climate change, vulnerable communities and adaptation ... · climate change, vulnerable communities...

Climate Change, Vulnerable Communities and Adaptation

Report on Nicaragua Testing

May/June 2006

Nicole Stejskal, Intercooperation, Berne, Switzerland

Martha Fernandes, SEI-US, Boston, United States of America

1 INTRODUCTION 1

2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION 2

2.1 NICARAGUA 2 2.2 ESTELÍ DEPARTMENT 4 2.3 RÍO SAN JUAN DEPARTMENT 5

3 SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES 6

3.1 PREPARATION 6 3.2 TESTING 7 3.3 WRAP-UP 11

4 RESULTS OF TOOL TESTING 11

4.1 CLIMATE CONTEXT 11 4.2 LIVELIHOOD CONTEXT 13 4.3 PROJECT ACTIVITY SCREENING 16 4.4 PROJECT ADJUSTMENTS 19

5 LESSONS LEARNED 21

5.1 TESTING MODALITIES 21 5.2 CRISTAL TOOL 22 ANNEX 1: MAP ANNEX 2: TOOL TESTING TRIP AGENDA ANNEX 3: PARTICIPANTS LISTS ANNEX 4: CRISTAL TESTING REPORTS ANNEX 5: LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

1

1 Introduction IUCN, IISD, SEI-B and Intercooperation have developed a tool to enable project planners and managers to assess and enhance a project’s impact on community-level adaptive capacity. The Community-based Risk Screening Tool - Adaptation & Livelihoods (CRISTAL) is intended to offer local communities and project planners and managers a way of doing interactive climate risk management for planned or ongoing projects. CRISTAL is structured in four modules: 1) Setting the climate context: Identifying the impacts of current climate hazards and climate change

in the project area, particularly on local livelihoods 2) Setting the livelihood context: Identifying the resources needed to help people conduct their

livelihoods and cope with these impacts 3) Screening project activities: Assessing how project activities affect the availability and access to

resources that are central to livelihoods and coping strategies 4) Managing climate risk: Adjusting the project so that opportunities to enhance resource

availability/access are strengthened, and activities that undermine acvailability/access are adjusted In orer to assess the strengths, weeknesses and limitations of CRISTAL and adjust the tool accordingly, the partner organizations decided to conduct a series of field tests on planned or ongoing natural resource management projects in Africa, South Asia, and Central America. In each test, project team members travel to the project sites to work with local project managers and community members in gathering relevant information and applying the tool, developing recommendations on how to adjust project activities so that they take into account their impact on local adaptive capacity. The fourth field test took place in Nicaragua, during 29 May and 3 June 2006. In the first week a test was conducted by Nicole Stejskal (IC) and Martha Fernandes (SEI-US) on two field sites in the northwest of Nicaragua, Estelí department. They worked with the National Coordinator of the Intercooperation’s PASOLAC project Miguel Obando, assisted by Augusto Meza Alvarez, Donald Blandon Torres and Dora Paguaga, all form UNICAM. The PASOLAC project (Program for sustainable agricutlure on the hillsides of Central America) exists since 1992 and is helping local communities in Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador to increase the agricultural productivity of their hillsides through improved soil and water management. The project is implemented by UNICAM (Farmer’s “universe”), which offers training on sustainable agriculture, conservation, microfinancing opportunities and other related topics for local farmers. In the second week another test was conducted by Nicole Stejskal (IC) on two field sites in the southeast of Nicaragua, department Río San Juan. Nicole Stejskal worked with the local facilitator of the IUCN’s ALIANZAS program, Olman Varela, and was assisted during the field tests by Lucía Villar, Antonio López and Gerardo Rivas Granja from UNAG-Río San Juan. The ALIANZAS (Alliances) project exists since February 2004 and is working in transboundary zones of five Centras American countries: Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. It focuses on capacity building of dozens of local organizations in order to enable these institutions to effectively undertake environmental management and promote sustainable development actions in joint coordination with the communities. It is implemented by the local delegation (UNAG-Río San Juan) of the national organization UNAG, which works in the fields of local economic-productive development,

2

interinstitutional coordination, gender and conservation of natural resources and the environment. See Annex 1 for map, Annex 2 for trip agenda, Annex 3 for participants list, Annex 4 for complete CRISTAL testing reports and Annex 5 for list of abbreviations. 2 Background Information

2.1 Nicaragua History The Pacific coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony from Panama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was declared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in 1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the 19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region in subsequent decades. In 1937 Anastasio Somoza oficially became president of Nicaragua and marked the beginning of the Somoza dynasty which lasted almost 40 years. This regime aroused much criticism among liberal groups in Latin America. After the big earthquake in 1972 which devastated Managua, Anastasio’s son became director of the emergency relief operations and diverted international aid to himself and his associates, an abuse that solidified opposition to the Somoza regime. Violent clashes between the Somoza government and the opposition mounted throughout the 1970s until in 1979 the FSLN (Sandinista National Libaration Front) took control of the government. Many economic institutions and resources were nationalized, land was redistributed, and social services such as health care and education were improved. In 1981 the United States, suspicious of the Sandinistas relations with the Soviet Union and Cuba, cut off economic aid and began supporting counterrevolutionary military forces, the “Contras”. In 1990, elections held under a Central American peace initiative, the FSLN was defeated by an opposition coalition, and Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, a political moderate, became president. She was the first woman governing a Central American nation. During her presidential time until 1997, she instituted a program of national reconciliation, brought an end to the US-backed Contra war, and ended Sandinista control of the military. In 2002, the current President of Nicaragua Enrique Bolaños of the Liberal Constitutional Party was elected, defeating the FSLN candidate Daniel Ortega. Natural hazards/disasters In addition to the effects of a long Civil and Contras war on the country, natrual hazards and disaster are prevalent throughout Nicaragua. There have been several earthquakes, of which the strongest devastated the city of Managua in 1972, leaving up to 10’000 dead. In 1988 Hurricane Joan caused significant damage and loss of life along the Caribbean coast. Between 1996 and 1997 Nicaragua suffered a strong drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch touched down and became the worst natural disaster in Nicaragua's history with nearly 11’000 people killed and over 8’000 left missing by the end of the year.

3

Climate Temperature varies little with the seasons in Nicaragua and is largely a function of elevation. The tierra caliente, or the "hot land" is characteristic of the foothills and lowlands from sea level to about 750 meters of elevation. There the daytime temperature average is 30° C to 33° C, and night temperatures drop to 21° C to 24° C most of the year. The tierra templada, or the "temperate land" is characteristic of most of the central highlands, where elevations range between 750 and 1,600 meters. In this region daytime temperatures are mild (24° C to 27° C), and nights are cool (15° C to 21° C). Tierra fría, the "cold land" at elevations above 1,600 meters, is found only on and near the highest peaks of the central highlands. Daytime averages in this region are 22° C to 24° C, with nighttime lows below 15° C. Rainfall varies greatly in Nicaragua. The Caribbean lowlands are the wettest region of Central America, receiving between 2’000 and 6’500 millimeters (southeast coastal border to Costa Rica) of rain annually. The western slopes of the central highlands and the Pacific lowlands receive considerably less annual rainfall, being isolated from moistureladen Caribbean trade winds by the peaks of the central highlands. Mean annual precipitation for the rift valley and western slopes of the highlands ranges from 1’000 to 1’500 millimeters. Rainfall is seasonal - May through October/November is the rainy season, and December through April is the dry period. Geography Nicaragua has an area of 129’494 sq.km and is geographically divided into three major areas, including the Pacific Ocean Lowlands and Lakes, the Central Highlands and the Caribbean Lowlands. The Pacific Lowlands extend from the Gulf of Fonseca to its border with Costa Rica; the sandy beaches here are fronted by a long chain of young, coned-shaped volcanoes; some are active. Two large freshwater lakes (Lago de Managa and Lago de Nicaragua) sit along the eastern rift of the volcanoes; both surrounded by rich, volcanic-soil plains. Lake Nicaragua's Ometepe Island is home to two volcanoes, Madras and (active) Conception. The Central Highlands are a rugged terrain of forested mountains punctuated by deep valleys. The eastern edges of those highlands are covered by rain forests that slope gently into the Caribbean Lowlands, a flat expanse of savanna-like land that flows into the bays, lagoons, jungles and salt marshes of the Caribbean Sea (Mosquito Coast). Nicaragua is a water-rich country with dozens of rivers and hundreds of small streams; the most significant rivers included the Coco, Escondido, Rio Grande and San Juan. People The estimated population in 2005 was 5.5 million, growing at 2.7 % per year. Managua, the capital, has a population of about 1 million people. The country is divided into15 departments and two autonomous regions. 90% of Nicaraguans live in the Pacific lowlands and the adjacent interior highlands. Approximately 60 % of Nicaragua’s population lives in urban and 40 % in rural areas. Over 60 % Nicaraguans live in poverty, about 20 % of which in extreme poverty. Nicaragua is the largest Central American Country with the lowest population density (about 42 persons per sq. km). Several ethnic groups populate the country including the Mestizos (mixed European and Indigenous) who constitue a majority of the population at 69%, the Spanish/European white population at 17%, the black population (9%) and the indigenous population (5%). 34% of Nicaraguans are illiterate, in rural areas this figure achives 46%. The national average for years of schooling is only 3.5 years. Over half of school-age children do not (cannot) attend class.

4

Economy 50% of Nicaraguans live on less than a dollar a day and the country has the smallest per capita income in Central America (about 430 USD /year). The country’s natural resources include arable land, livestock, fisheries, gold and timber. The Agriculture sector, which makes up 22% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is comprised of corn, coffee, sugar, meat, rice, beans and bananas. The share of the services sector (commerce, construction, government, banking, transportation and energy) to GDP is 58%, while the industrial sector (processed food, beverages, textiles, petroleum and metal products) contributes 21% of GDP.

