Gund Institute presents CRF-sponsored research at ESA meeting

http://conservationresearch.wordpress.com/

Lee Gross of the University of Vermont’s Gund Institute for Ecological Economics recently presented a poster at the Ecological Society of America’s Millennium Conference on “Water-Ecosystem Services, Drought and Environmental Justice” in Athens, Georgia. Results from a year-long study, supported by the Conservation and Research Foundation, were presented on the relationship between ecosystem services conservation and farmer livelihoods in the Pico Duarte coffee region of the Dominican Republic. Community partners included Finca Alta Gracia, IDIAF (a Dominican agroforestry research institute), and the 160 member Association of Coffee Producers in Jarabacoa (ASCAJA). Baseline information on livelihoods, farm biodiversity and agroecological management was collected through household surveys, community focus groups and farm biodiversity transects from 43 households in 7 communities. Preliminary findings suggest that smallholder farms under shade and organic management yielded significant levels of native tree and fruit species biodiversity compared to that of larger producers. Integrated strategies to support smallholder farmers who practice ecosystem service conservation (e.g., provision of fresh water, biodiversity protection, and carbon sequestration) are being evaluated. For more detailed information on this project see the Eco-Index.

"For whom will I walk and advocate?"

For those of us engaged in community development, either as a humanitarian, environmentalist, or both it serves us well to remind ourselves why we do what we do. To ask the tough questions. Amongst all the travel, new relationships and beautiful landscapes are we using our time and talents to the greatest possible benefit? I thought this review of a recent speech given by a friend of mine, Andrew Briggs captured the idea of why we serve and an important question for many of us as we try to impact this world for the better.

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I had an opportunity to hear Mr. Andrew Briggs speak during “The Freedom in Creation” exhibit at Queens University on September 30th 2009. What a privilege it was to meet this gentle, humble man. Andrew began by emphasizing the importance of getting involved as a community, and how rewarding it can be to be a part of a humanitarian service project. Andrew’s journey started with short-term service projects that made him feel “self indulgent.” He soon began to desire a greater sense of world view in ways he hadn’t experienced before. He felt the service projects were a tremendous blessing, but when he began walking with “one community,” his blessings increased with a sense of responsibility and empowerment to go long term. Therefore, he asked himself this important question: “For whom will I walk and advocate”.

http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/email/newsletter/1410068979

Smallholder Shade Coffee Farmer Livelihoods and Ecosystem Services Conservation in the Pico Duarte Region of the Dominican Republic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOBbll_-WS4

A short trailer from our documentary footage on the lives of shade coffee farmers in the Dominican Republic. More to come. Special thanks to Michael Skillikorn for putting this all together!

Pictured: Arelies, secretary of the Jarabacoa coffee association (ASCAJA)
Freddy Montoya, member of ASCAJA
Jose Cruz, member of ASCAJA