Based Mrv and Data Management in Guyana

FACTSHEET 2019

INSPIRING PRACTICES: ENABLING COMMUNITY- BASED MRV AND DATA MANAGEMENT IN GUYANA

WWF FOREST AND CLIMATE

1 WW CRV ocus Areas

White Water Three Brothers Kamwatta Extension Arukamai

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Red Hill Sebai Warapoka

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A VENEZUELA Kokerite kawini Baramita

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n io s Maruranau n e Sawariwau xt E u a Kanaruwau River Awariwaunau Oronoque River w ri a w a S &+ A isha Kowariwau River lton

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&+ CRV Data as Kuyuwini River @ Georgetown × ajor ettlement Kassikaityu River Pilot Community

CRV ocus Areas WW Kona shen (Home stead) Amerindian Areas communities Sipu River Communities that Participated in CRV Central, South and South Central Rupununi (KMCRG and SRDC) - Region 9 0 30 60 120 km

2 SNAPSHOT

What » An initiative that has strengthened the capacities of predominantly Indigenous communities in Guyana to gather, manage and analyze their own data on their forests, health, and other aspects of their daily life, through the establishment of data labs and a data sharing protocol that enable communities to protect their information and use it to make informed decisions about the issues that affect them.

Who » Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) » Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) » Kanuku Mountain Community Representative Group (KMCRG) » North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB) » South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) » World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

Where Regions 8, 9 and 10 of Guyana

When 2014-ongoing

Project Team contacts Roxroy Bollers, Guyana WWF-Guianas [email protected] PHOTO © EMELIN GASPARRINI / WWF-US Vitus Antone, Guyana WWF-Guianas [email protected]

COVER PHOTO: © MARTIN HARVEY / WWF

3 PHOTO © EMELIN GASPARRINI / WWF-US

this work, local communities became population, and they hold title to SUMMARY empowered to manage and store their about 14 percent of the nation’s own data, to define their own priorities forests.3 and goals for data gathering, to control his Inspiring Practice describes who has access to their data, and to Yet despite its low population density an initiative through which 48 use their data to make informed and rich natural resources, Guyana’s predominantly indigenous decisions about their present and per capita gross domestic product Tcommunities in Regions 8, 9 and future. (GDP) is one of the lowest in South 10 of Guyana established data labs and America, and the desire for economic developed data collection and sharing development threatens the future of its protocols to manage information about forests. Rising gold prices have pushed their environmental and community CONTEXT the growth of mining that destroys wellbeing. Building on earlier, smaller- forests, polluting streams and rivers scale efforts to create community with mercury and contaminating the Measurement, Reporting and estled between Suriname, fish on which indigenous communities Verification (CMRV) in Guyana, this Venezuela, and Brazil on the rely. Growing demand for wood from endeavor refined the training and north coast of South America, the the nation’s forests and agricultural technological frameworks for commu- Nnation of Guyana has the expansion have also driven forest loss. nity-based data management to make second-highest percentage of rainfor- In response, Guyana committed to the CMRV process more effective, est on Earth. Its pristine forests hold forest conservation as the first country productive, and self-sustaining. As a more than 5 billion tons of stored with a national-scale payment-for- 1 result, community monitors were able carbon and support some of the performance REDD+ system through to gather and analyze data from more world’s richest biodiversity. These an agreement with Norway signed in than 9,000 people with direct benefits forests also support the traditional 2009. Although the mechanism for for each community as a whole—for livelihoods of over 200 indigenous that system – and for its financial example, by revealing the need to communities who live within them. benefits, in particular – is still being address declining animal stocks or to Indigenous communities make up developed, it has spurred the 2 adjust water use practices. Through more than 10 percent of Guyana’s development of a robust national

1 Government of Guyana. 2015. “The Reference Level for Guyana’s REDD+ Program.” ² Government of Guyana. 2016. “2012 Census: Compendium 2, Population Composition.” ³ Guyana Forestry Commission. 2015 “Guyana REDD+ Monitoring Reporting and Verification System—Year 5 Summary Report.”

4 system for forest Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV).

Since 2014, WWF has worked to develop participatory MRV as a means for Guyana’s indigenous communities to actively take part in and benefit from national MRV and REDD+. Working closely with communities and community-based organizations like the NRDDB, WWF sought to train paid community monitors (known as Community Resource Environment Workers, or CREWs) to establish baselines and monitor carbon and other important indicators using smartphones and open- source software. Between 2014 and 2016, CMRV efforts with the 19 indigenous communities represented by the NRDDB and with the Wai Wai Kanashen community were successful, but also met with some challenges. The year-long training process required ongoing technical and financial support that staff had difficulty sustaining, as well as a considerable time commitment from CREWs and communities before they could see results. Technological limitations, like the lack of reliable internet connectivity, also hindered CREWs’ ability to store and analyze data on their own.

