Context
Colombia, Ecuador and Peru are among the world’s 17 megadiverse countries and share common, interconnected habitats and ecosystems. Nature reserves play an essential role in guaranteeing the preservation of biodiversity and other vital ecosystem services. The ability of national protected area systems to fulfil their basic functions is being threatened by the impacts of climate change. At the same time, however, they make a significant contribution to climate change adaptation.
Major efforts are being undertaken in each of the three countries to consolidate national protected area systems and expand under-represented ecosystems. Despite these efforts, the management of the immense biodiversity in huge territories like those found in these three countries is still inadequate. The impacts of global climate change present new challenges for state authorities and other organisations involved in the management of protected area systems. In addressing the challenges, it is important to gauge how representative the protected area systems are within the context of existing climate scenarios, to adapt existing management concepts and instruments and to improve coordination with other economic sectors, especially agriculture and water and energy management.
The national protected area systems in the three countries have their own specific political, legal and institutional characteristics. Yet, there is great interest in using a collective learning process to develop strategies for climate change adaptation and apply them in pilot projects.
Objective
The management of national protected area systems in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru as they adapt to the impacts of climate change is more effective.
Approach
The project is active throughout the region as well as at the national level. By means of systematic exchanges and collaborative learning, the management instruments for protected area systems are strengthened as the issue is addressed and the measures to adapt to climate change impacts are implemented. Studies on improving the management of protected areas in terms of climate change are carried out and this knowledge is being shared among the political decision-makers at regional level. The national and regional authorities are being advised according to their needs to enhance performance and skills.
The project cooperates closely with bilateral GIZ and KfW Development Bank programmes in the three countries and activities are coordinated.
The project consists of three components:
1.Planning instruments for adaptation to climate change. The three countries work together to develop planning instruments which are integrated into the respective national implementation guidelines for the management of protected areas.
2.Generating research and knowledge. Basic climate data is made available and existing adaptation experience systematised. Regional knowledge transfer allows this experience to contribute to policy making and the formulation of national guidelines.
3.Communication, education and public awareness-raising. On the one hand, capacity and resource development measures are used to develop communication strategies to strengthen knowledge transfer between the participating actors; on the other, awareness-raising activities help introduce the issue to decision-makers and local actors.
The implementing organisations are the national protected area authorities: PNN in Colombia, Ministerio del Ambiente (MAE) – Dirección Nacional de Biodiversidad y Áreas Protegidas in Ecuador and SERNANP in Peru.
The project's target group is the rural population living in the natural protected areas and their surroundings in the three countries, but also the urban population who benefit from the environmental services of the protected areas such as water, prevention of erosion, carbon fixation and tourism.