ANNEX 11.1: LOGICAL FRAMEWORK MATRIX
Objectives
Indicator
Means of Verification
Assumptions
Development GOAL:
Globally important
biodiversity of the
Andean Paramo
maintained.

Conservation status of a selected group of
biodiverse landscapes (Polylepis scrub, mires,
cushion bogs) in Paramo improved over baseline.

Assessment of Polylepis
scrub, mires and cushion
bogs in a selected series of
sites at start and end of
project
IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVES
Environmental goods
and services in a
network of critical
Paramo sites conserved.

At the end of the project, the area without direct
human impact has stabilized or is larger as compared
to baseline, in all of the project intervention sites.

At the end of the project, activities of low
negative or positive impact on biodiversity are in
execution in human intervened areas in at least twothirds of the project intervention sites.
Replication of project
objectives and best
lessons in other (not
covered by this project)
Paramo sites at Andean
level
 At the end of the project, lessons from the project
on Paramo management, policy development,
capacity building or information management, with
help of external stakeholders and financial resources
have been adopted in at least one other site per
country.
(Objective to Goal)

Conservation status
maps (land use &
biodiversity) of Paramo sites
at start and end of project.

GEF & UNEP
commissioned reviews

Progress reports of
implementation of
management plans at project
sites and others.

Local social and
economic conditions
do not change
dramatically.

Local political
conditions do not
change dramatically.

Sustained
stakeholder interest
and organization

Financial
resources are made
available for Paramo
conservation on mid
and long term
(Outcome to obj.)

Report on
implementation of PMP

Land use maps (year
one, year three and end of
project) of each site.

Statements of
conservation agreements

Surveys among local
stakeholders directed to their
productive activities in year
one, year three and end of
project.

Monitoring of direct and
indirect contributions to
household income in each
project site by means of
household surveys..

Sustained
support from farmer
communities for the
execution of
management plan.

Governments
support enabling
environment.
OUTCOMES
Outcome 1
1.
1. Adequate
2.
conservation friendly
practices for
productive activities,
zoning and
3.
conservation strategies
implemented at nine
Paramo sites
4.
Outputs
1.1 Participative
Management plans
defined and under
implementation
1.2 Formal
conservation
agreements
initiated in all
countries
1.3 Sustainable
management
practices in use by
local stakeholders
A participative management plan agreed by local
stakeholders in all project intervention sites,
three years after the start of the project.
At the end of the project, formal conservation
agreements have initiated in at least half of the
project intervention sites and in at least one site
per country.
At the end of the project, at least 20% of all
production units (farms) of all project
intervention sites are applying novel sustainable
management practices.
At the end of the project, at least 85% of all
production units (farms) that apply novel
sustainable management practices, have received
a positive contribution (monetary and in-kind
income, time savings; increased food security)
Objectives
Outcome 2
Indicator
1.
2. Key conservation
and sustainable use
supporting policies are
accepted at different
2.
governmental levels
and by non
governmental groups
Outputs
3.
2.1 Local policy
instruments agreed
and implemented
2.2 Policy
4.
implementation
initiatives
conducted at
national level
2.3 International plan
of action accepted
2.4 Codes of conduct
functioning in two
productive sectors
1.
Outcome 3
3. Increased technical
capacity of Paramo
inhabitants, field
technicians and local
governmental and
non-governmental
organizations for
Paramo conservation
2.
3.
Outputs
3.1 Management
capacities for three
target groups of
key Paramo
stakeholders
improved
3.2 Exchange of
experiences
between local
stakeholder groups
implemented
3.3 Stakeholders apply
taught management
practices in
productive
activities
Means of Verification
Assumptions
At each of the project intervention sites, policy
instruments (economic, legislative, regulative)
that assure the implementation of management
plans have been agreed upon and implemented
by local and regional stakeholders, three years
after the start of the project.
At the end of the project, in each of the four
countries, at least two initiatives to implement
participatory identified key policies to support
conservation and sustainable use of Paramo are
being conducted.
At the end of the project, an international plan of
action for Paramo has been accepted by the
Andean Community and by the four countries´
environmental authorities.
Codes of conduct for relevant sectors established
and functioning in at least two sectors
(agriculture plus one more).

Documentation on
policy instruments at
different levels (government
decisions, external
evaluation, etc.).

Description of initiatives
at national level to implement
key policies

Decision of CAN on
plan of action for Paramo

Survey of use of
reference text with codes of
conduct for relevant sectors.

Political
commitment of
participating countries
and of CAN is
assured.

Sustained
intersectoral
coordination
A representative set of members of the three
main target groups of the training program have
increased their capacity to sustainably manage
Paramo by at least 50% (scorecard value) after
participation in basic training program.
During the execution of the project, at least half
of the participants in basic capacity programs
have visited other Paramo areas and farmer
communities to interchange experiences at
Andean level.
Identified experiences in Paramo management
with positive environmental impact have been
included or strengthened in daily practice of at
least half of the participants in basic capacity
programs during the project.

Pre and post evaluation
of participants in capacity
building programs with a
tailor made scorecard.

Reports on visits to other
areas by participants in
training program

Target groups survey
(start, mid term and end of
project) about the application
of evaluated experiences.

Target groups of
training program
continue to be related
to Paramo
management at the
sites.
2
Objectives
Outcome 4
Indicator
1.
4. Increased awareness
and information about
the importance of the 2.
Paramo ecosystem
among key decision
makers and the rural
and urban population
3.
related to Paramo
Outputs
4.
4.1 Paramo ecosystem
related subjects
included in
curricula of
relevant education
centers
4.2 Improved
knowledge of
Paramo ecology
and management in
key stakeholders
4.3 Key decision
makers adequately
informed on
Paramo issues
4.4 Paramo
Information
Mechanism is fully
connected to
Clearing House
Mechanisms in the
Andean countries
1.
Outcome 5
5. A replication
strategy of the project
agreed, including its
mechanism for
implementation
Means of Verification
Assumptions
At the end of the project, at least 27 education
centers, related to the project intervention sites
have included formal and non-formal education
projects and activities on the Paramo ecosystem.
At the end of the project, a representative set of
rural and urban population related to Paramo has
increased their knowledge of Paramo ecology
and management by at least 50% (scorecard
value).
Selected groups of key decision makers have
been provided with information responding to
their identified demands during the project.
At the end of the project, the Paramo
Information Mechanism is fully connected to
Clearing House Mechanisms in the Andean
countries.

Pre and post evaluation
of participants in
environmental education
programs (scorecard)

Target groups survey
(start, mid term and end of
project) about use of
information.

Survey of use of Paramo
Information Mechanism at
mid term and end of project.

Monthly count of hits on
website

Collaboration protocol
between PIM and CHM in
each country

Government and
NGO’s support for
and participation in
environmental
education projects.

Increased
awareness results in
better decisions taken.
An institutional alliance consisting of executing
agencies and local stakeholders of the project
and external stakeholders, have adopted a
commonly designed strategy consisting of (1)
lessons identified, (2) a list of potential sites and
stakeholders, and (3) an execution timetable for
replication.

Minutes of meetings of
institutional alliances.

Interinstitutional
agreements on replication
strategy.

External
stakeholders are
successful in
generating financial
support for their
activities.

Agencies and
institutions whose
actions can potentially
affect Paramo
biodiversity assimilate
lessons from project.
Costs (PRELIMINARY)
(from Activities to
Outcome)
Outputs
5.1 Best lessons, sites
and stakeholders
identified and
implementation
timetable for
replication
finalized
Activities
Means
3
1.1. Inter-Sectoral Implementation Units, including
local
stakeholders,
develop
participatory
management plans.
1.2. Fill knowledge gaps to support the decision
making of land use activities in management plans.
1.3. Execute projects for the protection of wellconserved areas and the recuperation of degraded
areas
1.4. Execute projects that guarantee and enhance
income to the local inhabitants of project sites by
sustainable production.
2,30 mln $
2.1. Develop and implement a policy, legislative
and regulatory framework at different governmental
levels, to support the implementation of
management plans at all project intervention sites.
2.2. Develop and promote policy instruments
(economical, legislative, regulative) that assure the
implementation of management plans.
2.3. Develop and negotiate an Action Plan for the
conservation of Paramo at Andean level, within the
framework of Decision 523.
2.4. Within national institutional platforms, identify
key policies to support conservation and sustainable
use of Paramo and conduct initiatives for their
implementation.
2.5. Develop and promote codes of conduct for
relevant sectors (agriculture, tourism, mining,
public works, etc.).
3.1. With participation of key actors, develop and
execute a training program directed towards the
main and complementary target groups of the
project, in fundamental aspects of Paramo
management, which includes ancestral, traditional
and local knowledge, and participatory action
research techniques.
3.2. Execute a program for identification,
compilation and interchange of experiences at local,
national and Andean level.
4.1. Develop and execute a formal environmental
education program directed at students and teachers
of the educational institutions of Paramo areas.
4.2. Develop and execute a non-formal
environmental education program dedicated to local
stakeholders in Paramo areas.
0,68 mln $
4.3. Execute a public awareness campaign about the
conservation and sustainable use of Paramo.
0,40 mln $
4.4. Collect and analyze adequate information to
support decision making in Paramo.
0,87 mln $
4.5. Create and administrate a Paramo Information
Mechanism at Andean level
0,57 mln $
5.1. Create and operate an institutional alliance
consisting of executing agencies, local stakeholders
of the project and external stakeholders
(governmental and non governmental).
5.2. Identify lessons, potential sites, stakeholders
and a timetable for execution of replication.
5.3. Support the implementation of replication
activities in other sites with other stakeholders
1,69 mln $
1,41 mln $
3,32 mln $

Land owners
(farmer communities)
collaborate with
implementation of
PMP during project
execution.
2,15 mln $
0,59 mln $
0,29 mln $
0,68 mln $

Political will at
local level

Effectiveness of
inter-sectoral
coordination

Countries accept
CAN decisions.

Effectiveness of
inter-sectoral
coordination.
0,24 mln $
1,254 mln $
0,49 mln $
1,08 mln $
0,28 mln $
1,07 mln $
2,37 mln $
4

Participants of
main target groups
comply with
minimum education
level

Local groups are
willing to share
traditional knowledge.

Collaboration of
communication
media.

Institutions that
possess information
on Paramo are willing
to share.

