RCE Western Jalisco - 2018

Creation of spaces for applied sustainability

Basic Information

Title of project :

Creation of spaces for applied sustainability

Submitting RCE:

RCE Western Jalisco

Contributing organization(s) :

Centro Universitario de la Costa Sur, Universidad de Guadalajara
Junta Intermunicipal de Medio Ambiente para lA Gestión Integral del Río Ayuquila
Dirección de la Reserva de la Biosfera Sierra de Manantlán
Universidad del Valle La Grana
Caritas A.C.

Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)

Name:

Proyectos vinculados Centro Universitario de la Costa Sur: Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud y Ecología Humana, Departamento de Estudios Turísticos

Name:

Universidad del Valle la Grana

E-mail:

academico@univag.com.mx

Format of project:

Power Point

Language of project:

English

Date of submission:

Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?:

Yes

Global Action Plan and Goal of Sustainable Development

At what level is the policy operating?:

Local

Geographical & Education Information

Region:

Americas

Country:

Mexico

Location(s):

Local municipalities

Address of focal point institution for project:

Independencia Nacional 151, Autlán de Navarro Jalisco.

Ecosystem(s):

Agricultural, Urban/Peri-urban

Target Audience:

Community, Higher, Primary, Secondary, Teacher Ed., Youth (Informal)

Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area :

The project is developed in the municipality of Autlán de Navarro Jalisco, although the project has had an impact on schoolchildren and teachers in eleven RCE Western Jalisco municipalities. These municipalities are characterized by the following productive activities: traditional agriculture, livestock, forestry, commerce, and high-input agriculture (sugarcane and mescal or agave production and distillation) and tourism. Due to its biological and cultural diversity, important protected areas such as the Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve, and Chamela-Cuitzmala Biosphere Reserve have been developing research, conservation, social development and training of human resources through undergraduate and postgraduate programs headed by the University of Guadalajara and the National Autonomous University, respectively.

Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses:

The effects of Hurricane Jova in 2011 and Hurricane Patricia in 2015 affected the poorest and most vulnerable people, but also affected hundreds of farmers who lost their agricultural crops, damaged roads and lost homes. Our challenge, with this project, was to address the first four GDS. During three years, working staff from the University of Guadalajara, the University of Valle la Grana, and Caritas AC, aided by students and volunteers, were involved in the creation of spaces for applied sustainability: activities such as training in organic production, promotion of nutrition, traditional knowledge in the use of medicinal plants, crafts with recycled materials, and improvements of housing benefiting 180 families (720 people) living in poverty and vulnerability. Our biggest challenge is to increase citizen’s participation and involvement of the new municipal government to attend the basic needs of more than 675 families in our municipality that live in poor conditions.

Contents

Status:

Ongoing

Period:

January, 2014 to July, 2018

Rationale:

We know that science and technology have advanced but, paradoxically, so has poverty, inequalities, and environmental deterioration affecting human health and welfare. Today, it is not enough to just inform and communicate to create awareness, it is necessary to give testimony of how the environment can be improved from home, school, urban and peri-urban spaces, and natural spaces in your daily activities. And with such testimony to empower people to act accordingly.

During the project we have worked from the practice instilling and promoting the following values: collaboration, cooperation, order, service, respect, solidarity, love, education and above all, goodwill.

Objectives:

Promote environmental and ethical values towards the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage related to the traditional knowledge of biodiversity, through the cultivation, reproduction of plants for food, medicinal and ornamental purposes in an urban garden.

Design and construct interpretive paths, such as the “Friendship Garden” for the training and qualification of university professionals related to socio-environmental studies for their connection with different social sectors of the region.

Contribute to the 5 priority actions of the Education for Sustainable Development Program 2015-2030.

Activities and/or practices employed:

It began with an area of training in organic agriculture through workshops, followed by the gathering and selection of seeds of fruit trees and local medicinal plants for the establishment of the nursery in the “Friendship Garden”.

Design and construction of three interpretive trails as an educational tool that allows visitors to self-learn and to acquire knowledge though the help of interpreters.

