Training Toolkit Community Conservation Resilience Initiative (CCRI)

Lessons learned about designing, developing and undertaking the Initiative at the national level What is the CCRI? CCRI Training Toolkit

CCRI projects in Colombia, Malaysia and Ethiopia

The aim of the Community Conservation Resilience Initiative (CCRI) is to contribute to the implementation of the CBD’s 2011­2020 Strategic Plan and Aichi Targets by providing policy advice on effective and appropriate forms of support for community conservation. The project will document and review the findings of bottom­up, participatory assessments in at least 20 countries (including Samoa, Solomon Islands, Russia, Iran, Uganda, South Africa, Ethiopia, Panama, Chile and Paraguay) of the resilience of community conservation initiatives and the support that should be provided to strengthen these initiatives. The results of the assessments will be widely disseminated and fed into the deliberations of the Convention on Biological Diversity and related international policy processes through an active outreach and advocacy campaign. The project will run until April 2019.

A CCRI methodology has been developed, which is a simple guiding framework that can be adapted to the reality of a country/community in order to develop advocacy tools.

A number of CCRI projects are already underway, and the results are inspiring. These pilot projects have taught us a great deal about the best ways to design, develop and implement CCRI projects.

This training toolkit is based on the presentations of different CCRI partner groups, staff and technical advisors at a global training workshop which was organised in November 2014 in Asunción, Paraguay. 2 Contents CCRI Training Toolkit CONTENTS

Introduction to the Community Conservation Resilience Initiative 4 (CCRI) methodology

∙ CCRI Sites Location Map 7

Secrets of success from six CCRI projects 8

∙ Bird biodiversity school in Colombia 8 ∙ Community mapping methodologies in Ethiopia 10 ∙ Participatory mapping of nomadic resources and knowledge in Iran 12 ∙ Mapping environmental change in Africa 14 ∙ Strengthening resilience in Sabah, Malaysia 16 ∙ Supporting ICCAs in Uganda 18

Complementary methodologies 20

∙ Applying resilience thinking—community self­assessment 20 ∙ Applying resilience thinking—an e­course 22 ∙ Using photography in CCRI projects 23

Lessons learned so far: recommendations for future CCRI projects 26

Construction process of Participatory 3D Modeling Maps (P3DM) of the Dinsho District, Ethiopia. The map was visited by the Abakera kebele women's group, where planning discussions were held with community elders. 3 Million Belay (PhD), MELCA­Ethiopia Director Introduction CCRI Training Toolkit INTRODUCTION TO THE COMMUNITY CONSERVATION RESILIENCE INITIATIVE (CCRI) METHODOLOGY by Holly Jonas, Malaysia and Alphonsa Jojan, India, Natural Justice

The goal of the Community Conservation The CCRI methodology is a simple guiding and information, and, most importantly, Resilience Initiative (CCRI) is to strengthen framework that can be adapted to specific safeguarding information. the resilience of community conservation national contexts. It is not meant to be a strict practices. The methodology has been process or have any chronological steps. ∙ Participation and representation, which developed for national organizations that are However, it does have key cross­cutting implies including marginalized groups, in undertaking a national initiative in their principles: particular women, ethnic minorities, and the countries. It was inspired by another initiative disabled, and also recognizing they may focusing on Indigenous Peoples and climate ∙ Rights and Free, Prior and Informed prefer their own space, and may prefer some change, and further builds on this approach Consent (FPIC) and the core understanding activities to others so that they can share in order to assess the biodiversity of and respect for community timelines and their experiences with each other. conservation initiatives of local and their own processes. Indigenous Peoples. It has been developed ∙ Ensure that the concerns, voices and on the basis of useful inputs from national ∙ Indigenous and community ownership, aspirations of women are also included and a meetings, skillshares and pilot projects which allows Indigenous Peoples to engage proper gender analysis is carried out. The undertaken since 2012, with inputs from in a full and effective manner. CCRI methodology has a specific Annex on various organizations, including Global Gender Mainstreaming. Forest Coalition (GFC). ∙ Adaptive facilitation based on respect, while managing realistic expectations, timeframes 4 Introduction CCRI Training Toolkit

Baselines: Baselines are important for assessing the resilience of communities and can include information on The CCRI methodology has nine the status of legal and non­legal recognition of territories, components: the state of community conservation or any other issues that the community identifies for the assessment.

Preparation and strategic visioning: Building a Designing and undertaking the assessments: These shared vision of aims and objectives for the respective should be participatory and inclusive and should take into country. Discussing risks and challenges, the current consideration indigenous methods of inquiry, and situation, what is feasible, and various roles and community determined indicators, and collate them into responsibilities. some form of documentation and analysis. Visioning, strategic planning and consolidation: Coordination and facilitation: The CCRI is a three­ Finding a way to consolidate all the accumulated pronged approach, with three different groups involved. information into clear recommendations for different In addition to communities, the facilitation and support processes, for internal audiences (for example for team includes Indigenous Peoples and communities, community members and in local languages) and for and there is a responsible national coordination body. All external audiences (for example national governments, have different roles and responsibilities. donors, policy makers, organizations), and in terms of different lobby and advocacy strategies. Selection of communities to be involved: There should be at least three sites, preferably in diverse Strategic advocacy and engagement with strategic ecosystems, demonstrating how different threats are decision­making processes that affect communities: addressed. It is important to inquire and discuss all of Putting assessments and community plans into practice. this with the communities in advance to determine their willingness, and because building trust is essential.