CHM are
operational in each
country

Agencies and
institutions whose
actions can potentially
affect Paramo are
willing to participate
in alliance.
ANNEX 11.2: INCREMENTAL COST ANALYSIS
1. National Development Objectives
All four participating countries (Colombia, Ecuador, Perú and Venezuela) have ratified the CBD. They
are also members of the Andean Community (CAN) which has set forth Decision 523 (D523) “Regional
Biodiversity Strategy for the Tropical Andean Countries” as an officially binding resolution. D523 draws
from the national strategy documents of all Andean Countries thus identifying Paramo as a priority transboundary ecosystem requiring regional cooperation on biodiversity conservation and sustainable use
initiatives. For further information on respective national agendas on biodiversity please refer to section
1.2. Country Ownership.
2. Scope of análisis
The scope of analysis of the baseline scenario and the GEF alternative covers the timeframe of the fullscale project (6 years). Geographically, the scope of the analysis comprises the boundaries of the Andean
Paramo ecosystem covering parts of (N to S) Venezuela’s, Colombia’s, Ecuador’s and Northern Peru’s
mountain systems, as described in section 1.3 Biodiversity Significance.
3. Baseline
Paramo development issues occupy an important place in all four country’s baseline agendas, receiving
funding from local, national and even sub-regional budgets as well as NGO’s and international
organizations. These activities will continue irrespective of GEF financing. A summary of the initiatives
that are complementary to the project’s objectives and activities follows:
3.1 Sustainable management of the Paramo and its areas of influence
A vast number of initiatives including regional action plans, research activities, and poverty alleviation
programs, among others, contribute to the improvement of local livelihoods and natural resource
management in the Paramo areas of the four participating countries. Venezuela has the largest number of
initiatives, while Colombia ranks the highest in terms of actual resource allocation. Each of the project
countries invest significant resources in activities related to agricultural development, gender issues, and
livelihood enhancement programs for local stakeholders, among other related issues. The total estimated
baseline investment in Paramo areas in the four participating countries amounts to US$ 4,949,822. While
constituting a notable contribution to the project’s objectives, these plans will, however, generally work in
an isolated manner and often have narrow sectoral approaches. Furthermore, even though some address
environmental issues, these are primarily geared towards poverty alleviation and food security, thereby
lacking the necessary integration and approach to render globally significant benefits.
3.2 Policy development and advocacy
The baseline investment in issues contributing to the project’s objectives in this area is comprised of
national initiatives that include water laws, legislation to establish a Paramo biosphere reserve, financial
and tax incentive schemes to promote Paramo conservation, promotion of inter-sectoral coordination for
biodiversity conservation, national policies and instruments for Paramo biodiversity management,
biodiversity related laws for fragile ecosystems, decentralization and local government strengthening
programs, environmental law projects for indigenous groups, ecologic/economic zoning studies as well as
sub-regional initiatives dealing with agrobiodiversity and bio-commerce, to name but a few. The baseline
expenditure estimated for policy and legislation related issues in Paramo, amounts to US$ 2,826,425.
Even though this represents a considerable investment, these efforts are not sufficient to overcome weak
inter-sectoral policy coordination, disarticulation of local, regional and national planning and the lack of
policies and policy instruments as well as the lack of an effective conservation strategy and international
5
cooperation for border crossing ecosystems and international watersheds. Thus these issues still constitute
legislative barriers impeding proper Paramo management with an integral ecosystem approach.
3.3 Training and capacity building
The estimated baseline expenditures for capacity building related activities in the Paramo areas of the four
participating countries amount to US$ 2,776,230. These include principally community strengthening
programs and issues dealing with productive activities and natural resources management at a local level.
They do not however sufficiently address aspects of ecosystem management with a comprehensive view
for Paramo resources management, or capacity building to support decision-making at national or
institutional level.
3.4 Information and communication
Baseline activities considered under this subject include education programs in broad environmental
issues, vegetation, water and wildlife conservation, as well as applied principles to promote improved
livelihoods for Paramo inhabitants. A number of research activities related to natural resources in general,
biodiversity and water quality also contribute to project objectives. The total estimated expenditures for
these baseline activities amount to US$ 3,041,043. Even though they address very specific issues and
contribute to natural resource as well as biodiversity conservation, they lack the necessary inputs to
adequately promote education of key stakeholders including local, national and regional players in
Paramo conservation issues with an integrated ecosystem perspective. Furthermore, there is insufficient
adequate information to support decision making in Paramo and the existing information is not properly
disseminated to reach key decision makers. In combination with low public awareness about the
importance of conserving this marginalized ecosystem, this precludes commensurate action for proper
conservation of Paramo resources including biodiversity.
3.5 Replication
Estimated baseline expenditures amounting to US$ 1,890,000 have been identified under this subject,
including isolated efforts in water resources management, environmental research and specific evaluation
studies. However an initiative to systematically identify and record lessons learned and best practices and
a replication strategy as such to achieve a multiplication effect of the impact of successful Paramo
conservation initiatives is lacking.
4. GEF Alternative:
The proposed GEF Alternative will complement ongoing baseline activities and will leverage cofinancing to achieve project objectives. Project outcomes under the GEF Alternative comprise the
following:
4.1 Adequate conservation friendly practices for productive activities, zoning and conservation
strategies implemented at nine Paramo sites
The project will design and implement Participatory Management Plans (PMP) for Paramo conservation
and sustainable land use in nine PIS, to include zoning, protection, managing and restoration of key
Paramo sites and contamination control mechanisms. Within these plans, strengthened local stakolders’
alliances will implement and oversee sustainable production projects drawing from a catalogue of
approved low impact income generating activities such as conservation and natural sustainable resource
management projects, projects for improving living conditions and social organization strengthening
projects. The project will contribute to protecting natural resources in key areas and restoring ecosystem
functions and biodiversity in degraded areas of the Paramo ecosystem, thereby also strengthening the
natural base of income generation for Paramo inhabitants. These activities complement the existing
baseline activities and are required to achieve global benefits.
6
The cost of the increment for Component 1 amounts to US$ 7,928,828 of which US$ 3,334,233 is GEF
and US$ 4,594,594 is co-financing.
4.2 Key conservation and sustainable use supporting policies are accepted at different
governmental levels and by non governmental groups
The project will help to identify and promote formal and informal policy options, alternatives and
instruments at local, regional, national and ecoregional level, to support an ecoregional policy strategy for
Paramo conservation and sustainable use. Therefore the project will support local stakeholders' alliances
and environmental authorities in all four countries to identify, develop and implement an appropriate
policy, legislative and regulatory framework at different governmental levels (local, subnational,
national). In support of inter-sectoral coordination in the political framework, codes of conduct for sectors
such as agriculture, mining, forestry, tourism and infrastructure will be developed. The project will
support a Paramo expert within the environmental authority at national level and together with the
Secretary General of the Andean Community (CAN) it will develop and implement a Plan of Action for
the conservation of Paramo at Andean level. These activities are necessary to create a supporting policy
environment for adequate Paramo management. They are complementary to the ongoing baseline and
required to achieve global benefits.
The cost of the increment for Component 2 amounts to US$ 2,177,879 of which US$ 1,542,950 is GEF
and US$ 634,930 is co-financing.
4.3 Increased technical capacity of Paramo inhabitants, field technicians and local governmental
and non-governmental organizations for Paramo conservation
Following a previous requirement assessment, the project will implement an Andean regional training
program consisting of a series of short courses for three target stakeholder groups to improve technical
capacities in biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of the Paramo among farmers, field
practitioners and local decision makers. The project will also execute an experience exchange plan
between stakeholders of different areas to strengthen the farmer-to-farmer approach. The project will
furthermore identify and compile experiences in Paramo management, including the analysis, application
and publication of ancestral and traditional knowledge, as well as the identification and diffusion of
demonstration experiences in the field. These initiatives will complement ongoing capacity building
baseline activities and are necessary to achieve globally significant biodiversity conservation goals.
The cost of the increment for Component 3 amounts to US$ 2,014,247 of which US$ 1,159,751 is GEF
and US$ 854,496 is co-financing.
4.4 Increased awareness and information about the importance of the Paramo ecosystem among
key decision makers and the rural and urban population related to Paramo
The project will inform key decision makers and the general public about the biodiversity and economic
value of the Paramo using three complementary education strategies tailored to their respective target
groups. Thereby it will assure that Paramo ecosystem related subjects are included in curricula of relevant
education centers, key stakeholders improve their knowledge of Paramo ecology and management and
key decision makers are adequately informed on Paramo issues. These initiatives will be further
supported by the implementation of a Paramo Information Mechanism, which will be connected to
Clearing House Mechanisms in the Andean countries. These activities are complementary to the existing
baseline initiatives and all necessary for the conservation of globally significant biodiversity.
The total cost of the increment for Component 4 amounts to US$ 3,715,241 of which US$ 1,545,048 is
GEF and US$ 2,170,193 is co-financing.
4.5 A replication strategy of the project agreed, including its mechanism for implementation
7
The project will develop and implement a replication strategy to multiply the impact of its most effective
interventions and lessons. Paramo working groups will be strengthened and new ones created, rendering a
replication platform to support this objective. Thus best lessons in Paramo management and biodiversity
conservation will be exported to other Paramo sites. These activities are complementary to the existing
baseline initiatives and required to achieve benefits of global significance.
The total cost of the increment for Component 5 is US$ 2,859,109 of which US$ 609,868 is GEF and
US$ 2,249,241 is co-financing.
5. Incremental Costs of the Alternative
The total estimated value of the baseline amounts to US$ 15,483,520. The sum of all contributions to the
GEF alternative (baseline + GEF + co-financing) totals US$ 34,178,823. The difference between the
alternative and the baseline amounts to US$ 18,695,304, which represents the total incremental cost of
assuring globally significant environmental benefits. This will be funded by a GEF contribution of US$
8,191,850 and by non-GEF sources in the form of co-financing in the amount of US$ 10,503,454.
Incremental Cost Matrix
Outcome
1. Adequate
conservation friendly
practices for
productive activities,
zoning and
conservation
strategies
implemented at nine
Paramo sites
Cost Category
Baseline
Alternative
2. Key conservation
and sustainable use
supporting policies
are accepted at
different
governmental levels
and by non
governmental groups
US$ million
4,949,822
12,878,650
Increment
Of which:
7,928,828
Non GEF
For details refer to
co-financing table
GEF
4,594,594
Baseline
Domestic Benefit
Present scenario of
individual projects
with local focus
contributes to
improve livelihoods
of stakeholders, yet
is not sufficient to
avoid encroachment
in pristine Paramo,
including protected
areas
Improved Paramo
management
integrates socio
economic activities
with natural resource
conservation,
rendering more
sustainable
livelihoods whilst
protecting natural
resources
Global Benefit
Present land use
scenario and
economic activities
of local stakeholders
still compromises
globally significant
biodiversity in
Paramo
Segregated sectoral
policy approach
resolves individual
development aspects
but is inadequate for
an integrated
conservation of
mountain
ecosystems
Present policy
framework does not
constitute an
adequate scenario for
the conservation of
globally significant
biodiversity
Improved Paramo
management allows
for sustainable
conservation of
globally significant
Biodiversity
3,334,233
2,826,425
8
Alternative
Increment
Of which:
Non GEF
For details refer to
co-financing table
GEF
3. Increased
technical capacity of
Paramo inhabitants,
field technicians and
local governmental
and nongovernmental
organizations for
Paramo conservation
Baseline
Alternative
Increment
Of which:
Non GEF
For details refer to
co-financing table
GEF
4. Increased
awareness and
information about
the importance of the
Paramo ecosystem
among key decision
makers and the rural
Baseline
5,004,305
Integrated, crosssectoral policy and
regulatory
framework at local,
regional, national
and ecoregional level
supports the
implementation of
PMP, considering
social and cultural
aspects of the
Paramo inhabitants
Integral ecosystem
approach for
conservation policy
development allows
for improved
conservation of
globally significant
biodiversity of
Paramo
Limited baseline
programs to foster
expertise and
capacity at the
individual,
community and
institutional level to
conserve and
manage Paramo
contribute to sustain
local livelihoods
Limited baseline
programs to foster
expertise and
capacity at the
individual,
community and
institutional level to
conserve and
manage Paramo are
insufficient to render
environmental
benefits
Strengthened
capacities in Paramo
management
contribute to the
preservation of
globally significant
Paramo biodiversity
2,177,879
634,930
1,542,950
2,776,230
4,790,476
Strengthened
capacities in Paramo
management
contribute to
improve natural
resource
conservation as a
basis for more
sustainable local
livelihoods
2,014,247
854,496
1,159,751
3,041,043
9
Baseline provides
limited education
and information
programs addressing
Paramo ecosystem
conservation
Present baseline
scenario in terms of
education and
information
programs provides
only limited global
benefits.
and urban population
related to Paramo
6,756,284
Alternative
Increment
Of which:
Environmental
education and
awareness raising
programs, supported
by a Paramo
Information System,
fosters better
stewardship of the
ecosystem leading to
improved livelihoods
Environmental
education and
awareness raising
programs, supported
by a Paramo
Information System,
contribute to
globally significant
biodiversity
conservation
The current baseline
in terms of
information
exchange mostly
from studies and
research projects
provides limited
national benefits
An adequate
replication strategy
multiplies the
national benefits
arising from the
improvement of the
natural resource base
to other areas.
The present baseline
in terms of
replication of best
practices in critical
Paramo sites does
not provide
significant global
benefits.
Conservation of
globally significant
biodiversity is
systematically
extended to Paramo
areas beyond the PIS
3,715,241
Non GEF
For details refer to
co-financing table
2,170,193
GEF
5. A replication
strategy of the
project agreed,
including its
mechanism for
implementation
1,545,048
Baseline
1,890,000
4,749,109
Alternative
TOTAL
Increment
Of which:
2,859,109
Non GEF
For details refer to
co-financing table
GEF
2,249,241
609,868
Baseline
15,483,520
34,178,823
Alternative
Increment
Of which
18,695,304
10,503,454
Non GEF
8,191,850
GEF
Co-financing detail by Component and Contributing Institution (US$ 1000)
Components
1
2
3
4
10
5
Adefor
Altropico
Aspaderuc
Cedepas
Cepdif
CIP
CI
Corantioquia
Corpoboyacá
Corpochivor
CVC
EcoCiencia
Gob Cajamarca
Grupo
Randi
Randi
GTPL
GTZ
ICGH
MARN
Moore
Foundation
Probona
TNC
UICN
ULA-CINVIV
U. A’rdam
U. Wisconsin
WWF
Total
Operative/adm
inistrative
Altropico
Condesan
EcoCiencia
GTPL
ICAE
TMI
UICN
U. Amsterdam
U. Wisconsin
Sub-Total
Total
300,000
24,000
9,000
50,000
160,000
786,255
400,000
298,380
63,939
76,726
34,101
65,000
20,800
Altropico
EcoCiencia
CGIAB
TNC
WWF
14,000
65,000
100,000
300,000
82,000
Altropico
CAMAREN
Cedepas
Cepeser
EcoCiencia
EcoPar
GTZ
Probona
12,000
150,000
41,000
12,000
50,000
350,000
100,000
40,000
Altropico
CIP
GTZ
TNC
U. A’dam
WWF
18,000
420,000
50,000
200,000
1,124,500
105,000
125,000
12,000
150,000
133,200
14,309
Altropico
CESA
Cotopaxi
Corpei
Eco-Ciencia
FAO
FAN
FONAG
GTPL
GTZ
Probona
TNC
ULA-CINVIV
U.
Amsterdam
Vision
Mundial
WWF
4,000
100,000
30,000
60,000
309,000
24,390
500,000
135,000
5,000
100,000
25,000
500,000
50,000
6,500
18,454
120,000
0
20,000
505,900
50,000
180,000
156,000
225,000
200,000
4,059,610
38,494
81,363
218,718
5,249
91,862
39,369
20,997
17,060
21,872
513,113
4,594,595
Total
561,000
Total
755,000
5,320
11,244
30,225
725
12,694
5,440
2,902
2,358
3,022
70,907
634,930
7,159
15,132
40,677
976
17,084
7,322
3,905
3,173
4,068
95,428
854,496
11
Total
1,917,500
18,182
38,431
103,309
2,479
43,390
18,596
9,918
8,058
10,331
242,362
2,170,193
Total
1,987,344
18,845
39,831
107,071
2,570
44,970
19,273
10,279
8,352
10,707
251,190
2,249,241
ANNEX 11.3: ENDORSEMENTS
12
13
14
15
ANNEX 11.4: SITE SELECTION, DESCRIPTION AND ACTION PLAN DEVELOPMENT
Site selection process
This project concentrates its activities in a series of critical but representative Paramo sites, in four
countries and includes two trans-boundary sites. These Project Intervention Sites (PIS) were selected
during the PDF-B phase in a process with international, national and local stakeholders, including the
focal points.
The selection process was carried out in by local (farmer) organizations and NGOs as well as with
national and regional institutions, coordinated by the National Executing Agency. First, at national level a
short list of critical Paramo areas was selected by the national executing agency in coordination with the
GEF focal point and with the other country members of the coordination committee of the PDF-B to
assure an international adjustment among sites. The project developed a short list of approximately 20
sites that were visited and local organizations contacted. Together with international, national and local
stakeholders, a final selection was undertaken in order to maintain a maximum of ten sites. To assure the
selection of an illustrative set of sites that represent the biological and cultural diversity and the diversity
in conservation status of the Paramos in the Andes and for assuring the opportunity of replication of the
results to other Paramo areas, the following criteria were used and weighted:










Biological diversity (richness, uniqueness)
General geographical and biological importance
Conservation status
Socioeconomic y cultural diversity
Extension of Paramo area within site
Cultural significance
Land tenure situation
Threats on biodiversity and ecosystem integrity
Source of important water resources (drinking water, irrigation, major watersheds)
Relationship with protected areas
To assure an effective implementation of the project, the following additional criteria were applied






