veracruz raptors river: towards the protections of habitats in the central coast of veracruz: world...

Veracruz Raptors River: Towards the protections of habitats in the

Central Coast of Veracruz: World Heritage Migratory Corridor

A tool for assessing feasibility and impact potential of Rare Project Plans

BRAVO: Barrier Removal Assessment and Viability Overview

Economics Technical Cultural/Political Impact & Metrics

BRAVO: Executive Brief

What?: We seek to start, with a group of land owners, a process to look for alternative uses of land that

lessen the effects of changes in soil, to protect the low forest of the Central Coast of Veracruz and

achieve conservation of key habitat for migratory raptors. Such process will begin by doing the

paper work to certify private conservation areas (PCA) with land owners and public land in Actopan

Municipality in 500 hectares. We will add a mid and long term strategy to support applications and

payment for environmental services with CONAFOR and other support needed for state and federal

governments.

Who?: Pronatura Veracruz A.C, with the support of CGMA (General Management of the

Environment) of the Government of the State of Veracruz and Actopan City Hall, U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service through NMBCA program ((Neotropicall Migratory Bird Conservation Act), Inveder

( Veracruz Institute for Rural Development and Fishing), Conafor y land owners who already have

land under the status of “private conservation area”. We will approach such land owners to find out

the necessary incentives and proceed to support them with the formalities to certify private

conservation areas and for payment for environmental services with CONAFOR. We foresee a

second consolidation cycle for the processes in 2010.

How?:Through planning workshops, training, experience and activities exchanges in the field that can

capture the land owners attention and allow us to know what their incentives and worries are, to instill

in them the need to protect their land and change their soil use practices in small steps (in at least

part of their land) and the will to legally protect their land as private conservation areas.

.

BRAVO

Scoring

Viability Score: 3.03

Impact Score: 3.44

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Copyright © 2008 Monitor Company Group, L.P. — Confidential — XXXCAS-COD-Prez-Date-CTL 3

Criteria ExplanationScore

Co

sts

Preliminary projected costs

1)The cost of perdiem in the field estimating one visit to the field at 3,000 USD/year (250 USD/month). 2) 50% of 4 months salary of a technician to follow up on the certification of CPA (Conservation Private Area) which include meeting with private owners, collecting documents and creating files for USD 3,080. 3) Visits to other conservation areas to exchange experiences/training, USD 2,500. 4) Training and exchange visits to Umas for USD 2,000, 5)Visits to Chichicaxtle observatory. Training and Awareness for USD 1,000, 6) Training workshop on PCA benefits, USD 500, 7)Training workshops on Conafor programs, USD 500, 8) One year full time salary for the management of the project on payment of environmental services, reforestation programs and commercial plantations USD 8,400.

We estimate a total cost of USD 20,980 for the whole campaign, including creating awareness, management and file development with private land owners.

Note: We do not include resources for private land owners because they will come from the Mexican Government (federal and state) and will be negotiated with the support of the forest technician that will be hired and because they are not direct part of the Pride Campaign. However, such funds should be raised in part by the end of the Campaign.

The predictability of cost burden

Costs are very clear.

3

Cost of change behavior (i.e. target audience)

To achieve the campaign's goal, which is the conservation of 500 ha, we will work with 10 land owners and the cost per owner will be USD 2,098. It is worth mentioning that we are interested in a 500 ha area which means that if land owner have 150 ha, the number of land owners will decrease.

4

Average score 3.5

Economics BRAVO (1 of 3)

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BRAVO Drafting Guidelines

Economics (2 of 3)

Criteria Explanation Score

Rev

en

ue

s

Description of revenue streams

Pronatura Veracruz A.C. USD 6,080 annually to pay for perdiem expenses (food, field visits), 50% salary of a technician for a 4 month period to follow-up on PCA certification, work meetings with land owners to give them training in certification management and paperwork processing.

