS (ONGOING) SUBJECTNo.PROJECTCOUNTRIES Endengered species6Belize, Honduras, region Control Forest Fires2Guatemala Management of protected areas4Guatemala Consolidation& coodination CEPF2Region Public politics2Guatemala Protected areas1Belize Assistance to enterprises1 Conservation outcomes1Region Debt for nature1Guatemala TOURISM2Guatemala, Belize 22

CEPF Tourism projects: “Developing recommendations and an action plan to integrate biodiversity conservation into tourism policy in Belize and Guatemala”. Partner grantee: Counterpart International Status: ongoing

“Building sustainable and competitive tourism enterprises in Northern Mesoamerica”. Places to work: Guatemala (Huehuetenango and Sierra del Lacandon National Park in Petén) Partner grantee: Rainforest Alliance Status: proposal approval phase

Legacy project: “Partnering to the protection of pine oak mesoamerican forest.” Donator: Legacy foundation TNC-CI project ( ) To work in: Chiapas, Guatemalan Highlands, Honduras 3 general components: 1.strengthen the protected areas. 2. Training local communities and small grants to pilote projects. 3)Stregthen the Pine Oak Regional Alliance

Some activities in Guatemala: A workshop to desing, construction and maintenance of trails in protected areas will be in Guatemala (may 08). (second year of project will be give a environmental interpretation to tourism and cultural guides. Workshops about: importance and management and protected areas; better practices in coffee (may 08) and agrosilvopastoril systems (june 08). Small grant to determinate the need of communitary enterprises (related to tourism and handicrafts) in Sierra de los Cuchumatanes. (in proposal phase)

Tourism projects in Southern Central America

What they done? CEPF PROJECTS DONE SUBJECTNo.PROJECTCOUNTRIES Conservation Coffee1Costa Rica Establishment of corridors2Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama Management of protected areas and corridors7Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama Indigenous traditional practices2region TOURISM3Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama Endangered species10Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama Environmental Education3Costa Rica, Panama 28

CEPF Tourism projects “Promoting sustainable development in the Buffer Zone of La Amistad Biosphere Reserve through Ecotourism in the Naso Indigenous community territory”. Partner grantee: Organización para el desarrollo del Pueblo Naso Status: done, but the project continue

Ecotourism development in the intermunicipal park of the Mahogany wetlands in Rama- Bluefields Nicaragua. Partner Grantee: Bluefields Indian &Caribbean University Status: Done:

Prospective tourism work To Northern CA (Guatemala) Potential partners identified to work in tourism projects: CONAP (National Protected Areas Council); Helvetas (swiss international cooperation) they are working closely with municipal parks in the highlands of Guatemala. Counterpart International (projects of communitary tourism, marketing)

Prospective tourism work We want to obtain Conservation Agreements (CSP) to work in 5 places in Guatemala (2008). The local comunities are interesting in ecoturism projects! Apply the “value chain” in the future projects of CI.

Challenges Conserve the biodiversity and improve the quality of the local people that live in or near the protected/key areas. Demonstrate to local people that is better “sale the communities” using the conservation of the nature and the culture.

Lesson learned The participation of all the actors is important to ensure the success of the projects. The genuine respect of the differents cultures and customs is important The tourism projects cant “sale” like the magic and unique solution of the economic problems in a community (they need integrate solutions)

Lesson learned… The projects shouldn´t assume “foreign prescriptions” have to work in other place…is better to build an “own prescription” in a participative way. In the begining of a project the community have to know the success of a project require: time, training, dedication and to persevere. The experiences exchange is a good way to motivate the communities and persons, to know “we are not alone in the conservation fight”

and to the end……..