Availability of information
Accessibility
Organizational basis for project implementation
Institutional basis for project implementation
Presence of strategic projects for collaboration
General feasibility (political situation, social instability, safety)
The selection process resulted in nine PIS, two of which were deliberately selected in trans-boundary
areas within the designated Frontier Integration Zones (Zonas de Integración Fronteriza, ZIF): Loja-Piura
(Peru-Ecuador) and Chiles (Ecuador-Colombia)1. Other sites are: Tuñame and Gavidia (Venezuela),
Rabanal and Belmira (Colombia), Zuleta-Mojanda and LLangahua (Ecuador) and Cajamarca (Perú). A
pristine area in Colombia (El Duende) will be included as a reference site for research and comparison.
1
No trans-boundary site between Venezuela and Colombia was selected, due to the difficult public order situation here.
16
Normally, the sites included or limited to a protected area of different category (national park, ecological
reserve, forest reserve, indigenous reserve, etc.)
All the PIS together contain most major ecological formations, cultural diversity and threats to Paramo
integrity. A second immediate objective of the project is the replication of the lessons from these sites to
other sites (outscaling) and levels (upscaling). Herewith, the replication approach is transversally and
vertically included in the project. Outscaling and upscaling will be governed by formal and informal
replication mechanisms. First, stakeholders from other Paramo sites (farmers, local NGOs) and from other
levels (provincial governments, national NGOs) will be directly involved with the training and
environmental education program at the PIS to allow for major participation and interchange of
experiences. With these stakeholders, an informal relationship will be established, to support them to
implement lessons from this project at their sites and levels. Formal replication mechanisms exist of
collaboration agreements with other projects, other sectors and, especially, national and international
governmental agencies to support the inclusion of lessons at the PIS in international and national multi
sectoral policies. Finally, the Paramo Information Mechanism (PIM) that the project will develop allows
for broad involvement of different stakeholders and informal exchange of best lessons.
Stakeholder participation and action plan development.
Upon site selection, local stekeholders were invited to work in a local alliance to elaborate a Plan of
Action for on-site activities in a participatory way. First, an NGO and/or a local governmental agency
with local activities in environmental themes was invited to coordinate the process (site coordinators).
One or two farmer communities that possess larger amounts of Paramo within the areas (typically
between 100 and 1000 has; including farming area and relatively conserved area) were selected and
invited to act as main beneficiaries of the on-site process. Finally other NGOs and GOs at local and
regional level and (in some cases) production groups or private companies were included in the alliance to
support the Plan of Action development.
During the site intervention process in PDF-B, a fully participatory approach was followed, through
which an Action Plan was developed based on the present knowledge and necessities of local farmer
communities, NGOs, local governments and other stakeholders. Herewith, the local institutional basis for
Paramo conservation was reaffirmed.
This local process first provided a joint characterization of stakeholders and the formation of strategic
alliances. Together with them, a common vision was developed. This common vision responded to
questions such as: What is our goal? What do we want to do? How will we do this? and, What is our
general philosophy? After this, a general description of the area was made by inhabitants supported by the
site coordination and NEA. This description serves as baseline assessment at site level. The information
collected during this characterization was:
 Geographical information on the site and/or community (name, formal status, geographic
position, area)
 Population information (history, ethnics, important facts and dates, # population, distribution of
population, work, income, housing, schooling, roads)
 Paramo Resources (flora, fauna, crops, pastures, water, soils, climate surface area, conflicts)
 General land use and land tenure (present activities, potential activities, land tenure, access rights,
problems, conflicts, possible solutions)
 Use of water (type -consumption, irrigation, electricity-, participants, organization, distribution,
rights/conflicts)
 Crops and Livestock (type, intensity, trends, profit)
 Use of biodiversity ((type, intensity, trends, profit)
17
 Other uses (forestry, mining, tourism)
 Social organization (internal organization, political organization)
 External organizations and projects present in area (including investments)
After this, an Action Plan was developed in a series of meetings with all stakeholders. The Action Plan
contains:








