Project Measures
1. Participatory diagnosis and mapping of forest resources (baseline study).
Together with the Commissariat for Community Assets, a mapping of the community-owned resources available in the region will be carried out in order to identify the livelihoods of the population, traditional and better practices of the use of local resources. The results of the mapping will be disseminated primarily in the communities, through materials translated into local languages. The results will be recorded in maps, which will be jointly drafted in 8 workshops and handed over to the local commissioner's office.
2. Formulation of forest management recommendations and afforestation
The necessary diagnostics are carried out to understand the ecological and use-relevant properties of the forest, the causes for the deterioration of the condition and the necessary measures for its restoration. This includes the analysis of the current production systems on site. Experiments will then be conducted on the restoration of red-eye and other native species. In order to initiate reforestation at the community level, tree nurseries will be established at four selected sites. However, as the seedlings first need time to grow - which significantly increases their survival rate when planted out - about 2,000 seedlings of indigenous tree species will be purchased from nurseries and planted to demonstrate community afforestation. Community afforestation strengthens social cohesion and identification with the measures.
3. Design, implementation and evaluation of a modular programme to strengthen community forest management with students.
A modular programme to strengthen community forest management is being designed, implemented and evaluated for the 13 members of the Malinaltepec Community Property Commission. During this process, 39 students from the Intercultural University of Guerrero (UIEG) will be involved to strengthen their teaching and curriculum design skills, and to systematise and replicate the training experience in the community contexts they come from. During the process, 2 community facilitators belonging to the commissariat will be trained in community asset valuation and ecosystem restoration to build capacity in community asset valuation and management on the ground and in the commissariat as a body of indigenous self-governance. Throughout the project, areas suitable for the implementation of community forest restoration plans will be identified.
4. Participatory use diagnosis of firewood
With a group of selected localities, identified after the baseline diagnosis and based on the identified need and will to participate (feasibility), a community mapping of common assets and a diagnosis of forest degradation factors and habits related to cooking and firewood use will be carried out. The participatory work with the communities on the issue of firewood use allows for the mapping of the communities' material and immaterial resources, knowledge of their use and planning based on their own needs. The results of this work will be recorded through a diagnostic mapping of environmental degradation and habits related to the use of cooking and firewood. The results will be documented and recorded in visual materials for wider dissemination.
5. Sensitisation of communities for sustainable forest management
A participatory training process is carried out to sensitise the population on the sustainable management of timber resources, including the regenerative use of endangered species. To this end, workshops are held with community members and visual materials are produced. In addition, afforestation exercises with local species will be carried out, starting with seed selection, germination and planting.
6. Participatory development and testing of wood-saving cooking stoves
As part of the sustainable wood management activities, work is being done with a group of 50 women who are interested in developing a wood-saving stove adapted to the region to replace the central stove in their homes. 50 stoves will be built and installed collectively. This will bring several benefits: deforestation will be reduced, greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced, smoke will be discharged from the house, keeping it in better condition and preventing respiratory diseases.
7. Dissemination and networking with the aim of expanding to higher levels of integration (national, regional, international)
The exchange of knowledge through the experience gained at seminars and conferences at different levels (national and regional) will enable the local promoter's team to explore new opportunities related to networking and internationalisation. It will also motivate the communities to show that the work done has relevance and impact beyond the local level by sharing experiences and bringing in new ideas and insights that emerge through dissemination and exchange.