Exceptional forest leaders throughout Latin America are working to better their environment and communities, and they just got a boost to enhance their work. EcoAgriculture Partners is funding 15 seed grant proposals, each up to $5,000, to support landscape approaches around the region. Awardees will use the funding to benefit local communities by improving leadership, connecting people with each other and their environment, developing regional action plans, and promoting more sustainable practices.
The proposals come from Model Forests, which participated in the Forest Leaders for Integrated Landscape Management project launched by EcoAg in March. Model Forests are diverse partnerships focusing on improving large land areas, such as regions or landscapes. With 20 years of experience, they focus on knowledge sharing, capacity building, networking, governance, and sustainability where they operate. The partnerships bring people together to realize a shared vision of sustainable development. The project offers leaders in 15 Model Forests training in Integrated Landscape Management (ILM) and finance. Connecting landscape management and finance aims to enhance the work of landscape partnerships by fostering collaboration among various partners and stakeholders, thereby boosting everyone’s efforts at the same time.
Brazil’s Amazonas Tapajós Model Forest (FLOMAT), one of the Model Forests in the program, will use the seed grant to strengthen ILM practices within its region. “The seed grants supported our first meeting about ILM, which really boosted our enthusiasm to work on integrating communities, conservation practices, and rural producers’ livelihoods,” says Franciane Santana, a FLOMAT leader. “It helped create coexistence between different actors, aiming to build upon common objectives for more harmonious relationships in the Amazon.”
EcoAg’s approach emphasizes the importance of practical experience in complementing learning. While participants gain foundational knowledge online, they also need opportunities to apply these concepts in real-world settings. The Forest Leaders for ILM project allows participants to learn through an interactive year-long course that fosters a community of practice. EcoAg pairs seed grants with mentorship for the projects they fund to further the impact of the monetary awards.
“At EcoAg, we believe that the people living in landscapes hold the majority of the knowledge and experience needed to solve the challenges they face,” says EcoAg Senior Program Manager Patricia Bon. “What’s especially powerful is that we’re delivering a comprehensive program that connects the opportunity for funding with tailored training and mentorship. By integrating these components, we empower landscapes to lead the work themselves with the right tools and support.”
The proposals we received were extremely rich and diverse. We congratulate all the model forest awardees and are excited to see their projects launch this week!
The $5,000 grants will fund:
- Peru’s Abancay Model Forest to develop capacity-strengthening tools and engage multiple actors from varying government levels in five territories of its landscape
- Brazil’s Amazonas Tapajós Model Forest to apply ILM in its landscape
- Bolivia’s Chiquitania Model Forest to develop innovative mechanisms to strengthen governance
- Ecuador’s Chocó Andino Model Forest to focus on regenerating the landscape
- Costa Rica’s Chorotega Model Forest to create an ILM-based governance strategy
- Brazil’s Hileia Baiana Model Forest to focus on connecting landscapes in the country.
- Guatemala’s Los Altos Model Forest to build capacity for implementing ILM
- Brazil’s Mata Atlântica Model Forest to work toward sustainable, inclusive, and participatory governance
- Brazil’s Mosaico Sertão Veredas Peruaçu, a mosaic of conservation and sustainable development protected areas in the north of Minas Gerais, to promote ILM concepts throughout the landscape
- Chile’s Panguipulli Model Forest to develop an action and communications plan to strengthen governance
- Brazil’s Pantanal Model Forest to focus on connecting people and landscapes and strengthening leaders through ILM
- Peru’s Pichanaki Model Forest Landscape Alliance to strengthen its governance
- The Model Forest of Puerto Rico to create a shared vision of the landscape for future generations
- Colombia’s Risaralda Model Forest to create six participatory workshops with strategic landscape communities
- Argentina’s Tucumán Model Forest to strengthen governance in their region
The Forest Leaders for Integrated Landscape Management program is possible because of generous funding from Natural Resources Canada. We are grateful for their support.