Main problems, and their associated threats and opportunities
General objectives of the action plan
Project goals (outcomes or specific objectives)
Strategies to obtain goals
Activities pertaining to strategies
Responsible organization(s)
Estimated time of execution
Estimated budget
Short Site description:
Tuñame (Venezuela)
The Paramo of Pajarito-Arenales (2526 ha) is located in Sierra de Trujillo, in the Parish of Tuñame of the
Municipality of Urdaneta (State Trujillo). The area borders the “Teta of Niquitao” and “Guirigay”
National Monuments and “Sierra de la Culata” National Park. The Paramo occupies the higher part of the
watershed of Quebrada de Tuñame. The elevations are between 2900 and 3820 m. It is a relatively dry
area (approx. 760 mm). Water drains partly through Pueblo Llano and the Boconó River towards the
Orinoco Plains and through the Tuñame and the Motatán River towards the Lake Maracaibo watershed.
Most of the soils in the area are inceptisols with an organic horizon with depths between 20 and 60 cm.
There are diverse vegetation formations, including some of the most characteristic of the Andean Paramo
in Venezuela (3000-4000 m) such as the open rosette vegetation, rosettes and shrubs and tall shrubs in the
lower areas. The total number of species of vascular plants identified in the area so far is 124, which
represents 5% of the flora of the Paramos of Venezuela. In the area there are numerous wetland areas,
strategic environments for the storage and regulation of hydrologic dynamics, with characteristic plant
diversity and important as forage for livestock in most of these areas.
The agriculture in the area presents different grades of intensity and goes from an intensive system with
irrigation to a system with 3 year-old fallow periods or more. The area can be divided into three areas
according to their height and the accessibility to water sources: the low area (approximately 2900-3300
m) with irrigation and intensive agriculture with 2-3 harvest per year; the middle area (3150-3300 m) with
little irrigation and a single crop per year, and the high areas (3300-3600 m) where estates are larger and
the agriculture is practiced with fallow periods. The main crop is potato, rotated with carrot in irrigated
places. The cultivation of garlic was introduced about 5 years ago by external producers, but nowadays it
is not sown in large extensions due to fungal problems. Cattle raising seems to have been a very important
activity in the area until recent times. Due to the change in land use in the high areas and the drainage of
swamps, the number of animals seems to have diminished recently. Cop marketing presents a problem for
small producers since middlepersons do not arrive to their property and they have to take it to urban
centers (e.g. Valera) paying the freight.
The community in the area has a low population density and is dispersed. The total population is 975
inhabitants, 53% are 20 or younger, only 5% are senior citizens. Fifty seven percent of the population has
basic education; the index of literacy is 81%. Forty percent is devoted to the main economic activity, i.e.
18
agriculture. In the area there are 209 housings and only 48% of these are in good physical condition. The
main road for the population of Tuñame is the Trasandina Highway.
Gavidia (Venezuela)
The Paramo of Gavidia (6030 ha) is located in the Sierra Nevada de Mérida, in the Municipality of
Rangel of the State of Mérida. The area lies within the Sierra Nevada National Park and has been
classified as “area of autochthonous population use.” The community of Gavidia is a rural establishment
in which three main sectors are located: Gavidia, Micarache and Las Piñuelas. It is made up of two large
glacier valleys and several lateral hanging valleys between 3200 m and 4300 m. The mean annual rainfall
is moderate (approx. 1320 mm). The water courses originate in numerous marshy and swampy areas. In
the high areas there are more than 12 lakes that cover a total surface of 57 ha. The area drains through the
Quebrada de Gavidia towards the Chamá River, part of the Maracaibo lake watershed. The soils studied
are inceptisols (Ustic Humiptropet) with an organic horizon that reaches 50 cm of depth. The Paramo of
Gavidia presents a great diversity of vegetation formations, including some of the most characteristic of
the Andean Paramo in Venezuela (3000-4000 m; rosettes-tussocks, rosettes-shrubs and tall shrubs). The
total number of vascular plants identified so far is about 210 species, which represent 10% of the flora of
the Paramos of Venezuela. As for fauna, local people recognize 11 species of mammals, several of them
in a vulnerable state or in danger, such as cougar and limpet (Agouti taczanowskii).
The agricultural system of the area is a system of long fallow periods for the cultivation of commercial
potato, closely tied to a system of extensive cattle raising. The agricultural area covers 18% of the total
surface (6030 ha). The parcels after potato cultivation are also used for shepherding and for firewood
extraction. Recently, the system has been suffering a series of transformation tendencies towards
intensification, with a reduction or elimination of fallow times, the installation of an n irrigation system
that serves the lower areas of the valley of Piñuelas and the introduction of crops such as carrots and
garlic. In the extensive cattle raising system in the area, most of the animals are left in the Paramos out of
the cultivation area and the breeding cows are brought down to the housing area for milking. The bovine
load in the agricultural belt is approximately 0.13 heads for hectare. The system with long fallow periods
allows the maintenance of a high space diversity at a landscape scale, but a reduction of the times of
fallow and an expansion of the agricultural frontier could have negative effects on the maintenance of the
diversity of the vegetation of the Paramos.
The community in study is characterized by a low population density. The total population is 360
inhabitants most of them of school age (40% < 14 years). Fifty five percent of the population has primary
education and the index of literacy is 84%. In the study area, there are 69 housings, 70% in regular to bad
condition. The index of accumulation is high (63%). The main access road to the town of Gavidia is an
asphalted road asphalted in good condition that connects to the Trasandina highway.
Rabanal (Colombia)
The Rabanal Massif has an approximate area of 17.567 ha and is located in areas surrounding the
cundiboyacense highlands in the municipalities of Guachetá, Lenguazaque and Villa Pinzón in the
department of Cundinamarca, and Ventaquemada, Samacá and Ráquira in the department of Boyacá. The
waters generated are part of the basins of the Magdalena and Orinoco rivers through the Garagoa river,
which provides water to La Esmeralda reservoir of the Chivor Hydroelectric Power station (one of the
main producers of local electric power), and the basins that feed the Fúquene lake. This Paramo also
supplies water to the Teatinos reservoir that provides water to the aqueduct of Tunja (a city of 130.000
inhabitants) and 50.000 people in other municipalities. Rabanal produces water for the Gachaneca I and II
19
reservoirs, which irrigate more than 1'000.000 ha of this region, as well as for 92 local aqueducts. In the
Paramo of Rabanal, natural high Andean ecosystems still persist: frailejonales (Espeletia Paramo), peat
wetlands and high grasslands. The compositional changes can be evidenced by the presence of numerous
fragments of secondary formations, with the presence of islands or fragments of more mature formations.
Most of their current biodiversity (Paramo and subParamo vegetation), lingers in a few areas surrounded
by grasses, with a landscape made up of vegetation formations with a prevalence of secondary dynamics,
with multiple patches of different ages and different transformation types (burning, slash, cultivation,
grasses, shepherding, among others). Forty seven wetlands have been identified in the area of influence
(ca. 1.400 ha) including peat-bogs, swamps and lakes, and reservoirs. There is also a significant quantity
of desiccated wetlands (7% of the total). They were dried up mostly for agricultural and intensive potato
cultivation. The present forests show a prevalence of secondary formations (stubbles) with encenillales
(Weinmaniatum), gacales (Clusietum) and oak groves (Quercetum). The fauna is scarce apparently due to
intense and frequent hunting in the whole region, although there are evidences of curíes (Cavia
porcellus), possibly armadillos (Dasypus novemcintus), Guaches (Nassuella olivacea) or Faras
(Didelphus albiventris), rabbits (Silvilagus brasiliensis), squirrels (Sciurus granatensis), some mice,
shrews and hawks (Falconiformes) and eagles (Geranoaetus melanoleucus meridensis) as the most
remarkable fauna.
The population of the region of Paramo de Rabanal is mainly rural, and inhabits primarily lower altitude
areas but possesses also Paramo lands, dedicating these estates to agriculture and the almost exclusive
cultivation of potato, rotating this crop with grasses. In the region, made up by five municipalities, there
are 61.397 people and the population inhabiting the veredas that are directly inside the area of
environmental management is 10.304 people, of which less than 500 live directly in the Paramo. In the
massif, there are activities related to coal mining, mainly extraction and coking, activities that link this
area to an increasingly growing population nucleus. The main problem identified by the inhabitants of the
region is the water-related conflicts, mainly in the northern and western sub-humid slopes of the massif.
As a result of the conflicting conditions of water management that comes from the massif, an inadequate
use of the water has developed in its entire periphery. The coke production in the Paramo of Rabanal is
one of the highest-impact activities on natural resources, mainly on water. There are no environmental
plans at mining level. 3.500 to 5.000 ha of the Paramo de Rabanal have been intervened with potato
cultivations, and 6000 to 9000 ha have cattle-related activities including bovines for meat and milk) and
sheep in a smaller proportion. One of the main impacts on the area is fire. There are 4000 ha of
reforestation with Pinus patula in different areas of Paramo, such as the Gachaneca I and II reservoirs. In
the forest remnants of Paramo de Rabanal, there are also human activities that generate an impact on the
natural environment, among them livestock shepherding inside the forests, expansion to the forest of
potato cultivation, elaboration of coal from oak wood and the extraction of posts for fences. The Paramo
de Rabanal is altered by the construction of roads and other infrastructural development, promoted by
Municipal Governments and private owners.
Within Rabanal lies the Robledal Forest Preserve with 400 hectares between the municipalities of Ráquira
and Guachetá, close to the Lake of Fúquene. On the southwest side of the Rabanal massif lies the forest
preserve Paramo of Rabanal (2.681 have).
Belmira (Colombia)
The System of High Andean Paramos and Forests of Middle Northwestern Antioquia is located on a high
plateau of the Colombian central mountain range, with a maximum height of 3.350 and a minimum one of
2.400 m, 70 km. north of Medellín, capital of the Department of Antioquia. The area of Belmira (19.630
ha) mainly occupies part of the municipalities of Belmira and San José de la Montaña, and also part of
Entrerríos, San Pedro de los Milagros and San Andrés de Cuerquia, mainly in the area of the northern
20
Antioquia Highland, and small areas of the municipalities of Sabanalarga, Liborina, Olaya, San Jerónimo
and Sopetrán, the latter in the Cauca river canyon, in the western area of the System. It conserves plant
populations and representative animals of high mountain ecosystems, important from an environmentaloffer point of view, for the area contains a dense hydrological net born in the local Paramos and forests,
which functions regulating rain water and receiving the humid fronts, common in the Andean ecosystems,
and providing water for basic necessities of approximately 64.000 inhabitants of the urban and rural areas
of 11 municipalities, located in the north highland and in the area of West on the canyon of the river
Cauca, and a population of 980.000 of the Metropolitan Area of the Valley of Aburrá, connected to the
multiple-use system of Río Grande ll, that also uses water for hydropower in Tasajeras and Niquía,
generating 3% of the local energy. From a productive point of view, the area supplies water to large
extensions dedicated to milk cattle raising in the area of the north highland of Antioquia and to the coffee
and agricultural system of the oriental hillside of the Cauca canyon.
In general, the economy in the area is based on dairy production in the highland and interior valleys of the
system and, in a smaller scale, on pork and trout. In the western flank, on the river Cauca basin’s nearby
areas, the economy is based on dairy production in the high parts and coffee in the middle area. There are
also small staple cultivations and extensive marginal cattle raising. According to 2002 annual statistics,
the percentage of unsatisfied basic necessities for the area that covers ten municipalities is 32%, which
denotes low habitation quality, low coverage of sanitary services, especially sewer systems, and little
access to road infrastructure and services. The education level is low, with high-school levels with
agricultural and teaching emphasis in the urban nuclei of the ten municipalities, in three corregimientos of
six and one in a vereda of 42, which are inside the area of influence of the system. The residents of the
area of the northern highland come mainly from the West and the Southwest of Antioquia, and the Valley
of Aburrá, who, attracted by the current gold rush in the region, settled in the area, establishing a
conjugation of different cultures, including Afro-American communities, characterized by the
conformation of a nuclear rooted family, typical of the Andean area.
In 1998, the Regional Autonomous Corporation of the Center of Antioquia, CORANTIOQUIA, defined
and zoned an area of 34.358,74 hectares in the Systems of Paramos and High Andean Forests of the
Middle Northwest of Antioquia, aiming at declaring it a Protected Area, but to date the administrative act
of declaration has not been signed declaring it a District of Integrated Management (DMI), and
Management Plan has been formulated to plan and regulate the use and management of natural resources
and the economic, educational, scientific and recreational activities that are developed as a conservation
strategy.
Chiles (Colombia-Ecuador)
The Paramos around the Chiles volcano on the Colombia-Ecuador border (ca. 15500 ha) connect the
Chiles indigenous territory (Colombia) and the El Angel Ecological Reserve (Ecuador). It is the
southernmost extension of Paramos where giant rosettes of the genus Espeletia dominate the vegetation
structure. The area is relatively wet (1000 mm) and has deep soils of volcanic origin (organic layer up to
150 cm). This Paramo area supplies water to one of the most intensive potato growing areas in the
Northern Andes (Carchi-Nariño) and to watersheds that drain towards the Amazon Basin (via the
Putumayo river and the Carchi and Guaitara rivers). The area is currently suffering from the side effects
of the armed conflict in Colombia (migrations, illicit crops, large military presence). The project
developed two Action Plans in this area, one at the Colombian side (Chiles territory) and one at the
Ecuadorian side (Comuna La Esperanza).
The Colombian portion of the Paramo de Chiles is located in the South of the Department of Nariño,
Municipality of Cumbal, Indigenous Territory of Chiles. It covers an extension of 5.626 ha, between 3200
21
and 4748 m. There are different vegetation types such as Polylepis forests with trees up to 15 meters,
Miconia, Hedyosmum etc., scrub with shrubby vegetation of up to 5 m, mainly of Asteraceae; grasslands
with herbaceous vegetation of macollas of Poaceae; Frailejonales with Espeletia pycnophylla, Puya
clava-hercules and Blechnum loxense; Grasslands and peat-bogs with herbaceous strata and crawlers, and
cushions and pads. In total 176 vascular plants have been registered, distributed in 56 families and 110
gerera. Five Subfamilies of butterflies were identified, 115 species of birds contained in 42 families and
81 genera; Lizards of the genus Stenocercus; Frogs of the genera Eleutherodactylus and Osornophryne;
and two species of bats, Anora goeffroyi and Histiotus montanus. The soils in the Paramo of Chiles are of
volcanic origin, formed by pyroclastic material of the volcanoes Chiles, Cumbal and Azufral. In the
Paramo of Chiles three watersheds are born: Chiles or Germagan, Capot and Játiva. There are several
lakes and thermal waters. The natural water currents have suffered deep human alterations due to the
construction of channels and drainage systems for irrigation and water troughs. The domestic use for
laundry, motorcycle, cars washing and fumigation pumps is contaminating the water sources with
detergents, oils, and agrochemicals. The agrochemical abuse has generated water pollution processes
especially in the lands close to ravines.
Human activities threatening the integrity of this ecosystem are deforestation of 8 ha/year, burning (10
ha/year) and others impossible to quantify such as livestock shepherding, grass extraction and wetland
drainages, and the road construction that can produce in the future a larger occupation of these areas. It is
important to highlight that small patches and forest remnants were observed amid the Paramo and
bordering running water bodies, from 3.600 to 3.900 m, which make up a habitat net that makes possible
the establishment of a great variety of plant and animal species that contribute to maintain the ecological
balance of the area. The forest areas and Paramos of the Chiles volcano have been classified as places of
critical priority for the conservation of the Southeast of Nariño. This priority is based on biological
importance, vulnerability and integrity criteria, with the purpose of maintaining the multiple interrelations
that allow this ecosystem to maintain its dynamic equilibrium.
The indigenous community of Chiles is formed by 888 families. The town council is the highest authority
