“Colonialism can take many forms. And as a Latin American who works in a marine conservation NGO based in Costa Rica, I think about this almost every day. My biggest fear is replicating any form of oppression through well-intentioned activities. Because I’m certain that we, ocean advocates, all mean well.”

—

This article was written by Katherine Arroyo-Arce, Executive Director at the MarViva Foundation

“In a few decades, the relationship between the environment, resources and conflict may seem almost as obvious as the connection we see today between human rights, democracy and peace.” – Wangari Maathai, 2004

I work in marine conservation; therefore, I work with local communities. Such an essential relationship between ocean governance and coastal populations is sometimes not so obvious. Nor is its linkage with human and democratic rights. At least, this is the case in most of Latin America.

Gabriel García Márquez, a Colombian writer, is the foremost exponent of the literary movement called magical realism. In his books, situations that may seem strange and peculiar are normalised and presented as part of the characters’ daily routines.

Magical realism is not an out-of-context invention. It is a reflection of how the core of Latin American culture has been built based on colonialism and oppression.

Why is the most biodiverse place in the world also the most dangerous region for environmental defenders? Why are communities constantly facing restrictions on access to their natural resources and ecosystems? Why is speaking up extremely dangerous, but at the same time, lives are continuously threatened if we don’t raise awareness? Why is conservation perceived as synonymous with poverty?

Colonialism can take many forms. And as a Latin American who works in a marine conservation NGO based in Costa Rica, I think about this almost every day. My biggest fear is replicating any form of oppression through well-intentioned activities. Because I’m certain that we, ocean advocates, all mean well. We are optimists! We want to be helpful. But to what extent might we be creating an undesired relationship with communities? A relationship in which locals rely more on NGOs than on themselves?

During university, where I majored in environmental law, I developed skills in two areas that have inspired me since childhood: environmental conservation and democratic rights. Law school did not teach me about their relationship, but volunteering in local communities and conservation projects did. Over time, I understood that isolating local people from decision-making about their environment is a huge mistake. Effective conservation depends on the timely involvement of people.

Systematic oppression is a fact. It is a variable to consider when addressing marine-related projects in coastal communities. In this context, through years of working with local leaders, I understood the value of empathy; I gained skills to put my interest into perspective with local concerns; I learned to compromise. To have a meaningful relationship with local stakeholders, I understood I’m not their superhero because the first thing you should do is to put your privilege aside.

In this context, what is the right way for local and international NGOs to approach coastal communities? How can the international community’s desire to “give a voice” to coastal communities be adequately addressed?

During these last five years working for Fundación MarViva, a non-governmental organisation that promotes the conservation and sustainable use of ecosystems and marine resources of the Eastern Tropical Pacific, my colleagues and I have carefully avoided replicating certain types of actions that don’t feel respectful of local stakeholders.

Our local work has focused on the Gulf of Nicoya on the Costa Rican Pacific coast.

El Golfo represents the heart of artisanal fisheries. It includes the village of Nicoya, one of the few Blue Zones (where people live the longest and the healthiest) in the world. Usually, when Costa Ricans think about the conformation of our territory, we recall the Gulf of Nicoya and its peoples’ desire, back in 1824, to become Costa Rican citizens. We celebrate this historic decision, the Annexation of Nicoya to Costa Rica, every July 25th with corn tortillas, horchata, bombas (rhymes), and songs about sabaneros (cowboys), bull riding, and the beaches of Guanacaste.

I also think about Don Enoc, a fishers’ leader from the coastal community of Colorado, and how happy he was when he knew I would move to Edinburgh, Scotland, to pursue a master’s degree in marine systems and policies. I think about Félix, Coordinator of Communities at MarViva who’s from Nicoya, and about the way he and his family have welcomed me every single time I’ve been around with gallina achiotada (the most delicious chicken in the whole world) and mangos. Hospitality is also demonstrated through a fresh croaker ceviche prepared by Don Manrique and Doña Mónica, the owners of Cama-Pez de La Costa, a responsible fish processing and distribution plant in Costa de Pájaros.

Beyond its people, el Golfo is comprised of estuaries, mangroves, islands, and reef systems. These ecosystems support fishing, tourism, shellfish extraction, and salt production. One-third of Costa Rica’s fishery products come from the Gulf of Nicoya. However, the impacts of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing are notorious, contributing to social conflicts and discouraging good practices. These factors converge in an area with the country’s highest poverty and unemployment rates, where access to basic human development rights is limited.

The voice of coastal communities belongs to coastal communities, as they improve their livelihoods and environment.

