PEAKS TO COAST FINAL REPORT i FROM THE GLACIERS TO THE COAST: BUILDING CLIMATE CHANGE AWARENESS AND RESILIENCE IN THE ANCASH AND PIURA WATERSHEDS OF NORTHERN PERU FINAL REPORT USAID CA #: 527-A-00-09-0000-00 SUBMITTED TO: USAID PERU SUBMITTED BY: The Mountain Institute This document has been made possible thanks to TMI, a global conservation organization, and the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this document reflect the authors’ vision but not necessarily those of TMI, USAID or the US government” Date: November 4, 2012 ii Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary 1 Project strategies 1 Project sites 2 Results Framework 5 Results Framework: Activities 6 Project Results 8 Performance Monitoring: Project Results July 14 2009 – June 2012 11 2. Peaks to Coast Project: Overview of objectives and activities 15 Project Goal 15 Project Objectives 16 Project Activities and outcomes 16 1.1. Adult Education Program on adaptation to climate change and mountain ecosystem conservation validated 16 1.2. Community-based organizations have increased their capacity for social communication and advocacy in their municipalities 26 1.3. Community-based organizations have developed mountain ecosystem conservation and land use models in three micro watersheds 27 2.1. Municipal government technical staff and authorities have improved their capacities in climate change adaptation 29 2.2. Research and action agenda and science-citizen dialogue mechanisms have been developed at the level of the watershed 35 2.3. Municipalities organized in networks or commonwealths participate in the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 39 3. Gender Component 41 The Network of Women Councilors 42 Small projects with women groups 43 4. Lessons Learned and Recommendations 45 TMI lesson in the design of climate change adaptation projects 45 What did work: 45 What needs to be improved: 46 Good practices: 46 Lessons learned: 47 Peasant Communities empowered to participate in their local governments: challenges to improve cooperation 47 Lessons Learned 47 Community-based organizations: Can they champion ecosystem management and climate change adaptation? 48 The municipal commonwealth 49 What did work? 49 What needs to be improved 50 Women’s capacities in climate change adaptation 50 What did work 51 What needs to be improved 52 Lessons learned 52 5. Annex: Final external assessment (Executive Summary) 53 iii Acronyms Acronym Spanish English AGRORURAL Programa de Desarrollo Rural Economic Development Productivo Agrario Rural Program CIAL Comité de Investigación Agrícola Local Agricultural Research Local Committee CBOs Organizaciones de Base Comunitaria Community-Based Organizations CNCC Comisión Nacional de Cambio National Climate Change Climático Commission CONCYTEC Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y National Science and Technology Tecnología Council CONDESAN Consorcio para el Desarrollo Consortium for Sustainable Sostenible de la Región Andina Development of the Andean Region Chavimochic Proyecto Especial de Riego Valles Chao, Viru, Moche and Chicama Chao, Virú, Moche y Chicama Valleys Special Project DGCCDRH Dirección General de Cambio Directorate General for Climate Climático, Desertificación y Change, Desertification and Recursos Hídricos Hydrological Resources (DGCCDRH), Environment Ministry ERACC Estrategia Regional de Climate Change Regional Adaptación al Cambio Climático Adaptation Strategy ENCC Estrategia Nacional de Cambio National Climate Change Strategy Climático EWB Ingenieros Sin Fronteras Engineers Without Borders FONIPREL Fondo de Promoción a la Fund for the Promotion of Regional Inversión Pública Regional y Local and Local Public Investment GRA Gobierno Regional de Ancash Ancash Regional Government GTH Grupo de Trabajo Huascarán Huascaran Working Group HNP Parque Nacional Huascarán Huascaran National Park IRG Grupo de Recursos International Resources Group Internacionales JUSAL Junta de Usuarios de Riego San San Lorenzo Water User Lorenzo Association iv Acronym Spanish English LUP-UNALM Laboratorio de Utilización de Pasture Laboratory of the National Pastizales de la Universidad Agrarian University Nacional Agraria MINAM Ministerio del Ambiente Environment Ministry MMTC Mancomunidad Municipal Tres Three Watersheds Municipal Cuencas: Santa, Pativilca, Commonwealth Fortaleza MOCICC Movimiento Ciudadano frente al Citizen Movement to Face Climate Cambio Climático Change (MOCICC) PCM Presidencia del Consejo de Office of the Prime Minister Ministros PMP Plan de Monitoreo del Performance Monitoring Plan Desempeño PMP Plan de Manejo del Paramo Paramo Management Plan PUCP Pontificia Universidad Católica del Pontifical Catholic University of Perú Peru PPA Proyecto Páramo Andino Andean Paramo