Conserving Ecuador's Paramos, the alpine tundra ecosystem of the Andes
By Gabriel Thoumi, CFA and Robert Hofstede, special to mongabay.comJanuary 17, 2012
Páramo: Paisaje estudiado, habitado, manejado e institucionalizado á Pramo - an Ecuador overview
Páramos © Robert Hofstede.
Recently, the Grupo de Trabajo en Páramos del Ecuador published an excellent summary of their analysis from the past 13 years. Robert Hofstede, one of the editors of Páramo: Paisaje estudiado, habitado, manejado e institucionalizado, recently sat down with Mongabay.com and discussed the situation of páramo conservation in Ecuador.
Mongabay: What is the current status of páramo conservation in Ecuador?
Robert Hofstede: Actually, this is quite a good news story. When the Grupo de Trabajo de Paramo started, one of the major challenges was to draw attention to the ecosystem; tropical forests were much more "sexy" and cold and wet high country grasslands were literally covered in mist. In 15 years time, the ecosystem is valued, receives a lot of attention and is high on the political agenda. This does not mean at all that it is now in an optimal conservation situation, but a lot has been achieved: large and successful projects contributed to new protected areas, community managed areas and effective incentives to conserve páramo.
Páramos © Robert Hofstede.
Mongabay: What are the most interesting ecological aspects of the páramos in Ecuador?
Robert Hofstede: The uniqueness of the ecosystem is the most interesting ecological aspect of the páramos in Ecuador. An estimated 60% of all flora is endemic to the biome (not to be found anywhere else in the world). Tall tussock grasslands in between which grow spectacular plant formations like giant bromeliads and the characteristic stem rosettes (Espeletia), scattered stunted forests with the highest elevation growing tree genus in the world (Polylepis), create a special landscape.
The second most interesting aspect is its ecological significance to society. 90% of Ecuadorians depend on water originating from Páramo, and the ecological characteristics of the ecosystem make it a perfect water regulator; frequently called "the water tower of the Andes".
Mongabay: How did Grupo de Trabajo en Páramos del Ecuador (GTP) initially establish itself?
Robert Hofstede: It was an initiative of several passionate persons from different institutions. Back then, in the mid-nineties, there was only little work done on páramo natural history and even less on páramo conservation. A few of us that worked on the issue, but didn't have any money to develop big projects, decided that at least, we can start exchanging information and organize a regular discussion meeting around certain issues related to páramo; hopefully that dynamic will attract more people and create a kind of social platform for páramo. I remembered we had a more or less formal constitution meeting, with 8 colleagues. They were from NGO, academy and also one person from the Ministry of Environment. Together we wrote a support request to the Netherlands Committee for IUCN, who granted us with US$ 10k roughly which lasted for 2 years, 8 meetings and the initial establishment of the "páramo" publication series.
It is striking that five of the original group of eight collaborated as editors to this book; yes, we still are friends and passionate as ever.
Páramos © Robert Hofstede.
Mongabay: How has GTP impacted páramo conservation in Ecuador?
Robert Hofstede: It contributed by providing a platform for exchange of information, analysis and debate. It never had the aim to provide consensus or take political statements - that is the task of other organizations. The power of GTP is its continuity and therefore it provides a support and follow-up function to all páramo initiatives in the country. It has put issues on the public and political agenda and triggered the debate that finally led to positive conservation decisions. Maybe a clear example is the fact that GTP has discussed in several occasions the possible impact of exotic tree plantations, providing scientific information and debating between promoters and opponents of this activity. This has lead to a very informed debate nowadays and much more restricted and better planned reforestation activities in high country.
Llamas between frailejones © Robert Hofstede.
Mongabay: How has GTP impacted páramo conservation payment-for-ecosystem services design in Ecuador and throughout Latin America?