Mutual learning and skill sharing: This should be Reflection, recording and revision: CCRI is an taken forward on the basis of respect and ongoing process and needs continuous reflection and complementing each others' work and experience, and revisiting its principles and components to ensure the can include, for example, legal support, participatory biocultural relation between CCRI and biodiversity methodologies, mapping and other tools. conservation. 5 Introduction CCRI Training Toolkit

However, following all nine steps is not with the communities to arrive at an extract attributes of resilience and compare essential. The CCRI methodology is not understanding of what would work best for them with existing frameworks, such as the meant to be restrictive and it can be adapted them. Toolkit for the Indicators of Resilience in to the reality of a country/community. Socio­Ecological Production Landscapes and Nevertheless, it is good to have some The involvement of other institutions, such as Seascapes (developed by UNU­IAS, framework so comparisons between religious institutions for example, would also Bioversity International, IGES and UNDP communities and between national differ from country to country and community 2014). This toolbox diverges from some of processes can be made in order to develop to community, as they can also be a cause of the previous assessment approaches in that strategic advocacy tools. conflict or involved in solutions. in emphasizes the importance of self­ identified attributes and indicators of It is very important to secure agreement Complementary methodologies resilience. about participation with three communities. (see page 20 for more detail) Though there may be interest from many In addition, the Stockholm Resilience Centre other communities wanting to engage in the Other organizations are undertaking advances research on the governance of assessment, it would be challenging to complementary activities. For example, in social­ecological systems with a special achieve consent with more than three groups 2014, the Agricultural Biodiversity emphasis on resilience—the ability to deal and there would be many other factors that Community, founded by Oxfam­Novib and with unexpected change and continue to have to be addressed such as distance, HIVOS, initiated a Community Resilience develop. SwedBio is involved with respect to communications and so on. For CCRI it is Self­Assessment Process. Members of the the ‘knowledge interface’ role, facilitating important to be able to work face­to­face with community were asking for a toolbox to connections across knowledge systems and the communities otherwise it is impossible to navigate the many assessment tools that cultures, including local and indigenous carry out an assessment and certainly too currently exist, that could be used specifically systems and cultures, and policy­making and impersonal. in agricultural biodiversity contexts and in a scientific knowledge systems. They run a process that can be led by communities. The five­module e­course, ‘Planetary boundaries Identifying participants in and the focus was on the process of exploring and and human opportunities: the quest for safe composition of the national advisory group reflecting on resilience and resilience and just development on a resilient planet’, can sometimes be challenging, as some attributes through narrative. They shared which has been developed to help groups might want to include government information and ideas through story telling, practitioners and trainers build an representatives and others might hold the drawing, cooking as a group, eco­cultural understanding of and strengthen resilience opposite opinion. This can be addressed mapping and community resource mapping. assessments, which can then be adapted to through continued dialogue and discussions Through such narratives, participants can suit local circumstances.

6 CCRI Locations Map CCRI Training Toolkit

7 Secrets of Success CCRI Training Toolkit SECRETS OF SUCCESS FROM SIX CCRI PROJECTS

by Diego Alejandro Cardona, Colombia Bird biodiversity school in Colombia CENSAT

CENSAT is working with diverse does not happen the traditional knowledge There is also a need to develop communities from different regions of the will be lost. methodologies very carefully, together with country: peasants, afro­descendants, and the communities involved. In Colombia the fisherfolks displaced by dam construction, The teenagers were encouraged to create a three groups involved in the overall project and young environmentalists. short animation video, which really renewed were presented with the CCRI methodology their interest and raised their awareness. and it was easy to identify who would be in For the last year and a half CENSAT has They were also able to access scientific tools each group, but they were very opposed to been working, together with another group, including binoculars, which generated anyone from the government participating. to assist a community with conservation enthusiasm. Their engagement translated They saw the government as a threat as they initiatives in their territory (initiatives that are into proactive participation in the wider had opposed previous initiatives. It is being undertaken voluntarily, not with a view project with their elders, which resulted in the important to analyze such situations to being paid for ‘ecosystem services’). One revitalization and transfer of traditional carefully, to see if perceived threats can be of these is a school dedicated to monitoring knowledge. turned into opportunities to build trust and bird biodiversity. cooperation between all stakeholders. Another element of the activities focused on At the beginning of the project the children food production, which is an important and young people had little interest in the priority for the community. The community is conservation activities being undertaken by now growing organic food and selling it in the their parents and older generations. city, and this is creating links between urban Engaging the young people’s interest was and rural peoples. Urban people are identified as an important objective. If this encouraged to buy rural products to help conserve rural lifestyles. 8 Secrets of Success CCRI Training Toolkit

What are the secrets of success?

Listening to, understanding and responding to the community’s plans, ideas and proposals, rather than rushing in with ready­made proposals. When you listen to the community the results are better, and there is better continuity, greater interest, more effective participation and real implementation.

Creating synergies between the communities’ aspirations and conservation initiatives, developing appropriate tools and methodologies with them, and incorporating all this into the assessment. This is why it is critical that the CCRI methodology is flexible and easy to implement.

Looking for opportunities to build trust and cooperation between all stakeholders, in a way that is sensitive to the community’s concerns.