UFWS-NMBCA-USD 22,900. Funding to provide signs for the PCA, salary for technicians to work on proposals to submit to Conafor (other than the technician that will do PCA follow-up), training for land owners (visits to other PCA, UMAS. Birdwatching in Chichicaxtle, among other).

Actopan City Hall. USD 20,000 in kind. Will support providing space, organization of events, organization of land owners, forum, workshops.

CONAFOR (National Forest Commission) USD 20,000 to be negotiated. Federal funds destined to pay for environmental services programs, reforestation programs, commercial plantations, fencing of properties. To be raised by one technician.

Revenue

NMBCA $22,900 USD

Pronatura Veracruz $6,080 USD

Total $ 28,980 USD

In Kind: Actopan City Hall $ 20,000 USD

To be raised.

Conafor $20,000 USD

Submitted for approval

Inveder (State Gov) $231,000 USD

CGMA: (General Management of the Government of the State of Veracruz). Agency that processes the PCA certification petitions. The process is free of cost. The agency also provides free training or through other agencies such as Forest Development Directorate, Ranching Sub-directorate. It is worth mentioning that when an area is certified via CGMA, the land owners are eligible for Conafor programs, obtaining points for Government Programs.

Percentage of total cost available

1: 0 – 25% 2: 25 – 50% 3: 50 – 75% 4: 75 – 100%

NMBCA resources are available; Pronatura Veracruz resources are available; resources of the Actopan City Hall are available; CGMA certification process is available and free.

CONAFOR funds are available on annual terms, with deadlines to submit projects. However, certifying PCA assigns positive points, making projects more eligible.

3

Likelihood of fundraising success

Funds to work in meetings, training, file construction, salary for a technician to support activities related to Conafor, perdiem and funds to do the signs for PCA are available. On the other hand, the certification process is free of charge and can be done all year long. The processing time of certification petitions varies from 3-4 months.

Funds that come from Conafor have their own timing and norms. But PCA certifications have positive points when submitting projects.

3

Fundraising timing Inveder funds are not 100% certain, they are still in the project selection process. However, this does not affect the development of the campaign because they will be used in efforts posterior to the certification of PCA.

Funding Alignment

We already have funding from NMBCA aligned with the campaign; Pronatura Veracruz funding is available and aligned with the campaign; resources from the Actopan City Hall are available and aligned with the campaign.

Certification paperwork can be submitted all year round, aligned with the campaign, depending on land owner submittals.

Support from CONAFOR will be aligned in 2010, depending on the timeline of programs. However, certified PCA have positive points regarding project acceptance.

3

Sustainable Funding

If the INVEDER proposal is accepted, we will have more funding for a 2 year period, which will allow to follow-up on the activities of the campaign and other activities that can be added to it.

2

Gains/losses

Differences between income and expenses

The funds that are available for the barrier removal strategy are USD 28,980 including funding from NMBCA, Pronatura Veracruz and the total estimated cost is USD 20,980. Subtracting the estimated cost from the available funds we have an exceeding USD 8,000, which will be applied to the central coast of Veracruz to reinforce campaign’s activities.

We also have the USD 20,000 in kind from the Actopan City Hall.

4

Average Score 3

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Inco

me su

bs

titutio

n (if ap

plicab

le)

New income source relative to old income

1 = Income source is reduced in 20% or more; 4 = Income source increases in 20% or more

INVEDER could be a possible source to support the Pride campaign. Pronatura Veracruz submitted a proposal to do conservation work on the low deciduous forest of the central coast of Veracruz for a total of USD 231,000. The proposal will reinforce campaign’s activities such as training for producers, surveillance and fencing of Private Conservation Areas, reforestation programs, among other.

If the INVEDER proposal is approved, we will have funding for 2 years, allowing for a good follow-up of the campaign and to apply direct actions such as fencing and surveillance of private conservation areas, reforestation programs, among other.