in the community. In the Territory of Chiles there are five Communal Action Boards in each vereda. The
Territory has four educational nuclei. There is also the Nuestro Senior del Río High School in Chiles,
which offers all the levels of pre-school, primary and secondary education. The vereda schools and the
high school are directed by teachers belonging to the Territory who are knowledgeable about their
traditions; therefore the education children receive theoretical/practical. It is important to mention that in
relation to School Environmental Projects (PRAES), CORPONARIÑO implemented workshops related
especially to environmental education guidelines. The housing in the area has evolved from the
bahareque adobe type and today the brick type is dominant. Equally, roofs have been modified and in
some cases concrete has been used. There are two types of land property: private (40%) and community
(60%). Fifty percent of the families possess properties smaller than one hectare and only 3% have 32
properties larger than five hectares. The economy of the Indigenous Territory is based on agricultural
activities and, in a smaller scale, commercial, handcrafts and tourism activities. According to the
Agricultural Census of Chiles 2004, the area fit for agricultural activity is of 1232 ha, 1024 ha dedicated
to grasses for the production of milk and 208 ha dedicated to agriculture, of which 80% correspond to
potato cultivation and 20% to other crops such as beans, onions and ulloco (an Andean tuber).
The Ecuadorian portion of the Paramo of Chiles (9900 ha) limits with the Colombian border in the north,
the El Angel Ecological Reserve in the south and with Golondrina Protected Forest in the West, between
3.000 to 4.723 meters. The waters in the area drain to the Pacific (through the San Juan and Mira Rivers)
and to the Amazonía (Carchi River). The mean annual rainfall varies considerably in this area from
approximately 1.000 mm in the sector of Tufiño to more than 1.750 mm in the surroundings of the
volcano Chiles. The soils have developed on volcanic deposits of the Quaternary, formed by acid lavas of
the andesite type, basalts and mainly of ashes, product of the activity of the Chiles volcano. In the area big
22
there are large extensions of wetlands (lakes and peat-bogs besides typical vegetation of Paramo (rosettes
-grasslands) and superParamo.
Comuna La Esperanza is a community of approximately 1.300 people, belonging to the Quillasingas and
Pastos cultures that have lost their identity via transculturization processes. This human group is made up
of around 260 families. They occupy individual houses built with adobe in association with fibrous
wooden natural materials. These groups are distributed forming small towns located along the road,
coordinated by a central head that in Tufiño, where all the planning is made for the Community and
where the Central Board is located. The comuna settled here some three hundred years ago, in the
beginning as a town council of the Gran Colombia, where lands were managed in combination by people
from Ecuador and Colombia. After the national boundary was established, the Comuna was founded in
the Ecuadorian side. The literacy rates are moderate; approximately 80% of the population has basic
notions of reading and writing. Most of the revenues come from the sales of agricultural and forest
products. People obtain economic revenues outside of the commune for manpower, consequently
migration is very high, being woman the ones that emigrate most. Most of the communities that belong to
the Comuna lack sanitary services and waste-elimination facilities. The water for human consumption is
not treated. Transport inside of and toward the area is done through a third-order road that unites the
province-capital city of Tulcán with the parishes of Tufiño and Maldonado, of approximately 92 km. This
road crosses from East to West to the Center of the communal area, dividing it in two parts. One of the
communities, Chilmá Bajo, is connected with the main road through a branch; the other ones do it
through paths or horse roads.
There are six main types of land uses: cultivation, grasses, Paramo, natural forest, areas without
vegetation cover and town centers. Traditional crops are potatoes, beans, ocas and mellocos (Andean
tubers), in the mountain; banana, manioc, corn and a variety of tropical fruits and grasses in the
subtropical slopes. 9.891 hectares that represent 21.9% of the total area are dedicated at the moment to
agriculture.
Zuleta-Mojanda (Ecuador)
This site comprises two independent but closely located Paramos: Zuleta and Mojanda. Although their
biophysical and socioeconomic realities are partly shared and partly independent, it is possible to treat
them as one site for the purposes of this project.
This area comprises approximately 29000 ha. between the Pichincha and Imbabura provinces in Ecuador.
It limits with the Cayambe Coca Ecological Reserve in the East. The Mojanda lakes area was declared as
a bi-municipal conservation area but does not have a legal status as such, thus the two municipalities
involved have “twin” legislations. It is an area representative for the majority of Paramos in North and
Central Ecuador, where tussock grasses dominate the landscape, intermingled with small peat lands, lakes
and forest remnants. Indeed, some scattered Polylepis and mixed high Andean forest can be found in this
landscape. The dominance of the relatively homogeneous tussock grass Paramo is probably associated
with repeated burning and extensive livestock grazing all over the area. The population in this region is
mixed between Quichua speaking indigenous people and mestizos. In general, they are well organized in
communities and higher-level organizations. The project developed two Action Plans in this area in
different social conditions: one around the Lake of Mojanda and one the Paramos of the Zuleta hacienda
and community.
The place called Cerro de Mojanda (25000 ha) is located in the provinces of Pichincha and Imbabura,
shared by the municipalities of Pedro Moncayo, Otavalo and Quito. In 2001, the Municipalities of
Otavalo and Pedro Moncayo subscribed an agreement for the management of Mojanda that creates a
23
protected area starting at 3000 m to the highest point located to 4260 m in mount Fuyafuya. The protected
area has an extension of 25.000 approximately. Mojanda was formed by the eruptions of the old volcano
Mojanda, the crater of which has a diameter of approximately 4.5 kilometers. In the crater there are three
main lakes and a fourth smaller one. The humid montane forest is between 3000 and 3400 m, with
temperatures averaging annually between 8 and 12°C, and rainfall averaging annually between 500 and
1000 mm. The soils are Mollisoles. The native vegetation is characterized by arboreal vegetation,
including species such as Yagual, Pumamaqui, Quishuar, Colca, Chachacomo and Piquil. Most of the
forest has been transformed into cultivation fields of potatoes, beans, barley, quinua and ocas. Pine
plantations also exist (Pinus radiata). This belt is the propriety of communities and large landowners. The
Very humid montane forest registers annual mean precipitations of 1000 mm, where, besides the
aforementioned species, there are Sachacapulí, Matache, Pigüe an Arrayán. In this ecosystem the soil type
is Duripan. The Andean forest remnants border the agricultural and cattle-raising areas and the Paramo.
The Paramo ecosystem begins at 3.500 m. The mean annual temperature of the Paramo in Mojanda goes
from 3 to 6°C, with a mean annual rainfall of 1.000 mm. The soils of the Paramo are Dystrandepts. This
ecosystem is dominated by gramineous vegetation of the genera Festuca, Calamagrostis and Stipa, and
shrubs, and in the forest remnants there are species like pumamaqui, piquil, quisuar, and yagual. The
highest areas of the Mojanda have been used for livestock shepherding and cultivation. The lake system
of Mojanda and other slopes are the only source of water for human consumption for the whole
municipality of Pedro Moncayo and three parishes of Otavalo. The population that benefits from this
water reaches a total of 36000 inhabitants.
In relation to the conservation status of the lake system, there has been a decrease of the water mirror of
the big lake due to direct use through the installation of a valve that captures a larger flow than the one
feeding the lake; there is also contamination of the lakes and the slopes due to livestock shepherding. This
area is affected by agricultural, coal miming and unchecked tourist activities. If appropriate measures are
not taken, the destruction of this ecosystem will get worsened in the short term, affecting directly a
considerable population in the two municipalities and the country’s natural heritage.
The Area of Mojanda is inhabited by diverse peoples: Otavalos, Cayambis and Cochasquis, and a mestizo
population. In total, there are 26 communities with a total population of 11.000. The traditional
productive activities are agriculture and cattle raising. Even though flower production in Pedro Moncayo
is done below 3000 m, its influence is enormous in the area. In Otavalo community property is
predominant under traditional agricultural practices, but crops such as have intensified lately. In the high
part of the Paramos, both in Pedro Moncayo and Otavalo, bull-fighting cattle are maintained. For their
landscape qualities and the easy access, this is a place visited by many tourists, a fact associated to the
characteristics of Otavalo. Several educational centers are located in diverse communities of the two
municipalities. Health centers are located in the municipal and parochial heads. The road infrastructure is:
a paved road that goes from Otavalo to the big lake (21 km); a third-order road that goes from Tabacundo
to the Black lake (14 km); and a fourth-order road that goes from Malchinguí to the Chiriacu lake.
The total surface of the area of Paramo of Zuleta is 4770 ha. It lies in the Ecuadorian Oriental mountain
range, in the Angochagua parish of the municipality of Ibarra, in the province of Imbabura. The Paramos
of Zuleta limit to the East with the Cayambe Coca Ecological Reserve. The area was declared as
Protected Forest and Vegetation “Zuleta y Anexos Co. Ltda. and community of Zuleta” in 1995. The
landscape is highly undulated with slopes over 50%. The soils are of young to very young volcanic origin,
of the dystrandepts type. The area is located in the Santiago-Mira Hydrographic System, the Río Mira
basin, the Chota watershed, and the micro-watershed Tahuando, ravines San Pedro, San Leonidas; Santa
Isabel, Santa Martha and Yanajaca. The mean annual rainfall is 1.500 mm. The area presents the typical
type of vegetation of Paramo grassland, with a dominance of Calamagrostis effusa, grasses and shrubs.
There are a few forest fragments in the area. The community has identified 19 species of useful trees and
24
26 species of frequently-used medicinal herbs. In a participatory diagnosis workshop, the community also
identified 24 birds and 25 mammals, 3 fish, 4 amphibians, 3 reptiles and 14 invertebrates.
After the Spanish conquest, the lands that at the moment correspond to Hacienda Zuleta (now a private
company) and the community of Zuleta were given to the Jesuits by the Spanish crown. They introduced
Spanish agricultural and livestock techniques, and later they established looms and sawmills. At the
moment, the lands in the lower area and the hillsides are property of the company Zuleta and Annexes
and the community of Zuleta, and the vast majority of Paramos is communal property. Inside the
aforementioned area, there are 329 families with a total of 1037 inhabitants. Until the 80’s the local
economy was stable, until, little by little, it became a “survival” one due to the impressive and
uncontrollable monetary devaluation and monstrous speculation that had an accelerated growth from 1981
up to the 2000’s. At the moment most of the population lives below the poverty limit. Currently, there is
medical attention at the Health Sub-center regulated by the Imbabura Health Headquarters. At the
moment, in the community there is education at the three levels: Pre-primary, primary and secondary
(Agricultural Technical High School).
Among the main problems that have been determined is the scarcity of water due to low flows, thus it is
urgent to develop prevention and control measures of Paramo burning and tree slashing, improve
agricultural technification, curve the environmental impact of the electric interconnected system PastoQuito that crosses the Paramo, control the introduction of cow and horses to prevent the erosion and
laterization of the Paramo vegetation layer, and promote fulfillment of agreements by water management
authorities and institutions.
Llangahua (Ecuador)
The highlands of Llangahua in the province of Tungurahua, to the west of the city of Ambato, contain
almost 5000 ha of Paramo located between 3800 and 4400 m. The precipitation is low; around about 600
mm yearly. There a great number of water sources originate, that have bee used to provide drinking and
irrigation water to the communities of the area, as well as to feed the flow of the main rivers that allow the
irrigation of the lower areas through small canals and, at the same time, to supply drinking water to the
city of Ambato (ca. 250,000 inhabitants). The Ambato river is a tributary of the Pastaza river (Amazon
basin). The mean annual temperature averages yearly around 6°C with frequent frosts (nights with
temperature blow 0°C) during the months of October to December and April. The low part of the
Paramos of Llangahua possesses deep black Andean soils in the category inceptisoles. The Paramo
suffers from a great impact due to overgrazing, and many areas are degraded and desertified. However,
there remains the typical Paramo (pajonal) with useful species such as the sunfíllo (Satureja nubigena),
cunucchaqui (Lachemilla orbiculata) and taruga cacho and fragments of small yagual (Polylepis spp.) and
piquil (Gynoxys sp.) forests that harbor líchens, fungi and climbers. Within the degraded landscape, the
Paramo possesses wetlands at the bottom of its extensive glacial valleys in which large cushion-forming
plants dominate, especially of Azorella pedunculata and Plantago rigida, which form a layer of humid
and spongy matter that turns into peat, thus assuring the storage and generation of water. In some sectors
the Paramo is more humid as in Escaleras and Verdepungo, with higher plant diversity and a continuous
vegetation cover; therefore, one can find there more water sources. The humid part of the Paramo covers
2000 ha. The Paramos of Llangahua, jointly with those of Calamaca, are important areas of special
protection since in them there are the last relicts of native forest in the Ambato area, and they have a large
number of high Andean wetlands which are the source of water that feeds the river.
Of all the places of the project, this seems to be the most degraded. It has a long history of use with much
human presence and good accessibility (the access roads cross the area with 45 asphalted and ballasted
kilometers). The infantile population is served by 3 primary schools located in the three sectors: Loma
25
Gorda, Escaleras and El Salado, with a total of 17 teachers. Also, the Pastaza river area has one school
with 43 students and 2 teachers. Unfortunately, there is no health service according to the population
number; For the Salado sector there is one health center of Peasant Social Security in agreement with the
Indigenous Department of Health.
The communities have a permanent service of irrigation due to their location and environmental
conditions, an aspect that can foster a better cultivation planning, including its diversification. The
development of agricultural activities generates the main income for the population. However, subsistence
agriculture is not very productive due to faulty technical support and to a very low production
diversification. In some communities, Paramo land is still used communally, a fact that has fostered
conservation of these sites, although there is currently a lot of pressure to divide it into plots for each
family.
At the moment, the five localities with which the Project will work belong to the Llangahua Central
Agricultural Cooperative, which in turn belongs to Cristóbal Pajuña Corporation of Organizations (a
second-grade organization). The history of occupation of these lands goes back to the Spanish conquest
and the colonial tines, starting in 1534. This process forced the native inhabitants to flee to the Paramos.
When the peasants established a cooperative, they could buy properties at a preferential price according to
the politics of distribution of Paramo lands for the benefit of all; nowadays the Paramo is used as natural
grassland for bull-fighting cattle (mainly), sheep and horses. The families of the communities cultivate
grasses, potatoes, beans, garlic and maintain natural grassland. In spite of some technical support, skilled
labor and resources from the external institutions, deficiencies exist still in the planning of management
activities. Therefore, the different predominant productive systems should be analyzed in this area in
terms of the strategy farmers use to maximize their utilities using the available resources. It is also
necessary to analyze and to generate alternatives for elimination of elements of Paramo degradation such
as burning, presence of pigs in wetlands, indiscriminate forest slashing and indiscriminate extraction of
native vegetation.
Loja-Piura (Ecuador-Perú)
The Paramos of the Sabanilla Cordillera on the Ecuador-Peru border (25000 ha) connect the
Southernmost tip of the Podocarpus National Park in Ecuador with the Colambo-Yacuri forest reserve on
the border, and the Tabaconas Namballe Sanctuary in Peru. It is a relatively well conserved Paramo area
dominated by grassland-scrubland and dwarf bamboo Paramo with many important wetlands. The area is
very wet (up to 5000 mm) and has shallow fragile soils (organic layer up to 20 cm). This Paramo area
supplies water to the dry, banana-growing area in the Pacific coast (Catamayo-Chira watershed) and to
watersheds that drain towards the Amazon Basin. The project developed three Action Plans in this area,
one at the Ecuadorian side (Jimbura) and two at the Peruvian side (Espíndola and Pacaipamba).
Jimbura in Ecuador is located in the south of the province of Loja, under the jurisdiction of the
