Problem statement:
The promotion of value chains in scenarios with high deforestation rates and the search for a transition to legal crops on the edge of stabilization of the Amazon has increased in recent years in Colombia. However, these chains have not been selected from a bioeconomic perspective, nor have structured criteria and standardized methodologies been identified for their selection, and in general their analysis is carried out using traditional models which prevent us from knowing the dynamic relationships between the actors, the components socio-ecological and the possibility of reducing their impacts on ecosystems.
Goals:
This research, on the one hand, contributes to the field of identification, selection, analysis and agency of value chains to be implemented on the edge of stabilization of the Amazon through the creation and application of a comprehensive multi-criteria index, and on the other hand, the perspectives of Social Network Analysis and Socio-Ecological Systems are combined and applied to deepen the concept of socio-ecological value networks as mechanisms that allow improving the capture of part of the added value to encourage social and ecological benefits that contribute to stopping deforestation and forest degradation in transition and crisis scenarios such as the department of Guaviare, Colombia.
Methodology and Results:
A mixed methodology was created that includes quantitative and qualitative tools, such as prospective analysis, dynamic models, surveys, interviews and observation in the different links and nodes of the value network, as well as participatory workshops with different actors linked to this network, software such as Rstudio and Stella were used.
1.Identification and selection of value chains: semi-structured interviews were carried out with different actors such as the government, Sinchi Amazonian Institute of Scientific Research, ONF Andina, Alisos Foundation, WCS, Foundation for Conservation and Sustainable Development (FCDS), and productive associations (Asoprocegua, Comguaviare, FENACHO, Asoprocaucho, Asoprocacao, Asomeeret, Coomagua). These interviews were carried out between June 27 and July 2, 2022.
Seven value chains were identified in the informal dialogues (Chontaduro, Cocoa, Rubber, Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP), Tourism, Livestock, and Timber) with which a committee of experts was consolidated and 21 indicators with qualification criteria were built. from 1 to 3 (Padilla and Oddone 2014). After the consolidation of the indicators with the committee of experts, they were applied at three levels: 1. Community level. 2. Expert level. 3. Literature review and direct observation. To complement this assessment, a community workshop was held on October 14, 2022 with representatives of the different value chains in Guaviare. During this workshop, the participants formed two groups with different representatives of each value chain, where a consensus was established on the value of the criteria for the indicators of each chain. Likewise, a virtual form was sent to national, regional and local experts from the different value chains, and visits were made to the different production systems, in which informal dialogues were developed with each of the producers. Finally, a literature review was carried out that allowed validating what was observed in the field.
With this information analyzed, a results validation workshop was held on March 14, 2023 with representatives of the different value chains; This space allowed us to select the two value chains that could contribute holistically to the control of deforestation in the department. Likewise, a participatory GIS exercise was developed that made it possible to know the distribution of the productive nuclei of each value chain and its impact on the agricultural frontier where chontaduro and NTFPs were selected.
2. Characterization of Value Chains: The characterization of the value chains was carried out through surveys between March 15 and 23, 2023, these were carried out using the KoboToolBox tool to the actors of the chontaduro and NTFP chain (65 and 22 respectively). In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted to trace the chain in local, regional and national markets, as well as informal dialogues with end consumers. Additionally, collection processes of both value chains were observed in the month of July 2023; for NTFPs, the moriche utilization process and the transformation process were accompanied with the ComGuaviare Cooperative.
Additionally, the analysis and characterization of the operation of the network in each of the products was carried out. The chain mapping workshop held on July 23, 2023 was attended by 30 producers/collectors, processors, intermediaries and marketers from each of the chains, as well as representatives of the NTFP associations and the National Federation of Chontaduro growers ( FENACHO). With them, four steps were developed: first, the participants were asked the characteristics of the links from the use/production to the final customer. Second, the workshop participants were asked the actors associated with each link, which were typified by differentiated colors associated with previously established joint definitions. Third, participants were asked to map the relationships of purchase and sale, transfer of information, collaboration and the relationship with ecosystem services (each of the relationships was previously explained and mapped with different colors). Fourth, the definition of influence was narrowed by link and the actors with high levels of influence were defined. This information allowed us to triangulate the data collection from the surveys and interviews on the functioning of the value networks.
- NTFP: The network is characterized by the following links ecosystem services, input source actors, owners, collectors, transformers, marketers and the final consumer. It was identified that in the NTFPs there are a total of 133 actors with 484 relationships of purchase and sale, cooperation, information and use of ecosystem services. This network had a density of 0.03 which indicates that there are low values associated with the purchase and sale of products, communication capacity and collaboration between the actors. Of the 484 relationships identified, 45% were sales and purchase relationships, 32% were information sharing relationships, and only 17% were collaboration relationships.
- Chontaduro: The network is characterized by the following links: input source actors, day laborers, producers, intermediaries, marketers, and final consumer. It was identified that in the Chontaduro there are a total of 177 nodes (164 actors and 10 ecosystem services) with 375 relationships of purchase and sale, cooperation, information and use of ecosystem services. This network had a density of 0.01 which indicates that there are low values associated with the purchase and sale of products, communication capacity and collaboration between the actors. Of the 375 relationships, 52% were purchase and sale relationships, 20% were information transfer relationships, 19% were collaboration relationships, and 8% were with ecosystem services.
3. Value-added mechanisms: With the characterization of the value networks, possible value-added remuneration mechanisms that can be implemented from the value networks of NTFPs and chontaduro towards forest conservation were identified in the literature. To define the mechanisms, three main questions were developed for the different actors in the chain to find out the possible value remuneration mechanisms, these being: 1) How is it possible to get money for conservation?, 2) How do we keep the money? ?, 3) How do we return the money to the forest?
With this information, 4 20-year scenarios were built, these being trends, from the value chain, from public-private support and from the circular economy. With the scenarios built, the representatives participated in a participatory workshop held on August 31 and September 1, 2023, where an individual vote was carried out on the strategies to obtain the money and the mechanisms to reinvest in the forest (10 actors from each chain). In the scenario with the highest vote, the actors developed an action plan to achieve the implementation of the selected strategy and mechanism. In the case of NTFPs
General conclusions:
The research shows three general results, 1) the construction and application of the holistic multi-criteria index that allowed identifying the possibilities and obstacles to implement more holistic value networks on the edge of stabilization. 2) The combination of social network analysis and dynamic modeling that offer a systematic approach to delve into the relationships of the actors between and within the links, understand the structure and functioning of the socio-ecological system that supports the value network, as well as such as, defining possible interventions from networks towards conservation. 3) The dynamic prospective analysis made it possible to define five possible strategies to capture part of the added value in the links of the value networks and three mechanisms to reinvest it in the production or extraction areas of the marketed products.
It is concluded that a holistic approach such as the one built in this research offers important advantages to analyze value chains from a relational understanding which allows identifying actions to implement in search of moving towards desired socio-ecological trajectories and increasing social and ecological benefits. in the Colombian Amazon. Additionally, the approaches used in this research open new research opportunities in relational understanding in the bioeconomy and socio-ecological systems in value chains implemented in the stabilization edge area.