Creating synergies between the community’s Effective participation and real implementation, Developing appropriate tools and methodologies, aspirations and conservation initiatives, Colombia Colombia Colombia

9 Secrets of Success CCRI Training Toolkit Community mapping methodologies in Ethiopia by Tesfaye Tola Doyo, Ethiopia MELCA

Ethiopia has a wealth of biodiversity and and distribution of fuel­saving stoves. The showing local rivers and roads to start with. includes one of the world’s 34 biodiversity CCRI project involved multi­day training The 3­D mapping and the eco­calendars take hotspot areas, with 78 species of mammals courses in the forest, together with art, longer but they are particularly useful for (including 20 of Ethiopia’s 31 endemic celebrations, participatory mapping and comparing past, present and desired future species) and about 300 species of birds. This intergenerational learning. scenarios in a very visual and easy­to­ richness includes a diversity of medicinal comprehend way. plants, and a corresponding richness in Community mapping has been a particularly elders’ traditional knowledge about their use. effective participatory tool. Exercises During the assessment eco­cultural included two­ and three­dimensional (3D) calendars were also completed separately by But these are challenging times, and maps, sketch mapping and eco­calendars. the women’s group and the men’s group, and Ethiopia’s biodiversity is threatened by the Mapping brings people together, as they this showed that the women had a more unsustainable use of natural resources, and work with each other to construct maps extensive knowledge about their resources globalization resulting in a loss of cultural based on their traditional knowledge. The than the men. This helped the men to heritage. This includes a gradual loss of maps generate a more cohesive shared understand and acknowledge the importance traditional knowledge, which is not being understanding of territorial resources, and of including women in the mapping transferred to younger generations. help communities to identify problems and processes. solutions. The process is very inclusive as MELCA has been working with communities well, involving community elders, youths, Now that they have been completed the who are developing self­initiated activities to women and other community members, who maps are being used as powerful tools for conserve biodiversity in their areas. Key meet several times to verify data for the map. land use planning, teaching and awareness­ issues addressed have included agro­ raising, and the intergenerational exchange ecology; community seeds and the The different types of map have different of knowledge. Most importantly they are conservation of traditional knowledge; raising characteristics. For example, the sketch helping the community to determine its own indigenous tree seedlings; population, health mapping does not need costly materials. All future and strengthening the community’s and the environment; and the introduction that is needed is a simple paper map resilience to the constraints posed by the 10 Secrets of Success CCRI Training Toolkit overexploitation of resources. This process What are the secrets of success? Conservation Areas and Sacred Natural has also gained support from the local Sites. government authorities, and has assisted in Creating a visually exciting and easy­to­ guiding the community to good governance use mapping process that inspires Using the mapping exercises to bring the and monitoring. Overall, there were communities, including the younger community together, facilitating the significant changes in all areas, including generation, to discuss, document and sharing of traditional knowledge between culture, nature, livelihoods and climate. protect their resources more systematically. men and women and between generations.

Explicitly identifying and certifying areas Using the maps as an effective way of which need to be carefully monitored communicating with people outside the such as community forests, Community communities, including local authorities.

Facilitating the sharing of traditional knowledge between men and women, Using the maps as an effective way of communicating, Ethiopia Ethiopia 11 Secrets of Success CCRI Training Toolkit Participatory mapping of nomadic resources by Taghi Favar, Iran and knowledge in Iran ICCA Consortium

In recent decades nomadic pastoralists in However, there are more than 800 species of for all the tribes to come together and Iran have had to adapt to numerous plants and the nomadic elders know all the discuss their concerns. This helped to challenges. species. Women are experts in traditional strengthen relationships between the tribes, medicines. This wealth of information is used improve benefit sharing and safeguard In the 1960s, for example, the government to guide them through their nomadic against biopiracy. nationalized the land and started issuing lifestyles, and they can use it to assess their grazing permits. These permits interfered carrying capacity and to adapt. The ICCA Consortium has also been with the carrying capacity, traditional organizing participatory sessions with knowledge and well­being of the nomadic Adaptive measures include learning to nomadic elders to promote alternative laws, tribes. cultivate pistachio trees. The nomadic tribes including provisions that state that customary sell the pistachios, and feed the leaves to law should take precedence over modern More recently climate change has affected their animals, which reduces over­grazing. law. Furthermore, in nine regions of the the land. Rainfall is increasingly scarce, Camels are vital to the nomadic way of life country, they are working together to get the pastures have dried up and there are more too, and they are treasured. In Iran, camels tribes and their territories (ICCAs) recognized dust storms. Iran’s glaciers are also melting. are referred to as ‘peoples’ and they are as by the Convention on Biological Diversity Over­grazing also affects the land. valued and respected as any other member (CBD). of the community. Mother Nature continues Other threats to the lifestyles and livelihoods to provide, but the traditional knowledge of CENESTA has also recognized nine [1] of the nomadic communities include the tribes is adapted to their changing territory­based ICCA groupings, and agriculture, urbanization, road­building, oil environment. communities in these areas are at various and gas refineries, land invasion by settled stages of mapping their customary territories. farmers, and government­induced ranching The ICCA Consortium conducted the first These maps are layered with multiple sets of schemes. tribal herbarium, which provided a platform information, including about flora and fauna,

[1] Oashghai Tribal Confederacy, Bakhtiari Tribal Confederacy, Kurdish, Laki and Luri Tribes, Shahsevan Tribal Confederacy, Kormani and Turkmen Tribes, Central Desert Pheriphery Tribes, Baluch Tribes and Marine and Coastal Indigenous communities. 12 Secrets of Success CCRI Training Toolkit which is collected from Indigenous Peoples and local communities with their Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). The mapping enables a collaborative approach to preparing sustainable livelihood plans based on communities’ ideas and interests.

The process of recognition by the communities themselves is also manifested through a declaration, which has three components—territorial integrity, ecological integrity and governance integrity.

What are the secrets of success?

Bringing different nomadic tribes together in participatory processes to discuss their concerns and strengthen their collective ability to address the challenges they face.

Proposing alternative legal scenarios, in which customary law takes precedence over modern law.

Ensuring the communities have the opportunity to give or withhold their Free, Prior and Informed Consent with respect to the information collected in mapping and other assessment processes.