WWF set out to address these challenges by retooling its approach. With a more streamlined and accessible training program in place, WWF aimed to send CREWs out into their communities faster and to generate tangible results more quickly, in order to foster community buy-in earlier in the process. WWF also worked with CREWs to establish data labs in or near their communities where collected data could be stored and analyzed, with provisions in place to bypass many of the technological limitations of earlier efforts. The goal was to set up the conditions for self-reliance—to enable PHOTO © ROGER LEGUEN / WWF communities to engage with MRV in a way that coheres with national requirements, including newly mandated requirements for five-to-10-year Village Improvement Plans (VIPs), but also empowers them to control and use their data for their benefit.

5  Implement a data sharing protocol 2017-2019: WWF works with commu- DIRECT STAKEHOLDERS or “stoplight system” that outlines nities and community-based steps that must be taken before data organizations to establish data labs Involved in project design, make can be released, to ensure commu- and expand CREW training. decisions, and receive benefits nity members’ control over their information.  Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs)  Build capacities for communities to ACHIEVEMENTS gather, analyze, and manage their  Kanuku Mountain Community own data so that they may make  A more successful and sustainable Representative Group (KMCRG) more informed decisions about CMRV training process has been issues that affect them, more developed and replicated across 48  North Rupununi District successfully develop VIPs, and more predominantly indigenous commu- Development Board (NRDDB) fully participate in and benefit from nities in Regions 8, 9 and 10 of national forest conservation efforts. Guyana, with benefits for more than  South Rupununi District Council 9,000 community members. At least (SRDC) two CREWs have been trained in each community. By streamlining  Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ PROJECT DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE the CREW training process to three Affairs months and enabling CREWs to November 2009: The Guyana-Norway share results with their communi- STRATEGIC STAKEHOLDERS Agreement (GNA) is signed, commit- ties every two weeks from the start ting Guyana to maintaining the of training, communities were able Provide material, human, and other country’s low deforestation rates in to see the benefits of participatory resources exchange for up to US$250 million in MRV earlier in the process. Data funding to support a low carbon gathering and analysis were tailored  Norway's International Climate and development strategy over five years. to the needs of the community early Forest Initiative (NICFI) on as well, with communities 2010: A national MRV system is weighing in on the indicators they  Norwegian Agency for Development initiated to comply with the GNA. wished to measure. Although the and Cooperation (Norad) data collection framework was built 2011-2013: The Global Canopy on existing forms that correspond  Guyana Forestry Commission Program (GCP), Iwokrama with national MRV system require- (GFC) International Centre for Rainforest ments, the forms were adapted to Conservation and Development (IIC), each community and CREWs  WWF and the 16 indigenous communities of learned how to modify them so that the NRDDB pilot a participatory MRV these could evolve with the commu- model, training the first 32 CREWs to nity’s needs. Together, these gather data in their communities. EXPECTED CHANGES changes engendered more engagement, support and buy-in. 2014-2016: WWF sets out to learn  Develop an improved CMRV from the GCP project and develop an capacity-building and implementa-  Five community-based data labs improved CMRV, working with the tion process that is more accessible, have been established, with each lab indigenous Wai Wai community of sustainable, and beneficial for serving as many as 16 communities. Kanashen. Guyana’s indigenous communities, Equipped with a laptop, open- and that encourages community source software, and a wifi device 2017: Guyana’s national government engagement and buy-in early on. enabling the data-gathering institutes the requirement that smartphones to transfer their data communities prepare five-to-10-year  Establish community-based data to the laptop, and located in Village Improvement Plans in order to labs that enable CREWs and CREW structures with solar or otherwise receive funding for green economy data managers to store, manage and reliable sources of electricity, these development. analyze data on their own terms, labs are able to sidestep many of the despite limited access to reliable technological limitations that power and internet connectivity. affected earlier efforts and provide

6 CREWs and CREW data managers with reliable and robust home bases for data storage and analysis.

 CREWs and CREW data managers have collected and analyzed a rich trove of information on a range of environmental and social indicators, including hunting and fishing practices, educational status, and community health and wellbeing, that have directly and positively impacted their communities. Data that showed depletion of animal stocks, for example, led communities to modify their hunting so stocks could replenish; a survey about well depths revealed that certain wells were running out of water during the dry season because they were not deep enough. In more than one instance, CREW data enabled health workers to pinpoint and address the causes of significant public health concerns. For example, mapping health data onto data about waste management practices in one community revealed that an outbreak of diarrhea was linked to trash dumping and burning; rain was washing the trash and burnt remnants into the community’s water source. These represent real and tangible benefits from CMRV.

 Standardized workflows and a detailed data sharing protocol or “stoplight system” have been implemented to ensure that data are correctly gathered, analyzed, stored, and— most importantly—protected. The stoplight system is a six-page document that outlines the steps that must be taken before data can be shared with other communities or with research institutions. A larger community organization overseeing the lab, such as the NRDDB, KMCRG or SRDC, must ultimately authorize the release of information. This protocol ensures that indigenous communities retain control of their data and can decide for themselves how it is to be used.

