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INCEPTION WORKSHOP “GEF Project
Maintaining and Increasing Carbon Stocks in
Agro-silvopastoral Systems in Rural Communities
of the Selva Zoque-Sumidero Canyon Complex as
a Climate Change Mitigation Strategy ”1
Workshop Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, México 12 – 13 November, 2015 1
This document should be cited as: Pass D. 2015. Inception workshop project “Maintaining and Increasing Carbon Stocks in Agro-­‐silvopastoral Systems in Rural Communities of the Selva Zoque-­‐Sumidero Canyon Complex as a Climate Change Mitigation Strategy. Chiapas, México 24 pp Página 1 INCEPTION WORKSHOP TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................... 2 ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................................. 3 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 4 WORKSHOP PROGRAM ............................................................................................................... 4 WORKSHOP REPORT ................................................................................................................... 5 FIRST DAY OF THE INCEPTION WORKSHOP ................................................................................................ 5 Introduction/overview of the project ......................................................................................... 5 Comments by workshop attendees to the first part of the project presentation: .................................................. 7 Strategy for mainstreaming the gender perspective ............................................................................................... 7 The carbon marketing strategy ................................................................................................................................ 7 Knowledge assessment ............................................................................................................................................ 8 Roles and responsibilities of the main project partners ............................................................. 9 Roles, functions, and responsibilities within the project's decision-­‐making structures: Project Steering Committee and Technical Committee .......................................................................... 9 Presentation of annual work plan and budget (Year 1) ........................................................... 10 Presentation of the project results framework: Components; outcomes and outputs; indicators, targets and their means of verification .................................................................. 11 SECOND DAY OF THE INCEPTION WORKSHOP .......................................................................................... 12 M&E Reporting requirements ................................................................................................... 12 Safeguards ................................................................................................................................ 14 Gender mainstreaming ............................................................................................................. 16 Next steps and commitments for the coming months ............................................................. 17 ANNEX I. LIST OF ATTENDEES 12 NOVEMBER 2015. ................................................................... 21 ANNEX II. LIST OF ATTENDEES 13 NOVEMBER 2015. .................................................................. 23 Página 2 INCEPTION WORKSHOP ACRONYMS CCM CDI CI CONAFOR CONANP FANP FMCN IPV PSC PTC SAGARPA SECAM SEDESOL SEMAHN SEMARNAT SIBA Climate Change Mitigation Comisión Nacional para el Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indígenas Conservación Internacional Comisión Nacional Forestal Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas Fondo para Áreas Naturales Protegidas Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza Individual planes vivos Project Steering Committee Project Technical Committee Secretaría de Agricultura Ganadera Rural Pesca y Alimentos Secretaria del Campo Secretaría de Desarrollo Social Secretaría Del Medio Ambiente e Historia Natural Secretaría del Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales Social Impact and Biodiversity Assessment Página 3 INCEPTION WORKSHOP INTRODUCTION AMBIO in collaboration with CONANP, SEMAHN , Conservation International , and others lead the project “Mantenimiento e incremento de los almacenes de carbono en sistemas agroforestales en comunidades rurales de la Reserva de la Biosfera Selva El Ocote, como una estrategia de mitigación al Cambio Climático en Chiapas, México”, el cual es financiado por GEF. To start this process, the induction workshop which is reported in this paper was conducted WORKSHOP PROGRAM Day 1: November 12, 2015 Time
9:00 – 9:30
9:30 – 9:40
9:40 – 9:50
Subject/Activity
Registration of attendees Presentation of attendees Welcoming and opening remarks 9:50 – 11:00
Introduction/overview of the project 11:00 – 11:15
11:15 – 13:00
Break Roles and responsibilities of the main project CI-­‐AMBIO-­‐CONANP partners SEMAHN Roles, functions, and responsibilities within the AMBIO project's decision-­‐making structures: Project Steering Committee and Technical Committee Conflict resolution mechanisms AMBIO Reporting and communication lines AMBIO Lunch Presentation of annual work plan and budget (Year 1) AMBIO Break Presentation of the project results framework: Dieter Paas Components; outcomes and outputs; indicators, targets and their means of verification 13:00 – 14:30
