By Ilse Lucke | Project Technical Assistant
“It is the law that everybody should know about, because it is the law of the Wetland” (Jahaira Ramírez, Artisanal Rice Association, Térraba-Osa)
Jahaira Ramírez is an artisanal rice farmer in Osa. She made this statement at the recent validation process of the Térraba-Sierpe National Wetland Management Plan.
Geting to know people like Jahaira, who strive every day for better opportunities among Costa Rica´s wetlands, is the first phase in the much required process to update the socioenvironmental diagnosis of this unique ecosystem.
The Socio Environmental Diagnosis is a tool that allows organizations to know the different realities, needs, practices and perceptions that exist about the resources in the communities surronding the Térraba-Sierpe National Wetland. It is an insight, a photograph of the state of people and ecosystems in a particular moment.
Last December 2013, in order to update the information for this diagnosis, Fundación Neotrópica held four workshops in conjunction with community stakeholders like Jahaira Ramírez, men and women that live and work in communities surrounding the wetland.
The same methodology was used for all the workshops, which were undertaken in four communities: Palmar Norte and Sur, Sierpe, Ciudad Cortes and Coronado. These communities are participants in the consultation, validation and the generation of relevant information in order to update the diagnosis.
Participation of these communities was great! Stakeholders recognized their main productive activities, ecosystem services, social organization and initiatives around their needs and those of the wetland.
Dialogue aroused among people who could prioritize productive activities that are happening in the wetland, as well as those activities that could be promoted through training and institutional support.
“Blue Communities” project depends on the information that is being constructed and validated with community leaders of the wetland. Two key milestones of the project are community welfare and wetland conservation.
We deeply appreciate your support and hope you help us in our next journey: to start mangrove nurseries on the Térraba Sierpe National Wetland.
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