Fausto Gómez Pezzotti

TNC-Dominican Republic Program

Conservation ApproachConservation Approach

To fulfill our long-term vision and achieve To fulfill our long-term vision and achieve

our goals, The Nature Conservancy employs our goals, The Nature Conservancy employs

an integrated conservation process an integrated conservation process

comprised of four fundamental comprised of four fundamental

components:components:

Setting prioritiesSetting priorities through through

ecoregional planning and global ecoregional planning and global

habitat assessments. habitat assessments.

Developing strategiesDeveloping strategies at multiple scales to address at multiple scales to address

ecoregional priorities and global threats. ecoregional priorities and global threats.

Taking direct conservation actionTaking direct conservation action; and ; and

Measuring conservation successMeasuring conservation success..

Setting PrioritiesSetting Priorities

The Conservancy sets priorities two ways: The Conservancy sets priorities two ways:

through global major habitat type through global major habitat type

assessments and through ecoregional assessments and through ecoregional

planning. planning.

GREATER CARIBBEAN ECOREGIONAL PLAN - GEOGRAFIC AREA

Developing StrategiesDeveloping Strategies

Single-AreaSingle-Area StrategiesStrategies For all priority conservation areas in which For all priority conservation areas in which

the Conservancy invests resources directly the Conservancy invests resources directly or through partnerships, we employ theor through partnerships, we employ the 5-S 5-S Framework for Conservation Project Framework for Conservation Project Management.Management.

The 5-S planning approach The 5-S planning approach focuses on the following focuses on the following

components:components:

1.1. SystemsSystems

The focal conservation targets and theirThe focal conservation targets and their

key ecological attributes.key ecological attributes.

2.2. StressesStresses

The most serious types of destruction orThe most serious types of destruction or

degradation affecting the conservationdegradation affecting the conservation

targets or key ecological attributes. targets or key ecological attributes.

3.3. Sources of stressSources of stress

The causes or agents of destruction orThe causes or agents of destruction or

degradation.degradation.

4.4. StrategiesStrategies

The full array of actions necessary toThe full array of actions necessary to

abate the threats or enhance theabate the threats or enhance the

viability of the conservation targets. viability of the conservation targets.

5.5. Success measuresSuccess measures

The monitoring process forThe monitoring process for

assessing progress in abating threatsassessing progress in abating threats

and improving the biodiversity health of and improving the biodiversity health of a a

conservation area.conservation area.

Taking ActionTaking Action

In keeping with the Conservancy’s In keeping with the Conservancy’s

commitment to results, the bulk of our commitment to results, the bulk of our

resources—human and financial—are resources—human and financial—are

focused on implementing well-conceived focused on implementing well-conceived

conservation strategies.conservation strategies.

Measuring SuccessMeasuring Success

For purposes of assessing For purposes of assessing

progress toward our mission, progress toward our mission,

The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy

defines conservation success asdefines conservation success asthe combination of three outcomes: the the combination of three outcomes: the

maintenance of viable biodiversity, maintenance of viable biodiversity,

abatement of critical threats, and effective abatement of critical threats, and effective

protection and management of places where protection and management of places where

we take action with partners.we take action with partners.

A unique Dominican case which is a result, A unique Dominican case which is a result,

among some other facts, of the assisting among some other facts, of the assisting

conservation actions of TNC in the conservation actions of TNC in the

Dominican Republic.Dominican Republic.

“ “LOS DAJAOS”LOS DAJAOS”

Madre de las Aguas

Mother of the Waters

Madre de las Aguas comprises some

320,000 hectares within the Central

Mountain Range (Cordillera Central) of

the Dominican Republic; this ecoregion is

integrated by five national parks and two

reserves with a territory under protection

equivalent to 7% of the nation’s land

mass.

Why the Conservancy Works Here:

Unsustainable logging, uncontrolled fires, slash

and burn agriculture, expansion of sun-grown

coffee fields and hillside farming are causing soil

erosion and significant species loss. 

Strategies being proposed by the Conservancy to

mitigate these threats are: reforestation, and

providing help to partner organizations that

undertake economic and community development

projects to build support for conservation work

and alternative livelihoods.

Madre de las Aguas

Los Dajaos *

La Paloma

Los Dajaos

Arroyo Dulce

Piedra Llana

El Manguito

Los Marranitos

Josafá

El Bolo

Los Dajaos watershed

Agriculture on high slope

A plot ready to be planted

A plot ready to be planted

Conuco

Nursery - Strawberry

Strawberries are kept in bags

Strawberry bundle

Strawberry nursery on deep slope

Nursery300m² = ½ tarea

Materials Unit Amount Cost/Unit Total RD$ Total US$

1.Plastic roll Roll3x6

0m 1 5,265.00 5,265.00 150.43

2.Natural structure frame (poles)   1 10,000.00 10,000.00 285.71

3.Irrigation system for plastic bags   1 40,000.00 40,000.00 1,142.86

4.Instalation   1 3,500.00 3,500.00 100.00

5.Plants   4,000 2.00 8,000.00 228.57

6.Plastic Bags   4,000 0.90 3,600.00 102.86

7.Substratum - gravel/sand m³ 7 1,500.00 10,500.00 300.00

           

Total       80,865 2,310.42

1 hectare = 16 tareas

Area Product Income/month

Conuco 10,000 m² Corn+Yuca+Plantain+Sweet potatoes+beans +others

RD$500 US$1428

Nursery 30 m² Strawberry RD$12,333.13 US$352.38Tarea Tarea Hectare Hectare

Average production (Pounds)

2,780 2,780 44,480 44,480

Average price (Per pound)

RD$40.00 US$1.14 RD$40.00

US$1.14

Total income (8 months)

111,200.00 3,170.00 1,779,200.00 44,480.00

Cost 12,535.00 358.00 200,560.00 5,730.00

Profit 98,665.00 2,811.00 1,578,640.00 38,750.00

CONUCO VS NURSERY

Small farmer’s incomeSmall farmer’s income

Before the innovation of the greenhousesBefore the innovation of the greenhouses

Working from 1 to 50 “tareas” = 0.063 to 3.13 Working from 1 to 50 “tareas” = 0.063 to 3.13 hectareshectares

Less than RD$500.00 = US$14.29 per monthLess than RD$500.00 = US$14.29 per month

In rare cases they made up to RD$1,000.00 = In rare cases they made up to RD$1,000.00 = US$28.57US$28.57

(exchange rate = 35)(exchange rate = 35)

Small farmers’ incomeSmall farmers’ income

After changing the agricultural practiceAfter changing the agricultural practice (nurseries)(nurseries)

Working from 1 to 3 “tareas” = 0.063 to 0.2 Working from 1 to 3 “tareas” = 0.063 to 0.2 hectareshectares

RD$12,333 = US$352 to RD$37,000 = RD$12,333 = US$352 to RD$37,000 = US$1,057 per monthUS$1,057 per month

(exchange rate = 35)(exchange rate = 35)