Sthrengthening livelihood security in Tumbesian dry forests

The project aims to strengthen livelihood security and sustainable natural resource management (NRM) among poor and disadvantaged communities in Zapotillo County, Ecuador. This will be achieved through: strengthening the capacity of local community groups to engage more effectively in development processes; improving the technical knowledge and skills of producers and forest resource users to improve incomes and reduce vulnerability to environmental impacts. By improving local organizational capacities based on best practices and applying basic technological and managerial processes, we expect to increase the profits people are making from these activities, whilst at the same time creating a more sustainable relation with the natural resources on which these activities depend. Concretely, supporting the establishment and strengthening of community based organisations organised around areas of interest such as goat rearing, and goat cheese production; Identifying and disseminating new and local traditional ‘best’ practices; setting up demonstration units; establishing a community goat cheese production facility; and accompanying these activities with permanent training in related issues. The project will be undertaken by Nature and Culture International, an Ecuadorian NGO, with support from BirdLife International, in partnership with the Municipality of Zapotillo, other government institutions and NGOs.

The project aims to strengthen livelihood security and sustainable natural resource management (NRM) among poor and disadvantaged communities in Zapotillo County, Ecuador. Most of the people at 15 communities have been trained and are aware of the importance of improving goat rearing practices. Two main issues were addressed: issues related to sanitary management and issues related to sustainable use of forage resources, including to ones used for cattle. Local level agreements regarding forage use and management of domestic animals were designed and discussed. Issues like maximum allowed amounts, rules of grazing, fencing control of logging and animal robbery are being monitored with permanent control rounds along the forest. There are approximately 50 peasants participating in these activities. This cooperation of cattle and goat owners on the use of resources, can be considered as the beginning of a process of local social control which progressively is empowering people oin the sustainable management of natural resources. A goat cheese production facility was constructed in Cabeza de Toro, which was chosen as the model community. Ten goat cheese producers were trained and are now actively participating in cheese production.