Lessons learned from agro-conservationist practices that contribute to neutralize the degradation of lands in Costa Rica

Land is a natural resource that provides us with goods and services to live sustainably. However, its degradation is affecting the livelihood and safety of 1.5 billion people globally, especially rural communities, smallholder farmers, and the very poor. The impact is not an exception in Costa Rica that has 34 hydrographic basins, a privileged country worldwide in water resources. With the ratification of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and Drought (UNCCD), Costa Rica undertook measures to develop a National Action Programme (PAN) to combat and rehabilitate degraded lands in its territory. The Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP) supported with funding to local farmers, civil society and ministries through the establishment of a strategic alliance interconnecting them to provide technical and professional support to the producers of the River Barranca basin. The methodology used in this study is based on action-participatory investigation, an inclusive research approach that seeks the full participation of people in the analysis of their own reality, to promote social transformation in favor of these people. The methodology is characterized by consultations with producers and other key local actors. Data collection tools applied are literature reviews, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, workshops and observation guide during the field phase. The synthesis of information uses descriptive statistics and then the triangulation of information obtained from the tools and finally that information is validated by primary direct actors. The initiative implemented soil conservation techniques and was able to diminish land degradation by 27,560 linear meters, surpassing 22% of originally established target. A systematization of successful agro-conservationist practices and a technical practice manual was published by UNDP to assimilate these initiatives in other basins.