Municipality of Espíndola, which, together with other parishes, adds to an approximate area of 10.000 ha
of Paramo. The intervention area is characterized by a glacier panorama located up to 3200 m, with a
rocky landscape with a rough geography in most of the area. The area is cold and it is subjected to intense
precipitations, with the presence of a very dense fog and permanent winds. The mean daily temperatures
in the Paramo are around 8.5ºC, with a mean annual rainfall of 1101mm, with a period of heavy rains
from November to April. The Jimbura Paramos are part of a complex ecological panorama with cloud
forests, spiny dry forests and scrub, and two main types of Paramos (shrubby and grassland). The
conservation status of the Paramo areas is relatively good due to a low intervention. Nevertheless, cattle
raising and concomitant burning are present. Some wood and medicinal plants are used.
26
The municipality of Espíndola (ca. 18.000 inhabitants) is one of the poorest in Ecuador, with a poverty
(non satisfied basic needs) of 94.3% and an extreme poverty of 77.1%. Scholarity (study years) is 4,4 and
the deficit of basic residential services is 94,5. The population recognizes the importance of incorporating
appropriate and complementary technologies in the use of the different ecological altitudinal levels that
exist in this area.
In Perú, Espíndola (in Ayavaca, Piura, Peru, not to be mistaken with the Ecuadorian Espíndola
municipality) is made up of three settlements: Espíndola, El Toldo, and El Huilco. The three are sections
of the Samanga Peasant Community that are closer to the cloud forests and Paramos. The Samanga
Community has an approximate area of 12,700 ha, of which 1,200 are cloud forests with Podocarpus and
Alnus species, and 2,000 Paramo. The Paramo zone lies between 2,600 and 3,000 m in the western slopes
of the Andes. In the Espíndola and El Toldo settlements families directly use Paramo services, mainly
through grasslands for extensive cattle raising. This community is located on the left margin of the
Espíndola river in the heights of the Catamayo-Chira watershed, between two landmarks: río Quingo
headwaters in the higher part and the and Calvas in the lower part. Territorially there are three zones:
lower, middle and upper, each one characterized by soils, vegetation, main crops, climate and water
availability. The town centers have ca. 96 families and 382 inhabitants. The topography allows a good
availability of water resources; although the flow fluctuates, there is water throughout the year, with a
mean of 350 l/s in the wet months and of 150-200 l/s in the dry months. Espíndola, on the border with
Ecuador, has grown more rapidly that the surrounding settlements . Nowadays it has a police station,
migration office, modern educational and health infrastructure, and domestic drinking water service. Here
the mean annual rainfall is 1,800 mm.
The vast majority of Paramos is communal. There are no management plans although the conscience
about the importance of these ecosystems is growing. These areas are free for cattle and there is certain
permissibility for families to do agriculture. In the lower zones people cultivate coffee, corn and small
animals (chicken, pigs). The mean surface owned is 30 ha. The Paramo zone is mainly used for cattle
shepherding throughout the year. This use is not done by Samanga families but by Huamba families, who
have less Paramo extensions and use Samanga’s Paramos to cover their demands.
Another activity carried out in a lesser scale is slash and burning of the cloud forest bordering the Paramo.
Some 10 families occupy the Paramos without previous petition., to cultivate after slash-and-burning. The
Paramo consists of a grassland-scrubland dominated by Calamagrostis with a notable presence of
Asteraceae and Ericaceae shrubs. There is a high diversity within genera such as Neurolepis, Puya and
Paepalanthus. In the forests there are woody genera (Juglans, Podocarpus, Myrcianthes and Alnus). The
Piura Paramos are considered by people as “strong” places where one can get cured and energized. The
cloud forest harbors fauna with Odocoileus virginianus and Mazama, Penelope barbata, Andigena,
Dasypus novemcinctus, toucans, Pseudalopex culpaeus, Tapirus pinchaque, anteater, woodpecker, birds,
butterflies, reptiles, insects, and in the Paramo zone the Andean bear can be seen.
Despite environmentally unfriendly practices, such as slash and burning, cattle overgrazing and felling
(by Ecuadorian Word traders), ca. 60-70% of the forests and Paramos can be said to be in a virgin state
due to a low-density population. In the zone the cultural value of the lakes is Paramount. There are seven
important lake systems from where many small ravines start.
The Pacaipamba Paramos are a possession of the San Juan de Cachiaco peasant community in the upper
part of the Bellavista de Cachiaco watershed (Ayavaca, Piura, Peru). It is formed by three settlements:
Totora, San Juan and El Palmo, close to the Paramo zone and whose inhabitants (approx. 835) use it
directly and indirectly.
27
The population has a secondary educational level. The housing is rustic, with adobe, wood planks and
straw thatching. In San Juan de Cachiaco only the Paramo portion has not been divided (1,500 ha). The
agricultural activities are done below the Paramo where they cultivate Andean tubers and Fava beans. In
the lower parts they cultivate coffee, sugar cane, and pastures. The use if pesticides is low and done
mainly in the Lagunas de San Pablo sector. Each family has a mean number of cattle of three. Cows are
the main income followed by pigs and sheep. Horses and mules are bred for burden and people
transportation. Both agricultural and animal husbandry activities are not technically aided. Some 15 years
ago people used the Paramos fir shepherding but nowadays it has become too dangerous supposedly due
to raids and Andean bear attacks. There are two irrigation boards in El Palmo for the Chinchín and
Chirimoyo canals. There are other canals such as Paramo, La Huaca, and Tierra Amarilla. Nine important
lakes are in the Paramo, where the Chirimoyo, Mushcapam and Tamillo rivers originate.
Cajamarca (Perú)
The southernmost intervention area of the project is a complex of Paramo (locally called Jalca) areas
around the Peruvian city of Cajamarca. In general, the Jalca area is heavily transformed by human
occupation, mainly through overgrazing and side effects of the gold mining industry. The relatively small
well conserved areas form the only examples of Jalca in this region and are the source of important
watersheds that drain to the coastal desert (Jequetepeque) and to the Amazon basin (San Lucas). In the
area, Action Plans were developed for two Jalca sites: Chetilla-Magdalena and Cajamarca.
Las Jalcas of Chetilla-Magdalena are a slope area of grasslands (3,200-3,770 m) that go down towards
the Chetilla river. These places until 10 years ago were pastures but lately they have been divided and are
the living quarters of families that come up from Cajamarca and Jequetepeque. The extension is ca. 4,000
ha and ca. 850 inhabitants. It was formerly part of the Sexemayo hacienda, which was dedicated to sheep
and cows. In the upper part there are a few natural Paramo areas. Some pine plantations have been
developed and are waiting to be used by the local population but nowadays serve as firewood from the
pruning. In the middle altitude people cultivate exotic pastures there are some Paramo-jalca shrubby
species used for firewood. Between the Paramo middle and upper parts people cultivate mainly potatoes,
fava beans, Andean tubers, oats, wheat and barley. Most is used for self-consumption and some surplus is
transported to local markets, such as in the case of aromatic herbs. An important activity is cattle, sheep,
and horse raising as well as of small animals. Milk production is one of the main income-producing
activities.
Jalcas are important water sources for the Jequetepeque basin and for local settlements and the district
capital. The upper parts have been severely impacted and only a few sectors conserve a grass cover.
Several NGOs have used pine tree for reforestation. There are also small shrubby areas and some
untouched grassland areas. With the diminishing vegetation also animal populations have decreased.
Deer, foxes, rabbits, cuy, vizcachas, several birds, are increasingly scarce. One of the main threats is local
hunting.
Local people perceive the lack of water as a weighty problem. For about three years there has been
drought. Frosts have increased consequently. It is not rare that all crops be lost. Many people have
changed vegetables for grasses since they are deemed less risky (from 70% self-consumption agriculture
has gone down to 30%). Nowadays the middle areas are for milk cattle and agriculture is done
increasingly in the jalca belt. They usually plant oats initially.
The Cajamarca District jalcas cover an area of ca. 3,000 ha (3,200-3,900 m) comprising the upper basins
of Chamis and Cushunga, both feeding the San Lucas river that crosses the city of Cajamarca towards de
Amazon basin. The area topography is rather rough although it presents some rounded profiles, which,
28
before the Agrarian Reform 40 years ago, were covered by extensive native grasslands with small
depressions or wetlands (the larger one being the Chamis lake, with ca. 16 ha). This lake used to be the
habitat for many migrant bird species but currently it is deeply threatened due to the drought.
These areas were formerly large haciendas dedicated to cattle raising. Nowadays the tendency is towards
very small agricultural estates and strong erosion. The changing climate has favours the cultivation of
crops in higher zones where currently the major threats are agricultural and mining practices. The tree
local settlements (Chamis, Cushunga and Carhuaquero) have 2,666 inhabitants, 40% of them Quechua
speakers. The main agricultural activity is the cultivation of potato, wheat, rye, Andean tubers, quinoa and
barley. There are medicinal and other plants used such as straw, andacushma, chicoria, escorzonera, diego
lopez, pushgay, valeriana, trenza, chulcolindo, paja blanca, pacha chamca, chulco, papilla, cushco,
ishguin, ortiga negra – blanca, cola de caballo, estrella, pie de perro. The destination of these plants is
mainly for self-consumption and some for sale. Cattle raising is not a main activity due to the lack of
pastures. In some vases raygrass, clover and foraging barley are planted. However, there is not enough
water and there is also a lack of technification in seeds and installations. Fauna-wise there are still deer,
vizcachas, foxes, several birds, among others. The principal problems are soil poverty, winds and
hailstorms, drought, plagues, etc.
El Duende (Colombia)
This pristine area in the Colombian western Cordillera will be used for comparison studies only, although
a strong collaboration with the local environmental authority (CVC) and a conservation NGO
(FUNDENA) has started to support the creation of a regional protected area and the development of its
conservation plan.
The area is located in the Departments of Cauca and Chocó, with a total extension of 1,900 he. The zone
belongs both to the Cauca and the Pacific basins. Metasedimentary and metamorphic rocks of the Dagua
group make up the geology of the area. The geomorphology presents strong slopes above 80% that
increase towards the ravines. This and the high rainfall (2500 to 4000 mm) cause a de-saturation of the
soils due to washing. An optimal development of the soils is prevented by the torrentiality and deep
slopes, which cause laminar erosion. The organic layer is thin. The Western cordillera Paramos are
usually well-conserved small areas in the summit of a not very high but very irregular sierra with not
much glaciation. The lack of human intervention renders this area particularly biologically important. A
brief vegetation analysis showed that there are 155 Paramo plant species. The Paramos and surrounding
forests register more than 140 bird species of which 22 fulfil AICA criteria The lower zone is inhabited
by peasants of several origins, mainly from the municipality of Calima, an indigenous territory at ca.
2,000 m in the buffer zone. The total of veredas is 21, located in 8 corregimientos.
29
5
6
7
8
9
15
Poor
pheasants
and mestizos
1
Private
/communal
Potatoes/unplanned animal
husbandry, fire
4
Buffer area of a
National Monument
2
5
1
1
1
3
Gavidia
4
4
3
6030
Poor
pheasants
and mestizos
4
Private in a Potatos/livestock/turism/ga
National
rlic conflict
Park
3
Part of Sierra Nevada
National Park
5
5
3
2.5
3
4
Rabanal
5
4
3
17567
Poor
pheasants
and mestizos
3
Private
Potato,
mining
4
No
5
4.5
5
5
4
5
Belmira
4
4
3.5
19630
Mestizo
and
settlers. Not very
poor
1
Private
Potato, intensive livestock,
pigs, fire
4.5
Under construction
4.5
4.5
4
4.5
4
4
El Duende
5
3
5
2500
No
2
Wasteland
In the future
4
Several private reserves
3
2
3.5
3.5
4
3.5
Chiles
4
4
3
15500
Poor
pheasants
and
indigenous
(Col) and wealthy
mestizos (Ecu)
4
Communal
/Private
Potatoes,
intensive
livestock, fire, conflicts
4
Indigenous territory
(Col) and Buffer zone of
the El Angel Ecological
Reserve (Ecu)
2
4
4
3
2
2
Zuleta - Mojanda
2
3
2
29770
Indigenous
community
mestizo
hacienda
3
Communal/ Burns, livestock, pine,
uncontrolled tourism
Private/in
conflict
4
Protected Forest
(Mojanda) and Buffer
Zone of the Cayambe
Coca Ecological
Reserve
2
4.4
4
2
2
3
5
Buffer Zone of the
Chimborazo Faunistic
Reserve
4
3
4
3
4
4
and
4
Colambo Protected
Forest, Buffer Zone of
the Tabaconas Namballe
reserve
3
2
3
3
5
2.5
agriculture
3
No
1
4
3
3
1
3
and
and
fire,
livestock,
LLangahua
2
2
1
5000
Poor Indigenous
4
Private
Loja-Piura
4
4
4
25000
Poor
mestizo,
traders
and
“absents”
5
Private/com Fire,
agriculture
munal
mining
Cajamarca
2
3
1
7000
Poor
pheasants
and mestizos
1
Private
Fire /Livestock
Mining,
forestry
30
Information
availability
Accessibility
2526
Water
sources
2
Cultural meaning
3
Extension of Paramo
formation
2
Biodiversity
Tuñame
Project Internvention
Site
General feasibility
14
Existence of strategic
projects
13
Institutional basis
12
Direct threats
11
Land tenure
10
Organizational
and
participation potential
4
Relationship with a
protected natural area
3
resources
3
Socio-economic and
cultural diversity
2
Biological
and
geographical
importance
Conservation status
1
Distribution of Paramo in the Northern Andes;
Project Intervention Sites of Proyecto Paramo Andino
Tuñame
Gavidia
Belmira
Rabanal
El Duende
Chiles
Mojanda-Zuleta
Llangahua
Loja-Piura
Cajamarca
Legend
Paramo area
Principal cities
Project Intervention
Sites
ANNEX 11.5: LOW-IMPACT LAND-USE PRACTICES IN PARAMOS
During the design phase of the project, a group of experts identified and analyzed a series of productive
activities with low impact (environmental and social) on the Paramo. This task was carried out through an
Infoandina electronic conference as well as field visits to different Paramo areas in the four participating
countries. An initial diagnosis of the effects of such practices in the visited localities has already been
developed. However, due to the large number of variables considered, most of the practices still require
further analysis to define more clearly their impact on Paramos.
Particularly in the area of Ecotourism, PDF-B analysis shows that even though this activity may constitute
a possible source of additional income for Paramo inhabitants, only very few areas would have real
possibilities for substantial benefits and, it does not appear to be a major potential source of income for the
population in general as an alternative to traditional income generating activities, at least in the medium
term. Some of the analyzed areas that exploit this option differ in their characteristics from Paramo and lie
outside of the project intervention area. Paramo sites in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru are not easily
accessible and not likely to attract a critical mass of tourists with sufficient spending capacity. This being
said, the option for ecotourism development is open and the list includes several potential sites.
The analyzed practices constitute a catalog that will be an important input for the development of
sustainable development plans for different Paramo areas. The complete catalog can be perused at
http://www.condesan.org/ppa/doc_dis.htm. A description of each practice and the site where it was
identified and analyzed follows:
Biodiversity and Tourism:
1. Use of Paramo straw by the artisans of Guacamayas. Department of Boyacá, municipality of
Guacamayas, Colombia.
2. Sale of wild Paramo flowers. Department of Cundinamarca, municipalities of Bogotá D.C and La
Calera, Colombia.
3. Propagation of endemic threatened Paramo flora. Department of Boyacá, municipality El Cocuy,
Natural National Park El Cocuy, Colombia.
4. Ecotourism in the a-zonal Paramos bordering the lake of La Cocha. Department of Nariño,
municipality of Pasto, Colombia.
5. Ecotourism in the Paramo bordering the lake of Telpis, Sanctuary of Flora and Fauna Galeras.
Department of Nariño, municipalities of Pasto, Tangua, Yacuanquer, Consacá, Sandoná and La
Florida, Colombia.
6. Ecotourism in Natural National Park El Cocuy. Departments of Boyacá, Arauca and Casanare,
municipalities of Güicán and Cocuy, Colombia.
7. Plan of ecotourism development for the Mamapacha and Bijagual Massifs. Department of Boyacá,
Colombia.
8. Management of natural resources in the Paramo of Atapo Quichalán. Province of Chimborazo,
municipality Guamote, parish of Palmira, communities of Guantug, Guasán, Santa Elena and Santa
Cruz, Ecuador.
9. Straw management for handcrafts in the Community of Cruz del Arenal. Provinces of Chimborazo,
Tungurahua and Bolívar, Fauna Production Reserve of Chimborazo, Ecuador.
10. Ecotourism in the Yanahurco Hacienda, Cotopaxi and Antisana Ecological Reserves, Ecuador.
11. Community Ecotourism in Chimborazo (Federation of Indigenous Rural Organizations of the
Slopes of Chimborazo), FOCIFCH, Ecuador.
32
12. Programs of community ecotourism in Chimborazo. Provinces of Chimborazo, Tungurahua and
Bolívar, Ecuador.
13. Ecotourism project of the indigenous community of Oyacachi. Province of Napo, municipality
Chaco, parish Oyacachi, Cayambe-Coca Ecological Reserve, Ecuador.
14. Introduction, management and use of vicuña in the Fauna Production Reserve of Chimborazo.
Provinces of Chimborazo, Tungurahua and Bolívar, Ecuador.
15. Rural tourism in the Natural Parks Sierra Nevada and Sierra de la Culata and buffer areas. State of
Merida, municipality of Rangel, Venezuela.
