The third webinar of the APLocais sub-network took place last Wednesday (24), in the context of the project Local Protected Areas and Other Area-Based Conservation Measures at the Local Government Level The event shared the experiences and lessons learned during the pilot acceleration program conducted in partnership with... Municipal Secretariat of Green and Environment (SVMA) in the Capivari-Monos Environmental Protection Area (APA), in São Paulo (SP).  

The acceleration program developed by ICLEI with the support of Sense-Lab was created within the context of the Local Protected Areas project, aiming to promote an entrepreneurial and innovative perspective in the public administration of local protected areas.

Rodrigo Perpétuo, executive secretary of ICLEI South America, states that Conservation Units (CUs) are important instruments for sustainable development. “Based on ICLEI's experience and active listening to local governments, investment in CUs is treated as a cost for municipalities; the acceleration program aims to create a different strategy in response to this position and to give a sense of urgency to the promotion and importance of these Units.”.

Eduardo Toshio Sugawara, consultant at Sense-Lab, shares that one of the actions of the acceleration program's methodology is to empower municipal administrations to understand that protected areas are an asset for sustainable development. "The program shows a complementary approach to managing protected areas, aligning the concept of innovation with the years of experience of managers, which leverages entrepreneurship and enables the construction of concrete results that can be achieved more quickly.". 

Anita Martins, director of the Conservation Unit Management Division of the São Paulo Municipal Government's SVMA (Municipal Secretariat for the Environment), states that the acceleration program promotes a strategic view of Conservation Units, identifying key development points. In the case of the Capivari-Monos Environmental Protection Area, the territory and its characteristics offer greater potential for promoting tourism and agriculture. "The most important aspect of this movement is that the program respects and preserves local biodiversity and cultural characteristics, and enhances attractions to become an option for economic and social development in the territories.".  

“Through the theory of change developed during the program, two work plans were established focused on accelerating tourism and agriculture actions in the APA. These work plans will contribute to the technical chambers instructing their management councils and assisting in the implementation of the plans, which will count on the contribution of local actors and initiatives so that the objectives are achieved,” says Luccas Longo, manager of the Capivari-Monos APA and the Conservation Unit Management Division of SVMA. 

Longo believes that protected areas are fundamental tools for coordination, enabling cities to continue growing and maintain ecosystem services through effective public policies. 

Sophia Picarelli, biodiversity and circular development manager at ICLEI South America, states that the program should be a pathway for governments seeking to consolidate more sustainable development in their territories. “We believe that the methodology offers a fresh perspective that can help overcome various challenges in the daily work that managers face, and be a way to cooperatively accelerate the processes of recognizing protected areas as a fundamental element for territorial development.”. 

Watch the full event here.. 

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The Acceleration Program for Conservation Units is currently accepting applications. 

Eligible municipalities are those that complete their registration by March 8, 2021, and possess at least one Municipal Conservation Unit (from the categories Natural Park, Natural Monument, Environmental Protection Area, Area of Relevant Ecological Interest, Municipal Forests) registered in the CNUC (National Registry of Conservation Units); have a management plan and a management council formalized by regulations. The project is expected to begin at the end of March and end in December 2021.

At this time, five Conservation Units will be selected that, over the course of nine months (6 months of active participation in the acceleration program and 3 months of monitoring the developments of the acceleration), will participate in the virtual program consisting of group meetings and individualized activities. 

Consult the regulations. e Sign up.

Learn more about the local protected areas sub-network..  

Understand the Local Protected Areas project..