The Rapid Socioeconomic Characterization (CSR), arises from the inherent need to complement the existing information at the social, economic, productive and environmental level of the Juan Bautista Pérez Rancier National Park.
At the request of the team of planners who began developing the Protected Area Management Plan in March 2005, the lack of information on:
- What communities interact with the natural resources of the PNJBPR? How many are they and where are they located? What communities and how many interact with the hydrographic basins that make up the protected area? How many people make up each community and in total affect the conservation of the PNJBPR? ? What agroproductive activities do they carry out? What types of soil do they use for the development of agroproductive activities? What are the main critical thematic areas (problems) and geographic areas that are generated by the communities in the PNJBPR? What are the agroproducts that generate the economic and social dynamics in the communities?
These are some of the questions that arose during the first generation stage of the PNJBPR, when reviewing the existing secondary information, it was not feasible to identify updated and concrete information that could answer all the questions, which indicated the route for the development of Rapid Socioeconomic Characterization for the protected area.
Using the method developed by GITEC / SERCITEC for the development of “Territorial Planning” initiatives, which begins in August 2005, in parallel with other necessary and complementary technical studies for the generation of the information required for the elaboration of a viable and practical Management Plan, for the solution of the environmental problem of the PNJBPR.
Four aspects give added value to the CSR of the PNJBPR:
- The participation of community members in the preparatory phase for the identification of communities that directly interact with natural resources and their subsequent collection of information, achieving a high level of confidence in the information collected; The development of the CSR in jointly with the "Diagnosis of Critical Areas" (DAC), "Study of Land Use Capacity", "Proposal for Environmental Compensation" (CAM), allowing a more transversal view on the socio-environmental and productive situation of the territory it occupies of the PNJBPR: The development of the CSR with a “Territorial Planning” approach for the development of a zoning proposal that really contributes to solving the conflicts of use and overuse of land that exists within the limits of the protected area;The use of the physiographic units (hydrographic basins) for the development of research and analysis, which in addition to providing generic information on the protected area, provides specific information for the future development of planning and management tools for the upper part of five of the most important hydrographic basins in the country (1. Rio Yuna; 2. Rio Nizao; 3. Rio Las Cuevas; 4. Rio Grande del Medio; and 5. Rio Yaque del Norte). Actions that begin during the development and implementation of the Management Plan of the Juan Bautista Pérez Rancier National Park.provides timely information for the future development of planning and management tools for the upper reaches of five of the country's most important hydrographic basins (1. Rio Yuna; 2. Rio Nizao; 3. Rio Las Cuevas; 4. Rio Grande del Medio; and 5. Rio Yaque del Norte). Actions that begin during the development and implementation of the Management Plan of the Juan Bautista Pérez Rancier National Park.provides timely information for the future development of planning and management tools for the upper reaches of five of the country's most important hydrographic basins (1. Rio Yuna; 2. Rio Nizao; 3. Rio Las Cuevas; 4. Rio Grande del Medio; and 5. Rio Yaque del Norte). Actions that begin during the development and implementation of the Management Plan of the Juan Bautista Pérez Rancier National Park.
The CSR document not only shows the analysis of demographic, productive, economic, and environmental information, as a result of participatory actions, self-census, and lifting of ballots. In addition, information is presented in a consolidated form as a result of the Study of the Capacity of Land Use and Diagnosis of Critical Areas, which will allow the crossing of information for the development of conclusions and recommendations.
1.2 Objectives
Overall objective
Identify the main socio-environmental variables resulting from the interaction of the communities that directly affect the natural resources contained in the ecosystems of the Juan Bautista Pérez Rancier National Park (PNJBPR), in order to reconcile the social and economic needs with the ecological stability necessary to compliance with the conservation objectives of the management category and an appropriate implementation plan for the Management Plan.
Specific objectives
- Describe the social, economic, productive and environmental characteristics of the 20 internal communities and 13 external communities with direct interaction with the natural resources of the ecosystems present in the PNJBPR. Establish the existing relationship between the management, use and exploitation of existing water resources. in the 5 Hydrographic Basins existing in the PNJBPR (Rio Yuna, Rio Nizao, Rio Las Cuevas, Rio Grande del Medio and Rio Yaque del Norte). Locate, identify, characterize and evaluate the compatibility of the use of resources within the PNJBPR, such as of the proposed buffer zone. Know the socioeconomic variables (migration, family income, etc.) in order to define new development opportunities, compatible with the management and conservation of the protected area.Qualitatively assess the level of knowledge, values, attitudes, concerns and expectations of key stakeholders related to the PNJBPR, conservation and natural resources. Generate specific information for the preparation of the PNJBPR Management Plan, specifically for the strengthening of the zoning proposal (territorial planning) and socio-productive and environmental activities in the management programs and subprograms.specifically for the strengthening of the zoning proposal (territorial planning) and socio-productive and environmental activities in the management programs and subprograms.specifically for the strengthening of the zoning proposal (territorial planning) and socio-productive and environmental activities in the management programs and subprograms.