13 Secrets of Success CCRI Training Toolkit Mapping environmental change in Africa by Kanyinke Sena, Kenya Indigenous Peoples of Africa Co­coordinating Committee (IPACC)

IPACC, a strong network of 150 indigenous resource management and planning. IPACC remaining language speakers could do this. organizations in Africa, aims to create has undertaken P3DM in Kenya, Chad, and This piqued the younger generation’s positive synergies between biodiversity and Gabon. P3DM is very intensive, with whole curiosity and they started taking an active traditional knowledge. communities participating, both in the interest in reviving the language, leading to process of agreeing what to map and the production of a Yiante dictionary. When the It showcases the realities of Indigenous mapping itself. government officials saw the P3DM they then Peoples’ lives and the contributions they are began to understand the in­depth knowledge already making in terms of conservation. Many communities are breaking up these that Indigenous Peoples have. This involves lobbying national policy days, driven by both internal and external makers, who still think that Indigenous factors, but this inclusive exercise can bring In Chad this mapping process is already Peoples are ignorant about conservation them together. In particular, it enables the linked to national policy processes, and issues and are the drivers of deforestation. intergenerational transfer of knowledge: the officials have been amazed at how much elders can comprehend the situation more knowledge the pastoralist and hunter­ In addition to promoting the use of effectively and share their knowledge, and gatherer communities have about the Participatory Three­Dimensional Mapping the process revitalizes young people’s weather and changes in the weather. They (P3DM), IPACC also uses ‘Cybertracker’ for interest. are starting to recognize the valuable data collection and monitoring. This is a free information and knowledge that already satellite­linked tracking tool that can be For example, one of the most common exists in the community. uploaded onto phones or cameras and issues is communities’ languages dying out. computers. It uses icon­based touchscreen In Yiaku community, for example, there were Tools like this are critical in advocacy work, technology, making it very easy to record only nine people who could speak the local and are bringing about significant change. observations in the field. Using this tool, one dialect. But during the P3DM exercise, the However, corruption remains a challenge. can document changing wildlife migration community decided they wanted it to be patterns, deforestation, and how rivers are made using the old language. But when changing over time, with consequences for making the legend for the map, only the 14 Secrets of Success CCRI Training Toolkit

What are the secrets of success?

Mapping over time with innovative tools and technology that makes it easy for people to record fauna and flora on location, meaning that habitat destruction, changing migration patterns, etc can be accurately monitored.

Using mapping as an effective communications tool that can link Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge in to national policy processes.

Reviving dying local languages and sharing traditional knowledge, through participation in inclusive mapping activities.

15 Secrets of Success CCRI Training Toolkit Strengthening resilience in Sabah, Malaysia by Gordon John and Holly Jonas (Malaysia) PACOS Trust

In Sabah, Malaysia, 50% of the population is PACOS Trust’s Natural Resource interested communities to discuss the aims indigenous and there are 39 distinct Management Programme enabled the initial of the CCRI, the draft methodology, and what indigenous groups. The project was carried stages of the resilience assessment to be set the communities might like to do through it. out together with Partners of Community up and undertaken much more swiftly. Five communities in different parts of Sabah Organizations in Sabah, known as the expressed great interest and agreed to PACOS Trust. It is an Indigenous Peoples’ To start with, several meetings were held participate. Together, PACOS and Natural Organization and focuses primarily on within PACOS itself as most of their staff Justice also managed to submit a funding supporting community organizations to members are from the indigenous proposal to the Commonwealth Foundation determine and implement their own plans. communities they work with. Existing during the pilot phase, which was approved community conservation initiatives were in mid­2014. In Sabah indigenous communities tend to discussed, as well as threats in different have agricultural areas, forested areas for parts of the state, and communities with hunting and medicinal plants, and coastal which they have areas and rivers for fishing. They have strong working sophisticated systems of resource relationships. stewardship, including through traditional They identified knowledge and gender roles, mostly potential members centered around the concept of ‘gompi guno’, of the national or ‘use and care.’ However, Indigenous advisory group, Peoples in Sabah face many threats, including other including exclusion and displacement from NGOs, protected areas, logging, dams, and other academics, extractive industries such as large­scale oil lawyers, and so palm plantations. on. Then they held workshops with a few Community discussions need to be based on FPIC, Sabah, Malaysia 16 Secrets of Success CCRI Training Toolkit

The project is called ‘Strengthening the Resilience of Indigenous Peoples’ Natural Resource Stewardship Systems in Sabah’ and What are the secrets of success? has three main aims. The first is to document and develop self­ determined plans and priorities, which include participatory A strong facilitation and support organization, which is capable of assessments and communications. The second is to adapt and undertaking the work, but is also highly sensitive to community apply good practices and lessons learned, including participation dynamics and not forcing its own agenda. in regional and international networks and events. The third is to secure improved implementation and/or reforms of existing laws Clear discussions up front about the roles and responsibilities of and policies, which includes strategic advocacy with select different individuals and organizations, expectations, timelines, and so government agencies and Members of Parliament. on. If some of these things are not clarified early on, they could easily lead to misunderstandings or disagreements between partners. It is good to think ahead about the various issues that may arise, and discuss in advance how they should be dealt with.

Partners with common objectives. The CCRI is very much a complement to PACOS’ existing strategies and ongoing work. This has really enabled PACOS and their staff to take it up with enthusiasm. They also like the added recognition and opportunities that come with being part of a global initiative.

Utilising the flexibility built in to the CCRI methodology. For example, the strategic visioning process was very much influenced by PACOS’ discussions with the interested communities. Activities undertaken as part of the methodology should thus be adapted as you go and not seen as rigid steps with a clear beginning and end.

