Greencom Summary Report Nicaragua Delivery Order
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NICARAGUA tt3'JO GreenCOM Summary Report Nicaragua Delivery Order PCE-Q-00-93-00069-00 (Task Order #16) Submitted to USAID/Nicaragua March 15, 1999 GreenCOM Summary Report Nicaragua Delivery Order PCE-Q-OO-93-00069-00 (Task order #16) Submitted: March 15, 1999 I. Type of Activity: Long-term Delivery Order with Resident Advisor and counterpart assistance. Geographical Area: Eight Protected Areas in the Pacific and Central Regions, Nicaragua Dates of Activity: September 16,1996 to January 30, 1999 Team Composition: Local Project Manager — Nina Chambers (9/15/96-12/19/97) Local Project Manager — Julieta Varron (2/16/98-10/3/98) Administrative Assistant — Carlos J. Ruiz (2/1/97-9/28/98) EE&C Specialist — Maritza Rivera (3/1/98-10/3/98) Local Data Collector — Nadya Rodriguez (7/30/97-9/15/98) Local Project Driver — Alvaro Aguirre(l 1/24/97-10/5/98) Home Office Coordinator — Richard P. Bossi (9/16/96-1/30/99) Field Support Specialist — Peter Templeton (9/16/96-1/30/99) Financial Specialist — Sarah Kitchener (9/16/96-10/3/98) II. Objective of the Activity: to strengthen EE&C competencies of protected area management staff within the Nicaraguan Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA); to develop, implement, and evaluate buffer zone EE&C strategies; and develop, implement, and evaluate PA environmental interpretation and education strategies. III. Activities Performed A. Program Deliverables 1. Strengthen EE&C Competencies of Protected Area (PA) Management Staff within the Nicaraguan Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA). a. Training Workshops and Practicum The Media Outreach and Public-Private Partnership Workshops anticipated in the original workplan were canceled at the end of Year 1. In place of these workshops, GreenCOM Communications Strategist Jose Ignacio Mata prepared a detailed communications strategy for USAID/Nicaragua. b. Materials Development i. Informational Brochure GreenCOM produced a three-fold informational brochure outlining the objectives and capabilities of the Project. This brochure was intended to increase the visibility of the Project among MARENA staff, local environmental organizations, the international donor community, and the Nicaraguan public. The GreenCOM Administrative Assistant Carlos Ruiz designed this brochure in- house, applying graphic design skills acquired during the first materials development workshop sponsored by the Project. He created the layout for the GreenCOM brochure, letterhead, and business cards using the computer equipment and software made available to all workshop participants throughout the life of the Project. ii. Presentations GreenCOM produced a banner and exhibit materials on Project activities and EE&C topics for use in training workshops, conferences, and MARENA events. The portable display panels purchased by GreenCOM for mounting these exhibits were turned over to MARENA when the field office closed. Exhibits were prepared for numerous local events including the MARENA ceremony marking the end of the closed season for sea turtle egg collection and for USAID/Nicaragua's celebration of World Environment Day. iii. Park Guard Training Manual GreenCOM provided guided instruction to MARENA staff in developing a draft Park Guard Training Manual to be used by MARENA in preparing staff for on- site management of Protected Areas. The manual also will serve as a reference guide for park guards already working for the Ministry. GreenCOM and MARENA counterparts compiled information from local, regional, and international sources and adapted the material to the Nicaraguan context. The manual covers environmental science, management, and interpretation topics as well as the specific responsibilities of park guards in the National Protected Area System (SINAP). GreenCOM conducted a validation workshop on the first section of the manual with park guards and supervisors in May 1998. A revised draft of the full document was submitted to the Directorate of Protected Areas in October 1998 for final validation and printing. c. On-the-Job Training of Counterpart Staff The GreenCOM/Nicaragua Project Manager provided intensive on-the-job training and mentoring for Ana Julia Silva Gomez, the MARENA staff member assigned to work with GreenCOM throughout the life of the project. Ms. Silva received guidance in the development of EE&C strategies, training activities, and materials. Ms. Silva also assisted trainers in presenting workshop sessions and played an integral role in creating a training manual for MARENA park guards. Ms. Silva was also selected to participate in the environmental interpretation study tour of the Northwest United States and El Salvador coordinated with the Nicaragua Development Training Project and the University of Idaho (See below). During the follow-on phase of this activity, which was managed by GreenCOM, Ms. Silva served as one of the principal liaisons among the tour participants, the self-named Grupo Pinolero, and the Project. Since the completion of the Project, Ms. Silva has continued working with the Protected Areas Unit of MARENA. She has assumed responsibility for coordination of special activities and reports to the national Director of Protected Areas. 