2.2 Estelí Department The department of Estelí is located in the tropical-dry zone in the northwest mountain region of Nicaragua. The altitude varies between 800m (Estelí city) and 1600m above sea level. As seen in chapter 2.1 Climate, the annual precipitation in this region varies between 1’000 and 1’500 mm. According to Nicaragua’s National Communication (March 2001), a decrease in the rain is projected for the already drought-prone regions in the northern part of the country. Annual precipitation is projected to decrease to less than 500mm, which will have important impacts on the agriculture and livestock husbandry activities predominant in the region. At both testing sites in Estelí, community members were, for the most part, agro-pastoralists relying upon a variety of crops as well as livestock rearing. A number of main crops are depended upon to varying degrees by different producers including; beans, maize, sorghum, legumes, potatoes, and coffee. As Estelí lies in the dry zone of the country water scarcity was the main hazard for local people on both sites. Changes in rain patterns, droughts and hurricanes are the main causes for this hazard. People are facing this phenomen by adapting themselves mainly through soil and water conservation methods. These coping strategies are the achievement of Intercooperation’s PASOLAC project, which is working on this issue since 14 years. However, PASOLAC will be finished next year, for which programm managers and implementators expressed their concern, because PASOLAC established itself as an important school of capacity building for local implementing organizations. With this lack from 2008 on, local people could become more vulnerable for future climate changes in this already drought prone region.

5

2.3 Río San Juan Department Río San Juan department lies in the tropical-humid zone in the southeast Caribbean lowland region of Nicaragua, on the shore of the country’s biggest lake Lago de Nicaragua. Annual precipitation varies between 2’000mm and 2’500mm. In Río San Juan department the agricultural sector with basic crops, such as maize, beans, rice and quequisque (crop of the tropical humid regions, similar to potato and yucca) as well as the livestock sector are predominant. According to information from community members and UNAG staffs, this region has a high immigration rate from drought prone departments of the country. They pointed out that about 60-70% of the current Río San Juan inhabitants originally come from other departments. The immigration and the fact, that people bringing their cattle to Río San Juan, induced to deforestation is felt to be the major environmental problem by local NGO’s and farmers. Members of both communities reported that a change in the regional microclimate can be observed already. In both cases, communities identified irregularities in rain patterns tending to less and delayed rainfall. This is felt as the most important hazard. Moreover, all community members see an immediate relation between the deforestation and the change in rain patterns. For them, the deforestation is the cause of this change. Through asking about their response to such changes, it turned out that few “active”1 actions have been taken to mitigate the climate impacts in the region. For example, both communities complained about increasing deforestation, as a main problem and reason for less rain and consequently worse harvest. However, their responses were rather “passive”2. Waiting for external interventions and natural regeneration (not human induced) were mentioned as coping strategies. Another often used coping strategy in this region is the migration to close Costa Rica. UNAG and IUCN staff reported that a lot of Nicaraguans migrate to work on the huge fruit plantations in the northern part of Costa Rica. They earn a minimal wage and have no social coverage there. During the wrap-up of the tool test, the director of the local UNAG-Río San Juan explained that the cause of these rather “passive” coping strategies lies in the people’s “mentality” (with mentality she meant the way how local people think and act). She reported that during the revolution (see chapter 2.1. History) the locals received a lot of benefits from the FSLN and from international NGO’s working in that region. However, during the years of the subsequent Contra-war this assistance was mainly given up and the people have been let alone with their hope to get it back some day. The experience of getting support by political parties or NGO’s still clings to people’s minds as a good resolution of their problems. In the words of the UNAG’s director this is the main reason for the “passivity and dependency” of local people in Río San Juan department. The peoples’ historical (socio-political) background is therefore an important factor to consider in every project planned or realized in this region, as this background might have a

1 In this report the word active is used for coping strategies, which are taken by local people to directly mitigate the detected climate impacts in their region. 2 By contrast, the word passive is used for coping strategies, where local people do not directly mitigate the detected climate impacts in their region with own actions (e.g. waiting for external resolution was a coping strategy for less and worse harvest; natural regeneration (not human induced) was a coping strategy for loss of forests). Therefore, a “passive” coping strategy could also be interpreted as “letting things happen”.

6

bearing on the local adaptive capacity and consequently make them more vulnerable to changes in the climate system. Over the last ten years several strategies have been introduced by the UNAG, including legalization of land tenure, personal documentation and alphabetization. Also, according to UNAG’s director Fefa Martínez Basterra, they are still facing political problems, which reach back to past conflicts (see chapter 2.1. History) and are hindering current land legalization actions. There are, for example, still difficulties in the collaboration between people with right- and left-wing attitudes. In Never Oporta, the land legalization hasn’t been obtained until today because of the dissonance between the right wing mayor and the left wing (Sandinista) inhabitants. Furthermore, observations about the scholar education have shown that the average of attended school years in Río San Juan department lies below that of Estelí department. For example in Cruz Verde, the mayor’s scholar education was primary level (grades 1 to 3). 3 Summary of Activities

3.1 Preparation Prior to field testing the CRISTAL program in the northwest of Nicaragua, IUCN-IISD-SEI-IC team members Nicole Stejskal (IC) and Martha Fernandes (SEI-US) reviewed documentation of Intercooperation’s PASOLAC project in Estelí department, the UNICAM programs and the IPCC’s National Communication of Nicaragua. Upon arrival in Managua, meetings were held with the PASOLAC National Coordinator Miguel Obando to outline the testing plans in Estelí and to ask Mr. Obando about the PASOLAC project being tested. This meeting was held at PASOLAC headquarters in Managua and was attended by Miguel Obando and by the field testing team members. A further meeting was also held in Managua at the SDC office (Swiss Consulate) in order to present general climate change facts, the importance of local adaptation and its relation to the CRISTAL tool. This was followed by a description of the tool itself and its testing phase in Nicaragua. In attendance were Jürg Benz (Coordinator SDC), José Luis Sandino (Project

7

Responsible SDC), Miguel Obando (National Coordinator PASOLAC), Nicole Stejskal (IC) and Martha Fernandes (SEI-US). The team members and Miguel Obando travelled to the city of Estelí, northwest of Managua. A meeting was held at El Instituto de Formación Permanente (INSFOP, Institute of permanent formation) with the director and members of UNICAM. Nicole Stejskal presented the plans for CRISTAL testing in Nicaragua and went through several steps of the CRISTAL process. The technicians were then asked to outline the major projects being undertaken by UNICAM in conjunction with PASOLAC, so that team members would be aware of these activities when interviewing farmers in the field. The details of tool testing to be carried out in two locations in the community were then discussed and finalized. Prior to field testing the CRISTAL program in the southeast of Nicaragua, Nicole Stejskal (IC) reviewed documentation of IUCN’s ALIANZAS project in Río San Juan department and projects of its implementing organization UNAG-Río San Juan. Because ALIANZAS’ Program Coordinator Jesus Cisneros could not take part in the field testing of the CRISTAL tool in Río San Juan department, Nicole Stejskal (IC) travelled to San José (Costa Rica) to have a meeting with Mr. Cisneros at the IUCN’s Mesoamerica office. She presented to Mr. Cisneros and Eduardo Rodríguez (ALIANZAS Regional Program Facilitator) the CRISTAL testing project in Nicaragua, the tool itself and its relevance in the climate change adaptation process. Discussions were also held about the possibility of implementing CRISTAL in its third phase in Central America. A meeting with Jesus Cisneros during his business trip in Switzerland (after the Nicaragua testing) was organized to discuss this possibility more in detail. At the technical meeting in Gland (Switzerland) on 7th of June 2006, where Mr. Cisneros participated, he kindly offered a further implementation and monitoring of the CRISTAL tool within the ALIANZAS project as well as the translation of the tool into Spanish with local IUCN funds. Another meeting was hold with Olman Varela (ALIANZAS Local Program Facilitator) to present him the CRISTAL tool and the plans for testing in southeast of Nicaragua. Mr. Varela was then asked to outline the major projects being undertaken by UNAG in conjunction with ALIANZAS, so that Nicole Stejskal would be aware of these actions upon interviewing farmers in the field. Final details of the forthcoming tool testing were also discussed and organized. Olman Varela (IUCN ALIANZAS) and Nicole Stejskal (IC) travelled to San Carlos, the department capital of Río San Juan. A meeting was held at UNAG-Río San Juan with the director Fefa Martínez Basterra and three technicians Lucía Villar, Antonio López and Gerardo Rivas Granja to present them the tool and the plans for forthcoming field testing.

