Strategies for the Sustainability of Connectivity Corridors
Details
Note: Yale School of the Environment (YSE) was formerly known as the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies (F&ES). News articles and events posted prior to July 1, 2020, refer to the School's name at that time.
Summary
The Mainstreaming Conservation in Colombian Cattle Ranching project was recently launched in Colombia to promote the adoption of silvopastoral systems (SPS) and better management practices in Colombian cattle ranching landscapes, in order to improve natural resource management, enhance the provision of environmental services and increase productivity in the participating farms. One of the main environmental goals of this project is to contribute to biodiversity conservation through the implementation of terrestrial and riparian corridors that connect the remnants of natural ecosystems within the greater pastoral landscapes. To achieve this goal, it is essential to ensure the successful establishment of the connectivity corridors and their long-term sustainability.
This course addressed the concept and elements of sustainability and introduced possible activities and strategies that can be implemented to facilitate the long-term maintenance of the corridors.
Content
Module 1. Environmental, social and financial dimensions of sustainability and their relevance in cattle ranching landscape restoration
- Introduction to sustainability in the context of cattle ranching and connectivity corridors (History, principles, trade-offs, etc.)
- Beyond the Sustainable Colombian Cattle Ranching Project: The importance of identifying sustainability strategies
- Regulatory frames and institutional arrangements (in the Colombian context)
Module 2. Examples of activities for the sustainabiityand consolidation of connectivity corridors
- Field Trip: Visit to El Bambusal
- Case study #1: Experiences of connectivity corridors and microwetland restoration
- Field Trip: Organic bananas cultivation, coffee in agroforestry and tropical flowers
- New ventures for the bamboo market
- Agroforestry Systems as a tool for restoration and biodiversity conservation on managed lands
- Case study #2: Experiences using agrofoam in nurseries and Mexican suflower seed reproduction
- Field Trip: El Ocaso farm in Salento
- Multimodal tourism -rural tourism, agroecotourism and scientific tourism in cattle ranching landscapes. Visit to the farm's agrotouristic system: coffee plantations under shade, agro-ecotouristic activities and appeals, installations, services aimed at travelers. Benefits of agrotourism; difficulties and challenges for its development as an instrument for productive sustainability
- Case study #3: Visit to Barbas-Bremen biological corridors established by the Alexander von Humboldt Institute (Connectivity and ecological restoration, the landscape as an element of touristic value, scientific tourism)
- Case study #4: El Compadre Inn: an architectural restoration experience and lodging services (architectural heritage as a touristic appeal, the basic travel services: staying overnight, food, the rural context in tourism)
- Field Trip: Visit to traditional weaving artisans who work with natural fibers from the forest
- Biological and economical enrichment of secondary and over-exploited forests
- Restoration models with economic use potential
- The Forest Chain
- Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES): A strategy for financing reforestation and conservation
- Case study #5: The case of Misiones, Argentina
- Operational activities of implantation
- Maintenance and management of restored areas
- Participatory research
- Case study #6: Attitude changes in cattle ranchers – Experiences in ecological restoration and lessons learned
Module 3. Technical aspects of restoration: pending themes from the first curse
- Field Trip: Visit to El Cortijo
- Recollection, transplant and induction of the seed bank
- Seed collectors network
- Field Trip: Visit to restored or in the process of restoration areas and to forest fragments for seed collection
- Plant material production: creation and management of nurseries (private, community)
- Seedling transplant
- Demonstration: micro-nursery with agrofoam
- Other important factors: communication, technical assistance and support
Field Day. El Hatico Nature Reserve
- Experiences with sugar cane at El Hatico
- Sustainable management of secondary forest
- Field trip: Sugar cane, forest, and corridor
- Forest chain in cattle ranching landscapes