14:30 – 15:30
15:30 – 15:45
15:45 – 17:00
Responsible
AMBIO Sotero Quechulpa Montalvo, AMBIO AMBIO: Elsa Esquivel, Pili Jacobo, Marco Lara, Nora López Day 2: November 13, 2015 Time
Subject/Activity Responsible Página 4 INCEPTION WORKSHOP 9:00 – 9:30
9:30 – 10:30
10:30 – 10:45
10:45 – 12:00
12:00 – 13:00
13:00 – 14:00
14:00 – 15:30
15:30 – 15:45
Registration of attendees M&E Reporting requirements Break Safeguards Gender mainstreaming Lunch Next steps and commitments for the coming months Closing AMBIO Orissa Samaroo (CI) AMBIO: Elsa Esquivel AMBIO AMBIO AMBIO – CI WORKSHOP REPORT First day of the inception workshop
The number of attendees to the workshop was 39 during the first day, representing the main project partners AMBIO, Conservation International, CONANP and SEMAHN, as well as other important stakeholders, such as CONAFOR, SECAM and CECROPIA. INTRODUCTION/OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT The project overview was given by the AMBIO project team, coordinated by Elsa Esquivel. Main subjects of the power point presentation were: • Description and assessment of the project area: The Selva Zoque – Sumidero Canyon complex • Project components: Outcomes and outputs • The project strategy for carbon mitigation and sequestration Capacity-­‐building process Página 5 INCEPTION WORKSHOP The Selva Zoque – Sumidero Canyon complex Presentation of the project Página 6 INCEPTION WORKSHOP COMMENTS BY WORKSHOP ATTENDEES TO THE FIRST PART OF THE PROJECT PRESENTATION: - There is a strong relationship of this CCM project with CONANP´s resiliency project; both projects cover the same area. The CCM project was originally designed only for the El Ocote Biosphere Reserve; however, CONANP suggested enlarging the CCM project area in order to get more opportunities for synergies between the two projects. - The idea was to manage not only isolated protected areas (PA) but a whole biological corridor. - The polygon of the AP Meyapac was enlarged to 2,561 ha towards the AP La Pera but without connecting with it. - The Selva Zoque – Sumidero Canyon complex is a new construct, aggregated statistical information is still scarce. There is a need for homologation or standardization of concepts to make statistical data comparable STRATEGY FOR MAINSTREAMING THE GENDER PERSPECTIVE There is little evidence that in Chiapas the gender relations and gender and environment and conservation is identified. Therefore, there is a need for a social diagnosis to consider gender issues this diagnosis serve to promote and develop activities and actions that correspond to the reality of the area and at the same time promote both the development of capabilities needed as specific to women and men opportunities. A pre -­‐ diagnosis was developed using data from INEGI, management plans, OTC, etc. Another tool used as pre -­‐ diagnosis was a survey of identification and valuation of capital at the community level. This allowed us to visualize differences but gender analysis is still needed to understand the root causes of these differences and then act on them. The strategy of mainstreaming a gender perspective ensures that social norms and local customs are respected and valued properly Question: How is the project beneficiaries´ universe, including women, defined? Answer: To determine this, we need to have the diagnosis of Individual planes vivos, to know what groups will be working, even if you do not work with women gender perspective will be present THE CARBON MARKETING STRATEGY Página 7 INCEPTION WORKSHOP Marco Lara, Carbon Offsets Sales Manager for the Scolel´te Program, introduced the concept of carbon markets as well as the Plan Vivo standard. He presented the background of the Scolel’te Program, including a short description of the current marketing strategy. Finally, he pointed out the newly actions to promote carbon offsetting in the Selva Zoque complex. Question: At what moment begins each phase of the carbon credits selling process? Answer: The overall process is managed by AMBIO, from enabling communication with interested communities and designing Planes Vivos, to creating partnerships for carbon offsetting and administering carbon payments to farmers. KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENT About climate change issues among institutional actors Comment: This assessment must still be completed. Question: How were participants of the assessment selected? Answer: They were selected among the institutions who were involved in the project preparation (CONANP, SEMAHN). Other comments: - The problem (of lack of awareness about climate change issues) is not so much one of the environmental sector; actors of other sectors must be involved and should participate in actions. - There is much resistance among non-­‐environmental actors (to engage in climate change mitigation and adaptation activities); CONANP staff is an “easy” target group. - For example, it is very difficult to involve SAGARPA (in climate smart agriculture activities. Other dependencies are invited to participate in the CC resiliency project, but very