2. Develop, Implement, and Evaluate Buffer Zone EE&C Strategies, a. Research Studies i. La Flor Formative Research Study A formative research study was completed in the La Flor buffer zone communities to assess residents' attitudes and understanding of sea turtle conservation and the use of sea turtle eggs. Data were collected between February and April 1997, and interpreted by the Asociacion Cultural Nixtoyolero with substantial input and oversight by the local Project Manager and the GreenCOM/Washington Research Director. The findings showed that residents possessed little knowledge of the life span and reproductive age of sea turtles; they reported collecting eggs during the closed season and selling them illegally; and they did not feel that their actions had any impact on sea turtle populations. In August 1997, the Asociacion Cultural Nixtoyolero relayed these findings to residents of the buffer zone communities through a theatrical presentation. ii. La Flor Quantitative Impact Evaluation The quantitative impact evaluation of EE&C materials in the La Flor buffer zone communities as well as the production of these materials were canceled due to changes in personnel and MARENA management objectives. b. Training Workshops and Practicum GreenCOM's first workshop series focused on strengthening environmental communication capabilities in buffer zone communities. Integrated teams of MARENA, NGO, and community representatives worked together during two workshops and the subsequent practicum periods to: define a priority environmental problem specific to their protected area; identify the primary audience for the communication intervention; and develop targeted messages and materials specifically for that audience. At the end of the workshop series, each group had designed a tangible communication product that was ready or nearly ready for production. (See Annex A for a complete list of all GreenCOM/Nicaragua hosted training activities). i. Buffer Zone EE&C Strategy and Message Development Workshop Trainers Sam Ham and Stephen Cornelius worked with the GreenCOM Project Manager to plan and deliver a week-long training workshop on developing EE&C strategies and messages for buffer zone communities (See Annex B for a complete list of consultants used over the life-of-project). The activity was designed to build group decision-making, community mobilization, and problem-solving skills to enable participants to identify priority environmental problems, develop participatory strategies, and plan an effective environmental communications intervention. All GreenCOM training activities were evaluated by the participants using a five-point scale, 5 signifying the highest level of satisfaction. The Buffer Zone EE&C Strategy and Message Development workshop received an average overall rating of 4.3. A guided practicum of one month allowed each group to apply their skills in community participation in the buffer zones. During this process, the participants validated their ideas in their respective communities and continued to develop strategies and messages for potential EE&C campaigns. ii. Buffer Zone EE&C Materials Development The second workshop in the series built on the technical knowledge imparted during the first by enabling participants to produce materials for implementing EE&C strategies. Trainers Maria Claudia de Valdenebro and Juan Carlos Cordovez conducted sessions on selecting the appropriate medium for communicating messages to specific audiences; using graphic design techniques for creating effective communication; and producing print materials. On the five- point evaluation scale, the Buffer Zone EE&C Materials Development workshop received an average score of 4.5 for overall participant satisfaction. c. Materials Development i. La Flor Sea Turtle Egg Protected Season (Veda) Poster GreenCOM Project staff designed a poster announcing the closed season on sea turtle egg collection for use in buffer zone communities of the La Flor and Rio Escalante-Chacocente Wildlife Refuges. GreenCOM delivered 5,000 copies to the Directorate of Protected Areas at MARENA for distribution during the 1998 nesting season. ii. La Flor Sea Turtle Awareness Poster GreenCOM designed a poster to promote awareness of Olive Ridley sea turtle nesting within the La Flor Wildlife Refuge. Plans to