Conservation Tasks and Activities

OK. I've been reading up a good bit already, so I have to go back over everything if I want to post my observations here.  I'll start with some of the material I've received from the Peace Corps:

I'll be serving within the Natural Resources Conservation program, one of four programs in omnibus 101 (thats like the 101st class of volunteers to serve in Ecuador).   The other programs involve agriculture, health, and families and children.  I understand that volunteers often end up working with the other programs, depending on their interests and opportunities.  Anyway, my job title within the program is Forestry Extension.  

The natural resources program has three primary goals: environmental education, conservation, and income generation.  Forestry Extension means mostly conservation tasks.  These tasks include: assess status of natural resources and socio-economic situation; ID and select local orgs, leaders, stake-holders to implement sustainable practices; develop strategic plans (more on this late); conduct formal and non-formal training; form stakeholder groups; legalize community groups; conflict mitigation; network nationally and internationally; increase ability to demand services from local and central governments. ..

I've done got started with some of these already, so let me break it down fer ya:

assessment of natural resources and socio-economic situation: well this comes straight from the sustainability triangle concepts of environment, economy, and social equity.  Two pressing problems for Ecuador's medio ambiente, according to an Encyclopedia of Ecuador my mom got for me are deforestation and erosion.  Clearly these are interconnected, and they have different effects in the different regions.  Along the coast, loss of the mangroves, or manglares, is a cause for concern.  Most all of them have been cut down already and converted to shrimp farms, cause we just love our shrimp.  There are a lot of problems with that, but maybe I should save it for another post.  Shoot, I'm so behind with this, I don't know how I'm gonna get it all organized. . . hrm. . . 

For now I'm gonna move on to another list of conservation activities I got from the PC.  They sent me a CD with powerpoint presentations for each program.  The activities listed for the Conservation goal within the Natural Resources Management program are: Native Species Nurseries; Reforestation Projects; Agroforestry and Analog Forestry; Raising of Native Fish Species; Raising of Llamas and Alpacas; Organic Family, School, and Community Gardens; Organizational Development; Institutional Strengthening; and Conflict Resolution.  Sounds good to me.  I worked at a nursery before.  I planted trees.  I dug some organic gardens. I've even developed organizations, strengthened (and weakened) institutions, and resolved a few conflicts at the student housing co-ops back in Austin.  But I never done it in Ecuador, an I didn't do it so much or so well in the states, so I know I gotta lot to learn.