16. Tourism in the cable-car of Merida. State of Merida, municipality of Merida, Venezuela.
17. Trout cultivation in Valle Encantado. State of Merida, municipality of Rangel, town of Gaviria,
Venezuela
18. Use of natural wool dyes, Textile School “La Chamarra.” State of Merida, municipality of Rangel,
Venezuela.
19. Recovery of water sources with native plants. State of Merida, municipality of Rangel, Venezuela.
20. Initiative to use medicinal plants, (National Committee for the use of the medicinal plants)
CONAPLAMER. State of Merida, municipality of Rangel, Venezuela.
21. “The Honey House” and “Mayan Honey”, production of honey and by-products starting from bees
fed in the Paramo. State of Merida, municipality of Rangel, town of Gavidia, Venezuela.
22. Education and popularization for Paramo populations, Ecoazul. State of Merida, municipality of
Merida, Venezuela.
Other possible current or future cases (not analyzed in detail):
1. Use of Paramo straw for the elaboration of hats in the municipality of Sandoná and elaboration of
medicines, creams and shampoos from resources of the Paramo, department of Nariño, slopes of
the Galeras volcano, Colombia.
2. Ecotourism in the Paramo of Belmira. Department of Antioquia, municipality of Belmira,
Colombia.
3. Ecotourism in Cajamarca. Department of Cajamarca, Peru.
4. Ecotourism in Huaraz. Department of Ancash, Peru.
5. Ecotourism in the Natural National Park Los Nevados. Departments of Caldas, Quindío, Risaralda
and Tolima, Colombia.
6. Use of frailejón leaves for the transport of ice in the Paramo of Cumbal. Department of Nariño,
Colombia.
7. Extraction of wild flowers packed in frailejón for sale in Bogotá. Department of Cundinamarca,
municipality of la Calera, Colombia.
8. Use of curí skin. Departments of Nariño and Cauca, Colombia.
9. Food security projects with the use and management of Armadillo in Chiquita. Department of
Boyacá, adjacent to the Fauna and Flora Sanctuary of Iguaque, Colombia.
10. Food security projects with the use and management of Agouti in the PNN Munchique.
Department of Cauca, Colombia.
11. Breeding of Agouti taczanowsky for self-consumption, investigations already in place for prompt
application in Paramos of Cruz Verde, Choachí and adjacent. Department of Cundinamarca,
Colombia.
Mining:
1. Geo-environmental studies for the feasibility phase of the Project Río Blanco. Province of Azuay,
municipality Cuenca, parish Molleturo, Ecuador.
2. Soil use in the exploratory phase of the Mozo mining area. Province of Azuay, municipality
Nabón, parish Cochapata, sector Cerro El Mozo, Ecuador.
33
3. Project Yanacocha, challenges for the Regional Sustainable Development of Cajamarca, Peru. (not
classified as low-impact but evaluated due to its incidence on the area)
4. Defense of the agriculture and community organization to face mining in the district of
Tambogrande. Department of Piura, Peru.
Forestation:
1. Massive plantation in Carboncillo. Province of Loja, municipality Saraguro, parish Urdaneta
(Paquishapa), Ecuador.
2. Pine plantations for mushroom production in Salinas de Bolívar. Province of Bolívar, parish
Salinas, Ecuador.
3. Block Plantation. Province of Tungurahua, parish Pilahuín, community Yatzaputzán, Ecuador.
4. Agro-forestry system with native and exotic species. Community Cochabamba, Ecuador.
5. Agro-forestry Plantation. Province of Imbabura, parish Angochagua, association Gallo Rumi,
Ecuador.
6. Community forestry development in the watersheds of Ayash and Carash. Department of Ancash,
province of Huari, district of San Marcos, Peru.
7. Management of forest seed nurseries in Callejón de Huaylás. Department of Ancash, provinces of
Huaraz and Yungay, Peru.
8. Community forestry development in the Encañada watershed. Department of Cajamarca, district
La Encañada, Peru.
9. Forestation with pine in Granja Porcón. Department of Cajamarca, district of Porcón, Peru.
10. Reforestation in the Río Blanco basin. Department of Nariño, municipality of Cumbal, Indigenous
Territory of Chiles, Colombia.
Agriculture and cattle rearing:
1. Breeding and management of alpacas in high Andean areas and Paramos for the production of fiber
as an economic alternative to cattle (bovine and sheep) and agricultural (potato) production.
Province of Cañar, municipality Azogues, parish Rivera, Ecuador.
2. Proposal for integral land management in the Paramo of Letras. Departments of Tolima and
Caldas, municipality of Herveo, vereda El Doce, Colombia.
3. Huacho rozado, a reduced potato plough system that allows the obtention of a better-quality
product reducing erosion and chemical pollution. Province of the Carchi, municipality San Gabriel,
Ecuador.
4. Rotational shepherding in native pastures. Department of Ancash, province Recuay, Village of
Acocancha, sector Canrey Chico, Huaylas, National Park Huascarán buffer zone, Peru.
5. Lupinus plantation with Polylepis living fences. Department of Cajamarca, Municipality of La
Encañada, Village Quinuamayo, Peru.
6. Stone terraces for erosion control and improvement of production areas. State of Merida,
municipality of Gavidia, Venezuela.
7. Use of coverings with rice shell in strawberry cultivation. Asociación de Proyectores Integrales del
Paramo (PROINPA) Angostura y El Rincón, municipality of Rangel, State of Merida, Venezuela.
8. Association of medicinal plants. PROINPA, Rangel, Merida, Venezuela.
9. Production of vegetables with organic fertilizer PROINPA, Merida, Venezuela.
10. Sheep management. PROINPA, Rangel, Merida, Venezuela.
Water management:
34
11. Improvement of the soil hydraulic dynamics by means of the introduction of alpacas, sustainable
use of straw and intensification of agricultural activities in the lower area, Sangay National Park.
Province of Chimborazo, communities Guarguallá and Alao, Ecuador.
12. Declaration as Ecological Reserve of Paramos de El Ángel and management of the buffer area via
a basin integral management approach. Province of Carchi, municipalities of Mira, Bolívar and
Espejo, Ecuador.
13. Improvement of the soil hydraulic dynamic by means of the substitution of sheep by vicuñas in the
Fauna Production Reserve of Chimborazo. Province of Chimborazo, Ecuador.
14. Water regulation in the high basin of the Machángara river by means of hydropower, drinking
water and irrigation reservoirs. Provinces of Azuay and Cañar, basin of the Paute river, watershed
of the Machángara river, Ecuador.
15. Dialogue and agreement as tools for a sustainable administration of natural resources. Province of
Tungurahua, Ecuador.
Some practices suggested as possibly low-impact but not yet analyzed:
1. Protection of water sources by means of the acquisition of Paramo lands. Departments of
Cundinamarca and Meta, Chingaza Natural National Park, Colombia.
2. Protection of water sources by means of the acquisition of Paramo lands. Province of Azuay,
municipality of Cuenca, Cajas National Park, Mazán, Ecuador.
3. Protection of water sources by means of the acquisition of Paramo lands. Department of Boyacá,
Paramo El Rabanal, Colombia.
4. Low-impact regulation of natural water bodies. Departments of Cundinamarca, Meta and Huila,
Paramo of Sumapáz, Colombia.
5. Low-impact regulation of natural water bodies. Province of Azuay, municipality of Cuenca, Cajas
National Park, Ecuador.
6. Regulation in reservoirs. Departments of Cundinamarca and Meta, Chingaza Natural National
Park, Colombia.
7. Protection of water sources by means of the declaration of Protected Areas. Province of Azuay,
municipality of Cuenca, Cajas National Park, Ecuador.
8. Protection of water sources by means of the declaration of Protected Areas. State of Merida,
National Park Sierra de la Culata, Venezuela.
9. Consensual management of Paramo for conservation and water regulation. Province of
Tungurahua, high basin of the Pastaza river, Ecuador.
35
ANNEX 11.6: PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROJECT (PDF-B)
Communities
Colombia
PPA Site Coordinators
Acueductos veredales
Rabanal (water users)
Indigenous Council of
Chiles
Community of Fenicia
Other site partners
Ecuador
PPA Site Coordinators
Comuna La Esperanza
(Carchi)
Community of Zuleta
Paramo communities
of Pedro MoncayoMojanda (Pichincha)
Community
of
Llangahua and nearby
communities
(Tungurahua)
Community El Salado
de Jimbura (Loja)
NGO's
LOCAL PARTNERS
GO´s
FEDENA
Others
CORPOCHIVOR/
CORPOBOYACÁ
CORPONARIÑO
CORANTIOQUIA
Rabanal Association
Cabildo
verde
Belmira/Entreríos
(environmental groups)
WWF Colombia
Foundación Trópico
CVC
UAESPNN
Fundación Altrópico
Provincial
Government
of
Carchi, parish of
Tufiño
Angochagua
parish board
Municipality
of
Pedro Moncayo,
parish boards
Provincial
Government
of
Tungurahua
Fundación
Lasso
Fundación
Unida
Galo
Plaza
Brethren
&
GTZ-PROMACH
University of Nariño
Gestores Ambientales
Noroccidente
de
Antioquia
CVC
UAESPNN
Loja Paramo Working
Group
(ArcoIris,
FundaTierra
Loja
Herbarium)
El Salado parish
board
WWF Colombia
Municipality
Tulcán
Provincial
Government
Loja
Zuleta Company and
Annexes
Mushuk Yuyay Project
Other site partners
Alliance of NGO of North
Ecuador (Grupo Randi
Randi,
Jatun
Sacha,
EcoPar, TNC, Macrena,
CI)
Peru
PPA Site Coordinators
Community of San
Juan
of
Cachiaco
(Pacaipampa),
Community
of
Samanga (Ayabaca)
Communities
of
Shinshilpampa,
Quinuapampa,
Alto
Chetilla,
Jamcate,
Cushunga,
Carhuaquero, Chamis.
Piura Paramo
Group, IGCH
Working
CIPDER,
CEDEPAS
ASPADERUC
of
of
University of Piura
Ayabaca
Superior
Technological Institute
36
Other site partners
CEPESER
Municipality
of
Pacaipampa
(ODER),
Provincial
Municipality
of
Ayabaca
Regional
Government
of
Piura
Provincial
Municipality
of
Cajamarca
Regional
Government
of
Cajamarca
UGEL (Ministry
of Education)
Museum
Leymebamba
CEPDIF - Cooperative
Valle Encantado, Centro
de
Capacitación
e
Investigación Participativa
del Paramo (Paramo
Center of Training and
Participative Research),
Caja rural (rural fund) of
Pajarito (Tuñame)
Provincial
and
parish board Tuñame
CINVIV-University of
the Andes, Medicine
Social-ULA, Institute of
Environmental
and
Ecological Sciences ULA
PROINPA,
ACAR,
Association of Neighbors
of Gavidia,
Baqueanos Association,
BRACOMLA
Environmental
Brigade,
TATUY
Andes Program, Boconó
Center of Ecology
National
Mérida
PRODECOP
Ministry of Agriculture
Land - Mérida
CONAPLAMED
COORPOANDES,
CORMETUR
HIDROANDES
TRUJILLO,
AGUAS DE MÉRIDA
Municipality
of
Rangel
(Merida), Governorship of the
Municipality Urdaneta (Trujillo)
NGO's
GO´s
Others
Red de Reservas de la
Sociedad Civil (private
nature reserve network)
Ministry
of
Environment,
Housing
and
Territorial
Development
Andes Project - IAvH
National University
Javeriana University
CEDA
Ministry
Environment
University of Cuenca PROMAS
MIRHAS
Pro Aves
CARE
ProNaturaleza
CIPCA IDEAS
Venezuela
PPA Site Coordinators
Community of Gavidia,
Community of Los
Arenales, Community
of El Pajarito
Wilder
Hualpa
of
Jaramillo
Research
and
Promotion
for
Development Institute
Coordination
of
Jequetepeque
watershed
IRAGER
Other site partners
Parks
–
Institute
Ministry of the Environment
and Natural Resources Mérida
National Institute of Agrarian
Research -Mérida
and
NATIONAL PARTNERS
COLOMBIA
ECUADOR
of
37
Fundación Natura
CAMAREN
Catholic University Herbarium QCA
CBP
ProjectEcoCiencia
FONAG
FAN
UNIGECC
Catamayo
Chira Binational Project
CONAM
(National
Environment
Council)
Adefor
INRENA (Ministry of
Agriculture)
PRONAMACHS
(Ministry of Agriculture)
PERU
Institute
Property
of
Common
National
Agrarian
University of La Molina
San Marcos National
University
WWF Perú
Conservation
International
Moore foundation
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Energy and
Mining
CONACS
(Ministry
Agriculture)
Fundación Tierraviva
MARN
(Viceministry
of
Conservation,
National Office of
Biological
Diversity)
Ministry
of
Agriculture and
Lands
Ministry
of
Science
and
Technology
Parks
National
Institute
Focal point of
RAMSAR´s high
Andean wetland
Strategy
(MARN).
CAM-Venezuela
GOs
CAN
OTCA
Others
Researchers Team
CIP
GTZ Basins
RAMSAR
IADB
VENEZUELA
Foundation
BIOPARQUES
Andean Development
Corporation
GISGA.
Economy
Faculty, ULA.
Laboratory of
Studies, IVIC.
Rural
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS
NGOs
WWF
CI
Moore Foundation
SDC
IUCN
WCS
TNC
EXECUTION OF THE PROJECT
NGO's
CONDESAN
TMI
EcoCiencia
Others
IAvH
ICAE
University
of
Amsterdam
University of Wisconsin
38
PDF-B INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANTS
NGO's
EcoPar
Ecodes
Fundación Semillas de
Agua
Fundación Humedales
Fundación
Sociedad.
Ambiente
Others
Eloísa Trellez
Eugenia Ponce
León
Esteban Suárez
de
PROMAS – University
of Cuenca
y
Participation of the IADB in PDF-B activities and Full Size Project
The joint interest of IADB and UNEP in Paramo conservation was reflected in the collaboration
of both institutions during PDF-B. Following a memorandum of understanding signed on July 9th
2003, both institutions jointly pursued the preparation of this full size project. IADB was active in
providing technical support to CONDESAN in component 1 (Sustainable Management of Paramo
and its areas of influence) and component 4 (Policy Development and Advocacy) of the PDF-B.
UNEP complemented this work with technical support to CONDESAN in components 2
(Quantification of environmental goods and services), component 3 (research, training and
capacity building) and component 5 (regional education and awareness raising). The result of this
collaboration among CONDESAN, IADB and UNEP is the full size project presented to this
DROC.
The participation of the IADB in PDF-B and project was originally viewed as important because
the initial assumption was that field sites would need significantly baseline investments to support
conservation activities. These baseline investments, it was assumed, could be financed through the
credit arm of the IADB. In addition, the in-house expertise of the IADB on issues of rural
development stood as a value added to project design and implementation.
The collaborative work performed by CONSESAN, IADB and UNEP found that the most
promising field sites were not in need of baseline investments required for project success and of a
magnitude that could justify official requests from government to the IADB for new rural
development or rural infrastructure credits. Rather, the need for baseline investments can be met
from the co-financing that accompanies this project.
For this reason, the IADB considered that co-executing the project with UNEP was not a
necessary condition for the success of the project. However, the IADB indicated its interests in
being kept up to date on overall advance of the project in general, and on lessons learned in
sustainable use of Paramo resources in particular. The latter are of special interest because they
could be applied to other sites as part of the replication component of the project, for example, in
sites in which the participation of the IADB could facilitate baseline investments of a magnitude
that require requests from governments for rural development credit. The project welcomed this
suggestion and will include the IADB in the coordination and information sharing mechanisms
supported by the FSP. In particular, the project will maintain close communication during the
execution of the replication component (#5). At the same time, local implementing agencies in
39
participating countries will regularly update IADB local offices on the main findings and results
of the project.
In addition, the project has established partnerships with organizations with strong in-house
technical expertise on rural development issues. This include NEA, CEDEPAS, Aspaderuc and
the Mountain Institute (Peru), the latter a globally renown organization for rural development in
mountain areas, the regional corporations (Colombia), Grupo Randi Randi and CAMAREN
(Ecuador), and IVIC (Venezuela). At regional level, GTZ and CGIAB bring in expertise with
rural development issues as do Condesan consortium members.
40
ANNEX 11.7: INSTITUTIONAL RÉSUMÉS OF EXECUTING AGENCIES
CONDESAN -ANDES
The Consortium for the Sustainable Development of the Andean Ecoregion(CONDESAN) is an
association of public and private sector partners working together on research, training and development,
and policy initiatives promoting the protection of natural resources and improvements in the welfare and
equity for the people of the Andes. Today, CONDESAN is a consortium of nearly 75 organizations
actively working in the Andes of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. The
membership is primarily made up of Latin American research and development organizations (NGOs),
government agencies, producer groups, Andean Universities and National Research Institutes, but also
includes European and North American Universities as well as several international centers (CIP, CIAT,
ILRI, IWMI). CONDESAN’s research agenda covers the intersecting themes of sustainable natural
resource management, improved rural incomes and social equity. To meet these objectives, the Consortium
facilitates both research programs and benchmark integrated research/development programs. The former
are developing much needed tools for improved natural resource management, participatory methodologies
and productive technologies, while the latter are working at the frontier of increasing agricultural
productivity, resource use, and community control. In almost all cases, the activities are multi-disciplinary,
multi-institutional, and strive to develop a participatory agenda.
Consortium members make alliances to define and undertake research and development projects. The
hallmark of the benchmark teams is that they join good science and development expertise with community
organizations. Other, more thematic teams draw together the best organizations regionally to address
common issues. The major trans-Andean research activities fall into four categories:
 Soil and water management and conservation;
 Conservation and use of agrobiodiversity in Andean roots and tubers and pasture species;
 Improved farming systems, covering all aspects of the system from producer to consumer;
 Policy research to promote sustainable development and conservation in the Andes.
Two companion themes that are part of the cross-Andean portfolio are developing human resources, and
communications (INFOANDINA). In addition to conducting workshops, in the case of the former,
CONDESAN is working to improve postgraduate in agricultural production and natural resource
management. INFOANDINA is the Consortium’s information network with nearly 500 participants. It is
