Pride Campaign: Chocó-Darién Western Ecuador
Country: Ecuador
Partner: Municipal Government of the Canton of San Lorenzo del Pailon
Campaign Manager: Luis Adolfo Carvache
Project Area: San Lorenzo, Ecuador (Choco-Manabí Conservation Corridor). The Chocó-Manabí Conservation Corridor extends from Utrí a national park in Colombia to the region located between the Machalilla National Park and Chongón Colonche in Ecuador
Principal Threats: Threats include deforestation, hunting, mining, illegal crop cultivation, poor solid waste management, fishing (using methods such as dynamite), and shrimp cultivation. Planned regional integration projects (road, rail, and dam construction, for example) also represent a significant threat to the conservation corridor. Population growth and social conflict are indirect threats.
Campaign Goal: To conserve the biodiversity of the Choco-Manabí conservation corridor of San Lorenzo del Pailon for future generations.
Flagship Species: Red-lored Parrot (Amazona autumnalis)
Campaign Slogan: Yo Amo San Lorenzo (I love San Lorenzo)
Notable Information from the Questionnaire Survey:
- In San Lorenzo, 44.74% of those surveyed believed that the forests are under severe threat of being destroyed.
- A majority (70.57%) of those surveyed considered it important that laws be passed to protect the natural resources in the region.
Campaign SMART Objectives:
- Objective 1: By the end of the project, 50% of the inhabitants over 11 years old from the 13 parishes of the canton of San Lorenzo will be able to name the principal function of a conservation corridor
- Objective 2: By the end of the project, 40% of the inhabitants over 11 years old from the 13 parishes of the canton of San Lorenzo will be able to name three actions to halt deforestation in the Choco-Manabí conservation corridor
- Objective 3: By the end of the project there will be a 20% increase (from 11%) in the number of landowners who do not sell their lands
- Objective 4: By December of 2004, more than 80% of the population over 11 years of age from the 13 parishes of the canton of San Lorenzo will be able to name at least three benefits provided by the forests of the Choco-Manabí conservation corridor
- Objective 5: By December of 2004, 5% of the population over 11 years of age from the 13 parishes of the canton of San Lorenzo will become involved in environmental activities provided through this campaign
- Objective 6: By December of 2004, 60% of the population will be able to identify the ecological reserves and understand their importance within the corridor
- Objective 7: By December of 2004, 10% of the youth and adults from San Lorenzo county will have participated in talks and activities implemented by this campaign.
- Objective 8: After one year, a communal agreement for helping to protect the reserves will be signed by 2,000 persons.
Highlights from the Results (based on pre- and post-campaign surveys):
- Number of people who could define the term "conservation corridor" increased 28 percentage points; number of people who said a biological corridor is necessary to maintain wildlife in the ecological reserves increased 24 percentage points.
- 22% (up from 8%) were able to understand and explain what actions needed to be taken in order to reduce deforestation; 45% of them named environmental education as an option compared to 34% before the campaign.
- By the end of the campaign, 140 people had actively participated in conservation activities and a total of 691 individuals participated in the Pride campaign specifically.