The role of women and youth with respect to ownership and protecting their natural resources, Sabah, Malaysia

17 Secrets of Success CCRI Training Toolkit Supporting ICCAs in Uganda by Kureeba David, Uganda National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE)

ICCAs (Indigenous Peoples' and Community treasured, but oil is becoming a threat. The It is important that the community should Conserved Territories and Areas) and community was very receptive and NAPE plan, facilitate and assess its own resilience Indigenous Peoples are living links between was able to talk to the leadership. work. NGOs and other organizations can biological and cultural diversity. In Uganda, provide some guidance but they cannot lead. however, the government does not recognize NAPE prioritized careful timing and indigenous communities or ICCAs. In convenience for the community members, The formation of a national advisory group is addition the country’s laws and policies flout especially the women, so that they could the next step needed. Another step will be Indigenous Peoples’ inalienable and participate in the project. Though women the formulation of local/community level perpetual rights to their territory and access play an integral part in conservation, they associations managing ICCAs. This should to biological resources, and this has resulted have other responsibilities in the community, also be supported by national efforts relating in Indigenous People being internally including household chores, so it is important to improved quality of governance by those displaced. to consider how projects and plans can be associations. carried out so as to include them. NAPE is a lobby and advocacy organization Other issues that need to be borne in mind that is aimed at sustainable management of Another challenge is that many times the during the assessment process are problems environmental resources for the benefit of all. issue of gender or women is a sensitive associated with land tenure, low literacy The pilot phase of the CCRI was initiated in issue in a community. In some cultures levels and a lack of information about Kihagya, Western Uganda, and one of its women have to sit far away from the men, knowledge and information amongst both the main objectives was to consult the relevant they are not the decision­making persons, government and communities. There is a communities about the project and seek their and their voices are marginalized. The clear need for capacity building, and further Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). assessment has to make sure that this is assessment to address identified issues of addressed. In this case, the men were concern. Preliminary visits were made to make approached first. Once the men were appointments and to share information about comfortable and trust was gained, it was the assessment. In this area, biodiversity is easier for the women to become engaged in the project. 18 Secrets of Success CCRI Training Toolkit

What are the secrets of success?

Playing a supporting role, whilst allowing communities to plan, facilitate and assess their own resilience work.

Focusing on threats that communities are anxious about, in this case the impact of oil exploration and extraction on biodiversity.

Careful timing and convenience, so that all community members, especially women, can participate in the assessment, and related planning meetings.

19 Complementary Methodologies CCRI Training Toolkit COMPLEMENTARY METHODOLOGIES Applying resilience thinking—community self­ assessment by Jamila Haider, Sweden Stockholm Resilience Centre and SwedBio

In 2011, Oxfam­Novib and HIVOS started a Communities identify and monitor sources matters because far too often external joint knowledge programme, and status of resilience for themselves. interventions can actually reduce resilience ‘agrobiodiversity@knowledged’, in order to However, using a common framework would and diversity and the local knowledge and build knowledge and an experience of also allow sharing between and synthesis culture that has maintained agricultural community amongst farmers, pastoralists, across communities. It also provides a way diversity for centuries. practitioners and scientists, by creating ‘The of communicating with external actors with a Agricultural Biodiversity Community’. view to avoiding inappropriate development The Agricultural Biodiversity Community interventions, and of responding to working group looked at this issue and In 2014, the Agricultural Biodiversity increasing demand from the international shared information and ideas through story Community initiated a Community Resilience development community to ‘improve’ the telling, drawing, cooking as a group, eco­ Self­Assessment Process. Members of the resilience of communities. It also provides a cultural mapping and community resource community were asking for a toolbox to starting point for understanding and mapping. Eventually they came to a common navigate the many assessment tools that enhancing a regions' sustainability and understanding of what resilience was. currently exist, that could be used specifically resilience. However, farmers and pastoralists from in agricultural biodiversity contexts and in a different contexts were not comfortable with process that can be led by communities. The However, the already existing ‘Resilience this word and the group eventually decided focus was on the process of exploring and Assessment Workbook for Practitioners’, on more context­specific descriptions of what reflecting on resilience and resilience which is still a useful resource, was viewed resilience means, such as 'healthy' and attributes through narrative. as having limitations with respect to 'strong'. communities using it themselves. This 20 Complementary Methodologies CCRI Training Toolkit

Through such narratives, participants can extract attributes of resilience and compare them with existing frameworks, such as the Toolkit for the Indicators of Resilience in Socio­Ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes (developed by UNU­IAS, Bioversity International, IGES and UNDP in 2014). This toolbox diverges from some of the previous assessment approaches in that in emphasizes the importance of self­ identified attributes and indicators of resilience.

The objective of this resilience workbook is not to create a parallel process but to facilitate knowledge exchange, feedback and useful inputs to create an online platform, which would be simple and accessible, even through mobile phones. This will allow people to access these different tools that demonstrate different ways of telling stories and assessing attributes.

21 Complementary Methodologies CCRI Training Toolkit Applying resilience thinking—an e­course Introduced by Maria Schultz, Sweden. Stockholm Resilience Centre