focusing on improving communications between Consortium members, access to “gray literature”, and
conducting forums on key development issues. INFOANDINA has organized three electronic conferences
on the Paramo ecosystem, with over 300 participants (1997, 2000 and 2004).
INSTITUTO ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT - COLOMBIA
The Institute of Biological Resources Research “Alexander von Humboldt” was created through Law 99 of
1993 and is part of the Colombian National Environmental System (SINA). The Institute is a non-profit
civil corporation, subject to the rules of private law and linked to the Ministry of Environment, Housing
and Territorial Development, with administrative autonomy, legal status and patrimony, organized
according to law 29 of 1990 and Ordinance 393 of 1991. The Institute is in charge of carrying out basic and
applied research on genetic resources of national flora and fauna, and of to develop the scientific inventory
on biodiversity in the whole national territory.
Law 99 of 1993 establishes that the Institute is responsible for the scientific and applied investigation of
the biotic and hydrobiological resources continental territory of the nation. The Institute will support,
through technical consultancies and technology transfer, the Regional Autonomous Corporations of
Sustainable Development, the Departments, the Districts, the Municipalities and other territorial entities in
charge of the administration of the environment and renewable natural resources. The investigations lead
41
by the Institute and the associated data bank, will be the base for the development of the national
biodiversity inventory. The Institute has the mission of promoting, coordinating and executing research
that contributes to the conservation and sustainable use of the Colombian biodiversity.
Given the Colombian biophysical complexity, the Institute has approached the execution of its mission
concentrating on certain fields of knowledge and certain regions. The institute’s research lines comprise
four programs: Conservation Biology, Use and Valuation of the Biodiversity, Inventories of Biodiversity,
and Politics and Legislation. In their first years of existence, research concentrated on the dry ecosystems;
then, the oriental mountain ecosystems were studied, and from 2001 on, the investigation of the Institute
has concentrated on the Andes and the Orinoquia. This recent experience has allowed Institute researchers
to come closer to the problem of biodiversity knowledge and of the conservation of the high mountain
ecosystems through biodiversity characterizations and the study of the factors of its transformation, such as
agriculture and mining.
ECOCIENCIA - ECUADOR
The Ecuadorian Foundation of Ecological Studies, EcoCiencia, was founded in 1989 by a group of
Catholic University biologists fresh from graduate studies in the US. Its aim was to contribute to the
conservation of biodiversity from an ecological and research-oriented perspective. This perspective, albeit
still much present, has been complemented by political, economic and social points of view and thus
nowadays EcoCiencia can claim a holistic perspective towards the conservation of Ecuador's remarkable
biological diversity.
EcoCiencia, in its 15 years of existence, has worked in several main themes that include ecological and
biological research, natural resources management, environmental policies, economic valuation of
biodiversity, environmental education, training and interpretation, and biodiversity information managing.
Funding generally comes from international sources and has included donors such as the Dutch
Government, USAID, the British Government, the MacArthur Foundation and GEF.
The foundation has its headquarters in Quito but works in the whole territory of Ecuador, including the
Galapagos. Its involvement with the Paramo ecosystem dates to the first years of its existence but became
consolidated in 1996 with the one-year Dutch Government funded project "Perspectives for the
Conservation of Paramos in Ecuador"; in collaboration with the Mountain Institute's Andean office. From
this experience, among other things a close link with the University of Amsterdam began that resulted in
another Dutch Government funded "Proyecto Paramo" (also with the Mountain Institute), which lasted
from 1998 to 2001 and produced several participatory management plans in thirteen Paramo pilot sites
along the Andean region, an Action Plan for the Ministry of the Environment, an ecological zoning of the
ecosystem, a complete data- base and several publications. This project can be seen as the Ecuadorian seed
for the Andean Paramo Project that united similar efforts from Venezuela, Colombia and Peru and is
currently finishing a PDF-B phase funded by GEF.
EcoCiencia also coordinates the National Paramo Working Group in Ecuador, which brings together
approx. 120 institutions from governmental, non-governmental, private and community sectors in an
information-exchange and discussion platform that gathers tri-monthly around a selected issue (gender,
infrastructure, ecological services and products, policies, forestation, biodiversity, community projects,
culture, etc.). These meetings are published through a quarterly publication currently in its 16th
installment. Currently its funding comes from the Dutch Government and formerly included resources
from the Netherlands Committee for IUCN.
THE MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE - ANDEAN PROGRAM, PERÚ
The Mountain Institute (TMI) is an organization founded on 1972 and executes conservation and
development projects in Nepal, Tibet, India, the Andes and the United States. The Andean Program was
established in Peru in 1995. With the purpose of obtaining a sustainable future for mountains of the world
and their communities, the mission of the Andean Program is to preserve mountain environments, to
42
improve mountain livelihoods and to support mountain cultures. TMI´s vision is to contribute to a world in
which the mountains and their towns are valued and understood like vital and integral elements of the
ecosystems of the world and their populations, to contribute to a world in which the mountain communities
prosper ecologically in healthy atmospheres. The basis of TMI's Andean Program in Perú is the city of
Huaraz, with a small connection office in Lima. From Huaráz, TMI developes cooperative links with
experiences and mountain organizations of the country, the Andean region and the world. The Andean
Program executed projects to support communities, in coordination with the National Institute of Natural
Resources (INRENA) and a set of other governmental and non governmental partners. The Andean
Program has three major components (1) Huascarán and Huayhuash Biosphere Reserve (2) Natural High
Altitude Grassland Ecosystem (Paramo, Punas, Jallqas) and (3) Private Company, Community and
Conservation.
Among the specific technical capacities of the Andean Program we can mention:
 Development, validation and publication of participatory methodologies for the planning and design
of development integrated conservation projects for the zoning of protected areas, the design of site
plans, the participatory elaboration of maps, the territorial code and the design of routes. Use of
conflict management methodologies in areas with mining influence.
 Strengthening environmental education in local elementary schools in protected areas.
 Manuals for community based tourism and for range management.
 Guides for the identification of wild plants and wild forage species
 Development of cooperative alliances at regional scales (coordination of groups) and access to
diverse international support networks in conservation and sustainable mountain development
matters.
 GIS and mountain data bases. Landscape change studies with repeated photography.
 Low cost range management technologies.
 Staff Languages: Spanish, Quechua, English.
The Andean program has, among others, coordinated the implementation of the management plan for the
Huascarán National Park - World Heritage Area, has successfully implemented a conservation project
associated with high country gold mines and has been a co-executor of the Dutch funded Proyecto Paramo
in Ecuador.
INSTITUTO DE CIENCIAS AMBIENTALES Y ECOLOGICAS - UNIVERSIDAD DE LOS ANDES,
VENEZUELA
In 1969, ULA formalized vegetation ecology research by founding of the "Vegetation ecology research
group” within the School of Sciences. This was the base for the establishment of the Center for Tropical
Andes Ecological Research in 1985. In 1997, the National Council of Universities endorsed the
transformation of this center into the “Institute of Environmental and Ecological Sciences” (ICAE).
Throughout three decades, it has developed an intense and fruitful scientific activity on different aspects of
Neotropical ecology, including the development of qualified human resources. This last activity was
consolidated in the Tropical Ecology Graduate Program (Master 1981 and Doctorate 1987), in which 75
professionals from different countries including Spain and Latin America have graduated, presently
dedicated to scientific research and university level teaching in Ecology.
During its entire trajectory, the ICAE has been characterized by three essential aspects:
1. The execution of basic ecology projects, oriented towards the resolution of regionally important
problems with environmental and social repercussions, integrated in several research lines, with emphasis
on Andean environmental problems, tropical and subtropical ecosystems’ functioning, biodiversity
conservation and the effect of global changes on these ecosystems.
2. An important scientific production materialized in 175 articles in specialized magazines and 10 books as
well as 79 chapters in books, besides the active participation of researchers in congresses, simposia and
other scientific meetings of national and international character (more than 460 presentations).
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3. Development of programs of international cooperation with institutions of several countries. At the
moment, ICAE maintains cooperation projects with the Biodiversity Nets CYTED (Grasslands and
Mountains), IAI and the European Union, besides projects financed by CDCHT-ULA, FONACIT, which
are developed by 15 ICAE researchers, 4 associate investigators, 5 technicians and two secretaries.
Including thesis students and visiting researchers, some 40 people work at the institute.
As results of its 35-year research, the ICAE has become one of the worldwide references on the knowledge
about the Paramo ecosystem, with special emphasis on aspects related to biodiversity and functioning,
adaptations that allow plants to be successful in the conditions of the cold tropic, restoration dynamics and
regeneration of the Paramo, and analysis of the ecological bases for the most important strategies of human
management (agriculture and cattle raising).
THE INSTITUTE FOR BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM DYNAMICS - UNIVERSITY OF
AMSTERDAM THE NETHERLANDS
The University of Amsterdam (UvA) has a relatively long academic history in the Andean countries. It is a
non-Andean academic institution with a long trajectory in investigation on biodiversity and ecology.
Through the Schools of Biology and Geography (now united in the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem
Dynamics, IBED), UvA researchers have executed investigations in Paramos in Colombia since the 1950s.
One of the larger programs in this country is EcoAndes, for the Andean region. In this program the
emphasis was on fundamental and applied investigation, with the collaboration of national institutions and
university students. From the experience in Colombia, the University widened its investigation activities
and institutional collaboration with national institutions of other Andean and Central American countries.
In the 1980s there was a lot of collaboration with Venezuela (Universidad de Los Andes) and then with
Mexico (UNAM, EcoSur) and Costa Rica (National University, InBio). From 1996 on, investigators of the
already formed IBED began investigation projects in Ecuador. In the last years, IBED-UvA has been an
important actor in conservation efforts of Ecuador since it was the administrator of the Paramo Project,
executed with EcoCiencia and the Mountain Institute, and financed by the Royal Dutch Embassy.
Besides the volume of knowledge generated on the diversity, operation and management of ecosystems, a
large number of secondary results were achieved in relation to professional education and institutional
strengthening. In total, more than a hundred students from Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador, Costa
Rica and Brazil have been trained. Recently, in the field of research IBED is developing a long term
program (a proposal to the Netherlands Science Organization; NWO) on the dynamics of Andean forests
that includes natural processes (diversity, evolutionary history) as well as anthropic processes
(deforestation, climatic change, use). In the field of institutional collaboration and the education, IBED is
executing a Master Degree program in tropical ecology in Ecuador, Colombia and The Netherlands that
will mainly benefit students of Andean countries.
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - UNITES STATES OF AMERICA
Two of the University of Wisconsin’s 22 colleges, the Faculty of Letters and Sciences and the Faculty of
Agriculture and Life Sciences are particularly engaged in research and teaching relevant to the Proyecto
Paramo Andino. The former is focused on issues of biodiversity conservation and plant botany as well as
the economic and political issues that surround good governance while the latter is working on improved
agricultural systems based on small grains, potatoes, vegetables and forages as well as dairy production. In
addition both faculties conduct a great deal of watershed management work . Also the University is the
home of several specialized institutes that are engaged with the project. These include the Institute for
Environmental Studies, the Land Tenure Center and the Center for Sustainability and the Global
Environment.
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ANNEX 11.8: MAP OF PARAMO AREAS
Distribution of Paramo in the Northern Andes;
Project Intervention Sites of Proyecto Paramo Andino
Tuñame
Gavidia
Belmira
Rabanal
El Duende
Chiles
Mojanda-Zuleta
Llangahua
Loja-Piura
Cajamarca
Legend
Paramo area
Principal cities
Project Intervention
Sites
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ANNEX 11.9: MAIN OUTCOMES OF PDF-B
During the PDF-B phase of the project, studies were undertaken to identify the present situation of the
different themes related to Paramo in which the project will intervene. The project executing agencies, in
collaboration with local and national organizations and independent consultants analyzed the state of
knowledge, the present offer and demand for policies, training, communication and investigation. An
inventory and analysis was undertaken to productive activities with low impact. In all project intervention
sites, participatory plans of action were designed by the executing agencies in collaboration with local
NGOs. All these documents form the basis for the design of the full size project proposal and the activities
to be executed during its life span.
Policy development and advocacy
 International and Andean policies that impact the Paramo ecosystem (Eugenia Ponce de León).
 Integration of national and international policies on Paramo and a proposal for the execution phase
of the project (Eugenia Ponce de León).
 Analysis of policy and legal instruments that impact the Paramo ecosystem in Colombia (Henry
Salazar, IAvH).
 Document on the analysis of policies on Paramo in Ecuador (Carla Cárdenas, CEDA).
 Strategy for the policy component in Perú (Ludgerio Abanto, Cedepas).
 Policies for the conservation and sustainable development of the Venezuelan Paramo (Eliézer
Arias, Freddy Matos,Luis Llambi; IVIC).
Training and Capacity Building
 Proposal for capacity building, Proyecto Paramo Andino (Eloisa Trellez).
 Bases for an interdisciplinary training program directed to people that work in the Paramos of
Colombia (María José Durán).
 Analysis of demand and offer of training in Paramos of Venezuela (GISAGA, ULA).
 Analysis of demand and offer of training in Paramos of Ecuador (Rodrigo Chontasi, Eloy Alfaro;
CAMAREN).
 Evaluation of the training demand in Peruvian Paramos (Ricardo Pineda, CEPESER).
Education y comunication
 Regional strategy for environmental education and communication on the biodiversity of the
Andean Paramo (Eloisa Trellez).
 Strategy for education and environmental communication for the conservation of the Colombian
Paramos (Pedro Quijano).
 Proposal of Ecuador for the program of environmental education and awareness rising (Patricio
Crespo).
 Strategy for environmental education and consciousness building at the level of Peruvian Paramos
(Baudilio Valladolid Catpo, Oscar Infante Reque, CEPESER)
 Proposal for environmental education and public dissemination for the conservation of the
Paramos of Venezuela (Bioparques-Tierra Viva).
Investigation
 Proposal for investigation of the Proyecto Paramo Andino (Esteban Suarez).
 Memories of the workshop on gaps and necessities for investigation in Andean Paramo (CaliColombia; Esteban Suarez).
Low-impact land-use practices in Paramos
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




Evaluation of best practices in water management in the Paramos of the Andes (PROMAS).
Catalogue of practices in mining with low impact for the conservation of Paramo (Fundación
Ambiente y Sociedad).
Catalogue of forestry experiences with less impact on Andean Paramos (Ecopar-ECODES).
Evaluation of best practices in biodiversity use in the Paramos of the Andes (Fundación
Humedales).
Practices in agriculture and animal husbandry of low impact with low impact for the conservation
of Paramo (Fundación Semillas de Agua).
Sustainable Management of the Paramo and its Areas of Influence.
Participatory plans of action for Gavidia, Tuñame (Venezuela); Rabanal, Belmira, El Duende (Colombia),
Chiles (Colombia-Ecuador border), Zuleta-Mojanda, Llangahua (Ecuador) Loja-Piura (Ecuador-Perú
border); Cajamarca, Perú. (local communities, site coordination organizations and national executing
agencies)
Full Size Project Brief for presentation to GEFSEC and UNEP/DGEF.
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