Training of undergrad students from three academic programs: 1) natural resource and agriculture engineering, 2) tourism, and 3) nutrition to help as guides for organized groups in the topics of:
Benefits of organic agriculture, scientific and traditional knowledge in the use of medicinal plants, healthy soil, nutrition and health, biodiversity, garden birds.

Interpretive box with the natural and cultural values of the RCE Western Jalisco.

Construction of itinerant exhibitions.

Promotion and dissemination of the activities of the garden and its paths in a radio program.

Size of academic audience:

From January 2014 to July 2018 more than 7300 people have been benefited directly.

Results:

1. The organic garden and medicinal plants has been replicated in a common area of Caritas de Autlán –a welfare non-governmental organization- involving the training of a small community of elderly people.
2. There has been a process of continuous training of students, social service providers and exchange students from national and international universities (Canada, United States, Colombia, Chile, Republica Dominicana, Perú, and Brasil).
3. The project has directly contributed to four of the 5 priority actions of the ESD (2,3,4 and 5)

Lessons learned:

The interpretative trails in its design integrated scientific and technical principles related to the communication and information of the elements and interpretative resources and we used riddles, songs and sayings like rich communication techniques. Awareness creation that food production can be done in small spaces, promoting diversity

Key messages:

Science is not enough to cope with global climate change, it is necessary to work full time in a quality education to reach a true social and global consciousness. A simple and easy activity can change the perspective society has of the use and recycling of material to promote food production, and increase green areas, invonlving people from different backgrounds to collaboratively work to reach SDGs.

Relationship to other RCE activities:

During December 2017 the RCE Western Jalisco was visited by Dr. Carolina Lopez Caballero, RCE Borderlands Mexico-USA director. Several meetings were held with key stakeholders of our RCE municipalities where our EDS projects are developed. We shared our experiences in the Huerto de la Amistad Friendship Garden and interpretive trails, the process in the separation of waste and restoration of their rivers in the municipalities, and strategies of participation and dissemination in radio programs. Likewise, Ms. López Caballero shared with us in several meetings the work experiences in the RCE she coordinates. During her visit, some lines of collaboration were analyzed to strengthen both RCEs. The possibility of developing a postgraduate course in ESD is highlighted. The RCE Western Jalisco has been working on the creation of an academic team in Education for Sustainable Development with the integration of members from five departments in the University of Guadalajara, and Carolina Lopez Caballero has been invited as a collaborator.

Funding:

For 10 years we have obtained the support of a commercial radio station (Radio Costa) for our radio program which arose from the recognition as RCE. This represents approximately 75,000 USD.

We have a vehicle for the development of our project and the mobilization of groups of young volunteers and students and a cargo truck to transport traveling exhibits, materials and equipment.

The sustainable university program (Guadalajara University) provided support the RCE program with three large tents, projector, giant screen for massive events. Also with the infrastructure for the classification of waste and materials center for recycling at the Autlán campus.

Pictures:

File Name	Caption for picture	Photo Credit
photo1.jpg (2.38 MB)	Organic production in friendship garden	S. García
photo2.jpg (1.87 MB)	Women committing to the SDGs	L. Vargas
photo3.jpg (2.35 MB)	Elementary schoolchildren on the path of the seeds of life	S. García

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Direct

SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture

Direct

SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages

Direct

SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Direct

SDG 5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Direct

SDG 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Direct

SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all

Direct

SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation

Indirect

SDG 10 - Reduce inequality within and among countries

Indirect

SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

Direct

SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Direct

SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Direct

SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

Indirect

SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss

Direct

SDG 16 - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

Direct

SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development

Indirect

Theme

Disaster Risk Reduction

Indirect

Traditional Knowledge

Direct

Agriculture

Direct

Arts

Direct

Curriculum Development

Direct

Ecotourism

Direct

Forests/Trees

Direct

Plants & Animals

Direct

Waste

Direct

Global Action Programme (GAP) on Education for Sustainable Development – Priority Action Areas

Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments

Direct

Priority Action Area 3 - Building capacities of educators and trainers

Direct

Priority Action Area 4 - Empowering and mobilizing youth

Direct

Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level

Direct

Update:

RCE Projects

RCE Western Jalisco - 2018

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