Stockholm Resilience Centre advances ∙ Maintain diversity and redundancy caused by agriculture or forestry activities on research on the governance of social­ ∙ Manage connectivity privately owned land upstream. ecological systems with a special emphasis ∙ Manage slow variables and on resilience—the ability to deal with feedbacks Important trade­offs exist between different unexpected change and continue to develop. ∙ Fosteranunderstandingofsocial­ ecosystem services (e.g. crop production SwedBio’s involvement focuses on the ecological systems as complex and biodiversity), and it is not possible to ‘knowledge interface’ role, facilitating adaptive systems enhance the resilience of all ecosystem connections across knowledge systems and ∙ Encourage learning and services simultaneously. With these caveats cultures, including local and indigenous experimentation in mind, the seven principles provide systems and cultures, and policy­making and ∙ Broaden participation guidance on key opportunities for intervening scientific knowledge systems. ∙ Promote polycentric governance in and ‘working with’ social­ecological systems systems to ensure that they remain resilient This five­module e­course, ‘Planetary and able to provide the ecosystem services boundaries and human opportunities: the Each principle is presented along with an needed to sustain and support the well­being quest for safe and just development on a example of how it has been applied. There of people in a rapidly changing and resilient planet’, has been developed to help are no panaceas for building resilience. All increasingly crowded world. practitioners and trainers build an the principles presented require a nuanced understanding of and strengthen resilience understanding of how, where and when to Download the introductory brochure: assessments, which can then be adapted to apply them, and how the different principles ‘Applying resilience thinking: seven principles suit local circumstances. interact and depend on one another. for building resilience in social­ecological systems’ The introductory brochure, ‘Applying Before applying any of the principles, it is resilience thinking: seven principles for essential to consider what you want to build Download the full book: ‘What is resilience? building resilience in social ecological resilience of, and to what (e.g. fires, floods, An introduction to social­ecological research’ systems’, outlines seven principles of urbanization). Simply enhancing the resilience, which are to: resilience of the existing ecosystem services Access the e­course: ‘Planetary boundaries in a landscape can entrench and exacerbate and human opportunities: the quest for safe inequalities, such as where poor urban and just development on a resilient planet’ communities suffer the effects of flooding 22 Complementary Methodologies CCRI Training Toolkit Using photography in CCRI projects by Ronnie Hall, UK Critical Information Collective (CIC) Ethical and practical considerations There are some important ethical considerations to bear in mind. Most importantly make sure your ‘editorial’ images represent a situation as Photography is a powerful way of conveying information. truthfully as possible, seek Free Prior and Informed Consent, try to Communities and civil society organizations can use expose underlying problems rather than shock, don’t stereotype, and photography—even images taken with mobile phones—to create have regard for people’s safety (theirs and yours). (You can find a and communicate CCRI projects. detailed set of ethical guidelines here.)

For example, photographs can be used to: Generally the photographer has the ‘copyright’ of the photograph, and should always be credited. The photographer grants a license to others ∙ Illustrate and record local biodiversity to use the photographs and there are different kinds of licences. If you ∙ Show plants and animals that are used for foods, want to share your photographs for free but retain some control over medicine and other purposes who uses them and for what purpose you can choose a Creative ∙ Identify sacred sites Commons license (you can find out more about different kinds of ∙ Depict landscapes and habitats licenses here). ∙ Show where the community lives (village/urban area) ∙ Introduce some of the individuals and families in the If you are using photography to illustrate and record your CCRI project community (portraits) you will effectively be taking editorial (news) images, not commercial ∙ Introduce the whole community (group shot) ones. This is an important distinction because different rules apply. If ∙ Illustrate traditional methods and record aspects of you are planning to use images commercially you would need to have traditional knowledge signed 'model release' forms from the people in the photographs, but ∙ Show CCRI and Biocultural Protocol processes in action this isn't necessary for editorial images. eg people making maps ∙ Record documents and maps for security However, from a purely ethical point of view you will want consent from ∙ Identify locations (on phones or cameras with location the people you photograph for your CCRI project. Verbal consent should settings) be enough, but if you do have worries get written permission. You also need to remember that for editorial/news images ‘post­processing’ manipulation on the computer is strictly forbidden. All that is permitted are ‘darkroom techniques’ (lightening, darkening and cropping). 23 Complementary Methodologies CCRI Training Toolkit

Key components of a good photograph

Even if you are using a mobile phone there cropping the image afterwards to get a think. The main subject should be well lit, are some rules and methods that will help similar effect. Try to avoid any distracting and ideally it should be the brightest part of make sure your photographs are appealing elements or colours in the background or at the image. A great tip is use light that is and informative. the edges of the photograph. Images of coming from the side—if your subject is sat people, their faces and emotions, are always close to a well­lit window or you are taking a The number one tip is to make sure your very appealing for others to look at. If you landscape photograph in the early morning image is sharp can turn people so that you can see the or late in the day, your photographs will look ‘catch lights’ shining in their eyes, they will great! It helps if you make sure there is plenty of also look more alive. Try to avoid images of light, so that the camera shutter is only open meetings unless you need record shots for very briefly. Make sure the main subject of funding reports. It your photograph is in focus, even if the rest is better to take isn’t. To do this you need to understand how photographs that your phone or camera focussing system tell a story about works, but this is getting easier with the subjects touchscreen technology. In lower lighting being discussed. conditions the camera’s shutter will stay open longer, which can lead to camera shake Lighting is all unless you hold the camera very still. Lean it important on something, like a wall or a friend’s shoulder. You can also lean against Try to make sure something yourself. your photo is well exposed—not Make sure you have some interesting too bright and not content too dark. It’s not as easy to fix You should really have one part of the photo these problems that is the main centre of attention and this in the computer should fill the frame if possible. If not, try as you might Photo featuring in Orin Langelle's "The Pillaging of Paraguay" photo essay 24 Complementary Methodologies CCRI Training Toolkit

out more about this here.) You also need to Avoid using the small on­camera flash, it is Providing enough information provide enough digital information in the very unflattering. Instead turn up the ‘ISO’ image itself, so that it can be printed. Choose (the camera’s sensitivity) and/or keep the If you are using your images as part of a the highest resolution or quality image your camera very still (but don’t turn up the ISO CCRI project it is critical to ensure that there camera or phone offers. further than you have to, it can create a is enough information either in the image or grainy effect). in written form accompanying the image, so Back up!! that the viewer is well informed. For example, Unless you are shooting ‘Raw’ images that you could record what is in the photograph, Your photograph may well be irreplaceable can be adjusted in the computer later, you where it was taken, and who took it and so it is really important to make a back up also need to choose ‘auto white balance’ or owns the copyright. (If you want to you can copy as soon as you can. Don’t keep them tell the camera what kind of light it is seeing actually embed this information inside the stored only on your camera or phone, which (eg sunny, cloudy, fluorescent, tungsten). photograph using the ‘IPTC data’ option, may get lost or stolen. Our eyes/brain automatically adjust for this, which means the information will then travel but the camera doesn’t (unless you tell it to). with the image automatically. You can find If you forget to do this you will get unpleasant colour casts.