3.2 Testing Testing was carried out in two areas of Nicaragua; department of Estelí (northwest Nicaragua) and department of Río San Juan (southeast Nicaragua). In Estelí department, the CRISTAL testing took place in two communities outside of the city of Estelí;

8

• Almaciguera, Municipality Estelí, on the Tisey Finca (1,300 m above sea level), about

15 km southwest of the city Estelí • Sontule, Municipality Estelí, on the Finca of the Villareyna Family (1,235 meters

above sea level) about 30 km northeast of the city Estelí In Almaciguera only two people, one woman and one man, were able to attend the testing scheduled, as the rainy season just started and farmers went seeding on their fields. A participation of 20 persons was expected for every community in both regions. In addition to the two participants, three technicians from UNICAM were present along with the team members and Miguel Obando who facilitated the community consultation. In the second testing in Sontule, 9 community members, whereof 5 women, were present for the testing as well as the same technicians, Miguel Obando and the team members. The participants in Sontule were all farmers in the region and several of them were members of the women’s and farmer’s cooperatives. Participants ranged in age however, the average age appeared to be around 40 years old (with three older community members participating). In Río San Juan department, the CRISTAL testing took place in two communities outside of the department’s capital San Carlos;

• Cruz Verde, Municipality San Carlos, in the communal house (40 meters above sea level), about 20 km north of San Carlos

• Never Oporta, Municipality San Miguelito, on the Aguirre Orozco Finca (50 meters above sea level), about 50 km north of San Carlos

To ensure the participation of all community representatives, both consultations in this department have been rescheduled to the afternoon, when farmers are coming back from seeding on their fields. Therefore, 17 people (whereof 9 women) could attend the testing in Cruz Verde. In addition to the participants, three technicians from the UNAG-Río San Juan, Lucía Villar, Antonio López and Gerardo Rivas Granja, the local ALIANZAS facilitator from IUCN Olman Varela as well as Nicole Stejskal (IC) were present. In Never Oporta 15 people (whereof 6 women) were able to attend the consultation as well as two UNAG’s technicians Lucía Villar, Antonio López and IC Nicole Stejskal. In both communities farmers were predominant with only few persons having other functions beside. The average age was about 40 years with 2 elderly persons in both communities. During the community consultations the team members worked with the structure of the new CRISTAL Exel Version, in order to see how its application works out in the field and where further adjustments are needed. In the first portion of the discussion (part of establishing the Climate Context), participants were asked to suggest climate hazards which they consider to have the greatest effects on them and on the whole community. As a result of time constraints, after participants had listed climate hazards, they were then asked to choose the three most important hazards (through consensus). For each hazard, participants were asked to identify up to three impacts (if more impacts has been mentioned a consensous selection of the three most important impacts was done) and a coping strategy on which the community relies in response to each impact. As

9

shown below, the hazards, impacts and coping strategies were all posted in front of the participants as the discussion was being held.

Figure 1: Identifying Hazards, Impacts and Coping Strategies (Climate Context) Team members then began establishing the Livelihood Context with a discussion in which participants were asked about resources central to their livelihoods. The facilitators described the five capital resource areas (Human, Social, Physical, Financial, and Natural) by first providing several examples in each category and then asking participants to begin to list those resources on which the community depends. Figure 2 depicts the chart used to organize participants’ responses regarding livelihood resources. By consensus, the participants then chose the three most important resources in each of the five categories.

Figure 2: Discussing Livelihood Resources (Livelihood Context) These most important resources in each of the five categories were then placed in a comumn along side the hazards (in the upper row) identified in the Climate Context discussion, as shown in Figure 3. Participants were then asked to assign a weight representing the extent to which each of the resources are impacted by each of the hazards (0 signify not affected and 5 very affected).

10

Figure 3: Discussing Impact of Hazards on Livelihood Resources (Livelihood Context) In the next step of the Livelihoods module participants discuss the extent to which livelihood resources are important to the coping strategies identified in the Climate Context module. They are again asked to use rankings between 0 and 5 (0 being not important and 5 very important). In the case of the test in Almaciguera, due to the fact that only two persons participated, rankings were decided upon through consensus. In Sontule, in contrast, after the facilitators had described the exercise, participants were broken into small groups and each group worked with one hazard. This was done in the interest of time. Figure 4 depicts participants in Sontule working together in ranking the importance of livelihood resources to various coping strategies.

Figure 4: Groups Ranking the Importance of Livelihood Resources to Coping Strategies (Livelihood Context) After the Livelihood Context part general questions about effects of the already implemented project activities in the region were asked, to be used in the wrap-up of the tool test afterwards. In Estelí department the consultations began in the morning and took over 5 hours per consultation. Due to the rescheduling to the afternoon, the consultation time in Río San Juan department was tighter by about two hours per community. Discussions which resulted in the course of both regions were productive and interesting and served to define the climate and livelihood contexts. After each testing the information was entered into CRISTAL on the team members’ laptops. Hereby the lists of resources significantly impacted by climate hazards as well as those most important for local coping strategies were generated.

11

3.3 Wrap-Up Following each community testing in Estelí department a wrap-up of the Screening Project Activities module and the Adaptation Management Planning module (adjusting project activities) took place with the team members and the PASOLAC National Coordinator Miguel Obando. The effect of each project activity on both the most affected livelihood resources by climate hazards and the most important livelihood resources for local coping strategies, were discussed step by step. The answers from the community consultations concerning the effects of project activities were taken up in this discussion. At the end project activities with negative effect on livelihood resources were regarded separately and possible project adjustments proposed. In Río San Juan department the last part of the community consultation (the ranking of the importance of livelihood resources to coping strategies, seen in figure 4) was left out, due to the time constraint. This ranking was done in the subsequent wrap-up of the field test in Cruz Verde at the discretion of IUCN’s local facilitator Olman Varela and for the field test in Never Oporta at the discretion of the UNAG technician Antonio López and the director of the UNAG-Río San Juan Fefa Martínez Basterra, who has been working with the communities for over 30 years. Helpful tool adjustments were provided in both cases. 4 Results of Tool Testing Using the steps and processes outlined in the CRISTAL Excel Version, a summary of the results of the participatory tool testing are provided below and the complete results are listed in Annex 4 at the end of the report. From the Estelí department the Sontule community test was chosen as a representative example from that region, because nine people participated in the consultation, whereas in Almaciguera only two people could participate (ongoing seeding season). From the Río San Juan department the Never Oporta test will be shown in this chapter, where the consultation and the discussions were more dynamic than in Cruz Verde. Region: Latin America Country: Nicaragua Ecosystem: Tropical-dry hillsides in Estelí department (northwest Nicaragua) Tropical-humid lowland in Río San Juan department (southeast Nicaragua)

4.1 Climate Context In both regions the irregularities in rain patterns and the hurricanes are the predominant hazards people have to cope with. However, the coping strategies vary significantly between the two regions. In Estelí “active” (referring to footnote 1 in chapter 2.3.) actions in soil and water conservation have been taken, linked to the achievements of the PASOLAC project; in contrast to Río San Juan where people have rather “passive” (referring to footnote 2 in chapter

12

2.3.) coping strategies, probably due to their socio-political background. For more information see chapter 2.2. Estelí Department and chapter 2.3. Río San Juan Department. The results of the Climate Context part are shown in the following tables. Table 1 for Sontule and Table 2 for Never Oporta. Table 1: Climate Context Sontule (Estelí department) Hazard Impact Coping strategy

Low harvest and bad

quality Reincorporation of stubble

fields

1 Irregularities in rain patterns (lot of rain)

Loss of crops an animals

Soil conservation, reforestation, no burning

Diseases of animals

and persons Growing of medicinal plants,

cleanness

Damage on crops

(coffee) Reforestation of coffee,

conservation of soils

2 Drought Water disappearing Protection of watersheds,

reforestation

Food scarcity Familiary garden plots,

cultivation in hoops, diversif.

Loss of crops of maize

and beans Retain of seeds, seed banks

3 Hurricanes

Loss of forest and fertile soil

Reforestation and natural regeneration of forest (human

induced)

Loss of wildlife (biodiversity)

Protection of species with protected areas

Table 2: Climate Context Never Oporta (Río San Juan department) Hazard Impact Coping Strategy

Less production and

worse quality of harvest External resolution (credits,

projects)

1

Irregularities in rain patterns tending to less rainfall

(according to community members due to logging)

Incertitude when seeding

Waiting for rain and seeding the seeds in less distance (for maximal use of sparse water)

Drought (dry creeks) Migration to Costa Rica

Loss of harvest

Seed again (local institutions providing the seeds; some

are bought from neighbours for higher prices)

2 Phenomenons (el niño-drought, la niña-hurricanes) Loss of forest

Natural regeneration (not human induced)

Water contamination Nothing

Respiratory diseases Buy chemical medicine, some

natural

3 Extreme temperatures Plagues (rats) Biological and chemical

control

Water scarcity was highlighted in each of the regions, an element central to Nicaragua’s National Communication, as the sector is projected to encounter severe problems in the coming century for the local population. The Estelí region is already drought-prone. The Río San Juan Region indeed lies in the tropical-humid zone at the shore of Lake Nicaragua, containing several creeks and rivers. Community members in the Río San Juan department, however, reported a decrease in rainfall which, in discussions, they attribute to extensive logging of forests, due to increased animal husbandry in the area. As a wetter part of the county, this region attracted and still attracts a lot of livestock farmers from drought-prone departments of the country. The farmers come to this region and burn the trees and shrubs in order to generate new grazing land for their cattle.

13

Also to be mentioned is the migration to close Costa Rica, which was repeatedly brought up in the discussion during the community consultations in Río San Juan department. Subsequently the familiary remittances form an important financial resource within the Livelihood Context of both communities. For detailed information see chapter 2.3 Río San Juan Department. As mentioned before a climate hazards reported in all communities in both departments are the hurricanes, as Nicaragua lies in the hurricane-prone region of the Atlantic. The hurricane season begins in June and lasts until end of November. Furthermore, especially rising temperatures were reported as climatic hazard in Río San Juan department.