3

New income source sustainability

1 = The new income source is not sustainable; 4 = The income source is highly sustainable

Inveder funds are not 100% sure because they are still in the approval phase. However, this does not affect the campaign because the funds are to supplement the follow-up actions such as the certification process of CPA.

2

Average Score 2.5


Economics (3 of 3)

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Tech

nical

Attainability and Availability

N/A

Technical assistance N/A

Appropriate for circumstances

N/A

Score N/A


Technical (1 of 2)

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Cap

acity

/

Org

anizatio

nal A

bility

Barrier removal partner support

Actopan City Hall. Local government. In charge of carrying the necessary actions to meet all the needs of Actopan´s population. City Hall has agreed to do the calling of land owners, provide presentations and/or training, as well as provide offices for the meetings with the goal of providing benefits to the population and for the environment.

CGMA (General Management of the Environment) is the Government Agency of the State of Veracruz in charge of preserving and restoring the ecological equilibrium and protecting the environment in Veracruz. This organization is interested in taking part of the project because one of its goals is the certification of private conservation areas in the State of Veracruz.

Conafor. Is a decentralized public organism with the goal of developing, favoring and promoting productive activities in the forest conservation and restoration field, as well as participating in the development of plans, programs and policy application related to sustainable forest development. This organization is interested in taking part of the campaign because its mission is to contribute to improve the quality of life of Mexicans and promote job growth and development opportunities through sustainable forest management. The Pride Campaign is an opportunity to accomplish their mission in the Actopan zone.

Inveder. State Government Organization that promotes rural development and has the goal of reducing poverty and increasing the quality of life in the rural area, seeking to articulate in a sustainable way the economy of land owners. The requirement to gain their support is through submitting proposals with the goal of benefiting land owners.

3

Barrier removal partner's ability to drive change

The mentioned partners have experts in different fields that can contribute with the development of the Pride Campaign.

Government agencies like CGMA has shown that PCA certification has been a mean to accomplish habitat conservation, achieving by 2009 the certification of 32 PCA in the State of Veracruz. Such institution has developed links with other barrier removal partners of this campaign, such as Conafor, achieving points that are important when a PCA land owner submits a project to the different programs at Conafor. Conafor by itself carries out and supports projects of the characteristics explained in the campaign throughout the country. INVEDER carries out and supports projects of the characteristics explained in the campaign throughout the State.

3

Budget planning and cost efficient execution

All the partners have vast experience in planning processes and project development, including budget management, design and promotion of materials and products.

4

Average Score 3.33

Oth

er Partn

ers

Other critical partners

We have other partners in the zone that have ample availability to support and participate, these are: the Communities with their participation in meeting and facilitating spaces for training, communal land authorities, the Veracruz University through training with land owners, local opinion leaders and the Institute of Ecology (INECOL) to train land owners.

2.5

Average Score 2.5


Technical (2 of 2)

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Lead

ers

hip

in th

e Co

mm

un

ity

Leaders and influencers in the community

René Altamirano (opinion leader) private land owner that has implemented reforestation programs in his property. Ing. Teodoro Domínguez (Actopan City Hall), promotes reforestation programs in the communities. Otilio Barrera Technician of the Forest Association of Actopan and low forest specialist with several years of experience in the zone and knows several land owners.

Land owners of the Private Conservation Areas in Actopan such as PCA Nace El Río, PCA Dunas de Cansaburro.

4

Leadership willingness to endorse

All the before mentioned leaders have strong commitment and enthusiasm to work and support the Pride Campaign cause.

3

Average Score 3.5


Cultural/Political (1 of 2)

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Po

litical En

viro

nm

en

t

Current legislative and legal landscape

In the State of Veracruz, State Government through the General Management of the Environment certifies Private Conservation Areas (PCA). Assigning them a category according to the Environmental Protection State Act 62.