Creating drama/tension Sharing your photographs on Critical

Photographs for campaigns will look stronger Information Collective if you add some drama and tension with your You can share good quality images with other activists and the wider photographic style. You can do this by world by submitting them to Critical Information Collective’s (CIC) social and including bright or contrasting colours in the environmental justice image library. Using CIC you can also host an on­line image, by converting to bold black and white exhibition, set up a private gallery, and help raise funds for your (not greys), or by taking photos at a slight tilt organization. or from an unusual angle. However, if you are photographing a landscape or wildlife To upload your images you need to register as a photographer with CIC, you might want to create a more subtle style load your images to the server, and import them into the right gallery. by muting colours, and shooting on a cloudy You will also need to provide details about them, such as captions and day. You should also remember to keep the keywords, and there is plenty of space for you to include text about the horizon level. image and CCRI project too. You will also need to choose a license, and the images need to be approved. 25 Lessons Learned So Far CCRI Training Toolkit LESSONS LEARNED SO FAR: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE CCRI PROJECTS A number of Community Conservation (1) It is important to be well prepared and organized, Resilience Initiative (CCRI) projects are already underway, and the results are and clarify roles and responsibilities at the outset inspiring. These pilot projects have taught us a great deal about the best ways to design, Strong facilitation and support, and clear about the various issues that may arise, and develop and implement CCRI projects, even up front discussions about roles and discuss in advance how they should be dealt though the projects themselves are all responsibilities, are important with. different. components of a successful CCRI project It is helpful to identify partners with On the basis of what has been learned so far The initiative run with PACOS in Malaysia is common objectives and it can be we have compiled the following a good example of this. They observed that it inspiring to be part of a global initiative recommendations as additional guidance for is important to have a strong facilitation and participants in the CCRI: support organization, which is capable of For example, again in Malaysia, the CCRI undertaking the work, but is also highly project is very much a complement to sensitive to community dynamics and not PACOS's existing strategies and ongoing forcing its own agenda. It is critical to have work. This has really enabled PACOS and clear discussions up front about the roles their staff to take it up with enthusiasm. They and responsibilities of different individuals pointed out that it can be inspiring to work and organizations, expectations, timelines, together on local conservation initiatives that and so on. If some of these things are not are part of a broader global effort. This can in clarified early on, they could easily lead to turn improve participation and collaboration. misunderstandings or disagreements between partners. It is good to think ahead 26 Lessons Learned So Far CCRI Training Toolkit

(2) Communities must be at the heart of all design and implementation phases Listening to, understanding and importance of ensuring the communities other assessment processes. In the Iranian responding to the community’s concerns have the opportunity to give or withhold their CCRI project nine territory­based ICCA and ideas is critical Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) groupings are recognized, and communities with respect to the information collected in in these areas are at various stages of The CCRI projects in Colombia and Uganda mapping their resources and with respect to mapping their customary territories. These emphasized this aspect in particular, focusing on the absolute importance of listening to, understanding and responding to the community’s concerns, plans, ideas and proposals, rather than rushing in with ready­ made proposals. By supporting the communities’ own work on resilience, the results are better, and there is better continuity, greater interest, more effective participation and real implementation. In Colombia, for example, one element of the initiative focused on food production, which was identified as an important priority by the community. They are now growing organic food and selling it in the city, and this is creating links between urban and rural peoples. Urban people are being encouraged to buy rural products to help conserve rural lifestyles.

Communities’ free, prior and informed consent is essential

The report back from the Iranian CCRI project explicitly reminded us of the Engagement in conservation, Colombia 27 Lessons Learned So Far CCRI Training Toolkit

maps are layered with multiple sets of information, including about flora and fauna, which is collected from Indigenous Peoples and local communities with their FPIC.

The CCRI’s flexible methodology means that projects can be designed to suit the specific needs and concerns of different communities, cultures and stakeholders

The Colombian and Malaysian initiatives both observed that it is very helpful that the CCRI methodology is so flexible and easy to implement. This makes it possible to create synergies between the communities’ aspirations and conservation initiatives, developing appropriate tools and methodologies with them, and incorporating all this into the assessment.

CCRIs can help to build trust and cooperation

Collaborative CCRIs provide new opportunities to build trust and cooperation between various stakeholders, in a way that is sensitive to the community’s concerns. For example, the ICCA Consortium conducted the first tribal herbarium, which provided a platform for all the tribes to come together and discuss their concerns. This helped to strengthen relationships between the tribes, improve benefit sharing and safeguard against biopiracy. The Ugandan initiative also flagged the importance of careful timing and convenience, so that all community members, especially women, can participate in the assessment, and related planning meetings. Though women play an integral part in conservation, they have other responsibilities in the community, including household chores, so it is important to consider how projects and plans can be carried out so as to include them.

