Project Detail

Combatting Climate Change in the Vaca Forest Reserve

The Vaca Forest Reserve comprised of over 43,000 acres has been undergoing a transformation due to the inappropriate management and utilization of the natural resources. Coupled with climate change, farmers operating in the area are at risk of losing more of the top soil, forest connectivity and water resources, thereby reducing their capacity to produce crops and maintaining a functional ecosystem.
The project has the purpose of building the capacity of local farmers to maintain and promote new technologies and innovations adapted to climate change impacts in the reserve. An improved irrigation system, reforestation along priority riparian forest, development of cover structures,
beekeeping and inclusion of women on an improved use of the forest products that promotes local economies are community identified interventions to reduce risks from climate change. Sustaining the efforts of the project is essential and FCD intends to attain this through the improvement of the Farmer Field School infrastructure staffed with a Landscape Manager, and instituting a system of community based monitoring and management of the resource base.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Friends for Conservation and Development

Country:

Belize

Area Of Work:

Community Based Adaptation

Operational Phase:

OP6 - Y3 (Jul17 - Jun 18)

Grant Amount:

US$ 44,123.10

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 73,191.62

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 15,780.00

Project Number:

BZE/SIDS-CBA/2017/15

Start Date:

11/2017

End Date:

8/2019

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

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Project Characteristics and Results

Notable Community Participation

Farming in the Vaca Forest Reserve is a frequent family activity. The young people will be involved directly in the planting of seedlings in the reserve. It is expected that a nursery comprising of some 4,000 seedlings will be developed and cared for in the area. Planting will primarily occur along the streams and creeks in the reserve. In addition, FCD maintains a youth arm, being that the organization was started as the Youth Environmental Action Group. Group members will assist in signage, nursery construction and planting.

Project sustainability

The evaluation revealed that without the support for the GEF SGP, it would not have been possible for FCD and FVFR to undertake the investments made. As part of its routine resource management and protection programme, FCD is in a position to continue providing technical support to the farmers. From the farmers? perspective, the project was able to provide necessary skills and resources at a scale which now allows them to be able to generate some revenues that can be used to sustain the investments. For example, production of high quality honey allows for increased revenue for families, especially as there is market availability. It should be noted; however, that whilst the adaptation capacity of the farmers have improved, the long-term integrity of the resources in the VFR is not guaranteed due to the changing dynamics, especially governance, mentioned elsewhere in the report.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The ideas generated for adapting to climate change became clearer through a farm planning exercise conducted previous to the development of this project proposal. FCD?s Programs Director and Landscape Manager led the reunion. Other sessions defining alternative livelihood initiatives had also been coined. These meetings have taken place at the Farmer Field School which was developed earlier this year in the Vaca Forest Reserve and dedicated specifically for these farmers to learn field methods.

Capacity - Building Component

The work of FCD centres in the protection of the Western Maya Mountain Massif. Together with regulatory agencies including the Forest Department, Institute of Archaeology and security forces, it is actively involved in the protection of the Chiquibul National Park and the Chiquibul Cave System through co-management agreements. In the Vaca Forest Reserve, the efforts have centred on the development of an alternative method of sustainable development using landscape management practices since 2011. From this work, FCD has gained experience in agroforestry, farm planning, extension services, bee-keeping and silvopastoral methods.

Replication of project activities

This project has demonstrated that with limited funds, it is possible to build the resilience of communities. Overall, the project can serve as a model project for other landscapes across Belize. At the same time, it is worth noting that majority of the project beneficiaries have commenced expanding the farming activities (or expressed their determination to do so). For example, Mr. Carlos Serrano has increased the number of bee hives and the women from Arenal have passed on the soap-making knowledge to family members.

Gender Focus

Women are an integral part of farming in the Vaca Forest Reserve. Farmers tend to travel up to the area on Monday evenings and return back on Thursdays. Several farmers are accompanied by their wife?s who apart from cooking, assist in the field. Five women are recognized members of the FVR and they have their own farmlands in the region. Over the years these women have participated on training and capacity building in a variety of subjects ranging from bee-keeping to agro-ecological methods. On this Project the members of the FVFR will participate on the training and receive support in their development and implementation of their farm plans. In addition, there will be a specific project for women to participate in arts and craft using the jungle seeds and beets for ornaments and art.

Project Results

Attainment of Intended Results

As used in development projects, results can refer to project outputs, outcome/s and goal. This section first discusses the attainment of the project goal and outcome and thereafter attainment of project outputs. At all levels, the rating given is based on the level of achievement of the objectively verifiable indicators.

i. Project Goal

The project proposal indicated that the success of the project in meetings it goal would be measured by the number of adaptive strategies learnt and implemented in the VFR. The evaluation revealed that ten (10) adaptation strategies were learnt and are now being implemented. Examples of these are: drip irrigation, cover structures, reforestation, and farm planning, among others. Based on these results, the attainment of the goal was rated as being satisfactory .

The Vulnerability Reduction Assessment (VRA) conducted at the end of the project (see Table 2) indicated that overall, project beneficiaries feel that they now have improved capacities to adapt to future climate change, however, the rate of change means that adaptation is becoming increasingly difficult.

ii. Project Purpose/Outcome

At this level, success would be determined by the percentage of farmers using new methods on their farms and the number of crops harvested. The evaluation revealed that all (100%) of participating farmers were using at least one new method of farming (see Table 3 below). Achievement of the outcome is therefore rated as being satisfactory.

iii. Outputs

Project reports and feedback from stakeholders indicate that the project was able to successfully deliver all of the planned outputs and these were rates as being satisfactory and high satisfactory.

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Indicators

Biophysical

VRA1: Vulnerability to present climate change hazards 10

Biophysical

VRA7: Development of adaptive capacity beyond the scope of the project intervention 10

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