Protected Areas Consolidation and Administration Project (PACAP)

What is PACAP? | Components | Implementation | Benefits

Project document Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) Mesoamerican Biological Corridor What is a protected area? Global Environment Facility (GEF) World Bank Environment Website  Project At-A-Glance Implementing Agency  Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Implementation period  4 years Amount granted   US$5 million Counterpart  US$2.6 million Total project cost US$7.6 million Project launch date   May 29, 2007 Closing date  June 30, 2011

The Mesoamerican region (the seven Central American countries plus the five southern Mexican states) accounts for approximately 8 percent of the planet’s biological diversity. Thousands of flora and fauna species inhabit the more than 22 ecoregions and 350 types of landscape found in the region. Much of this biological diversity is protected in the national or state Protected Areas Systems, which number more than 420 in all of Mesoamerica (UNDP-UNEP).

Located in the middle of the Mesoamerican region, El Salvador contains an impressive diversity of species and one of the largest expanses of mangroves in Central America, many of which are included in the country’s system of protected areas (PA). However, the country’s PA is severely threatened, for instance by human settlements which have strong destructive impacts due to the conversion of forests, pollution, and the overexploitation of natural resources.

The country’s official protected areas system  includes 118 natural protected areas totaling 400 SqKm and approximately 355 SqKm of mangroves, all under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (MARN). Nevertheless, their average size is 8.5 SqKm, ranging from 0.02 SqKm (Colomita) to 316 SqKm (Bahía de Jiquilisco), and other areas which have not been defined as buffer zones. It should be mentioned that of the 754 SqKm under the protected areas system, MARN has legal title over only 70 Sqkm.

The protected areas system is still not fully defined in terms of physical boundaries or ecological resources, making its administration difficult. In addition, the protected areas have traditionally been managed as individual units, in which conservation efforts are considered more as isolated and independent areas rather than as a system, thus limiting the possibility of linking these protected areas with others.

Top

The Protected Areas Consolidation and Administration Project (PACAP) is a project designed to strengthen the Natural Protected Areas System (NPAS) through the development of a pilot program that consolidates two of the country’s key natural protected areas: (1) Lago Guija-San Diego-La Barra and (2) La Bahía de Jiquilisco. The PACAP devises and implements mechanisms for the regularization of the communities located within or close to the two pilot areas. The project includes an exact cadastral definition and internal demarcation of the area.

These areas shelter globally important biodiversity. Thereby, management plans being developed and implemented include the identification and promotion of conservation activities which can generate income for local communities as part of a plan for the long-term sustainable development of the areas.

The project is financed through a US$5 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) provided through the World Bank. The remainder of the resources (US$2.6 million) is provided by the Government of El Salvador -GOES- through counterpart funds.

Top

Project Components

Component 1: Strengthening of the Natural Protected Areas System (NPAS)

The objective of this component is to strengthen the NPAS so as to enable long-term sustainable management. This will be achieved through the consolidation of the existing strategy for the system, with the participation and inclusion of all relevant stakeholders at the central and local levels, including the private sector in particular. Additionally, the strengthening of the system will be achieved through the development of an adequate institutional and legal framework for its administration and management.

Subcomponents:

• Consolidation of the NPAS strategy
• Consolidation of the legal framework
• Consolidation of the institutional framework
• Public dissemination and awareness campaign.

Component 2: Consolidation and Management of the Pilot Natural Protected Areas

The objective of this component is to develop, test and finalize a methodology for the consolidation of the two pilot protected areas in the Bahía de Jiquilisco and the Lago Guija-San Diego-La Barra area (See Map 1). This component includes the delineation, demarcation and regularization of the pilot PA, as well as the development and implementation of sustainable management plans. These areas were chosen in a process which evaluated the global and regional biodiversity importance of both sites. The process also considered land use, ownership, size and share, among others.  The results of this component will inform the preparation of the NPAS consolidation strategy (Component 1).

Subcomponents:

• Characterization and delineation of the pilot NPAS; 
• Legalization and regularization of the pilot NPAS; 
• Management plans for the pilot NPAS;

Map 1
Selected Pilot Protected Areas

Component 3: Project Administration

The project management mechanisms are funded under this component, including the monitoring and evaluation system (M&E). This component will also finance the administrative costs of the project’s implementation unit, contracting of auditing services, and studies to evaluate project execution.

Top

Project Implementation

Project preparation, implementation and sustainability depend on the establishment of important strategic alliances with local environmental organizations. Among the most important are: MARN, the Protected Areas System and the National Registration Center -CNR. 

MARN is the agency responsible for the execution of the PACAP and its duties include administration, supervision, coordination, financial control, monitoring and evaluation. Direct implementation will be carried out by small Project Coordination Units (PCU) within the ministry’s Department of Natural Resources -DGNP. These units will ensure the coordination of the entire project. In specific, the PCU will execute activities from Components 1, 2 and 3 with technical support from CNR.

The project will aid in the creation of two regional units that supervise field activities under Component 2. In each of the pilot protected areas, PACAP will have a regional coordinator, a social specialist and a technical assistant who will focus on policies and strategic issues jointly with the PCU and the Department of Natural Resources.

Additionally, the project will hire non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or other qualified organizations, to supervise the operational aspects of the two pilot areas. This organization will be responsible for developing and implementing the management plans and for providing field assistance.

Top 

Expected Benefits from the Project

The PACAP will contribute to the rationalization and the long-term sustainability of the protected areas system and will allow:

• The slowing of degradation of the country’s two main PAs through the implementation of a management model that can be replicated in the other areas;
  
• The development of a rational and coherent political framework for the natural protected areas system in El Salvador, which includes both core and buffer zones;
  
• The design and implementation of a specific protected areas consolidation strategy so as to prevent and solve potential tenure conflicts in natural protected areas and mangroves;
  
• The conservation of the consolidated natural protected areas with the participation of local communities so as to promote sustainable activities consistent with conservation efforts designed to improve quality of life and biodiversity; and
  
• The strengthening of El Salvador’s biodiversity conservation capacity with particular emphasis on the participation of local communities, NGOs and the private sector.

For more information Contact us!
Last updated: September 4th, 2007