Engagement in conservation, Colombia

28 Lessons Learned So Far CCRI Training Toolkit (3) Mapping exercises are a critical component of CCRIs

There are a range of mapping techniques and technologies that Different types of map have different characteristics can be used to map community resources and territories In Ethiopia community mapping has been a particularly effective For example, in Tanzania, Kenya, Chad, and Gabon mapping is very participatory tool. Various types of mapping have been used to intensive, with whole communities participating, both in the process of explicitly identify and certify areas that need to be carefully monitored agreeing what to map and the mapping itself. such as community forests, Community Conservation Areas and Sacred Natural Sites. These included two and three dimensional They are mapping resources maps, sketch mapping and over time, including with eco­calendars. innovative tools and technology, such as ‘Cybertracker’, which Different types of map work makes it easy for people to better in different record fauna and flora on circumstances. For example, location. This means that sketch mapping does not habitat destruction, changing need costly materials. All that migration patterns, etc can be is needed is a simple paper accurately monitored. map showing local rivers and roads to start with. 3­D In Iran mapping has enabled a mapping and the eco­ collaborative approach to calendars take longer but preparing sustainable livelihood they are particularly useful plans based on communities’ for comparing past, present ideas and interests. The and desired future scenarios process of recognition by the in a very visual, easy­to­ communities themselves has comprehend and appealing also been manifested through a way. During the Ethiopian declaration, which has three assessment eco­cultural components—territorial integrity, calendars were also ecological integrity and completed separately by the governance integrity. Engagement in conservation, Malaysia women’s group and the 29 Lessons Learned So Far CCRI Training Toolkit men’s group, and this showed that the The report back from Kenya also explained case study it has also renewed interest in women had a more extensive knowledge that mapping activities in various African local languages that were previously dying about their resources than the men. This countries were enabling the intergenerational out. helped the men to understand and transfer of knowledge: the elders can acknowledge the importance of including comprehend the situation more effectively women in the mapping processes. and share their knowledge, and the process revitalizes young people’s interest. In this Mapping exercises are an excellent way of bringing communities and different generations together

For example, the Ethiopian initiative found that a visually exciting and easy­to­use mapping process really inspires communities, including the younger generation, to discuss, document and protect their resources more systematically. Mapping brings people together, as they work with each other to construct maps based on their traditional knowledge. The maps generate a more cohesive shared understanding of territorial resources, and help communities to identify problems and solutions. The process is very inclusive as well, involving community elders, youths, women and other community members, who meet several times to verify data for the map. The mapping exercises facilitate the sharing of traditional knowledge between men and women and between generations.

Engagement in conservation, Malaysia 30 Lessons Learned So Far CCRI Training Toolkit (4) Visual techniques help to engage project partners and others Maps are visually engaging and information and knowledge that already ∙ Illustrate traditional methods and accessible communication tools exists in the community. record aspects of traditional knowledge For example, the CCRI in Ethiopia found that In Iran, the mapping­based CCRI is also ∙ Show CCRI and Biocultural Protocol using maps is an effective way of proposing alternative legal scenarios, in processes in action eg people communicating with people outside the which customary law takes precedence over making maps communities, including local authorities. Now modern law. ∙ Recording documents and maps for that they have been completed the maps are security being used as powerful tools for land use Photography and videography can be planning, teaching and awareness­raising, used to create and communicate inspiring In Colombia, teenagers were encouraged to and the intergenerational exchange of CCRIs create a short animation video, which really knowledge. Most importantly they are helping renewed their interest and raised their the community to determine its own future Communities and civil society organizations awareness. At the beginning of the project and strengthening the community’s resilience can use photography—even images taken the children and young people had little to the constraints posed by the with mobile phones—to create and interest in the conservation activities being overexploitation of resources. This process communicate CCRIs. For example, undertaken by their parents and older has also gained support from the local photographs can be used to: generations. Their engagement translated government authorities, and has assisted in into proactive participation in the wider guiding the community to good governance ∙ Illustrate and record local biodiversity project with their elders, which resulted in the and monitoring. Overall, there were ∙ Show plants and animals that are revitalization and transfer of traditional significant changes in all areas, including used for foods, medicine and other knowledge. culture, nature, livelihoods and climate. purposes ∙ Identify sacred sites Similarly in Chad this mapping process is ∙ Depict landscapes and habitats already linked to national policy processes, ∙ Show where the community lives and officials have been amazed at how much (village/urban area) knowledge the pastoralist and hunter­ ∙ Introduce some of the individuals and gatherer communities have about the families in the community (portraits) weather and changes in the weather. They ∙ Introduce the whole community (group are starting to recognize the valuable shot) 31 Notes CCRI Training Toolkit

32 Credits CCRI Training Toolkit

Citation: Training toolkit Community Conservation Resilience Initiative (CCRI). Lessons learned about designing, developing and undertaking the Initiative at the national level, April 2015.

Project coordinators: Mrinalini Rai, Simone Lovera Global Forest Coalition, CC 13241 CP 1741, Asunción, Paraguay e­mail: [email protected]

Editorial team: Mrinalini Rai, Ronnie Hall, Holly Jonas, Yolanda Sikking Translation team: Charlotte Lovera and Isis Alvarez Design: Oliver Munnion For more information, please contact: Mrinalini Rai ([email protected]) and Simone Lovera ([email protected]) Participants in the Global Training on the participatory assessment methodology in November 2014, including representatives of groups from Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Photo cover: Monitoring bird biodiversity, Censat Colombia, Solomon Islands, Iran, Russia, Paraguay, Panama, Chile and India. Photo: Mrinalini Rai. by Diego Alejandro Cardona contribution from the Resilience and Development Programme The production of this training toolkit has been made possible thanks (SwedBio) at Stockholm Resilience Centre to Natural Justice. to the support of the Christensen Fund and the German International Climate Initiative (IKI). The German Federal Ministry for the Disclaimer: Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety The information contained in the case studies in this report has been (BMUB) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by provided by the national group responsible. As such, the report does the German Bundestag. not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of GFC, its donors or other contributors. The global training workshop in November 2014, where many of the lessons learned were presented, was supported through a generous April 2015 33 Training Toolkit Community Conservation Resilience Initiative (CCRI)