2. Scope of the study
The participation of civil society represented in the communities that occupy the internal and surrounding physical spaces of the protected area is a critical factor in achieving the conservation objectives and functions that they have. Without civil participation, protected areas can become conservation islands, with a high cost of management. (Melgar, M. CONAP, 2001)
The objective of preparing a "Rapid Socioeconomic Characterization" follows the logical sequence established by the "Methodological Guide for the Updating / Preparation of Management Plans for the Dominican Republic" as part of the technical studies of the "Diagnostic Phase", its end Obtain in an objective, realistic and clear way, all the information that allows the PNJBPR Management Plan planners team concrete and viable actions to strengthen the linkage of the communities for the conservation and protection of the protected area.
Figure 1: The DAC within the flow of preparing the PNJBPR Management Plan
Declaring a protected area obviously puts restrictions on its management, and these can cause conflicts, mainly with those user groups that have used or will be used for years. Depending on the management category, and the zoning that I know of in it, use activities are allowed or restricted. Management plans are what define these actions. In this proposal, what is intended is to give some general guidelines to establish who, in addition to State agencies, should participate in the development of management plans.It is also about identifying what are the traditional practices that have occurred in protected areas, and being able to define with users the impact that these activities have in the area. Thus, management plans should be made with users of natural resources and not for users. (Melgar, M. CONAP, 2001)
The costs of conservation and management of protected areas cannot be absorbed by rural populations, who are generally the ones with the highest rates of poverty and dependence on protected areas, sometimes when communities settle in areas with high productivity, they are fortunate to achieve an acceptable standard of living, which is associated with the agro-ecological characteristics of the protected area, as is the case in some PNJBPR territories. (CSR, 2005)
Conservation cannot be seen or perceived as antagonistic to development, much less limited to the use of resources, whether they are inside or outside a protected area. Protected areas are natural sites that provide benefits to human populations, and a consensus must be established between the parties in order to develop management plans based on local realities. (CSR, 2005)
Relevant aspects are the population variables (how many people and / or families) depend on the resources; what type of technology do they use to extract resources; how much is the consumption made of the resource, and whether it is for internal use by the family or for sale. These factors clearly identify how much the resource is used, how it is used, and what impact the use has. This classification will allow determining which are the parallel actions of community development that must be implemented. Being necessary the development of a “baseline”that allows the generation of information to guide planners in the development of coherent and realistic “Management Plans”, the previous postulation being the basis for the elaboration of the Management Plan for the Juan Bautista Pérez Rancier National Park. (CSR, 2005)
Conservation programs for protected areas must be correlated with development programs or projects that give the communities involved alternative management and social, economic and spiritual compensation (or incentives) that motivate them to participate in the management of the area, and see as beneficiaries of said program. For this reason, state institutions and / or organizations, NGOs, development projects must do joint and coordinated work. It is important to note that not all traditional practices have a positive impact on natural resources, and not all technological practices are adapted to the living conditions of rural populations. Therefore, the union of traditional techniques with formal techniques is an interaction that must be developed.
According to IUCN, communities can:
- Live permanently in protected areas; Live near protected areas; Live cyclically near or around protected areas; Have a direct relationship with protected areas that may be temporary; yRelate to resources within the protected area because they are scarce in their own areas.
