Public support and advocacy for PA - the experience of
WWF-Brazil
Rosa Lemos de Sá
“Protect our Parks” Campaign“Protect our Parks” Campaign
Objective
Call public attention to the so-called “paper parks”
Press the government to vote on, and pass a Bill to create a National System of Protected Areas (SNUC)
“Protect our Parks” Campaign“Protect our Parks” Campaign
built partnership with IBAMA design methodology
easy to apply low cost generate results in a short period of time
seminar to discuss criteria, form, and type of information available
methodology based on a questionnaire to be answered by park managers
QuestionnaireQuestionnaire
Eight questions designed to characterize the degree of implementation of PA:
land tenure; land post demarcation; existence of management plan;
presence or absence of illegal activities within the PA;
budget asked in relation to budget received;
staff number; existence of equipment, and adequate infra-structure.
QuestionnaireQuestionnaire
Five questions designed to measured the degree of vulnerability: degree of insularization; land use in the buffer zone, presence of development projects within PA
buffer zone. percentage of altered areas within PA,and illegal exploitation of resources within PA.
Results Results
Implementation
55% of the areas were considered less than minimally implemented
only 8% reasonably implemented
Vulnerability
57% of the areas were considered only
slightly vulnerable
only 2% vulnerable
ResultsResults
20 PA under EXTREME
Risk
17 PA underHIGHRisk
22 PA underNORMAL
Risk
27 PA underMEDIUM
Risk
Risk Matrix
Implementation Degree0 4
Vu
lne
rab
ility
Sta
tus
4
Dissemination of ResultsDissemination of Results
March 1999 - press conference at the WWF office
Bulletin to WWF members
Several TV, newspaper, and radio interviews
50 news release on newspapers and magazines
Advocacy and Public PolicyAdvocacy and Public Policy
Public hearing at the National Congress
e-mail petition in favor of parks
Demonstration with children in front of Congress
Meeting between children and Congressmen
Campaign Success Campaign Success
Bill approved in Congress within months
Partnership ProblemsPartnership Problems
Lack of formal agreement
No clear roles established
Difficulties in communication
Lack of trust between partners
Problems with media
Lack of better understanding of benefits
Government employees may fear NGOs
participation due to loss of power
Successful PartnershipsSuccessful Partnerships
Making the process formal
Avoidance of personal issues, professionalism
Exchange of information, knowledge, and help
Roles, responsibilities and benefits clearly
defined
Successful PartnershipsSuccessful Partnerships
Mutual respect to roles, and timelines
previously establishedReal interest and involvement of partners
towards the partnershipCommon objectivesMutual trust Mutual benefits