Improving protected area management Life Web II

active

In the Cadena Volcánica del Altiplano Central y Occidental (project region), a network of protected areas is to be set up on 14,000 hectares to preserve biodiversity and the natural resources associated with it, and its existence is to be secured in the medium term through compensation payments. The project sponsor CONAP (Consejo Nacional de Areas Protegidas) will take into account the cultural peculiarities and usage rights of the indigenous target group. This will help the partner organizations to improve the protection and sustainable use of natural resources for disadvantaged population groups. The project only includes areas already protected by the target group, which are predominantly covered with primary, secondary and partially degraded forests. Maintaining the ecological functions of these forests for the survival of endangered species (gene pool), erosion protection, and as water filters and reservoirs is of great importance in view of the expected effects of climate change on the target group. The target group comprises around 120,000 people. Around 60% of them belong to the Mayan-speaking peoples of the Mam, Kiche, Tzutujil and Kaqchikel, 40% are Spanish-speaking Ladinos. The proportion of indigenous people in and around the protected areas themselves is much higher, and the Spanish-speaking population is more concentrated in the larger communities in the project area. The project is being carried out by CONAP. Implementation is taking place in close cooperation with the target group organizations, which, together with CONAP, bear shared responsibility for protecting the areas. The federal government is providing a grant of EUR 10 million to finance the project through KfW. Guatemala's own contribution through CONAP will amount to EUR 1.67 million. The target group is also making its own contributions in the form of goods or labor.