Capitalization and Capacity building on method to assess and develop agroforestry innovation in humid tropics (Africa and Mesoamerica)

1) An elearning on "Social Sciences Methods applied to Agroforestry" was elaborated built with funds of ’ UVED/CIRAD and IAMM based on 2009 Thematic School. A pilot version of two modules was tested. French version available in june 2011 (https://enquetes-cirad.iamm.fr/); English and Spanish version available in september 2011. Developments are scheduled: over the translations in English and Spanish, adaptations and creations; new case studies and construction of other modules This elearning could be used in particular as bases of methodological support in multidisciplinary projects and pluriparternships.That is already the case within the framework of INTENS&FIX project.
2) From january 2011, CIRAD and CATIE will build a duo through Nicole Sibelet and Isabel Gutiérrez to strenghen sociology on environemental issues. Both are specialised in Stakeholders’ perceptions, local knowledge, practices and strategies facing environmental risks applied to agroforestry systems
3)Perspectives in Central America
There is a discontinuity between the objectives of environmental development programs, their activities, and their results. On one hand, new incentive tools – such as payments for environmental services (PES) – aim to compensate for the provision of these services. On the other, the relevance of local practices and knowledge is increasingly recognized to improve the management of natural resources. Nevertheless, the will to associate local stakeholders with environmental management does not always take a concrete form: it remains at the level of a vague desire or simple consultation. The result is a gap between intentions and results: policies are applied without taking local realities into account. This is evident in the definition of new rules and mechanisms, proposed or imposed on stakeholders, in relation to the local reality. Those responsible for projects, central government and local authorities who desire local participation, nevertheless continue to pursue top-down approaches through rules and outside techniques without actually involving local people in the design, implementation, or evaluation of technical and organizational innovations. "What innovation processes are developed by local stakeholders managing agroforestry and forestry systems to cope with local and global environmental risks ?" is one of the main research questions we will inform.