Monteverde-Arenal Initiative Video

Closing message for the Monteverde-Arenal Initiave:  Expanding into the Bioregion Conference from Dr. Peter Raven, Missouri Botanical Garden:

Over the past half century I have come to love and admire this unique and lovely country Costa Rica, and have come to understand the audacious decisions that have made it a model of peace and understanding.  We can appreciate why the Quaker pioneers were attracted to this special area of Monteverde.  Against this background and that afforded by the biological and human riches of this region, I express my appreciation to you all for your strong efforts over the past few days, efforts from which I am sure there will be many positive outcomes.  Dipping back further in time, it is delightful for me to think that the descendants of the quetzals I so rejoiced to see here in the 1960’s and of the new species of Fuchsia I studied here then are thriving in a protected area of some 135,000 acres, stimulated by the contributions of schoolchildren and preserved by the efforts of so many over the decades. In our overpopulated world, mutual understanding offer the only sure route to sustainability and peace: your interactions illustrate what such efforts mean for the present, and show the way to successes in the future. 

Thank you for making the effort to participate, to Debra Hamilton and her associates at the Monteverde Institute, to Nalini Nadkarni, and to a number of others for their sustained and expert work in making this gathering possible. 

“Pura vida” is a state of mind, not something one gets automatically, but for which one has to do the kind of work that this gathering represents, day after day, month after month, year after year – and I know we will do just that.  My very best congratulations to you all for your efforts during this meeting, and the hope for our common achievement of peace, love, and sustainability in the future.

Welcoming remarks – Peter H. Raven, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis – February 15, 2013

Good morning!  I’m very pleased to send warm greetings to you all, along with the sincere wish that I could be there too!  I sincerely hope that this will be just one of the first of a series of comprehensive meetings of institutions and individuals who are deeply involved with this beautiful and biologically significant Monteverde-Arenal region.  In a world where biodiversity is being lost so rapidly, but nowhere more so than in the tropics, the Monteverde-Arenal region stands out as a gem, a place where actions and knowledge can be melded to provide many more enhanced opportunities for citizens, students, scientists, and especially for the survival of biodiversity here on this remarkable “Green Mountain.”  

Discussions at the joint birthday party of OTS and ATBC in San José last June highlighted the reasons that both organizations have flourished not only in the land of their birth but throughout the world.  Since World War II, Costa Rica has, like most of the tropical world, grown rapidly in population and destroyed a large proportion of its natural forests and other resources.  At the same time, it has continued to offer a peaceful setting in which education, science, health, and peace could be pursued at times more effectively than in much of the rest of the world.  In addition, Costa Rica, with a deep respect for the value of ecosystem services, has organized one of the most impressive programs for the conservation of natural areas anywhere in the world. Because of these factors, studies conducted in Costa Rica have often contributed substantially to the development of the increased knowledge of tropical organisms and ecosystems that is available today.

At this meeting, we are considering the special value of preserved and altered lands in the Monteverde-Arenal area of the Sierra de Tilarán for conserving biodiversity, increasing knowledge, and building the sustainable world of the future.  How can the talents and activities of the many organizations who have permanent facilities in this region or visit it repeatedly become a conceptual entity with more facilities, educational opportunities, more extensive conserved and restored areas, an enhanced  contribution to sustainable tourism, and lasting value that has the potential of outliving us all?

Leading the way to our current considerations, Nalini Nadkarni organized a special symposium on many of the biological, geological, and human aspects of the Monteverde-Arenal area, a region that she has come to love and appreciate so well because of her experiences here, including a great deal of experimental work, and the simple beauty and charm of the place and the people who come here or make this their home.  Participants made it clear what a remarkable intersection of community, social, economic, spiritual, and scientific elements work together here to have created a uniquely productive and cooperative environment for research and understanding tropical ecosystems.  In the discussion that followed the symposium, we began to visualize ways in which the activities and facilities of all these diverse institutions could enhance one another and lead to a situation in which the whole could clearly be greater than its parts.  Human endeavors usually succeed best where there are strong individual motivations to achieve particular goals coupled with consultation, cooperation, and mutual encouragement overall.

Over this weekend, I hope that we can move toward a conceptualization of the whole Monteverde-Arenal Area as a conservation, research, and education site, fully integrated with the welfare of all of the people who inhabit the region. I hope that many strategies will emerge from our discussions that will allow each one of our institutions to achieve its goals better. Because the biology of this area is so unusually rich, its human potential so strong, and the interest in learning more about the ecosystems and putting that knowledge to work, I am confident that a strong, united Monteverde-Arenal Regional Initiative and the resulting action plans will help sustain these and other tropical forests for endless generations to come.

I would like to close by offering special thanks to Deb Hamilton and the Monteverde Institute for graciously handling all of the Conference logistics and creating this special opportunity for us all.    

