Technical Assistance
Paso Pacífico forms partnerships with landowners who have a strong interest in sustainable land management. By providing landowners with technical expertise and advice, Paso Pacífico actively supports them in protecting biodiversity. Areas of assistance range from advising the formation and management of private reserves to implementing sustainable agriculture and eco-tourism. Paso Pacífico draws on its network of Nicaraguan and international experts to provide such support.
Campesino farmers are often the most forward-thinking landowners and demonstrate a strong motivation for conservation, maintaining a close relationship with their natural resource base. Technical assistance activities include: strengthening community organizations, providing training opportunities for women, implementing community-level forest restoration, promoting biodiversity in agriculture through alternative crops and organic farming, and developing eco-tourism programs. All these activities also consider ways to increase opportunities for income generation. Presently, Paso Pacífico works with five campesino communities across the Paso del Istmo.
Photo: Miguel Soto, a leader in the Asociación Pacífico Sur, delivers a papaya plants to women in the community who are diversifying their home gardens.
Many landowners with large farms in the Paso del Istmo are have demonstrated a impressive commitment to conservation by dedicating their land as a private reserve. Others are working to develop their land while integrating conservation and community development principles. Paso Pacífico assists such landowners with biodiversity monitoring, forest restoration, reserve establishment and management. For example, Paso Pacífico is working closely with the Nicaraguan Network of Private Protected areas to develop and implement management plans. Also, Paso Pacífico is advising landowners from the tourism and development sector who demonstrate a commitment to sustainability.
Photo: Reserve owners of the Nicaraguan Private Reserve Nicaragua meet with Paso Pacífico at la Escameca Grande Private Reserve to discuss management and reforestation plans.
