Description
Spanning Central America, South America and the Caribbean islands, the Latin America and Caribbean region is home to some of the most biologically and culturally rich sites in the world. The regions landscapes host large numbers of endemic species and are primarily threatened by habitat loss and degradation. The biodiversity of Latin America and the Caribbean is at risk due to one of the highest land degradation and deforestation rates in the world, driven by increased demands of a growing global population for food, forest products, land minerals, and energy. Whereas people can be the greatest threat to a regions biodiversity, they are also the most powerful ingredient for conservation when stakeholders are able to work cooperatively toward shared conservation goals that reflect local values, pride, aspirations, and needs. The question is no longer whether to involve key actors at the individual, organizational or group level, but how. Program Goal: Strengthen the capacity of Latin American and Caribbean individuals and institutions to manage and conserve species, habitats, and ecological processes. Program Objective: Support projects that address one or more of the following three focal areas: (i) threatened landscapes, (ii) threatened species, and (iii) regional training programs.In fiscal year 2014, the Wildlife Without Borders-Latin America and Caribbean Program (WWB-LAC) seeks proposals that address the underlying human dimensions of species and ecosystem conservation in the following regions: Central America Tropical Andes (western Amazon) Regional Caribbean projects (defined as two or more countries or islands)Projects should take place in the above regions of Latin America or the Caribbean. (Please note that projects in Mexico are administered through the Wildlife Without Borders Mexico Program.)Below are the descriptions and desired results for the three focal areas for fiscal year 2014 funding: 1. Threatened landscapes. In 2014, the WWB-LAC program seeks proposals under this focal area that address integrated landscapes for people and nature.Description: USFWS will support projects that benefit landscapes that are clearly justified to be of 1) high conservation value and 2) under immediate and direct threat. Through targeted ecosystem and/or landscape-level conservation actions, projects shall directly link identified threats to key stakeholders. Projects should seek to create or promote community-level entities that work cooperatively to identify conservation problems, diagnose causes and jointly develop management prescriptions through a participatory and inclusive process that acknowledges the legitimacy of partner needs and goals and the advantages of concerted collaborative action to address complex resource management challenges.Desired results: Increased conservation and management of threatened landscapes of high conservation value including both protected areas and multi-functional landscapes. Proposals will be strengthened if they address one or more of the following: (a) reduction of unsustainable land use activities (e.g., habitat degradation or loss due to the expansion of agriculture and/or cattle ranching/pastures, road and infrastructure) that lead to improved alternative livelihoods, climate change resilience, and/or sustainable food production systems in the biodiversity conservation project area; (b) mitigation of the impacts of extractive industries (e.g., logging, fishing, hunting, mining, oil and gas development); (c) reduction of threats to highly endangered wildlife and plant species (e.g., harvesting, hunting, fishing, habitat destruction by land use change, wildfires, other); and (d) integration of both human and biological dimensions into conservation policies and programs at the local, national, and/or regional level.2. Threatened speciesIn 2014, the WWB-LAC program seeks proposals under this focal area that address either a) human-jaguar conflict or b) wildlife trafficking and illegal pet trade. A) Human-jaguar conflictDescription: USFWS will support local, national and regional (transnational) activities designed to mitigate and reduce conflicts between people and jaguars due to predation on livestock, domestic animals and game species, wildlife disease, and overall damage to human lives and livelihoods in agricultural and multi-use areas located within or near protected areas. Desired results: Reduction or elimination of conflicts between humans and jaguars, including livestock predation, and damage to human lives and livelihoods. Proposals will have a higher likelihood of being selected if they address one or more of the following: (a) pre-emptive techniques to reduce or eliminate conflicts between humans and jaguars, (b) reduction of retaliatory attacks and killings of jaguars, (c) engagement of strong constituencies (e.g. ranchers, decision-makers, community or opinion leaders) for peaceful co-existence with jaguars through education, outreach and social marketing campaigns, (d) integration of sustainable mechanisms and/or policy incentives for owners to prevent livestock predation at the local, national, and/or regional level, and (e) produce benefits for other species and/or habitats within the project area.B) Wildlife trafficking and illegal pet tradeDescription: USFWS will support local, national and regional (transnational) activities designed and implemented to reduce wildlife trafficking and illegal pet trade in LAC. Proposals should focus on reducing the market for wild animals and plant resources that are illegally and unsustainably harvested. Desired results: Reduced illegal and/or unsustainable harvesting of wildlife and plant resources. Decreased availability and commercial consumption and/or use of illegal wild animals. Increased application of wildlife protection laws by in-country decision-makers and law enforcement agents. Regional and/or transnational cooperation on reducing wildlife trafficking. Effective messaging in the media and development community regarding the link between wildlife declines and illegal trade. Proposals will have a higher likelihood of being selected if they address one or more of the following: (a) demonstrate that threatened species are at risk of extirpation due to the wildlife trafficking and illegal pet trade, (b) identify and address the key human behavior(s) to be changed related to the unsustainable or illegal trade; (c) define credible measure(s) demonstrating effectiveness of project activities, and (d) produce benefits for other species and/or habitats within the project area. 3. Regional training programsIn 2014, the WWB-LAC program seeks proposals for regional training programs that focus on early conservation professionals.Description: USFWS will support the development and implementation of effective training programs in LAC to train early conservation professionals (e.g., individuals with 1-5 years of experience) from different backgrounds to strengthen and facilitate biodiversity conservation competencies at the local level. Programs can be a) specialized trainings of 2 -8 weeks, b) certificate programs of 2 months or more or c) accredited 1 to 2 year degree programs. The training program will include courses taught by instructors who are knowledgeable of team-based, participatory teaching methods and have a proven track record of working with local people to achieve conservation success in the field. Desired results: Highly inter-disciplinary, experiential training programs for early conservation professionals to develop or strengthen key competencies (knowledge, skills and attitudes) to lead local biodiversity projects that focus on the human dimensions of conservation. Proposals will have a higher likelihood of being selected to the extent that the following components are included in the curricula: (a) interdisciplinary understanding of the social, economic, legal and scientific aspects of biodiversity conservation strategies; (b) a strong field practice component on a real-world issue that complements the coursework; (c) facilitation of participatory processes, conflict resolution, intercultural dialogue, and promotion of sustainable development initiatives; (d) project design, implementation, and evaluation; (e) organizational behavior; (f) knowledge management; and (f) governance processes and mechanisms within local and national policies and laws.This program is authorized under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531-43).