Robert Hofstede: GTP has dedicated several meetings to the issue of Ecosystem services and PES schemes. I think it has analyzed both the advantages as well as the challenges. Being such an important ecosystem for water regulation, it has been one of the first targeted ecosystems for PES schemes. On the other hand, having such a high human presence, cultural diversity, and social inequity, there also has been a good dose of skepticism and even direct resistance to payment schemes, by many people considered as a "capitalization" of nature. GTP has tried to put all elements of the debate on the table and allow for open discussions on the benefits and the treats. I think that, thanks to this, GTP has better informed the discussions, for instance by unlinking the concept of Ecosystem Services Management from the tool Payment for Ecosystem Services. It also has contributed to create understanding by PES promoters for the concerns of the social groups that oppose to PES and on the other hand, has informed the latter groups that PES is a complex matter and not necessarily implies privatization or lack of access and control. Finally, it has contributed with technical knowledge, for instance on the relation of ecosystem management with water regulation, that are important for designing PES schemes. I cannot tell if this directly contributed to better design of PES schemes, but I surely can tell that the current PES initiatives much better than before include technical and social considerations
Páramos at 4200 to 4400 meters above sea level © Robert Hofstede
Mongabay: What scenarios do you envision for páramo conservation in Ecuador and Latin America over the next 13 years?
Robert Hofstede: Although a lot has been achieved in terms of páramo conservation, legal protection, knowledge generation and examples of good practice, there is still a lot of work to be done, because the classical threats (overgrazing, encroachment of potato cropping, exotic tree plantations) are still present and new threats (open pit mining, climate change) have increased. The positive experience in Ecuador, not only through GTP but the general model of participatory conservation management of páramo, has been successfully adapted to other páramo countries (Venezuela, Colombia, and Perú) and experiences from those countries have been applied in Ecuador. A regional collaboration program on páramo conservation (GEF-UNEP funded) did great work to make this happen but is about to finish its activities. The created network at regional level should maintain functioning in order to continue to share experiences and jointly face the new challenges.
Cotopaxi © Robert Hofstede.
Mongabay: How can other scientists like yourselves develop working groups similar in scope and impact to the Grupo de Trabajo en Páramos del Ecuador (GTP) focusing on other ecosystems?
Robert Hofstede: First of all, try not to stick among scientists. Pure scientific groups tend to have a short live span. Multi-stakeholder platforms are much more interesting and dynamic and are easier to focus on "the real issue" One of the key factors of success of GTP was that nobody ever claimed ownership - even Ecociencia, the NGO that always supported the operations and managed the (small amounts of) funding, never dominated the discussions or agenda setting. Openness, transparency, different stakeholders and respect for everybody's opinion is another group of factors for success that is critical. Maybe the fact that GTP always limited to the debate and never tried to reach full consensus or strategic statements was key to this. Finally, the real willingness to collaborate with other people and seeing the added value of this, is maybe the most important prerequisite for an effective working group
Páramos at 4200 to 4400 meters above sea level © Robert Hofstede.
Mongabay: What do you think are the greatest successes for Grupo de Trabajo en Páramos del Ecuador (GTP), and how would you like other scientists to mimic GTP's successes?
Robert Hofstede: Concrete success stories of GTP include the impact of specific debate topics, leading to positive changes in policy and practice. We mentioned already the issue of reforestation, but another theme has been the quantification of hydrological information, resulting in constructive criticism on drinking water infrastructure planning, and recently, the debate on the uncertainty of Climate Change scenarios for páramo, resulting in a high attention for adaptation strategies. Other successes are the projects that were generated based on discussions within GTP and/or by people that generated their joint idea during GTP meetings. A third success has been the replication of the GTP model both within the country (there are working groups at provincial level in Chimborazo and in the Southern Andes) and other countries (Colombia, Perú). Each has its own dynamics and themes, but the spirit is the same.
Chimborazo © Robert Hofstede.
How to order:
Páramo: Paisaje estudiado, habitado, manejado e institucionalizado
Paperback: 388 Pages
Publisher: Abya-Yala/UPS Publicaciónes, ISBN: 978-9942-09-016-4
Editors: Patricio Mena Vásconez, Anabel Castillo, Saskia Flores, Robert Hofstede, Carmen Josse, Sergio Lasso B., Galo Medina, Nadya Ochoa, Doris Ortiz
Gabriel Thoumi, CFA is a frequent contributor to Mongabay.com.
Robert Hofstede has worked with IUCN and many other conservation organizations in the public and private sector for over 20+ years. He can be reached at hofstederobert (AT) gmail.com.
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