4.2 Livelihood Context The new Cristal Excel Version is divided into two parts: The influence of the hazards on livelihood resources and the influence (importance) of livelihood resources on (for) local coping strategies for each hazard. In both testing locations, community members rely on natural resources for their survival, particularly productive agricultural land (good soil quality) and water resources in close proximity to agricultural areas. Interchange of information among community members was also mentioned on several occasions during both tests in Estelí as being very important to livelihoods as were the cooperative groups which help to foster this interchange of information (forms of social capital). In Almaciguera, the livelihood resources “professionals, leaders for political incidence, microfinance credits and revolving funds” weren’t considered as important for local coping strategies. However, the importance of self investment and auto finance was highlighted in the consultation. It was identified as more important to community members than external funds. In Sontule, in contrast, many of the participants spoke about the importance of funding from NGO’s and outside organizations. This difference in priorities could be attributed to the fact that the two participants in the Almaciguera consultation were part of the most developed homestead in the community (according to information of PASOLAC and UNICAM staffs). Further the participants mentioned that in the case of Sontule, the local schools were supported primarily by the community and by outside groups, as opposed to the government. Table 3 and 4 show the results of the Sontule test for both Livelihood Context parts. Table 3: Livelihood Context- Extent influence of hazards on livelihood resources Sontule (Estelí department)

Hazard

Irregularities in rain patterns (lot

of rain) Drought Hurricanes

Resource 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Natural Resources Forests X X X Soils of regular quality X X X Water (subterranean, pools, creeks, rain) X X X Physical Resources Primary school (communitys’ own) X X X 2 wells X X X Transport ways in medium state X X X

14

Financial Resources Funds (from NGO’s, micro business, cooperatives) X X X Exchange of inputs (seeds) X X X Human Resources Capacities in conservation, reforestation, gender, self-esteem X X X Professionals with studies in agriculture X X X Social Resources Relations with NGO’s, cooperatives, international organizations X X X Relation with health entities X X X Communal organization, cooperatives (women without land, two mixed) X X X

Table 4: Livelihood Context – Extent influence (importance) of livelihood resources on (for) local coping strategies Sontule (Estelí department)

Low harvest and bad quality


Diseases of animals and

persons

Reincorporation of stubble fields

Soil conservation, reforestation, no

burning

Growing of medicinal plants,

cleanness

Hazard 1 Irregularities in rain patterns (lot of rain)

0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Natural Resources Forests X X X Soils of regular quality X X X

Water (subterranean, pools, creeks, rain) X X X

Physical Resources Primary school (communitys’ own) X X X 2 wells X X X Transport ways in medium state X X X Financial Resources

Funds (from NGO’s, micro business, cooperatives) X X X

Exchange of inputs (seeds) X X X

Human Resources Capacities in conservation, reforestation, gender, self-esteem X X X

Professionals with studies in agriculture X X X

Social Resources Relations with NGO’s, cooperatives, international organizations X X X

Relation with health entities X X X

Communal organization, cooperatives (women without land, two mixed) X X X

Just as in Estelí department the community members in Río San Juan department rely on natural resources, particularly productive soil and water resources. The transportway was also mentioned to be very important, also if it’s not in a good shape, but it’s the only way to get to their communities. Both communities considered the remittances (sometimes only temporal) from family members living in Costa Rica as their financial resource, beside some credits and their liquid assets like animals and seeds. Participants of both communities mentioned the communal development committee, a local mayorality, as their social resource, beside the relations they have with neighours for lending money and buying seeds and other natural produce. Discussions with community members and UNAG-Río San Juan staffs showed two slightly different points of view of the communities’ livelihoods, especially concerning their social and financial capital. For example institutions (social resource) providing seeds after a harvest

15

loss due to droughts or hurricanes weren’t discussed in the commnity consultations, but were considered very important for local people by the UNAG staffs. In a similar way, during the community meetings, credits from the bank and the rural fund (a financial cooperative) were mentioned, but there was no discussion about fundings (financial resource) received after natural disasters. In contrast, UNAG staffs reported a distribution of fundings. See also chapter 2.3. Río San Juan Department. Table 5 and 6 show the results of the Never Oporta test for both Livelihood Context parts. Table 5: Livelihood Context- Extent influence of hazards on livelihood resources Never Oporta (Río San Juan department)

Table 6: Livelihood Context – Extent influence (importance) of livelihood resources on (for) local coping strategies Never Oporta (Río San Juan department)

Less production and worse quality of

harvest Incertitude when

seeding Drought (dry

creeks)

External resolution (credits, projects)

Waiting for rain and seeding seeds in

less distance Migration to Costa

Rica

Hazard 1 Irregularities in rain patterns

tending to less rainfall

0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Natural Resources Soil of medium quality X X X Water (creeds, rivers) X X X Livestock X X X Physical Resources Road in bad condition X X X System for drinking water (own) X X X Social buildings X X X Financial Resources Familiar remittances (Costa Rica) X X X

Liquid assets (pigs, chicken, livestock) X X X

Lendings (neighbour, friend) X X X

Hazard:

Irregularities in rain patterns tending to less

rainfall

Phenomenons (el niño-drought, la niña-

hurricanes) Extreme temperatures Resource 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Natural Resources Soil of medium quality X X X Water (creeds, rivers) X X X Livestock X X X Physical Resources Road in bad condition X X X System for drinking water (own) X X X Social buildings X X X Financial Resources Familiar remittances (from Costa Rica) X X X Liquid assets (pigs, chicken, livestock) X X X Lendings (neighbour, friend) X X X Human Resources Agricultural capacity (1 technician) X X X Handicraft X X X Grow small livestock and domestic animals X X X Social Resources Communal development committee (water coooperative, health commitee) X X X Churches (different) X X X Neighbourly relations X X X

16

Human Resources Agricultural capacity (1 technician) X X X Handicraft X X X

Grow small livestock and domestic animals X X X

Social Resources

Communal development committee (water coooperative, health commitee) X X X

Churches (different) X X X Neighbourly relations X X X

Community members found it very helpful to have their most important livelihood resources listed and see the link between them, the climate hazards and the coping strategies. Also the valuation was considered very useful. In Sontule the President of the cooperative “women without land” announced, that she would introduce this system in her future work within the cooperative.

4.3 Project Activity Screening As the PASOLAC project focus is soil and water conservation on hillsides, it implies natural resource management practices, and thus the impact on the main livelihood resources (generated by the Excel program) was considered as positive. There was only one activity, animal husbandry, which was considered an activity with potential negative impact on communal transport ways, forest, soils and water. Table 7 shows the screening of the three most important project activities. Table 7: Screening Project Activities Sontule (Estelí department)

Activity 1

Conservation of soils Living/death fences,

reforestation, incorporation of stubble fields, organic

agriculture

Left Column: Impact of activity on resources most negatively affected by hazards Right Column: Impact of activity on resources most important to coping strategy

Pos Neg Neu Unk NA Pos Neg Neu Unk NA Forests X Forests X

Soils of regular quality X Soils of regular quality X Water (subterranean, pools,

creeks, rain) X Water (subterranean, pools, creeks, rain) X

Primary school (communitys’ own) X Primary school (communitys’

own) X

2 wells X 2 wells X Transport ways in medium

state X Transport ways in medium state X

Funds (from NGO’s, micro business, cooperatives) X Funds (from NGO’s, micro

business, cooperatives) X

Exchange of inputs (seeds) X Exchange of inputs (seeds) X Relations with NGO’s,

cooperatives, international organizations

X Capacities in conservation, reforestation, gender, self-

esteem X

Relation with health entities X Professionals with studies in agriculture X

Relations with NGO’s,


X

Relation with health entities X

17

Communal organization,

cooperatives (women without land, two mixed)

X

Activity 2

Rainwater harvesting

cistern, reservoir, filter





own) X



Funds (from NGO’s, microbusiness, cooperatives) X Funds (from NGO’s,

microbusiness, cooperatives) X




esteem X




X




X

Activity 3

Organization

cooperatives, micro business, seed banks





own) X








esteem X




X




X

The ALIANZAS project activities focus mainly on the characterization of homesteads, i.e. getting to know the own homestead and the possibilities for different ecosystem services as well as capacity building for organizing and planning homestead activities in the future. Another focus of ALIANZAS is the implementation of soil and water conservation practices.

18

As the project has been running no longer than two years, both of these activities haven’t been established completely and therefore the screening is hypothetical, i.e. the expected impacts from these activities on the main livelihood resources are seen in the project activities screening tables. Another project activity was done by UNAG not in direct relation with ALIANZAS, but worth mentioning because of its facilitating role for the ALIANZAS project and the local socio-economic situation in several communities of the region. In the past ten years one of the main activities of the UNAG-Río San Juan has been the legalization of land for local families. In Cruz Verde almost all dwellers hold legalized land now, in contrast to Never Oporta, where, according to UNAG staffs, a political problem between the right wing mayor and the left wing (Sandinista) inhabitants hinders the proceedings of the legalization prozess. For more information see chapter 2.3. Río San Juan Department. See Table 8 for the project activities’ screening in Never Oporta. Table 8: Screening Project Activities Never Oporta (Río San Juan department)

Activity 1

Characterization of homesteads

con capability of ecosystems (planification, capacity building)


Pos Neg Neu Unk NA Pos Neg Neu Unk NA Soil of medium quality x Soil of medium quality x Water (creeds, rivers) x Water (creeds, rivers) x

Livestock x Road in bad condition x

Road in bad condition x System for drinking water (own) x

System for drinking water (own) x Familiar remittances (Costa Rica) x

Liquid assets (pigs, chicken, livestock) x Agricultural capacity (1

technician) x

Lendings (neighbour, friend)

x

Communal development committee (water

coooperative, health commitee)

x

Churches (different) x Neighbourly relations x

Activity 2

Soil and water conservation practices (establishment of

legumes, living/death fences, seed on level)






technician) x


x



x


19

Activity 3

Enrichment with forest- and fruit-tree species






technician) x


x



x


4.4 Project Adjustments As mentioned before in the project screening chapter, the PASOLAC’s focus is soil and water conservation on hillsides, which implies natural resource management practices, and thus generates positive impacts on the main livelihood resources. There was only one activity, the animal husbandry, which was considered as an activity with potential negative impact on communal transport ways, forest, soils and water. If such an impacts show up, the modified project activity “define special ways of access and areas only for livestock” should be implemented. As seen in Table 9, the impact of the project activity on forests, soil and water was considered positive and negative, i.e. if the perspective lies only on practices as living fences for summer alimentation, pasture management and rotation of pasture fields, then there will be a positive effect on the just mentioned livelihood resources. However, if the perspective includes the cattle (for which these practices are done) the impacts could be negative. For all those project activities with a potentially negative effect on main livelihood resources, the solution would lie in defining special ways of access and areas only for livestock. For the ALIANZAS project there were no impacts considered negative, keeping in mind that the project screening was hypothetical because the project activities haven’t been completely established.

