The Andean Program is one of three regional programs of SANREM. The other two programs are Southeast Asia and West Africa. In addition, there is a global program. The Andean program links with other institutions and projects throughout the region by providing methods, lessons learned, case studies, policy protocols, and other information useful for participatory watershed research. The Andean Program participates in and organizes pan-Andean meetings where experiences and information about natural resource management and research at the landscape/watershed scale can be shared.
The complete SANREM-Andean proposal outlines in more detail the goals of our work in the Andes. Essentially, we aim to conduct interdiciplinary research on systemic landscape-lifescape interrelationships manifest in the highland-lowland interactions of hill and mountainous area. Although our focus, and pilot studies, are located in the Andean region our broader interest concerns sustainable development in fragile mountain and hill ecosystems as described in Agenda 21, Chapter 13. In this regard, our Andean program is connected with ongoing projects, programs, institutes, and universities throughout the mountain world.
During Phase I of SANREM (1994-1997), the Andean Program concentrated in a region of northwest Ecuador located to the south of the Catocachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve (Nanegal). An interdisciplinary team made up of US universities (Georgia, Iowa State, and Auburn University), a U.S. NGO (Heifer Project International), Ecuadorian Universities (Central University, U. of San Fransisco-Quito, and FLACSO), Ecuadorian NGOs (Terranvera, Communidec, HPI-Ecuador) and other partners carried out participatory research with local communities. Although the amount budgeted for this activity was only around 8% of SANREM's total five-year budget, a great deal of useful research was accomplished.
A book entitled "Bridging Human and Ecological Landscapes: Participatory Research and Eco-Development in and Ecuadorian Hillside Frontier" will be published by Kendall-Hunt in Fall, 2000.
In addition to our concentrated research in the Nanegal region, the SANREM team also carried out research at other sites along the larger Guayllabamba-Esmeraldas river system.
During 1998, the SANREM-Andean team undertook an assessment the general SANREM impact on the study area. An independant team of researchers visited the site and conducted interviews with farmers, community leaders and educators. The report is available here.