The Highlands have been recognized by the Andean Community of Nations, by Decision 523 of the year 2002, as one of the priority cross-border ecosystems. The Project includes Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru (Piura and Cajamarca). In Piura the sites of action are known as Pacaipampa (Lands of San Pablo and Cachiaco) and Ayabaca (Rural Community of Samanga), both belonging to the bi-national Catamayo – Chira river basin.
The implementation of the activities will be in hands of NCI in collaboration with the Institute of Management of Hydrographic Basins (IGCH). The Project aims at promoting processes of conservation and sustainable exploitation of the biodiversity and water sources of the highland ecosystem from a local perspective.
The components of the project are: a) the sustainable managing of the high lands and its areas of influence, b) the development of policies and laws, c) the generation of local capacities, d), information and communication, and e) reproduction.
During the first year formal agreements have been honored by the communities and municipalities for the development of the project, and the delimiting of the Andean highlands and forests at the work site, as well as the inventories of biodiversity, 50 % of the lagoons in the Andean highlands of the Ayabaca province are geo-referenced and an internship has been placed in the Cochecorral Community in Amaluza (Ecuador). During the year 2007 the process of production and implementation of the participative management will initiate.
More information: www.infoandina.org/ppa/sitio.shtml
Contact us: Luis Alban, lalban@natureandculture.org, Paul Viñas, ayabaca@natureandculture.org
Donors: The Mountain Institute, CONDESAN, GEF.