Group photo- Foto grupal

Group foto of Sunday's participants --- Foto grupal de los participantes del domingo

Committee proposals --- Propuestas de los comités

This is only meant to be as a summary of some of the ideas presented by the committees, please comment if anything was left out :

Coordinating Committee: Formed by having leaders of each of the committees. - To have an annual all inclusive congress to review, adjust and plan the future. Also for networking. Immediate task: set up the first meeting with the leaders. Find a coordinator and define the job description. The coordinator must work a sa supervisor, help with funding, give organizational support. Amongst his or her responsibilities are those of communication, network enhancement, collaborative ideas and implementation.

Education: Bioregion diagnostic. List of educational centres, organised groups, NGO's and governmental. Make an educational strategy for the area that responds to the needs of the people. This group wants to be able to measure the impact of the educational program, to count on active participation, to promote leadership, and a structure that promotes integration. The action plan is to create a group that will give this follow-up.

Conservation: the goal is to: strengthen the mechanisms for the conservation of the bioregion and its ecosystems to perpetuity through legal, social, political, educational and scientific mechanisms to ensure the correct use of the land and to preserve biodiversity.
As strategies they want to involve more governmental entities and representatives of the protected areas such as ICE, MAG, Asadas and more. To start they want to meet to set the priorities and work mechanisms. Very import to include the Arenal area.

Research: To share information. Improve communication. When possible to have coordinated monitoring and in some cases to have protocols. Leadership will have a horizontal model. As mechanisms they want to have committees and sub-committees. The idea is to create some sort of digital board. To create monitoring programs and publications. Organise more "ologist" meetings. As an action plan they want to decide the format of the digital board, form the committees, seek funding for professionals and made it sustainable.

Maps: They work as a measure of communications and information. By May they are planning on having some sort of database. They need information on the different area sin order to be able to create these maps.

Communication and public image:  It was divided into two groups, internal and external communication. The goal is "to perpetuate the vision". The communication position is to centralise the message and to promote open and frequent communication. Each institution must asign a communication representative for the bioregion. There will be a directory created. The communication department will be a resource for the institutions. A person must be hired at least part time ASAP that is Costa Rican and bilingual that will be responsible for the development and management of the communications department. This person must physically visit the institutions and neighbouring communities to not only offer digital information but also physical information for the bioregion. Also help create information for all the sub-committees.

Funding: Inclusion -Transparency - Accessibility. -Equity (distribution of resources). Secure funding for a part time coordinator. - Establish funding opportunities at a local level the will fill traditional funding gaps. Create a membership quota. To create communication material. Get funding for the committees.

List of Committees - Lista de comités

Para poder continuar con esta iniciativa de ha llegado a la conclusión que se necesitan crear diferentes comités donde los participantes y otras personas puedan seguirse reuniendo regularmente. Si saben de alguien que estaría interesado en participar, la invitación está abierta.-

In order to continue with this inciative it was decided that different committees will be formed in order for participants and other people who are interested to continue meeting. If you are interested you are welcome to participate. -

Lista de comités - Committee list:

1- Comité Cordinador - Cordinating Committee: el que supervisa - the one that supervises.

2- Conservación- Conservation: among its duties is to create a common agenda.

3- Investigación - Research

4- Creación del mapa de la zona - Map creation

5- Reacción de notas de la conferencia - The writting up of a summary of the conference.

6- Directorio de personas en cada campo - A professional Directory of the area.

7- Educación - Education

8- Recaudación de Fondos - Funding

9- Comunicación y imagen pública - Communication and public image

Soluciones posibles a los retos --- Possible solutions to the Challenges

Estas son algunas de las respuestas de los diferentes comités:

1- Comité de conservación: Estructura adecuada - agenda común- Organizar un taller en la bioregión para identificar actores: en este taller si buscará si va hacer falta un coordinador (persona física o institución), se van a identificar los diferentes actores, el financiamiento y los objetivos concretos.

2- Educación: organizar a los líderes en temas de educación ambiental - usar la estrategia actual del SINAC para hacer una estrategia regional - Integrar personas claves (ej. Universidades nacionales) - Capacitación a padres de familia y líderes comunitarios entre otros dirigido principalmente al empoderamiento- tener un comité para la elaboración de propuestas (crear por ej. ferias ambientales) - Contemplar lo que se ha hecho.

3- Comunidad-comunicaciones: Importante definir el valor del MABI (Bioregión Monteverde Arenal) - hacer "branding" de la zona - promocionar el sector - consolidar información de la zona como parte de su valor- lograr que la zona sea más eficiente (recursos, esfuerzos) - reconocer las diferentes oportunidades de colaboración - identificar los valores humanitarios que caracterizan la zona- crear oportunidades de participación para miembros e individuos -Crear un tipo de organización: como se va hacer? -Ver este espacio como un hogar d oportunidades y identificar los miembros (se debe de mantener abierta) - miembros deben de tener responsabilidades no solo beneficios -las organizaciones se deben de comprometer a mantener cierta transparencia - crear un calendario de eventos - Se necesita una administrador o comunicador que busque la continuidad de lo que se está haciendo, debe de ser nacional y bilingüe.