often they do not respond. It is the heads of other sectors who must be convinced Página 8 INCEPTION WORKSHOP Workshop participants ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MAIN PROJECT PARTNERS The roles of the main project partners are: CI – implementing agency; AMBIO – executing agency; communities and participating groups – local partners; CONANP and SEMAHN – direct project partners; CONAFOR – national and regional partner; SECAM, SAGARPA, CDI, SEMARNAT, SEDESOL – regional partners; FMCN, FANP, CECROPIA and others – national and regional partners; Plan Vivo Foundation – international partner. Comments: - AMBIO: Our partners are identified with the project. - It seems difficult to involve SAGARPA. - It is important to involve and get the cooperation of the agricultural sector. - The project will try to have an impact on the policies of the agricultural sector; their projects should have a more integrated approach. - The Intersecretarial Climate Change Commission in the State of Chiapas whose purpose is to implement cross-­‐sectorial climate change policies across 15 state government agencies is not very active at the moment; it should be reactivated. ROLES, FUNCTIONS, AND RESPONSIBILITIES WITHIN THE PROJECT'S DECISION-­‐MAKING STRUCTURES: PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE AND TECHNICAL COMMITTEE Página 9 INCEPTION WORKSHOP Project Steering Committee (PSC) Comments: - The PSC meets three times per year; it must be a very functional structure taking strategic decisions. - The idea is to include CI, AMBIO, CONANP, SEMAHN and CONAFOR in the PSC. - The PSC rules of procedure must be drafted and ratified by the project partners, taking into account corresponding ProDoc indications. - The PSC members will be represented by the heads of project partners´ offices in Chiapas; CI by its representative in Mexico. Project Technical Committee (PTC) Comments: - The PTC is composed of high ranking technical officers nominated by the heads of the partner institutions. - The PTC represents the commitment of each partner institution in implementing the project providing direct technical support to the project coordination (Project Management Unit – PMU). - Among the functions of the Technical Committee are: Revision of project work plans, budgets and reports before approval by the PST; revision and approval of terms of reference of consultancies; participation in selection of consultants and in monitoring their outputs. • Conflict resolution mechanisms The conflict resolution mechanisms were presented in detail, following ProDoc indications. • Reporting and communication lines Question: ¿Who is in charge of presenting project progress and results? Answer: This has been left open, depending of circumstances PRESENTATION OF ANNUAL WORK PLAN AND BUDGET (YEAR 1) The annual work plan previously developed by AMBIO was presented on large sheets on the walls. Two working groups defined times and partners responsible for the activities under the two project components Página 10 INCEPTION WORKSHOP Participants work in groups to define responsibilities PRESENTATION OF THE PROJECT RESULTS FRAMEWORK: COMPONENTS; OUTCOMES AND OUTPUTS; INDICATORS, TARGETS AND THEIR MEANS OF VERIFICATION During the project overview outcomes and outputs had already been explained; so this presentation of the project results framework was focused on indicators of objective, outcomes and outputs. • The alignment of the project objective indicators with GEF´s Global Environment Benefits indicators was underlined. Question: ¿Were gender indicators included in the project results framework? Answer: ¿Several gender-­‐sensitive indicators on the objective, outcome and output level were included. The first day of the workshop ended with a toast: Página 11 INCEPTION WORKSHOP Toast to the beginning of the project Second day of the inception workshop
The number of attendees to the workshop was 27 during the second day, representing the main project partners AMBIO, Conservation International, CONANP and SEMAHN, as well as other important stakeholders, such as CONAFOR, SECAM and CECROPIA M&E REPORTING REQUIREMENTS M&E reporting requirements were presented by (CI). Types of M&E explained were: - Inception Workshop - Inception Workshop Report - Project Results Monitoring Plan (Objective, Outcomes and Outputs) - GEF Focal Area Tracking Tools - Project Steering Committee Meetings - CI-­‐GEF Agency Field Supervision Missions - Quarterly Progress Reporting (technical and financial) - Annual Project Implementation Report (PIR) - Annual Financial Report with cofinancing - Project Completion Report - Independent External Mid-­‐term Evaluation Página 12 INCEPTION WORKSHOP - Independent Terminal Evaluation - Lessons Learned and Knowledge Generation - Annual Project Audit Página 13 INCEPTION WORKSHOP Presentation of M&E reporting requirements Comments: - The date of the mid-­‐term evaluation was discussed. It will probably be performed during the 18th month of project duration. - Project evaluations should be performed not only with AMBIO, but also with the whole Project Steering Committee and other project partners. - Project systematization is responsibility of AMBIO, but CI is very interested in giving ideas on issues like best practices, lessons learned and knowledge generation. SAFEGUARDS Safeguard recommendations refer