Conservation and development programs must be oriented, according to the type of population. The most restricted categories of management are those that cause the most conflicts, and the management costs are high. When conservation actions are combined with local needs, programs more easily consolidate conservation objectives. (IUCN, 2004)
2.1 Threats to protected areas
- The main causes of deforestation in the PNJBPR territory are related to:
- Structural factors of the Dominican economy and dependence on the primary sector, energy consumption and deficiencies in forest resource management; yNatural phenomena. (CSR, 2005)
- Structural factors are due to four fundamental problems:
- Population growth, related to the type of use made of forest and water resources; Inequality and uncertainty regarding land tenure, and natural resources, which create a system of ambiguity regarding to these, and diminishes the capacity to monitor the quality of the resource; Rural poverty implies a direct dependence on the resource for survival, produces changes in land use patterns, generally for crops of agricultural products on unsuitable lands, with steep slopes, shallow effective soil depth, with land-use capacities geared towards forest cover for use and / or protection; 89% of the areas deforested annually are due to the advance of the agricultural frontier due to the expansion of subsistence agriculture,production for agro-export, mainly livestock, example the polygons of the communities located in the communities of Monte Llano, El Castillo, La Siberia and Pinar Parejo and real estate speculation such as on the land surrounding the construction of the "Hydroelectric Dam of Pinalito ”. (CSR, 2005)
2.2 Conflicts in protected areas
The image of Management Plans for Protected Areas: For many years, Management Plans have been imposed and restrictive for local communities. This implies that the start of the program causes fear, concern and mistrust within the community. (Melgar, M. CONAP, 2001, CSR, 2005)
Assuming the risk of a new practice: any program, project, management plan, generated outside a community, brings changes in norms and rules within the community. External technologies represent a risk in your application. Who bears the risk of change? The community or entity that promotes it. This means that the communities do not get involved to make the changes. (Melgar, M. CONAP, 2001, CSR, 2005)
Conservation by national and transnational companies: A situation in which power rules change, and state agencies weaken large capital investments. This is where true local participation is relevant, and where protected area management institutions are strengthened as grassroots groups make their own management decisions. (Melgar, M. CONAP, 2001, CSR, 2005)
Competition between agencies: Both in administration and in access to funds from abroad. This is one of the most common problems that the Directorate of Protected Areas has faced, mainly at the central level. With the option of local management and the formation of coordinated groups, this problem can be avoided. (Melgar, M. CONAP, 2001, CSR, 2005)
Definition of limits inside and outside the area: quite common conflict with interesting variations that can occur with the definition and recognition of the limits of protected area. The PNJBPR, like others, does not have an adequate delimitation, in addition to the fact that the majority of protected areas are established in most cases, without due conciliation with communities or owners. (Melgar, M. CONAP, 2001, CSR, 2005)
Invisible conflicts: They are those that are not obvious and that appear in extreme cases and manifest with criminal acts. They are the most difficult to identify and the ones that cause the most damage. They can be derived from Declarations of protected areas to prevent invasions, marginal and invisible groups directly affected, market, etc. (Melgar, M. CONAP, 2001, CSR, 2005)
2.3 Socio-environmental conflicts in the PNJBPR
Conflicts have always existed, and in general there are two ways to resolve them, one is
that the parties concerned reach an agreement (with the collaboration of a moral mediator), selected by the parties, to facilitate the negotiation process. The other is for a third party to function as an authority (a legal mediator). With an agreement between the parties, they decide the solutions and rely on a mediator or moral authority, according to traditional practice. When there is a legal authority, it is they who define the solution. (Morales, R, CATIE 2002)
In the particular case of the Dominican Republic, the State assumes the role of mediator, relying on legal resources, in defense of the natural resources and biodiversity that protected areas contain. On some occasions, such as the PNJBPR, accompanied by environmental NGOs seeking the absolute and unrestricted conservation of the ecosystems of the protected area. (CSR, 2005)
The conflicts and the parties must be clearly identified and cataloged, through research methods directed at a social level, such as the “Mapping of Actors Calves” (MAC), “Rapid Socioeconomic Characterization” (CSR) and / or preferably the and Participatory Rural Evaluation ”(DERP).
Always in conflict, the parties do not have the same quota of power, and it is there that the mediator of moral order plays a very important role, to clearly identify who are the marginal groups and with little quota of power and to establish clearly a strategy that allows them to exercise their right to participate. (Melgar, M. CONAP, 2001, CSR, 2005)
Being the "Rapid Socioeconomic Characterization" (CSR) method, the one used to determine and identify the degree of link between existing local and regional actors with the natural resources and biodiversity of the PNJBPR, in order to provide solutions to conflicts Socio-environmental aspects of the protected area (CSR, 2005)
The CSR of the PNJBPR must provide not only demographic, social, economic and / or productive information, it must also generate the information that allows the solution of "socio-environmental conflicts", knowing the degree of empowerment of the communities with respect to the natural resources and biodiversity of the protected area.
