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November 2000 | Intag | By Carlos Zorrilla
One of Decoin's most important accomplishments is the
creation of sustainable land use and economic well being,
something our plantet desperately needs. The other great accomplishment
is environmental engagement. If DECOIN has been able to inspire
people to get involved in trying to find a less destructive
way to live, and creating solutions to the many problems our
biosphere faces, then we have been successful. Everything
else is secondary.
PRODEMINCA CAMPAIGN AND THE WORLD BANK
We have denounced nationally and internationally, led a international
campaign, and are challenging a World Bank financed mining
prospecting project, called Prodeminca, that illegally prospected
for minerals within the Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve-
an official protected area (similar to a Wilderness Area).
We instigated the first ever claim against a World Bank financed
project in Ecuador in December of 1999. Our claim was accepted
as valid by the World Bank, and after a April 1999 visit by
the Inspection Panel, the Panel recommended to the Bank's
board a full investigation, which the Bank board approved.
Currently (9-00) we are waiting for the second Inspection
Panel visit projected to take place in Oct.,or Nov. of 2000.
(for more information look under "Prodeminca"
in the Internet).
COMMUNITY TOURISM
We are helping the community of Junin implement a community
run Ecological Tourist project right in the middle of the
mining area. We are working with the community (the one that
would have been the most impacted by the Mitsubishi mine)
to establish the first such community run eco tourism business
in the Intag area. The community successfully received its
first group in September 2000.
COMMUNITY FOREST RESERVE
We are establishing a network of community owned and protected
Forests Reserves in the Intag area. The first one has recently
been established at the site of the ex-mining camp, up river
from the Junin community. DECOIN gave the community the funds
to buy the land, about 200 acres of primary cloud forests,
protecting dozens of bird and mammal species and the Junin
river watershed. The reserve has recently expanded to about
700 hectares, and is growing.
We will help design a jointly implemented land use management
plan, seek legal status, and help them expand the reserves
into the area slated for mining development in order to keep
it out of hand of mining companies. Many other communities
are asking us to help them to protect their water supplies
and establish the forests reserves for them, so there is lots
of work to do.
COMMUNITY WATERSHED RESERVES
DECOIN is being asked to help protect community watersheds
to secure the quantity and quality of community water sources.
To date, we have helped buy and protect watersheds in Chalguayagcu
Alto, and four other reserves are on hold waiting funding.
Many of these community watersheds are covered in native forests.
MICRO HYDRO PROJECT
We are also currently, with full support from Cotacachi Municipal
Authorities, (9-00) installing a micro hydro system in the
community of Chalguayacu Bajo, the first such installation
in the Intag area. The small (refurbished) generator will
generate energy for 14 homes that would otherwise not receive
electricity. Also, the project relies on local materials,
homemade water wheel, and a large percentage of donated labor
by community members. We hope to expand the project to the
many other communities that have expressed interest.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Our work is aimed at making the local populations and students
aware of the importance of conserving their own environment,
and of the uniqueness of Intag's forests and biodiversity.
Our work includes working with communities and schools and
production of posters to deal with loss of biodiversity, deforestation,
contamination. To date, we have produced two posters on the
birds of Intag and prevention of agricultural fires. Currently
we are looking to greatly expand this program.
COMMUNITY TREE NURSERIES AND SUSTAINABLE LAND USE
DECOIN is taking part of a multi-organism project to promote
reforestation with native species and proper land use, as
well as watershed protection and introducing alternative agricultural
products.
RESEARCH
DECOIN took part, together with Zoobreviven and SESIA, Ecuador's
ornithological organization, in small botanical and ornithological
research project called the Toisan Project. in the Toisan
Range. The project featured a strong environmental education
and handicraft production component (completed in Dec. 99).
SOCIAL WORK
Besides these, we help communities seek social and economic
projects (our secretary helps them write up proposals, and
identify funding agencies) and also denounce environmental
problems. Also, we have helped some communities establish
the SAT educational program in their communities (System of
Tutorial Education (for rural high school education); and
are helping another community get legal status.
ECOLOGICAL COUNTY
Currently we are working with county officials and non-governmental
organizations to create the first ecological county in Latin
America. This will limit the toxic industries or commerce
able to become established in Cotacachi County.
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