to CI-­‐GEF Project Agency’s “Indigenous Peoples Policy #4”, the “Stakeholders’ Engagement Plan”, and a “Gender Mainstreaming Strategy and Action Plan” that meets CI-­‐GEF Project Agency’s “Gender Mainstreaming Policy #8”. After the presentation of the main safeguards issues, different subjects relevant for the project were broadly discussed, as is reflected in the following comments: Comments: - The project is committed to the principle of free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples. This principle is being applied in the communities selected by the project. - Not only declarations of consent, but also of non consent will be documented. Página 14 INCEPTION WORKSHOP - The applied community work method consists in identifying problems and their causes, and then looking for solutions that improve livelihoods. - Project partners of the two GEF-­‐projects (the CC mitigation project under the lead of AMBIO, and the CC adaptation project under the lead of CONANP) are working nearly in the same communities, so we must link the two projects and cooperate closely. For example, duplication of community assessments should be avoided. - The project method does not refer only to climate change, but also to general problems most felt by people. But it is clear that the applied method can not address certain problems. We want to take a photo of the actual situation. Anyway, we should discuss our methods and see what information we can exchange. - We must have a plan for ensuring community and individual benefits, for example through carbon sales. This must be discussed in community meetings, where women are participating. Question: ¿Some of the 15 communities can be changed? Answer: In two or three cases participation must be confirmed. Question: ¿How can a 25 years payment scheme be dealt with in a 3 years project? Answer: AMBIO, together with the communities, as a commitment for avoiding emissions or capturing carbon during 25 years. Comments: - Benefits (due to carbon sales) should be directed to collective investments. - AMBIO is suggesting that 30-­‐40% of benefits go towards collective use, but the community has the right to decide. The decision is also a matter of trust of the community with extensionists. - The El Triunfo Fund as an interesting experience of collective investment. - Communities must be addressed with great clarity of commitments and possible results of the project, making clear that it is not only the benefits, but also the commitment to maintain sustainable practices in the long term. - In AMBIO, we keep the question of carbon payments on a low profile. What matters most are the sustainable practices. - However, we should not forget the needs of people, it is ok that there are immediate benefits, but also the long-­‐term environmental benefits. - A good example is organic coffee in Nueva San Juan Chamula: We do not create false expectations, what matters are the practices, to be very cautious about making promises of payments. - Such an approach reflects also a paradigm shift in terms of public policy, away from patronage and short-­‐term delivery of gifts in exchange for political loyalty. - Create a decalogue of what the project is, and what it is not. As project partners we must handle the same language. - There is much insecurity in having markets for carbon sales. Página 15 INCEPTION WORKSHOP - However, our experience is that many buyers are interested in social, governance and gender equity benefits in the medium and long run, more than in carbon. - We must develop a communication and information strategy to transfer these other aspects to buyers. - There are specialized buyers, e.g. in buying coffee carbon. They are interested in creating a coffee counterculture. Others are interested in the participation of women. - It is difficult and time-­‐consuming to negotiate with buyers. In the case of Estafeta, we needed seven months for negotiating and explaining. A different scheme is negotiating with brokers, they come and buy immediately. - Part of our market strategy is the News Bulletin "The Smile of Trees". - These are important efforts not yet reflected in the project documents (logical framework, ProDoc). We must make more visible this part of the strategy. - Diffusion and marketing is AMBIO´s project contribution. We take advantage of the opportunity to have a good market potential in Mexico. - It is important to document the baseline and the progress made (in transferring climate smart agricultural practices). Our photo archive is an excellent tool for selling bonds. - Selling carbon credits – AMBIO´s role is comparable to that of tour operators in selling ecotourism destinations in communities. A challenge is to create community enterprises, for example in nature tourism or in forest use. ¿How can we enable them to be entrepeneurs? GENDER MAINSTREAMING The presentation of the project gender mainstreaming strategy was followed by an interchange of opinions about a realistic gender mainstreaming strategy for rural and indigenous communities under the prevailing cultural circumstances. Comments: - The project will work on the causes that affect gender relations in the community, to develop a strategy for involving women without affecting them. - Small changes can be achieved, women can participate in projects and meetings; they can be encouraged