Bahía Ballena, Osa: Building bridges towards climate change adaptation

The main objective is to enhance the capacities of the coastal communities and other Stakeholders of Bahia Ballena, to apply climate change adaptations measurements which increase their resilience and decreases their vulnerability to this phenomenon. Specific Objetives 1. Strengthen municipal capacity to adapt to Climate Change through the creation of a Solid Waste and Waste-Water Management Program, and a Best Practices Guide for Infrastructure in coastal-marine areas in the Bahía Ballena District. 2. Create an understanding in local interest groups (students, business persons, municipality and others) of the local and global effects of climate change, to provide tools for them to become involved in actions which enhance resilience and adaptation to climate change. 3. Promote monitoring and coordination within organizations in the District that would allow a systematic vigilance of climate change phenomena’s and possible effects. 4. Improve resilience to climate change through the establishment of alternative systems of water supply for secondary activities, in which drinking water is not necessary. 5. Limit the impacts of coastal erosion and excess sedimentation to vulnerable ecosystems (coral reefs, sea turtle nesting habitats, intertidal area, forest) which area priority for biodiversity conservation and for sustained livelihoods. Some of the activities implemented: *Inspection of infrastructure of commercial establishments, tourism and social housing to identify common elements that allow the design of devices for the collection, storage and distribution of rainwater in order to reduce the use of potable water in commercial activities. *Design and implementation of devices for the collection, storage and distribution of rainwater to reduce the use of potable water used in the cleaning of boats, vehicles, irrigation, swimming pools and others. *Diagnosis of biophysical conditions of possible sites to implement coastal reforestation actions. *Establishment of a Community Nursery by a local organization to produce viable coastal species for the reforestation of sites affected by coastal erosion. *Implementation of the Coastal Reforestation Community Program. *Participatory monitoring of variables at the marine-coastal level associated with climate change, such as coastal erosion, increased sedimentation and the health of coastal marine ecosystems (coral health, outcrop events, etc.) *Creation of a Guide of Good Practices for specifically coastal Infrastructures for the possible inclusion of key adaptation criteria in the management instruments or regulation related to the constructions. * Socialization of the Guide of good practices for specifically coastal Infrastructures. *Methodological design, content and multimedia support materials of the Coastal Marine Didactic Modules focused on Adaptation to Climate Change in coastal marine communities. *Training the trainers for the pilot implementation of the Coastal Marine Didactic Modules focused on Adaptation to Climate Change. *Implementation of mini-projects on measures of adaptation to climate change in Bahia Ballena educational centers. *Participatory sessions with the marine tourism sector to identify, establish and validate good practice criteria based on the risks associated with climate change facing the coastal and marine tourist operation in the area. *Identification of learned lessons and good practices with the potential to generate future actions on adaptation to climate change with local leaders and teachers. *Compile and analyze the contributions obtained from local leaders and educators who participate in the feedback of the project. * Preparation of documents on Climate Change and it's effects in the area and the impact of the actions implemented. All the activities are now in implementation. All the adaptation measures implemented and that are promoted with this project are environmentally sustainable and pursue the social benefit of the population in the communities. Some of the results during the past months have been that the project already implemented devices for collecting, storing and distributing rainwater, the devices have shown that are a practical way to reduce the dependence on the water service for activities that should not use potable water and at the same time, generate savings of a resource that can become critical. Regarding to the creation of awareness on Climate Change in the community, it was important to create a "path on climate change". It is accessible to all audiences, because its message is easy to comprehend by young, adult and older people, women and men. From the economic point of view, it is one of its establishments, it hopes to create another attraction from which both the local community and the Bahia Ballena National Park can generate additional economic benefits, as a concept of tourist entry and guided tours. Also, now more community members have received information on the impacts of climate change and risks for their work area. Now, they use technological apps for the monitoring of the meteorological phenomena related to the sea and with this information they have been able to make decisions. Further results will be reported during the following months. Many things needs to be done in the area. The involvement of other organizations will allow to duplicate the results that are expected in the area, through the suppport of local touristic SME's, local goverment, and community in general. At the end, the main idea is to give tools to the community to adapt to climate change, through: *Creation of guides, but more important to implement the improvements promoted by guides in different coastal infraestructure. *Implementation of actions that allows coastal reforestation to avoid coastal erosion and sediment runoff. *Straighten community capacities for monitoring effects. Is important to mention that the project also includes an activity which main result is the creation of a plan that can be implemented through other projects, organizations and efforts.