4- Investigación: comité con representantes de las diferentes instituciones abierto a todos - crear procesos para obtener resultados - que el comité se encargue de hacer una lista de prioridades de investigación para la región - fondos par aun coordinador - comité que busque fondos- posibles pasantías- crear las bases para hacer un monitoreo a largo plazo - crear formas de compartir la información de una manera que lo puedan usar todos - hacer un boletín informativo de la zona- fondos para hacer un taller de colaboración - base de datos ej. SIG (sistemas de información geográfica).

Además en los comentarios se menciona la necesidad de integrar personas de más grupos (ej. ciencias sociales, comunidad) y la necesidad de un comité que supervise lo que hacen los otros.

Retos- Challenges

Estas son notas de algunos de los retos que salieron en la Area de conservación de Monteverde-Arenal a la hora de hacer los grupos de discusión:
-- Financiamiento. 
- Diferencias entre diferentes miembros de la sociedad, como unirnos?
- Educacional, hace falta una base de datos con los contactos y metas similares.
- Como organizar la información para que sea más accesible.
- Mejoras de comunicación.
- Involucrar a más personas en la conservación.
- Investigación colaborativa.
- Continuar trabajando como una comunidad de conservadores en conjunto.
- Entidad de "networking".
- Más participación de pueblos aldeanos.
- Continuidad de proyectos.
- Base de datos, compartir información.
- Mantener la conservación relevante para todos.
- Evitar burocracia y enforcarse en acción.
- Usar los recursos de una manera eficiente.
- Generas respuestas desde la comunidad local.
- Incluir Ciencias Sociales.
- Divulgar proyectos iniciativas.
- Integrar comunidades.
- Expandir colaboración a zonas más bajas.
- Proyectos grandes (ej. fincas multinacionales) y su falta de interés.
- Financiamiento más constante.
- Como hacer conservación largo plazo
- Falta un Modelo de conservación.
- Obstáculos legales.
- Manejo de amenazas externas, ej. minería.
- Limitación a incentivos económicos.
- Cuidar recursos hídricos.
- Conectividad ecológica.
- Distribución entre recursos.
- Efectos de cambio climatico.
- Desconexión hombre-naturaleza.

The Seeds of the Conference

We're about midway through the Conference at the Monteverde Institute and one thing that strikes this observer is how much work and planning has gone into it. From forming the steering committee, to inviting participants and programming the expansive four-day agenda, to arranging food, accommodations, transportation, and so forth, this has a been a major, and perhaps under-appreciated undertaking.

Curious about who dreamed up and organized the Initiative, and why, we spoke with Debra Hamilton, executive director of MVI. Debra explained that the seeds for the conference were sown during a symposium last June at the Association of Tropical Biology in San Jose. That event looked at what Deb calls "the miracle of Monteverde" -- that is, the ways in which the zone has spawned so many individuals and organizations engaged in conservation research and education, and how their efforts can be seen as a model for the tropics.

That symposium was the brainchild of Nalini Nadkarni and Peter Raven. Nalini is a forest ecologist and professor at the University of Utah who began working in Monteverde back in 1979. Peter is a world-renowned botanist and President Emeritus of Missouri Botanical Garden.

Out of the symposium, Nalini, Debra and Peter formed a steering committee that led to this conference. Joining them on the committee are Laurie Waller, Julia Matamoros, and Patrick Osborne. The committee issued an audacious call to local, national and international actors in conservation research and education. Given the challenge of climate change, the purpose for this conference -- to build a framework for collaboration and to develop a common vision for the future of the Monteverde-Arenal Bioregion -- is all the more urgent.

Picture of the committee, Peter Raven is the leaf as he could not be present:

Informacion Para el 16 de febrero

Documentos

• Políticas para las Áreas Silvestres Protegidas (ASP) del Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación (SINAC) de Costa Rica
• ASESORIA TECNICA LEGAL AMBIENTAL AL USUARIOS- Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación Area de Conservación Arenal Tempisque
• Herramienta para la evaluación de la efectividad de manejo de las áreas silvestres protegidas.
• Plan estratégico para la Diversidad Biológica 2011-2020 y las metas de Aichi.
• Guía para la formulación y ejecución de planes de manejo de áreas silvestres protegidas.
• Diagnostico zona protectora Arenal Monteverde, para su administración eficiente.