to express their opinion. - We should have a discussion about what could be our minimum achievements in gender mainstreaming. - We can promote discussions, conversations and other exchanges among women, how to involve them more. - For example, there are nurseries or aromatic and medicinal herbs projects run by women. - We need a plan for committing project partners to implement good practices for involving women in project activities. Página 16 INCEPTION WORKSHOP NEXT STEPS AND COMMITMENTS FOR THE COMING MONTHS • The Immediate Action Plan for the first three project months is: MONTH 1 - Present the schedule of visits of each area coordinator to CONANP and SEMAHN officials responsible for community work. - Visit communities to ask permission of local authorities to present the project to the community assembly. - Present the project to the community assembly, and get agreement of the community to participate in the project. Sign letter of agreement. Agree date for the first Social Impact and Biodiversity Assessment (SIBA) workshop. - Implementation of the SIBA. MONTH 2 and 3 Systematization and analysis of the information obtained by the SIBA. Agreeing on workshop to prepare individual planes vivos (IPV). Hold the IPV workshops. Systematize and analyze IPVs. • Commitment letters must be signed Comments: -­‐ Commitment letter format will be presented and discussed in community assemblies. -­‐ The commitment format is good; however, it is only a commitment with AMBIO. Community extension workers or promoters should not only wear the hat of AMBIO but also that of all project partners. Formats should be revised under this criterion. -­‐ People in communities should be aware of the project as an integral one, that various actors run it. -­‐ The format should include more producers´ commitments. -­‐ We should have a meeting were these questions of methodology will be discussed. -­‐ The Steering Committee is an adequate instance for revising the commitment letter format. -­‐ The format must be adapted to the particular conditions of each community. The idea is that the group of partners will appear in the format. The present format is only a first draft, it can be modified, of course. Página 17 INCEPTION WORKSHOP -­‐ We will make appointments with communities for working on the commitment letter format. Presentation of the commitments for the coming months • It is urgent to define a calendar for the next months. -­‐ A calendar for reforesting activities must be agreed upon. We must know what areas will be reforested, and with what species. This can not be later than in January. Timber species are the most important ones. We must get and collect seedlings and seeds. If we fail, we have to wait until the next year. -­‐ 50% of the surface will be reforested in the first year, 50% in the second year. We have to respect life cycles. Project partners should support us in reforesting. Question: ¿ Is it foreseen that CONAFOR will participate in planting and reforesting? Answer: The support of all partners is needed. Comments: -­‐ SECAM can supply the species that people are interested in. -­‐ However, SECAM can only provide fruit tree species, not timber species. -­‐ We need species for agroforestry systems. Most practices promoted by the project refer to agroforestry systems, for example improving coffee shade trees or acahuales. We work onlywith agroforestry systems that are of interest to people, we do not think of cedar and mahogany, but of species people are already using. Such species are not to be found in normal nurseries. We will work with fruit species too, but they have not much impact on carbon capture. The priority is on timber species. Página 18 INCEPTION WORKSHOP -­‐ As we are not thinking of pine or chedar, of what timber species are we talking then? Sapodilla trees are an alternative, trees with high specific weight. Nurseries should include a variety of species. -­‐ The market is mostly interested in permanent carbon capture. But permanence does not mean being static; there must be management, deal with threats. -­‐ A forest without threats has no carbon market. For example, it is assumed that core zones of protected areas have no threats, so they have no markets. -­‐ This is why we need the cooperation of CONANP and other partners. We plan our actions in accordance with the management programs of the protected areas. -­‐ CONAFOR is interested in landscape health. -­‐ We must coordinate our work calendars for the next months. • Commitments for the coming months -­‐ First meetings of the Project Steering Committee (PSC) and the Project Technical Committee (PTC) in January -­‐ Translation of the Project Document (ProDoc) -­‐ Advance in the installation of the project administration system -­‐ Visits to communities and fire brigades -­‐ Present the Inception Workshop Report -­‐ Define composition of the PSC and the PTC and prepare its regulations; send them to CI for approval Página 19 INCEPTION WORKSHOP Worktable to store administration agreements Página 20 INCEPTION WORKSHOP ANNEX I. LIST OF ATTENDEES 12 N OVEMBER 2015. Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas 12 November de 2015 Página 21 INCEPTION WORKSHOP Página 22 INCEPTION WORKSHOP ANNEX II. LIST OF ATTENDEES 13 N OVEMBER 2015. Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas 13 november de 2015 Página 23