Achieving the identification of possible "socio-environmental conflicts" through a CSR that integrates the search for "psychosocial syndromes" that are the agents causing conflicts between communities, local actors and civil society in general that interact with the PNJBPR, both within its limits, in its buffer zone, as in its region of influence.
Considering the planners of the Management Plan, that the primary purpose of all protected areas is the protection and conservation of natural resources and biodiversity, to achieve an increase in the quality of life of the inhabitants by guiding them towards the sustainable management of resources natural.
2.4 Improving quality of life
A system of protected areas influences the quality of life of those who depend on the resource and of society in general. According to the World Conservation Union of Nature (IUCN, 1993), there are four main functions of protected areas:
- Regulatory functions (soils, chemical agents and pollution reduction, water production, biological control, habitat, etc.); Productive functions (food, medicine, construction material, fodder, etc.) Carrier functions (housing, recreation, tourism, etc..) Informational functions (scientific, educational, historical, spiritual, etc.).
In addition to their biological diversity, they also harbor a cultural diversity manifested in different practices ranging from religion to biological diversity management practices and species domestication processes.
When a community is in precarious conditions within or on the periphery of a "protected area" this directly influences the proper management and conservation of natural resources. The CSR must provide the necessary information to establish the strategies that allow the insertion of community projects to strengthen the quality of life of the PNJBPR and thereby ensure a higher level of empowerment with the natural resources and biodiversity of the protected area.
2.5 The PNJBPR Management Plan, as an instrument to facilitate participation
To declare a protected area or of national interest, it must be based on a technical study that determines the importance for its protection and conservation, identifying the most valuable characteristics, the relevant natural and cultural resources, and the landscape value of the area, species of fauna and flora and threatened species. You must also specify human settlements and the activities that take place inside and outside the areas.
The technical study allows an overview of the area to be declared. Management plans stipulate the long-term objectives of the protected area. These studies should include all users in the area and establish management agreements. A participatory management plan can also serve as a working agreement between all the actors involved.
2.6 Development of innovative forms of protected area management, through the participation of communities and key actors
Not all protected areas must or can be managed the same. A broad criterion must be maintained, in accordance with the subsistence and wilderness dependency society, to open space for innovation and new proposals for managing the areas.
During the last decade, "participation" has been a term that has been used in most programs and projects. Participating is related to decision-making and for this it is necessary to be clear:
- Who are the interested groups; How do they relate to each other; Why are they interested? How much information and life options do they possess; How much capacity do they have to decide or influence a decision; How do they access and control resources?
According to IUCN (2004), the levels of local participation can be:
- Communities provide work (there is no participation); Communities provide information when requested (information providers, often it is also looting of traditional knowledge); Communities give their opinion and ask questions, but management decisions make them the institutions; (there is no decision-making power) Communities have an opinion in the decision-making of a project initiated by non-locals (participation); Communities alone make decisions, define objectives, manage resources, control, implement actions and External projects contribute, facilitate and catalyze processes that can benefit communities (self-determination, not necessarily self-sustainability). The case of protected areas (except in traditional communal management sites),Generally, participation is type 4, and it is intended that through the same program, incentives, compensation, management plans for the benefit of the community, a type 5 participation can be obtained.
2.7 What information does the Rapid Socioeconomic Characterization (CSR) of the PNJPR provide us
In summary, the CSR will provide information that allows the planning team to answer the following general questions:
- Where are the communities and their agricultural estates that affect the environmental environment of the PNJBPR located? What is the level of social and economic development among the PNJBPR communities? What has been the impact of demographic growth (immigration and growth natural) and agricultural production in these communities on deforestation of PNJBPR forests? What other threats exist to the conservation of the PNJBPR environment? What do these trends prefigure for the future of PNJBPR forest cover and biodiversity? Establish and prioritize the socio-environmental conflicts that exist within the PNJBP perimeter? The state of quality of life of the communities and their relationship with the surrounding natural resources? Identify the key actors that directly interact with the communities and thenatural resources of the protected area? What can be done to conserve the largest possible extension of forest in the PNJBPR and at the same time contribute to the sustainable development of the current inhabitants of the Park's area of influence? Finally, based on the information collected in the field, what will be the best proposal for the “internal zoning” of the PNJBPR?
The last question is key, since much of the "success" of the implementation of the PNJBPR "Management Plan" will be due to an internal process that promotes a "territorial ordering" in order to conserve priority ecosystems and restore those areas identified as critical.
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