4

Ability to drive legislative change

The Pride Campaign does not require any legislative change.

n/a

Average score 4

Valu

es and

No

rms

Assessment of norms

People assign higher value to clear land that can be used for ranching (traditional extensive ranching)

We will look for ways of interesting private land owners to work with Pronatura Veracruz in certifying their lands as private conservation areas. To achieve the previous we will conduct a survey and work on case studies of certified areas located near the area that the campaign will cover or with similar features. For the cultural norms we consider it is important to understand them to achieve success with our campaign. To achieve the previous we will conduct surveys and use previously generated information by researchers at INECOL.

2

Ability to address normative obstacles

Will need to search for new ways of using the land. We need to capture the attention of land owners to incorporate them to a PCA certification program and to keep it going until they can see the benefits such as payment for environmental services.

.

2

Average Score 2


Cultural/Political (2 of 2)

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Co

nservatio

n Im

pac

t

Likelihood of conservation impact

The likelihood in conservation impact on the deciduous low forest of the State of Veracruz with the certification of 500 ha as private conservation areas could be high because the certification will give legislative assurance for 5 to 90 years depending on the owner's interest.

3

Impact sustainability The impact will be feasible at the long term if resources for State, Federal, INVEDER and other funding sources

can be assigned. 3

Average Score 3


Impact and Metrics (1 of 2)

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Tip

pin

g p

oin

ts

1st tipping point To interest people in attending informative and training meetings. Participation of public in the campaign and integration of documents and proposals to be submitted. 4

2nd tipping point

Number of projects to submit for program support, number of land owners that are willing to certify their lands as private conservation areas.

3

3rd tipping point Signing of certification agreements.

3

Average Score 3.33

Metric

s

Measurable outcomes

Number of land owners that attend workshops, trainings.

Number of engagement letters or signed agreements by land owners to certify their lands as PCA.

500 hectares of forest and/or 10 land owners with land registered as PCA. 4

Average Score 4


Impact and Metrics (2 of 2)

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Category Subcategory ScoreAverage

category scoreFeasib

ility

Economics

Costs 3.5

3 Revenue 3

Income substitution 2.5

Technical

Technology n/a

2.92 Capacity / Organizational ability 3.33

Other partners 2.5

Cultural / Politics

Leadership in the community 3.5

3.17 Political environment 4

Cultural norms 2

Feasibility Score 3.03Imp

act Impact and Metrics

Impact in Conservation 3

Tipping points 3.33

Metrics4

Impact Score 3.44

Barrier Removal Assessment and Viability Overview (BRAVO)/

Enter average scores in the right hand column. Then take the feasibility score and enter it into Miradi and the Impact score and enter it into

Miradi. Where either score is below X for either feasibly or impact, consider the strategy to be inappropriate and assess the need to conduct

a second BRAVO that reviews a different strategy..

Confidential



Risk Factors

Risk Factors Consequences Mitigation Strategies

We don't achieve the engagement of the expected number of land owners or equivalent in hectares to be certified as PCA.

We don't raise enough funds to support land owners at the medium and long terms (to achieve behavior changes)

We won't be able to implement the complete barrier removal strategy

Some land owners could be disappointed and relationships could suffer.

Have knowledge of what drives the land owners to approach them and have strategic messages.

Increase fundraising efforts to support land owners and do the necessary lobbying with state congress to materialize the economic incentives.

List any risk factors, consequences and mitigation strategies that may need to be adopted.

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Authors and Approvals

List BRAVO authors and their affiliation

Elisa Peresbarbosa Rojas Sub-director of Conservation Projects, Pronatura Veracruz

Adolfo Balcazar Arias Manager of the Central Coast of Veracruz Campaign, Pronatura Veracruz

Cristina Gil White Pride Program Manager

RAREOswaldo Contreras Pride Program Director

RARE

veracruz raptors river: towards the protections of habitats in the central coast of veracruz: world...

Documents

group of land owners

land owners visits

organization of land

land owners attention

public land

conafor y land owners

alternative uses of

private conservation