20

Table 9: Adaptation Management Planning Sontule (Estelí department)

Original project activity Impact of activity on resource Modified project activity

Activity 6 Resources most affected by hazard Positive Negative

Forests X X

Soils of regular quality X X

Water (subterranean, pools, creeks, rain) X X

Primary school (communitys’ own) X

2 wells

Transport ways in medium state X

Funds (from NGO’s, microbusiness, cooperatives) X

Exchange of inputs (seeds) X

Relations with NGO’s, cooperatives, international

organizations X

Resources most important for coping strategy Positive Negative

Forests X X




2 wells




Capacities in conservation, reforestation, gender, self-

esteem X

Professionals with studies in agriculture X

Animal husbandry Living fences for summer

alimentation, pasture management, rotation of

pasture fields


organizations X

Define special ways of access and areas only

for livestock

21

5 Lessons learned

5.1 Testing Modalities In the course of both CRISTAL tests in Estelí and Río San Juan, several lessons were learned about the methods necessary to elicit community input and other areas of the program structure. Nicole Stejskal (IC), Martha Fernandes (SEI-US) as well as Miguel Obando (National Coordinator PASOLAC) devoted a significant amount of time to organizing the participatory methods to be used in discussions with community members. Due to uncertainty in the number of participants before each test (just started rainy and seeding season), the conversations were structured for approximately twenty people, to be broken into smaller groups for the portions of the process in which values were to be assigned. One important lesson learned as a result of the wide variety in size of the participant groups was the importance of organizing the community participation with consideration for time constraints and with the goal of including each participant in the discussions and ranking processes. The results of the Mali testing as well as the Tanzania testing that “the tool application process should only address priorities” were confirmed. If more information about climate hazards, impacts, coping strategies and livelihood resources is gathered during the community consultations, it should be incorporated in note boxes at the end of each line in the tool, to avoid loss of additional important information. For the exact description of the used consultation method see chapter 3.2. Testing. Before the community consultation, the technical project managers were asked about ongoing project activities, so that the team members would be aware of these projects when interviewing farmers in the field. During the testing both, the technicians and the community members were asked to mention any negative impacts of project activities on livelihood resources which they had identified. Interviewers should be aware of a possible bias they could generate with such questions during the consultation with locals. The community consultation is a time consuming but very informative way of gathering local information about climate change and its link to livelihood resources and coping strategies. Feedbacks from project managers as well as community members suggested that this was an important step for both. Project managers may use this information for ongoing and future project activities. Furthermore, by using this tool, community members can evaluate the resources they rely on and see how these are connected with changes in the climate system and the local implications, insights which they may not have had the opportunity to discuss in the past. It is important to have different community representatives at the consultations. In Almaciguera (Estelí department) only two people showed up, due to the just started rainy and consequently seeding season. Some results of this consultation were not representative for all community members in this region, according to information from PASOLAC and UNICAM staffs, as these two people were part of the most developed homestead in this community. For detailed information see chapter 4.2. Livelihood Context. In order to gather all important information about the climate change and livelihood context from the community representatives and to avoid any misrepresentation of the results, the consultation should be conducted with an individual who knows the community well and is sufficiently informed about the climate change and sustainable livelihood topic. The tests in Estelí department were significantly facilitated through the participation of the PASOLAC

22

National Coordinator Miguel Obando, who has been working with local communities in that region for 14 years and has good knowledge about climate change and the sustainable livelihood approach. In Río San Juan department it was very helpful to do the wrap-up of the tests with the Director of the UNAG-Río San Juan Fefa Martínez Basterra, who has been working with the communities for over 30 years. The statement from the Mali report that “the tool must be accompanied by teaching materials and resources on climate change” also applied to this testing in Nicaragua. Information about the livelihood approach should be provided in order to facilitate the Livelihood Context module of the tool. A literature review of useful community consultation methods should be carried out and added to the user’s manual for facilitating and qualitatively enhancing the community consultation process for future tool users.

5.2 CRISTAL Tool Climate Context It was difficult to incorporate the matrices developed in the course of the Tanzania testing, as the current structure of the program (the Climate and Livelihood Context modules) took a significant amount of time and effort to discuss. The wrap-up of the San Carlos tests, in particular, showed that in the case of the Climate Context module, a climate hazard is always followed by several different impacts. So, the potential for incorporating more impacts for each hazard, and consequently more coping strategies for each impact should be central to upcoming discussions. The importance of differentiating between “active” and “passive” coping strategies (see chapter 2.3. Río San Juan Department) was also reflected in the testing, as the coping strategies of both departments differed significantly from each other. The question was raised whether or not “passive” coping strategies should be highlighted somehow, so that project managers will be aware of them when screening the project activities. A similar input was given in the Tanzania report, where the development of a method for looking at the sustainability of coping strategies was suggested. The strategy of producing charcoal was mentioned as good example of challenging project managers when trying to prepare for adaptation (for detailed information see “Future developments/challenges in assessing vulnerability to climate variability/change at the livelihood level” in chapter 4 of the Tanzania report). This highlighting of coping strategies could be related with another suggestion of the Tanzania report , namely the “screening of resource management practices of local people which exacerbate climate impacts or increase the resilience to climate hazards”. A screening of both, the local coping strategies and the resource management practices could be done at the end of the Climate Context module. With this information there will possibly be more clarity about the character (“active” or “passive”) of the coping strategies used in that region as well as the predominant natural resource management practices. For example in Río San Juan department slash and burn practices are widely spread, according to information of UNAG staffs.

23

A possible technical solution in the Excel Version of Cristal could be to insert note boxes to gather all information, which would get lost otherwise. Note boxes could be added at the end of each line throughout the whole tool. For example after each impact-coping strategy row, there could be a note box where project managers could fill in the character of the coping strategy, as well as local resource management practices which increase/exacerbate either the climate impact or the local coping strategy. Another solution is to flag all “passive” coping strategies in the Climate Context part and insert them with the unsustainable resource management practices of the locals at the end of the tool in a table, where all barriers which exacerbate the project activities, will be shown up. More information about such a table is found at the end of this chapter under Adjusting Project Activities. Livelihood Context In the wrap-up of the Río San Juan tests the possibility of adding a positive or negative algebraic sign in front of the values which indicate the importance of the livelihood resources to local coping strategies was considered in order to identify if the livelihood resources are enhancing or exacerbating the local coping strategies. A consequent question followed; “Will such a specification of the values change the final results of the project screening?” For having the main livelihood resources highlighted in the “screening project activities” part of the tool, it was then considered as important to insert the highest value (doesn’t matter if positive or negative) and specify it in the users’ manual and in the tool itself, that this value concerns an absolute one. Otherwise it could happen, that an important livelihood resource won’t be mentioned in the “project activities screening” part of the tool, just because having a negative influence on coping strategies (exacerbating them). Referring to the afore-mentioned valuation component, there was, in some cases, a more signifcant relationship between the livelihood resources and the impacts than between the livelihood recources and the coping strategies, depending on the character of the identified local coping strategy (mentioned in the Climate Context part above). For example in Never Oporta (Río San Juan department) the rather “passive” coping strategy for less production and bad quality of harvest due to irregularities in rain patterns was waiting for external resolutions. In this case, the natural resource “water” was very important for mitigating the impact “loss of production and bad quality of harvest”, but the importance of “water” for the coping strategy “external resolution” was valuated just as fair. In order to minimize the impacts of climate hazards an additional link between livelihood resources and impacts was suggested as useful, instead of having one single link between livelihood resources and coping strategies.

Sontule (Estelí department)

Almaciguera (Estelí department)

24

The importance of NGOs, microfinance opportunities and community groups were all central to discussions with participants in the Estelí tests. This further supports the importance of differentiating between formal and informal socio-political resources, an area proposed both in the Tanzania testing as well as in meetings with the University of Manitoba partners. Screening Project Activities It was suggested to skip the column containing the neutral effect a project activity has on the livelihood resources most affected by climate hazards and most important for the local coping strategies. During the wrap-ups in both testing departments it was discussed, that a project activity’s effect will always be positive or negative (also if only slightly). It is possible that a project activity does not affect the livelihood resources or that its effect is unknown. But having a neutral effect on the livelihood resources was considered as impossible. Therefore, in this part of the tool, it is considered having a choice only between the following effects: positive, negative, not affecting and unknown. Adjusting Project Activities To make a link between the obtained testing results, the project adjustments and its implementation considering all specific characteristics found in the project region, it would be helpful to add a table with barriers at the end of the Adjusting Project Acitvities module or in a separate part called “barriers for project implementation” after this module at the very end of the tool. The barrier-table could contain the flagged “passive” coping strategies, local unsustainable resource management practices, regional and socio-political background information that might exacerbate the project implementation as well as future climate risks. The integration of future climate risks to the barrier-table is related to the proposal in the Tanzania report, where the impacts of drought on project activities have been screened (for further information see Tanzania report Table 7 in chapter 3.4. Project Adjustments). In the case of Río San Juan department, the possibility of establishing certain basic conditions (eventually regional indicators) was disussed – as needed for a successful implementation of NRM (natural resource management) and EM&R (ecosystem management and restoration) projects with a positive effect on the local adaptive capacity. If then in a certain project region these basic conditions (regional indicators) are not accomplished, additional actions might be necessary, either prior to or during the project - for example legalization of land tenure rights.

