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