Páginas web relacionadas- Related Web Sites

Radio Comunitaria Monteverde:  http://monteverde.fm/
Asociación Conservacionista Costarricense: http://www.acmcr.org

Pax Natura: http://www.paxnatura.org

Pronativas: http://www.pronativas.org/pronativas/

Instituto Monteverde: http://www.monteverde-institute.org

Centro Científico tropical: http://www.cct.or.cr

EAP Califronia: http://eap.ucop.edu

The School for Field Studies: http://www.fieldstudies.org/costarica

Reserva Santa Elena: http://www.reservasantaelena.org

University of Georgia: http://www.externalaffairs.uga.edu/costa_rica/

Fundación Conservacionista Costarricense: http://66.147.244.232/~fccmonte/

Corredor Biológico Pájaro Campana: http://cbpc.org

University of Utah: http://www.utah.edu

Amigos del Bosque Eterno de los Niños: http://friendsoftherainforest.org

U Texas A&M –Centro Solstis Costa Rica: http://soltiscentercostarica.tamu.edu

Bosque Eterno S.A.: http://bosqueternosa.wordpress.com

Conservation International: http://www.conservation.org/

Área de Conservación Arenal-Tempisque: http://www.sinac.go.cr/AC/ACAT/Paginas/default.aspx

Fondo Comunitario Monteverde: http://www.monteverdefund.org

CIEE: http://www.ciee.org/study-abroad/costa-rica/monteverde/

Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía: http://www.minae.go.cr

Instituciones invitadas --- Invited Intitutions

Les pasamos una lista aproximada de las instituciones representadas en la conferencia--- This is an approximate list of the institutions represented in the conference.

Dentro de la conferencia tenemos participantes de muchas instituciones diferentes por ejemplo: Instituto Monteverde, Centro Científico tropical, Universidad de California, The School for Field Studies, Reseva Santa Elena, Universidad de Georgia, Fundación Conservacionista Costarricense, Corredor Biológico Pájaro Campana, Pax Natura, Asociación Conservacionista Costarricense, Universidad de Utah, Amigos del Bosuqe Eterno de los Niños, Universidad de Stanford, Minaet, Universidad Teaxas A&M –Centro Solstis Costa Rica, Bosqueterno S.A., Conservación Internacional, Universidad de Brown, Área de Conservación Arenal-Tempisque, Fondo Comunitario Guanacaste, Nature Conservancy- Tatanka Resources, CIEE,  AyA Santa Elena, Pronativas.

Resumen actividad sábado por la mañana- Saturday Morning Update

Las actividades comenzaron con una presentación de la Conferencia. Luego los invitados se dividieron en grupos donde se revisó un borrador de una visión y una misión para intentar corregirlo e ir escribiendo uno en conjunto y según lo que consideraban como sus prioridades.
La visión borrador decía: "Nuestra visión común es proveer una estrategia global que coordinará los esfuerzos nuevos y existentes que movilizarán a los recursos humanos y financieros para conservar la tierra, educar a la gente, llevar a cabo investigaciones, y fomentar un sentido de comunidad en la bioregión Monteverde- Arenal. "

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The day activities commenced with the presentation of the Conference, afterwards the participants were divided in groups where they were supposed to revise a draft of a common vision and mission and correct it to what they thought were the priorities, thus starting to right the common visions and mission.
The draft of the vision stated: "Our common vision is to provide an overarching framework that will coordinate new and existing efforts that will mobilise human and financial resources to conserve land, educate people, and carryout research and support a sense of community in the Monteverde-Arenal bioregion."

Live on the Radio --- En vivo en la Radio

Listen to the conference live on the radio go to www.monteverde.fm --- Escuchen la conferencia en vivo en www.monteverde.fm! 
Gracias a Radio Comunitaria Monteverde por la ayuda:

Poster Presentation- Presentación de Afiches

The conference started out with a poster presentation of the different organisations that were invited to the participate. This part is very important as participants became aware or the current goals and activities done by the other institutions. So far although most institutions have been working toward similar goals, they have been doing it on their own. This conference has among its goals to allow the different organisations to meet, and by the end of the conference we plan to have a common vision in mission created for the conference so we know we are working together in similar efforts for conservation of the Monteverde-Arenal region.  ---

La conferencia comenzó este viernes con la presentación de afiches de parte de las diferentes organizaciones que fueron invitados a participar. Esta parte fue de mucha importancia ya que permitió a los participantes ponerse al día de los que están haciendo las diferentes organizaciones en la zona. Por el momento aunque muchas de las instituciones tienen metas similares se ha estado trabajando de manera primordialmente individual. Esta conferencia tiene entre sus metas el de permitir a las diferentes organizaciones conocerse y al final de la conferencia tener una misión y visión en conjunto como parte de la Iniciativa y así poder trabajar juntos en la conservación de la región Monteverde-Arenal.

Agenda completa de la conferencia - Complete Conference Agenda

Descripción de la Conferencia y Programa - Conference Description

Agenda Conferencia Iniciativa Monteverde Arenal 2014