Cruz Verde (Río San Juan department)

Never Oporta (Río San Juan dep.)

25

This might potentially strengthen the resource availability and access of the local population and subsequently enhance a project’s impact on their adaptive capacity to changes in the climate system. Comments on Excel Version The results from all modules within the tool as well as the part concerning introduced barriers should be shown at the end of the tool in a matrix. This will give a clear overview and facilitate further decision making and adjustments in project activities. Further the CRISTAL Excel Version must be made compatible with Excel 2000, as not everyone has the Version of 2003 on which it currently runs. When starting up CRISTAL, the anti-virus security in Excel has to be deactivated, to allow the macros to run. This is dangerous; either it has to be changed in the next Version, so that the tool runs without this security modification, or this step has to be annotated in the users manual. On starting up CRISTAL, a box appears in which is written: “This file contains links to other sources of data”. Subsequently the user has to select whether to activate it or not. Either the tool should be changed that this box does not appear, or, if not possible, it should be briefly explained in the users manual what this box means, and what the user should select. The tool should be also modified for the stage of reviewing inputs. In the Climate Context module, the project Region as well as the Ecological Zone has to be insert every time anew. In the Livelihood Context module, when evaluating the importance of the livelihood resources to coping strategies, all values inserted before will be deleated while reviewing. The inputs from before are only found in the print-report. This is confusing for a user. A similar problem was found in the Adaptation Management Planning module (i.e. the Adjusting Project Activities part) where the flagged livelihood resources and the modified project activities did not appear in the print-report. For reviewing the inputs and making changes, an easier way should be found. A possible solution would be to change the inputs straight away inside the print-reports. Other solutions may also be envisaged, but it is essential that the new changes are recorded in order to ensure that they are all adopted. General Comments Adding a new part on important local information has been considered. In this way, the historical regional background and subsequently the people’s socio-political background is taken into account. In the case of Río San Juan department, these backgrounds seem to be an important factor to consider when implementing projects (see chapter 2.1. History and chapter 2.3. Río San Juan Department). Such a part could be addad to the tool in a separate box at the very beginning, just after the project description. Other options would be to insert this information at the very end of the tool in the barrier-table, as described in subchapter Adjusting Project Activities of this chapter. As already mentioned in the Mali report, the tool must be made available in multiple languages. IUCN ALIANZAS Programme Coordinator Jesus Cisneros kindly offered a translation of the tool into Spanish. He will also implement and monitor the tool further in the

26

ALIANZAS project, which will be a mutually beneficial longterm experience. The ALIANZAS project team will have a tool in place which monitores the impact of ongoing project activities on the local adaptive capacity, and the CRISTAL tool team will have the opportunity to field test the tools’ implementation, i.e. observe its use and modify it as necessary. Further it could also be useful to pool the results from the tests by regions or by similar ecosystems, bringing together experiences in the use of this tool under related conditions in order to improve it. A web based databank could be established, in which all results from previous tool uses, ordered by region or ecosystems, could be found. This increased knowledge could enhance both the community consultations and the adjustments of project activities.

27

ANNEX 1: MAP

28

ANNEX 2: TOOL TESTING TRIP AGENDA Date Activity Participants Sunday, 21.5 - Evening: Arrival in Managua, Nicaragua Monday, 22.5 - Meeting with: - Miguel Obando (National

Coordinator PASOLAC) - Jürg Benz (Coordinator SDC)

- José Luis Sandino (Project responsible SDC)

- Short presentation about climate change - Presentation of project and CRISTAL tool - Preparations for field visits near Estelí

- Nicole Stejskal (Intercooperation) - Miguel Obando - Jürg Benz - José Luis Sandino - Martha Fernandes (SEI-B)

Tuesday, 23.5 - Travel to Estelí (North-West of Nicaragua) with IC transport - Meeting with local PASOLAC project coordinators, Universidad Campesina - Short presentation about climate change - Presentation of project and CRISTAL tool - Project briefing, examination of project activities and preparation of field visits for next two days

- NS - Miguel Obando - Martha Fernandes - 10 local PASOLAC project coordinators from UNICAM (Universidad Campesina)

Wednesday, 24.5

- Travel to first community Almaciguera - Project presentation to community representatives at field site - Community consultation to test Livelihoods and Climate Change Tool (CRISTAL) - Return to Estelí - Initiation of wrap-up of tool-testing from first field site

- NS - Miguel Obando - Martha Fernandez - Augusto Mesa Alvarez - Donals Blandon Torres - Dora Paguaga - Representatives of community

Thursday, 25.5 - Travel to second community Sontule - Project presentation to community representatives at field site - Community consultation to test Livelihoods and Climate Change Tool (CRISTAL) - Return to Estelí - Initiation of wrap-up of tool-testing from second field site

- NS - Miguel Obando - Martha Fernandez - Augusto Mesa Alvarez - Donals Blandon Torres - Dora Paguaga - Representatives of community

Friday, 26.5 - Finalization of wrap-up of tool testings from both field sites

- NS - Miguel Obando

Saturday, 27.5 - Travel by bus from Managua to San José, Costa Rica

- NS

Sunday, 28.5 - Meeting with Jesus Cisneros (IUCN, Coordinator ALIANZAS program in Nicaragua) and Eduardo Rodríguez (IUCN, regional program facilitator of ALIANZAS) - Short presentation about climate change

- NS - Jesus Cisneros - Eduardo Rodríguez

29

- Presentation of project and CRISTAL tool Monday, 29.5 - Meeting with Olman Varela (IUCN, local

program facilitator of ALIANZAS) - Short presentation about climate change - Presentation of project and CRISTAL tool - Preparation for field visits near San Carlos, South-East of Nicaragua

- NS - Olman Varela

Tuesday, 30.5 - Travel to San Carlos with IUCN transport and boat - Project briefing with local ALIANZA project team from UNAG (union nacional de agricultures y ganaderos) - Travel to first community Cruz Verde - Project presentation to community representatives at field site - Community consultation to test Livelihoods and Climate Change Tool (CRISTAL) - Return to San Carlos - Initiation of wrap-up of tool-testing from first field site

- NS - Olman Varela - Lucía Villar, UNAG - Antonio López, UNAG - Gerardo Rivas Granja, UNAG - Fefa Martínez Basterra (Director of UNAG-Río San Juan)

Wednesday, 31.5

- Travel to second community Never Oporta - Project presentation to community representatives at field site - Community consultation to test Livelihoods and Climate Change Tool (CRISTAL) - Return to San Carlos - Initiation of wrap-up of tool-testing from second field site

- NS - Lucía Villar, UNAG - Antonio López, UNAG - Representatives of community

Thursday, 1.6 - Finalization of wrap-up of tool testings from both field sites

- NS - Antonio López, UNAG - Fefa Martínez Basterra (Director of UNAG-Río San Juan)

Friday, 2.6 - Travel to Mangua - Final report meeting with Intercooperations’ PASOLAC national coordinator Miguel Obando - COSUDE just wanted a report and no meeting

- NS - Miguel Obando

Saturday, 3.5 Sunday, 4.5

- Return flight on Sunday (Saturday flights complete)

- NS

30

ANNEX 3: PARTICIPANTS LISTS Participants in community Almaciguera (Municipality Estelí, Department Estelí ) Nohelia Cerrato Grafic design Salvador Cerrato Farmer Dora Paguaga Agronomist UNICAM Augusto Meza Alvarez Technician UNICAM Donald Blandon Torres Technician UNICAM Miguel Obando National Coordinator PASOLAC Martha Fernandes SEI-B Nicole Stejskal Intercooperation Participants in community Sontule (Municipality Estelí, Department Estelí) Rogelio Villareyna Flores Farmer Marlon Villareyna Acuña Farmer, President of the Cooperative

Vincente Talavera, Touristic Guide Lucía Acuña Promotor and farmer Isabel Flores Flores President of the Cooperative Women without

Land Nuevo Amanecer Bayardo Talavera Rayo Farmer, Seed bank Ulda Xiomara Games Member of Cooperative Nuevo Amanecer Angela Peralta Mesa Member of Cooperative Nuevo Amanecer Santo Gonzalez Familiar garden plots Modesta Flor Farmer Dora Paguaga Agronomist UNICAM Augusto Meza Alvarez Technician UNICAM Donald Blandon Torres Technician UNICAM Miguel Obando National Coordinator PASOLAC Martha Fernandes SEI-B Nicole Stejskal Intercooperation Participants in community Cruz Verde (Municipality San Carlos, Department Río San Juan) Toribia Gonzales Farmer, trader Roberto Valle López Farmer Jacobo Montalban Farmer, Coordinator of comunal

development commitee Eddy Rivera Farmer José Francisco Miranda Farmer Abner Espinoza Farmer Julia Escoto Farmer Santos Ugarte Farmer Amada Sanchez Farmer

31

Ictomilia Montalban Farmer Baudilia Montalban Farmer María Ugarte Farmer Ramón Cortez Peña Farmer, male nurse Lillian Martinez Farmer Dominga Rodriguez Farmer Flor Chawarría Farmer Gerardo Rivas Granja Technician, UNAG Olman Varela D. Local facilitator, ALIANZAS program,

