What we are doing
Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru are strongholds of terrestrial biodiversity of global importance. The political will to protect this biodiversity is demonstrated through the ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by the four countries, as well as in the significant progress in declaring and managing protected areas. Currently, the four countries have between 10% and 25% of their national territory under protection.
As an integral part of the wider landscape, local governments’ protected areas and other area-based conservation measures contribute to connectivity between protected areas for biodiversity conservation. Within the framework of the ratified international conventions, the four countries have recognized local governments as important and legitimate stakeholders in the management of protected areas. The legal situation of protected areas and other area-based conservation measures at the level of local governments varies between the four countries.
Despite the existing efforts, there are fewer local governments implementing biodiversity conservation due to weak financial, managerial and technical capacities and functions. The comparably little information and lack of reliable statistical data limit the visibility of the high number of existing initiatives, so they often remain unknown and isolated.
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How we are tracking
•The local governments have access to exchange opportunities with other local governments in their own country and with neighboring countries.
•Until 2020, each associated country will have implemented at least three measures directed to strengthening the institutional role of local governments in managing local protected areas and other area-based conservation measures.
•The growing importance of local governments in managing local protected areas and other area-based conservation measures is highlighted in, at least, two national programs or plans of action in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador or Peru, and in two events of international initiatives, between 2017 and 2020.
•The number of local governments in which protected areas and other area-based conservation measures are nationally recognized increased in a total of 5% per year, among the four countries, between 2017 and 2020.
•A capacity building tool for local governments in managing protected areas and other area-based conservation measurements is developed until 2019 together with experienced local governments, thus adapted to the context of each country and is made available to all who are interested.
•Five networks and training institutions (multiplier structures) regularly offer technical assistance to local governments in managing protected areas and other area-based conservation measures.
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What we are achieving
Local governments are leading the change to an integrated planning approach, in which protected areas are a fundamental component of both urban and rural landscapes. Innovative solutions at the local level are being applied to integrate local protected areas into municipal planning and territorial development strategies, as well as into local management systems. ICLEI is improving the conditions of local governments to conserve biodiversity through the effective and equitable management of protected areas and other area-based conservation measures. The project combines a multi-scale and programmatic approach, focusing on strengthening local level capacities and governance as well as the role of local governments in the effective management of protected areas and other area-based conservation measures within the four countries’ institutional and legal frameworks. Benefits and challenges are disseminated at the local, subnational, national and international level.
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