In MarViva, the Gulf of Nicoya is not just Félix’s hometown. Along with improving coastal ecosystems, we intend to enhance lives integrally. To do so, we first work on strengthening policy advocacy skills. Guided by this philosophy, we have supported various initiatives that build a sense of citizenship amongst fishing communities. These include providing strategic support to fisheries associations regarding specific policy decisions taken by the fisheries authority without proper consultation. For instance, empowering leaders to address congresspeople directly has resulted from the implementation of voluntary local governance structures such as La Red del Golfo (The Gulf’s Network) and the Comité de Pesca Responsible (Responsible Fishing Committee). MarViva is not their spokesperson but their enabler.

Oppression and fisheries’ overexploitation are also addressed by encouraging complementary productive activities. In Puntarenas, for instance, MarViva is currently supporting a group of fisherwomen to grow their economic potential and engage in the transformation of fish skin into leather. Called Piel Marina (Marine Skin), they’re powerful, high-value products.

Moving From Sad to Happy Tears

A deep sense of apathy is constantly present in magical realism narratives. But there is also space for optimism. In Latin America and El Golfo, there is always a way to find beauty in challenging times and move from sad to happy tears in a blink. Through my time working here, I believe NGOs are actually meant to learn from local communities and grow resilient together to drive oppression away.

Featured image: MarViva.

—

This article was originally published by SeaVoice, written by Katherine Arroyo-Arce, and is republished here as part of an editorial partnership with Earth.Org. 

The post The Role of NGOs in Coastal Communities: A Latin American Perspective appeared first on Earth.Org.

The SeaVoice Annual: Issue 01 is the first-ever SeaVoice book, backed by the United Nations Ocean Decade. The Annual features a curated selection of 20 stories from 16 countries that highlight the voices of ocean advocates, scientists, artists, and community members working and living around the ocean. 

—

SeaVoice, an innovative platform endorsed by the Ocean Decade Heritage Network’s Cultural Heritage Framework Programme, an official programme of the United Nations Ocean Decade, and funded by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, is launching its first-ever book on World Oceans Day. Containing a curated selection of stories from 2023 and 2024, The SeaVoice Annual launched at the Immersed in Change Oceans Conference in San Jose, Costa Rica, and the UNESCO Ocean Literacy World Conference in Venice, Italy. It will be available to download here.

Through thought-provoking articles, captivating stories, and insightful narratives, SeaVoice sheds light on the intersection between the ocean and culture, inspiring collective responsibility for our blue spaces. SeaVoice is a recognised programme of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) under the Ocean Decade Heritage Network’s Cultural Heritage Framework Programme. With a focus on the key global challenges of the UN Ocean Decade, SeaVoice emphasises the importance of understanding the complex interplay between culture, heritage, and the environment in tackling the pressing issues we face today. 

“Through my research in ocean conservation I became frustrated with the lack of stories being told from the perspectives of the people who work and live by the ocean every day,” says Dr Georgia Holly, SeaVoice founder and editor-in-chief, Cultural Heritage Framework Programme Manager, and Marine Archaeologist and Biologist at the University of Edinburgh, adding, “Scientific stories are important, but only within the greater context of coastal community culture and heritage. Where can we hear about ocean culture, customs, art, and story-telling, as part of research and advocacy? If we, as scientists, really want to incorporate diverse ways of knowing into our research, first we have to make space, and listen.” 

The SeaVoice Annual: Issue 01 begins with a foreword from Dr Sylvia Earle and Dona Bertarelli, renowned ocean explorers and conservationists. It contains select stories from across SeaVoice’s three digital volumes: Osmosis, Community, and Gen Sea. The book’s stories include inspiring initiatives like female-led coral restoration in Indonesia, shark fishers turned conservationists in Baja California Sur, Mexico, and community-led filmmaking in Madagascar. 

“SeaVoice tells stories that explore the collision of culture and climate with our ocean, rivers, and lakes, amplifying voices of the people who work, live, and survive by bodies of water,” says Dr. Sylvia Earle of Mission Blue and Dona Bertarelli of Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy. “We invite you to read with an open heart and mind, to learn from those whose voices have too often been silenced or ignored, and to join us in our mission to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable future for our ocean, and therefore for life on Earth, humankind very much included.” 

The SeaVoice Annual: Issue 01 is printed on locally sourced paper and bound between covers made from responsibly-sourced seaweed. With just 500 copies printed, the first run represents limited edition collector’s items, and are available on a first come first served basis. The magazine is free, with readers only paying for postage and packaging, and will be available to order here. 

“We’re honoured to bring this collection of stories to print, working with the Cultural Heritage Framework Programme, the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, and partners such as Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy and the UN Ocean Decade,” says Dr. Georgia Holly, University of Edinburgh.

Check out more stories from our NGO Partners.

The post SeaVoice Launches First Book, Uplifting Coastal Voices in UN Endorsed Initiative appeared first on Earth.Org.