IUCN Lucía Villar System engineer, UNAG (National Union for

farmers and ranchers) Antonio López Technician, UNAG Nicole Stejskal Intercooperation Participants in community Never Oporta (Munipality San Miguelito, Department Río San Juan) Jairo Aguirre Orozco Technician and farmer Paula Estrada Farmer, handicraft Isidro Estrada Farmer Justo Medina Farmer, member of water cooperative Roberto Valle Farmer Luis Enrique Aguirre Farmer, scholar secundary school Lucas Torres Farmer Alberto Guzman Farmer Timoteo Valle Farmer Horacio Aguirre Farmer, president of water cooperative Vilma Aguirre Orozco Farmer, teacher in primary school Balvina Orozco Farmer Martha Orozco Bazzan Farmer Andrea Avalos Farmer Alicia Aguirre Scholar secundary school Antonio López Tecnician, UNAG (National Union for

farmers and ranchers) Lucía Villar System engineer, UNAG Nicole Stejskal Intercooperation

32

ANNEX 4: CRISTAL TESTING REPORTS Community Almaciguera (Municipality of Estelí, Department Estelí) Table 11: Climate Context

Table 12: Livelihood Context – Extent influence of hazards on livelihood resources

Hazard: Drought Hurricanes Irregularities in rain

patterns Resource 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Natural Resources Watershed X X X Soils of good quality X X X Forests of pine, holm, oak X X X Physical Resources Transport ways in regular state X X X Aqueduct for drinking water X X X Infrastructure for capacitation, laboratory X X X Financial Resources Revolving fund for microbusiness X X X Microfinance for credits X X X Producers with potential to invest or autofinance X X X Human Resources Professionals (foresters, agronomists, etc.) X X X Leader for political incidence (communal development) X X X Promotors and producers X X X Social Resources Relations with organizations (NGO, GO, service enterprises) X X X Relations with Universities X X X Relations with other organizations of producers X X X

Hazard Impact Coping Strategy

Water scarcity Soil land water conservation,

reforestation

1 Drought Incidence of plagues

and diseases Rehabilitation of forest (pine)

Disappearance of fauna and flora

Protect forests, natural regeneration (human

induced)


reforestation

2 Hurricanes Loss of crops Soil land water conservation,

reforestation

Destruction of infrastructure

Protection of infrastructure with reforestation


reforestation

3 Irregularities in rain patterns Food scarcity due to

loss of crops Diversification of crops and

processing

Incidence of plagues

and diseases Studies for plague

management

33

Table 13: Livelihood Context – Extent influence of livelihood resources on local coping strategies

Water scarcity Incidence of plagues

and diseases Disappearance of fauna

and flora Soil land water conservation, reforestation

Rehabilitation of forest (pine)

Protect forests, natural regeneration (human

induced)

Hazard 1 Drought

0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Natural Resources Watershed X X X Soils of good quality X X X

Forests of pine, holm, oak X X X Physical Resources

Transport ways in regular state X X X

Aqueduct for drinking water X X X

Infrastructure for capacitation, laboratory X X X

Financial Resources

Revolving fund for microbusiness X X X

Microfinance for credits X X X

Producers with potential to invest or autofinance X X X

Human Resources

Professionals (foresters, agronomists, etc.) X X X

Leader for political incidence (communal development) X X X

Promotors and producers X X X

Social Resources

Relations with organizations (NGO, GO, service enterprises) X X X

Relations with Universities X X X

Relations with other organizations of producers X X X

Water scarcity Loss of crops Destruction of infrastructure

Soil land water conservation, reforestation

Soil land water conservation, reforestation

Protection of infrastructure with

reforestation

Hazard 2 Hurricanes






Financial Resources




Human Resources




Social Resources


34



Water scarcity Food scarcity due to

loss of crops Incidence of plagues

and diseases Soil land water conservation, reforestation

Diversification of crops and processing

Studies for plague management







Financial Resources




Human Resources




Social Resources




Table 14: Screening Project Activities – first column: effect of project activity on flagged livelihood resources as most affected by climate hazards; second column: effect of project activity on flagged livelihood resources with most influence on local coping strategies

Activity 1

Soil and water management

Living/death fences, seeding in curves to level


Pos Neg Neu Unk NA Pos Neg Neu Unk NA Watershed x Watershed x

Soils of good quality x Soils of good quality x Transport ways in regular state x Forests of pine, holm, oak x Infrastructure for capacitation,

laboratory x Transport ways in regular state x

Revolving fund for microbusiness x Aqueduct for drinking water x

Microfinance for credits x Infrastructure for capacitation, laboratory x

Producers with potential to invest or autofinance x Revolving fund for

microbusiness x

Professionals (foresters, agronomists, etc.) x Producers with potential to

invest or autofinance x

Leader for political incidence (communal development) x Promotors and producers x

Promotors and producers x Relations with organizations x

35

(NGO, GO, service enterprises)

Relations with organizations (NGO, GO, service enterprises) x Relations with Universities x

Relations with other organizations of producers x Relations with other

organizations of producers x

Activity 2

Integrated plague management







microbusiness x




Promotors and producers x

Relations with organizations (NGO, GO, service

enterprises) x


Relations with other organizations of producers

x Relations with other organizations of producers x

Activity 3

Agroforestry







microbusiness x






enterprises) x




Activity 4

Courtyard management

Productive diversification, agroindustrial processment,

investigation


Soils of good quality x Soils of good quality x Transport ways in regular state x Forests of pine, holm, oak x

36

Infrastructure for capacitation, laboratory x Transport ways in regular

state x




microbusiness x






enterprises) x




Activity 5

Investigation

Agrarian experimentation, planification of homesteads,

diagnostics







microbusiness x






enterprises) x




Activity 6

Animal husbandry

Processment of dairy products, livestock

management, pasture management

Pos Neg Neu Unk NA Pos Neg Neu Unk NA Watershed x x Watershed x x

Soils of good quality x x Soils of good quality x x Transport ways in regular state x Forests of pine, holm, oak x Infrastructure for capacitation,





microbusiness x




37



enterprises) x




Actividad 7

Organización, incidencia

política gestión ambiental







microbusiness x






enterprises) x




Activity 8

Commercialization

Greenhouses, organized markets, microbusiness,

ecotourism







microbusiness x






enterprises) x




38

Table 15: Adaptation management planning – Adjustment of project activities to manage climate risk



Animal husbandry Processment of dairy products, livestock

management, pasture management

Define special ways of access and areas only for

livestock

Watershed X X

Soils of good quality X X

Transport ways in regular state X

Infrastructure for capacitation, laboratory

Revolving fund for microbusiness X

Microfinance for credits X

Producers with potential to invest or autofinance X

Professionals (foresters, agronomists, etc.) X

Leader for political incidence (communal development) X

Promotors and producers X

Relations with organizations


X

Relations with other organizations of producers X

Resources most important for

coping strategy

Positive Negative

Watershed X X

Soils of good quality X X

Forests of pine, holm, oak

Transport ways in regular state X

Aqueduct for drinking water

Infrastructure for capacitation, laboratory

Revolving fund for microbusiness X

Producers with potential to invest or autofinance X

Promotors and producers X

Relations with organizations


X

Relations with Universities X

Relations with other organizations of producers X

39

Community Sontule (Municipality of Estelí, Department Estelí) Table 16: Climate Context Hazard Impact Coping strategy

Low harvest and bad

quality Reincorporation of stubble

fields

1 Irregularities in rain patterns (lot of rain)


Soil conservation, reforestation, no burning

Diseases of animals

and persons Growing of medicinal plants,

cleanness

Damage on crops

(coffee) Reforestation of coffee,

conservation of soils

2 Drought Water disappearing Protection of watersheds,

reforestation

Food scarcity Familiary garden plots,

cultivation in hoops, diversif.

Loss of crops of maize

and beans Retain of seeds, seed banks

3 Hurricanes


Reforestation and natural regeneration of forest (human

induced)


Protection of species with protected areas


Hazard

Irregularities in rain patterns (lot

of rain) Drought Hurricanes

Resource 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Natural Resources Forests X X X Soils of regular quality X X X Water (subterranean, pools, creeks, rain) X X X Physical Resources Primary school (communitys’ own) X X X 2 wells X X X Transport ways in medium state X X X Financial Resources Funds (from NGO’s, micro business, cooperatives) X X X Exchange of inputs (seeds) X X X Human Resources Capacities in conservation, reforestation, gender, self-esteem X X X Professionals with studies in agriculture X X X Social Resources Relations with NGO’s, cooperatives, international organizations X X X Relation with health entities X X X Communal organization, cooperatives (women without land, two mixed) X X X

40


Low harvest and bad quality


Diseases of animals and

persons

Reincorporation of stubble fields

Soil conservation, reforestation, no

burning

Growing of medicinal plants,

cleanness

Hazard 1 Irregularities in rain patterns (lot of rain)











Damage on crops (coffee) Water disappearing Food scarcity

Reforestation of coffee, conservation

of soils

Protection of watersheds, reforestation

Familiary garden plots, cultivation in

hoops, diversif.