Project REMURPE Red de Municipalidades Rurales Network of Rural Municipalities of del Perú Peru REMUR ANCASH Red de Municipalidades Rurales Network of Rural Municipalities of de Ancash Ancash REMURPI Red de Municipalidades Rurales Network of Rural Municipalities of de Piura Piura RPPP Red de Periodistas de Provincias Network of Peruvian Province del Perú Journalists SERNANP Servicio Nacional de Áreas National Administration of Natural Naturales Protegidas Protected Areas SNIP Sistema Nacional de Inversión National System of Public Pública Investment TMI Instituto de Montaña The Mountain Institute UNASAM Universidad Nacional Santiago Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo Antúnez de Mayolo National University v Acronym Spanish English UPCH Universidad Peruana Cayetano Cayetano Heredia Peruvian Heredia University USAID Agencia de Estados Unidos para United States Agency for el Desarrollo Internacional International Development vi 1. Executive Summary Climate change presents major challenges for Peru. Highland Peru is home to seventeen glacier ranges that are receding rapidly due to global warming (it is estimated that the average rate of temperature increase in the cryosphere zone of these tropical mountain ranges will be approximately three times the global average). Climate variability, change and glacial recession is a direct threat to the livelihoods of rural poor in Peru, a segment of Peru’s population that depends on agriculture and livestock, two resources that are particularly sensitive to changes in the supply of water. The coast of Peru, one of the driest deserts in the planet, is fully dependent on the hydrology of the western Andean escarpment. Therefore, the rapid loss of glaciers in the Andes poses a significant threat to the entire economy of Peru. Climate change is a crosscutting driver of change that impacts multiple economic sectors, often in ways that are complex and difficult to predict. For instance, the recession of glaciers affects the regulation and supply of water for the entire basin, accentuating the competition for water between farmers and providers of electricity. Similarly, the recession of glaciers increases the exposition of mineralized rocks. This process worsens natural water pollution issues and exacerbates social conflicts in a country heavily dependent on mining. Considering this context, the Peaks to Coast project was designed to work with mountain communities and local governments to address the challenges that face mountain ecosystems. Given the fact that water regulation affects multiple sectors, the project also took on the challenge of working at the scale of watersheds. Project strategies The Mountain Institute implemented the project in cooperation with the Network of Rural Municipalities of Peru (REMURPE). At its core, the Peaks to Coast project endeavored to increase the capacities of mountain communities and local governments to adapt to climate variability and change by contributing to national strategies that foster collective action and cooperation at the scale of watersheds. A central strategy of the project was its focus on building and strengthening the capacities of local institutions to adapt to climate change. Thus, the project (i) worked with men and women in peasant communities interested in participatory research related to ecosystems, water or climate change; (ii) pioneered the development of organizations like the Municipal Commonwealth, an association dedicated to the sustainable management of mountain ecosystems, water and cooperation to adapt to climate change; (iii) supported and co-financed the establishment of Foro Agua Santa, a citizens dialogue and information platform for the Santa river, one of the most complex watersheds in Peru from a geographic, social and political perspective; and (iv) worked closely with regional governments of Ancash and Piura to facilitate the development of climate change policies. Peaks to Coast – TMI Final Report 1 The project included a distinct gender equity component that was implemented both at the municipality level (electing women to office), and the community level (supporting the capacities of women to respond to the impacts of climate change). Project sites The project was implemented in the two most important western ranges of central and northern Peru: 1) the Cordillera Blanca, the highest section of the Andean cordillera and 2) the paramo ranges of Piura, the lowest section of the Andes which has no glaciers. These sites were strategically selected to build cooperation between upstream and down stream populations and demonstrate the importance of protecting ecosystems located below the glaciers, like the humid puna and wetlands that have a role in the regulation of water. More specifically,