Ecoparques educativos


RECREARTE San José Bocomtenelte
(Remodelacion, Crecimiento y Articulacion Regional al Turismo y el Ecodesarrollo)

Context and partners

“El Eco-parque Educativo San José” is a nature conservation and educational park in the outskirts of San Cristobal de las Casas (Zinacantan municipality). The park forms part of the State Natural History Institute and its main aim is the protection of the flora and fauna of the state of Chiapas.

It hosts different animals and plants and it is an educational and research centre where biologists and technicians work in order to rehabilitate and preserve the natural beauties and richness of Chiapas.

The park occupies an area of about 16 hectares but, at the moment, only about 2 of them are used. The new administration would like to re-organise the park and its facilities according to a self sustainable philosophy and develop eco – friendly services for nature lovers and responsible tourists (bird watching facilities, bike routes, ecologic and self sustainable hats, etc). The plans for the future are part of the strategic planning of the all Institute.

In 2008, the INH (Instituto de Historia Natural de Chiapas) and Nataté started a long term project called Ecoparques Educativos. The project takes place in the framework of a larger operational strategy San José Educational Park calls “RECREARTE - Remodelacion, Crecimiento, Articulacion Regional al Turismo y el Ecodesarrollo (Redesigning, Growth and Regional articulation toward Tourism and Eco - development). For Nataté the project addresses the needs the organisation targets through its sustainable development and education programmes.

Through this cooperation between civil society and local institutions, the project partners would like to promote and demonstrate that cooperation and solidarity can strengthen our efforts and improve our results.

Aims

The main aims of the project are:

  • To participate to the ecologic and sustainable development of San Cristobal de Las Casas and its surroundings.
  • To raise awareness about our local natural richness and to contribute to its conservation.

Objectives

  • To support the structural renovation of the Educational Park.
  • To support its transformation into the most important and accessible nature conservation and education centre of the region.
  • To involve the international community in its evolution and promotion.

Expected results

  • Four new thematic and documented exposition areas: mammals, birds, reptiles and insects.
  • New fully equipped cages for the endemic species hosted in the Park.
  • Fully documented botanic park.
  • A fully functional rain water collection system.
  • Three new services for the public: bird watching towers, bike routes and ecologic hats.
  • Multi lingual promotion material.

Planned activities and calendar

From April to August 2008

  • Presentation of the project to the larger NGO and institutional community (28th of April 2008).
  • 2 international workcamps. During the workcamps the staff of the centre and the international volunteers will renovate the infrastructures and the main educational path of the centre; study and document medical and endemic plants; design and translate information documents and panels; look after the animals; take part in the “Day of the tree”; clean up the forest. Each workcamp will focus on a specific theme: the first one on the Flora and the second one on the Fauna.
  • Participatory evaluation of the first phase of the project.

Spring and summer 2009

  • Presentation of the project to the larger NGO and institutional community.
  • 1 long term voluntary service project for 1 to 2 volunteers in order to support the daily management of the centre and develop a targeted promotional campaign and increase the visibility of the centre.
  • Renovation of the main investigation building.
  • Design and construction of ecologic and sustainable hats.
  • Design of bike routes inside the Park.
  • Design and construction of rain water collection and purification devices.
  • Participatory evaluation of the second phase of the project.
  • Planning of the follow up strategy.

If you would like to join the activities or support the project, please contact us!