Hazard 2 Drought











41

Loss of crops of maize and beans



Retain of seeds, seed banks

Reforestation and natural

regeneration of forest (human

induced)

Protection of species with

protected areas

Hazard 3 Hurricanes












Activity 1

Conservation of soils Living/death fences,

reforestation, incorporation of stubble fields, organic

agriculture






own) X



Funds (from NGO’s, micro business, cooperatives) X Funds (from NGO’s, micro

business, cooperatives) X




esteem X




X




X

42

Activity 2

Rainwater harvesting

cistern, reservoir, filter





own) X








esteem X




X




X

Activity 3

Organization

cooperatives, micro business, seed banks





own) X








esteem X




X




X

Activity 4

Courtyard management

Growing in hoops, medicinal plants, establishment of

different fruit trees





own) X

43








esteem X




X




X

Activity 5

Investigation

CPEC – producers collective of agricultural

experimentation, experimentation on varieties of maize, beans and vegetables





own) X








esteem X




X




X

Activity 6

Animal husbandry

Living fences for summer alimentation, pasture

management, rotation of pasture fields

Pos Neg Neu Unk NA Pos Neg Neu Unk NA Forests X X Forests X X

Soils of regular quality X X Soils of regular quality X X Water (subterranean, pools,

creeks, rain) X X Water (subterranean, pools, creeks, rain) X X


own) X


state X X Transport ways in medium state X X




cooperatives, international X Capacities in conservation, reforestation, gender, self- X

44

organizations esteem




X




X

Table 20: Adaptation management planning – Adjustment of project activities to manage climate risk



Forests X X




2 wells





organizations X

Resources most important for coping strategy Positive Negative

Forests X X




2 wells




Capacities in conservation, reforestation, gender, self-

esteem X

Professionals with studies in agriculture X

Animal husbandry Living fences for summer

alimentation, pasture management, rotation of

pasture fields


organizations X

Define special ways of access and areas only

for livestock

45

Community Cruz Verde (Municipality of San Carlos, Department Río San Juan) Table 21: Climate Context Hazard Impact Coping Strategy

Loss of forest, fauna and

flora Natural regeneration (not human induced)

1 Hurricanes Loss of crops Migration to Costa Rica, mutual

support

Contamination of water, water scarcity for

consume Cover longer distance to fetch

water

Problems with planification of seeding

activities Waiting for rain

2 Irregularities in rain patterns

(according to community members due to logging) Reduced harvest quality Migration to Costa Rica

Food scarcity Migration to Costa Rica Less production Higher price

3 Extreme temperatures Diseases Plant or exchange medicinal

plants

Rat plague on crops

Chemical or natural poison (cooking toads or “pastilla de

amor” with maize) Table 22: Livelihood Context – Extent influence of hazards on livelihood resources

Hazard: Hurricanes Irregularities in rain

patterns Extreme

temperatures Resource 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Natural Resources Forest and fruit trees on homesteads X X X Good soils X X X Pools, rivers X X X Physical Resources Social infrastructure (clinic, community house) X X X Wagons (carts), trucks, buses X X X Road, way (access to community) X X X Financial Resources Bank credits, rural fund (financial cooperative) X X X Liquid assets (animals, seeds, insumo) X X X Temporal remittances X X X Human Resources Capacity in agriculture (all producers of maize, beans and quequisque) X X X Traditional knowledges (medicinal plants) X X X Familiar responsibility of women for houshold X X X Social Resources Communal development committee (local mayorality) X X X Neighbourly relations X X X Producers cooperative quequisque/dairy produce X X X

46


Loss of forest, fauna and flora Loss of crops

Contamination of water, water scarcity for consume


Migration to Costa Rica, mutual

support

Cover longer distance to fetch

water

Hazard 1 Hurricanes

0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Natural Resources Forest and fruit trees on homesteads X X X Good soils X X X Pools, rivers X X X

Physical Resources Social infrastructure (clinic, community house) X X X

Wagons (carts), trucks, buses X X X Road, way (access to community) X X X

Financial Resources Bank credits, rural fund (financial cooperative) X X X

Liquid assets (animals, seeds, insumo) X X X

Temporal remittances X X X

Human Resources Capacity in agriculture (all producers of maize, beans and quequisque) X X X

Traditional knowledges (medicinal plants) X X X

Familiar responsibility of women for houshold X X X

Social Resources Communal development committee (local mayorality) X X X

Neighbourly relations X X X

Producers cooperative quequisque/dairy produce X X X

Problems with planification of

seeding activities Reduced harvest

quality Food scarcity

Waiting for rain Migration to Costa

Rica Migration to Costa

Rica














47

Less production Diseases Rat plague on

crops

Higher price Plant or exchange medicinal plants

Chemical or natural poison (cooking toads or “pastilla

de amor” with maize)

Hazard 3 Extreme temperatures














Activity 1

Conservation of homesteads

(planification for future, generationg knowledge)


Pos Neg Neu Unk NA Pos Neg Neu Unk NA Forest and fruit trees on

homesteads x Forest and fruit trees on homesteads x

Good soils x Good soils x Pools, rivers x Pools, rivers x

Road, way (access to community) x Social infrastructure (clinic,

community house) x

Liquid assets (animals, seeds, insumo) x Wagons (carts), trucks, buses x

Familiar responsibility of women for houshold x Road, way (access to

community) x

Communal development committee (local mayorality) x Bank credits, rural fund

(financial cooperative) x

Neighbourly relations x Temporal remittances x

Producers cooperative quequisque/dairy produce

x Capacity in agriculture (all producers of maize, beans

and quequisque) x

Traditional knowledges (medicinal plants) x

Familiar responsibility of women for houshold x

Communal development x

48

committee (local mayorality) Neighbourly relations x

Producers cooperative quequisque/dairy produce x

Activity 2

Soil and water conservation

methods and reforestation (living fences, regeneration of species, organic fertilizer, enrichment of

soil)





community house) x



community) x






and quequisque) x



Communal development committee (local mayorality) x

Neighbourly relations x


Activity 3

Legalization of land, credits for

buying land





community house) x



community) x






and quequisque) x



Communal development committee (local mayorality) x

Neighbourly relations x


49

Community Never Oporta (Municipality of San Miguelito, Department Río San Juan) Table 25: Climate Context Hazard Impact Coping Strategy


harvest External resolution (credits, projects)

1


rainfall (according to community members

due to logging) Incertitude when

seeding

Waiting for rain and seeding seeds in less

distance (for maximal use of sparse water)

Drought (dry creeks) Migration to Costa Rica

Loss of harvest

Seed again (local institutions providing

seeds; some are bought from neighbours for

higher price)

2 Phenomenons (el niño-

drought, la niña-hurricanes) Loss of forest


Water contamination Nothing

Respiratory

diseases Buy chemical medicine,

some natural

3 Extreme temperatures Plagues (rats) Biological and chemical

control


Hazard:


rainfall

Phenomenons (el niño-drought, la niña-

hurricanes) Extreme temperatures Resource 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Natural Resources Soil of medium quality X X X Water (creeds, rivers) X X X Livestock X X X Physical Resources Road in bad condition X X X System for drinking water (own) X X X Social buildings X X X Financial Resources Familiar remittances (Costa Rica) X X X Liquid assets (pigs, chicken, livestock) X X X Lendings (neighbour, friend) X X X Human Resources Agricultural capacity (1 technician) X X X Handicraft X X X Grow small livestock and domestic animals X X X Social Resources Communal development committee (water coooperative, health commitee) X X X Churches (different) X X X Neighbourly relations X X X

50



harvest Incertitude when

seeding Drought (dry

creeks)

External resolution (credits, projects)

Waiting for rain and seeding seeds in

less distance Migration to Costa

Rica


tending to less rainfall



Lendings (neighbour, friend) X X X Human Resources Agricultural capacity (1 technician) X X X Handicraft X X X


Social Resources



Loss of harvest Loss of forest Water

contamination Seed again (local

institutions providing seeds; some are bought

from neighbours for higher price)

Natural regeneration (not human

induced) Nothing

Hazard 2 Phenomenons (el niño-drought, la niña-hurricanes)



Lendings (neighbour, friend) X X X Human Resources Agricultural capacity (1 technician) X X X Handicraft X X X


Social Resources



51

Respiratory diseases Plagues (rats)

Buy chemical medicine, some

natural Biological and

chemical control

Hazard 3 Extreme temperatures

0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Natural Resources Soil of medium quality X X Water (creeds, rivers) X X Livestock X X Physical Resources Road in bad condition X X System for drinking water (own) X X Social buildings X X Financial Resources Familiar remittances (Costa Rica) X X

Liquid assets (pigs, chicken, livestock) X X

Lendings (neighbour, friend) X X Human Resources Agricultural capacity (1 technician) X X Handicraft X X

Grow small livestock and domestic animals X X

Social Resources

Communal development committee (water coooperative, health commitee) X X

Churches (different) X X Neighbourly relations X X


Activity 1

Characterization of homesteads with capability of ecosystems

(planification, capacity building)







technician) x


x



x


Activity 2

Soil and water conservation practices (establishment of

legumes, living/death fences, seed on level)




52



technician) x


x



x


Activity 3

Enrichment with forest- and fruit-tree species






technician) x


x



x


53

ANNEX 5: LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ALIANZAS: Alliances CRISTAL: Community-based Risk Screening Tool – Adaptation & Livelihoods FSLN: Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (Sandinista National Liberation Front) GDP: Gross Domestic Product INSFOP: INStituto de FOrmación Permanente (Institute of permanent formation) IPCC: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change NGO: Non Governmental Organization PASOLAC: Programa para la Agricultura SOstenible en la Laderas de América Central

(Program for sustainable agriculture on the hillsides of Central America) UNAG: Unión Nacional de Agricultores y Ganaderos (National union of farmers and

ranchers) UNICAM: UNIversidad CAMpesina (Farmer’s “universe”) USD: US-Dollar

climate change, vulnerable communities and adaptation ... · climate change, vulnerable communities...

Documents