 The communities and individuals who have PHOTO © MARTIN HARVEY / WWF engaged in this process have built capacities that empower them. CREWs have gained valuable technical and interpersonal skills they can apply not only in CMRV, but also to pursue new job opportunities. Communities are better equipped to prepare effective, data-backed VIPs that align with their own priorities and with national goals.

7  Significant steps have been taken to useful data products, such as limited access to charging stations improve gender and generational reports or maps, that were deliv- presented difficulties for CREWs as equity through this process. There ered years later or never delivered. well. are currently 30 female and 70 This made it difficult to build trust male CREWS total, and certain and buy-in and to cultivate a sense  Communication between communi- communities have achieved a 50/50 of what CMRV could offer. ties, organizations like the NRDDB, split in male/female representation KMCRG and SRDC, donors, among CREWs. CREWs also range  Each community’s council selected support agencies, and other from 15 to 60 years in age. This the individuals who would serve as partners sometimes broke down, growing diversity enriches the CREWs, and they tended to select creating tension and uncertainty monitoring process with a variety of younger people. This created about stakeholder roles. complementary skills, perspectives, problems with turnover, as young and expertise. people were more likely to leave  The lack of consistent, long-term their communities in search of work funding makes it difficult to opportunities elsewhere. appropriately sustain this work. It is demoralizing for communities CHALLENGES  Despite efforts to address the that buy into this work, that commit technological and logistical to it and believe in the benefits it  Guyana’s indigenous communities challenges that hindered earlier can bring, to suddenly find them- and community organizations have CMRV projects, some of these selves without the resources to seen many research initiatives come limitations remain. Transportation carry it forward. and go without providing direct remains an issue, particularly for benefit to the communities them- the most remote communities, and selves. They have been promised poor smartphone batteries and PHOTO © EMELIN GASPARRINI / WWF-US

8 LESSONS LEARNED

 Involving communities and local/ regional indigenous organizations from the earliest stages of the process is the key to building lasting commitment and buy-in. It is relatively easy to create interest in monitoring and CREW training among individuals, as CREWs receive a stipend for their services. But creating interest among communities and community organizations is not as easy because the benefits of monitoring can be hard to quantify and communicate, especially when previous efforts have created some skepticism. That is why it is essential to provide measurable victories and tangible benefits early and often. Seeing that they could receive reports and analyses every two weeks and instantly apply this information in practical ways persuaded communities that CMRV has direct benefits, and that created a strong sense of ownership and buy-in.

 Training more people from each community and recognizing those who have invested themselves in this effort can help protect projects from the toll of high turnover. CREW attrition was common, most often due to health issues, family problems, or new job opportunities outside the community. It is important to consider this attrition part of the process and design every step taking this into consideration. It is also important to recognize and value the untapped human capacity of those who have committed themselves to this work for the long term. Some individuals who participated in this effort have been working to foster community monitoring in some form or another since 1999. By valuing and supporting these individuals and by training a larger force of CREWs, communities would be better able to PHOTO ©WWF-GUIANAS prevent or withstand turnover and maintain a more robust, resilient CMRV capacity.

9  To gain long-term support and mandated, they strengthened links committed indigenous organization commitment from individuals between the VIPs and CMRV, representing the community, with a and communities, you must showing communities how the data political, strategic or practical center their needs and priori- they gathered could inform and reason to buy in to the monitoring ties in the program design. In support their planning. Making process; a stable funding source for Guyana, WWF has continuously CMRV relevant to the communities monitoring; individuals committed worked to improve the CMRV and putting their needs first to monitoring as a community training and implementation improved the CMRV process and service, and not only for personal processes by responding directly to helped build lasting trust and interests; and the establishment of the needs and priorities of the commitment. long-lasting alliances to guarantee communities undertaking CMRV. continuing training, improvement Because transportation and lack of  Certain enabling conditions and technical support. This lesson internet connectivity presented are essential for the continua- has emerged from all of WWF’s challenges, they sought to provide tion and sustainability of community monitoring experiences, data management capabilities and community MRV. These are: a and it has been reaffirmed by the technical support in local hubs (the community that is motivated by its process unfolding in Guyana. data labs). When VIPs were own reasons for monitoring; a PHOTO © EMELIN GASPARRINI / WWF-US

10 RECCLED REDD+ INSPIRING PRACTICES: ENABLING COMMUNITY-BASED MRV AND DATA MANAGEMENT IN GUYANA and biodiversity in transformational ways. and biodiversity in transformational ways. panda.org/forestclimate WWF’s Forest and Climate team works to ensure that the conservation of tropical forests as carbon stores is secured the conservation of tropical forests as carbon stores is secured by green economic development that benefits people, the climate by green economic development that benefits people, the climate OUR VISION / wwf / wwfforestcarbon With URL - OR If there is no UR

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