Comprehensive protection of natural resources is increasingly dependent on the collabo-ration of all stakeholders: the people concerned, government, and civil society. In the Dominican Republic, Helvetas adopted this approach and launched a national model program

Degradation of agricultural land and watersheds, deforestation, and destruction of coastal zones are proceeding at an alarming pace in the Dominican Republic – despite the engagement of a number of government institutions and many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) conducting resource protection initiatives. The main problems are: lack of a common framework of action and coordination of activities, unclear delineation of responsibilities between the government institutions, and dissipation of the limited financial resources for environmental concerns.

Countrywide collaboration of all stakeholders: Together with its NGO partners and the Swiss Government, Helvetas initiated a national-level program for sustainable use of natural resources and biodiversity protection in 1993. The program is a concrete and unique model for a nation-wide coordinated collaboration between the people con-cerned, government institutions and NGOs. Three departments from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and five NGOs are federated in a coalition (Consorcio Ambiental Dominicano–CAD) that contributes to the development of appropriate and supportive policy and legal frameworks, sets up strategies for protection and sustain-able use of natural resources, and implements concrete projects of national relevance. Since the project areas are concentrated on legally declared protected areas and their buffering zones, the Ministry of Environment plays a relevant role in program plan-ning and implementation. CAD explicitly applies a ‘co-management’ approach ensur-ing that the NGO partners and their constituencies (self-help groups) participate in planning, coordinating, and managing the overall program. As a federation of various private and state organizations, CAD acts at different complementary levels – from the micro (project implementation) to the macro level (advocacy work) – allowing strong synergies.

Integrated technical interventions: The integrated and complementary program approach is also reflected in the technical sector. With Helvetas’ assistance and in col-laboration with the people concerned, government institutions collect and use field data in nation-wide interventions in the areas of sustainable soil management, agroforestry, afforestation, protection and dis-semination of local tree species, identification and protection of critical ecosystems and habitats, as well as ecological education. Furthermore, the environmental coalition proposed to declare two major areas as ‘biosphere reserves’. In 2002, one area was established as the first biosphere reserve in the Dominican Republic. In collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, CAD is implementing a project in the area according to the principles of biosphere reserve management. The project region in the Sierra de Baoruco covers a forest with thousands of species, most of them endemic. The project is oriented towards protecting natural resources and biodiversity, promoting income generation, organizing local communities, integrating local authorities, and involving the local private sector. This project is implemented with support of CAD’s partners which transfer strategy packages to local organizations and people. They include community-based ecotourism, sustainable agriculture, environmental edu-cation, and methods for training in natural resources self-management. A monitoring system was designed to measure project impact in the area according to a defined set of indicators and hypotheses.


SELECTED REFERENCE LIST

Where Helvetas is specifically engaged in natural resources management:

• Afghanistan, agriculture, irrigation, and water support program (SHAMALI) for increased live-lihood opportunities – Helvetas program
• Bhutan, establishment and operation of three Research Centers of Renewable Natural Resources (RNR-RC) – mandated by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) of the Swiss Government; Participatory Forest Management (PFM); establishment and operation of the Natural Resources Training Institute (NRTI) and implementation of the RNR Extension Program for Government RNR exten-sion workers – Helvetas programs
• Kyrgyzstan, Support to Rural Advisory Services (RAS) – mandated by SDC; organic cotton production and trade promotion – mandated by the State Secretariat of Economic Affairs (SECO); Agricultural Vocational Education (AVEP) – Helvetas program
• Laos, conceptualizing an agricultural and forestry extension system (LEAP) – mandated by SDC; promotion of organic farming and marketing (PROFIL) – Helvetas program
• Nepal, Sustainable Soil Management Project (SSMP) focusing on rainfed non-rice cropping system – mandated by SDC; Local Initiatives Support Program (LISP) including ginger production and marketing; Coffee Promotion Program (CoPP) – Helvetas programs co-funded by the Department for International Development UK (DFID)
• Sri Lanka, support to the establishment and operation of the network Ecological and Sustainable Farming System (ESFS); collaboration with the NGO Gami Seva Sevana (GSS) in organic and sustainable agriculture – Helvetas programs
• Vietnam, Extension and Training Support for Forestry and Agriculture in the uplands (ETSP) – mandated by SDC; development of effective extension approaches in natural resources management – Helvetas program
• Ethiopia, development of innovative technologies and marketing in the area natural resources management – Helvetas program
• Cameroon, watershed protection program with focus on land use planning, soil conservation, and afforestation in water catchment areas – Helvetas program
• West-Africa (Mali, Benin, Burkina Faso), promotion of organic cotton trade and produc-tion – mandated by SECO
• Dominican Republic, cooperation with a consortium of NGOs and government institu-tions (CAD) engaged in protection and sus-tainable use of natural resources – mandated by SDC; cooperation with the small farmers’ organization CEPROS in the area of sustain-able agriculture, animal husbandry and marketing – Helvetas program
• Guatemala, natural resources protection program (ProBOSQUES) for establishing and managing protected areas – mandated by SDC, financing through World Bank’s Global Environment Facility (GEF); cooperation with several farmers’ self-help organizations en-gaged in sustainable agricultural production and marketing – Helvetas program
• Paraguay, a multitude of farmer groups are experimenting, creating, and connecting in the frame of the project TTR – Helvetas program