Centre de ressources > Women and mangroves in Colombia
Women and mangroves in Colombia
Extreme poverty, which is rife in the coastal communities of South-western Colombia, puts pressure on the mangroves, and has led to its overexploitation. One of the resources currently facing decimation is a small mollusc known as piangua. Principally harvested for local sustenance, it has become one of the most important commercial products of the area. 80% of the crop is currently sold to Ecuador, where significant coverage of mangroves has been converted into shrimp farms.
The low price paid by Ecuadorian middlemen and the increased demand for the product has forced its over-harvesting in Colombia. Groups of women and children, known as piangueras, work long hours, 7 days a week, until an acceptable amount of shellfish is captured. Over time, this extremely demanding activity has reduced the availability of the mollusc for both sustenance and commercialisation. People did not fail to notice that their main source of income had become notoriously scarce, and was affecting the social dynamics of their communities.
In addition to the impact on the ecology of the mangroves, women’s health, family relationships and even their self-esteem suffered. The amount of effort invested far exceeded the economic benefits: less than a dollar was obtained for a hundred shellfish. “Shell fishing is an extremely precarious task. We used to start out without any breakfast, and spend the day in the mangrove. We took our small children with us, and withstood hours and hours of work, putting up with insects or with the smoke we use to repel them. We were also worried about having to harvest more and more shellfish to compensate for low prices,” recalled Carmen Julia Palacio, former pianguera and current legal representative of the Piangueras Association of Narino, an organisation created in 1991 by 35 women in the region.
Four years ago, WWF Colombia and its partners started a process to strengthen people’s capacity to convene government authorities and key stakeholders and jointly look for solutions and agreements to address their environmental problems. This involved a number of workshops on biological aspects of mangroves and piangua management, participation and leadership techniques, conflict resolution, negotiation, use of legal tools, etc.
As a result, the communities involved have reached agreements on the exploitation and marketing of piangua, which have been supported by local municipalities. The minimum size of capture of the mollusc was technically established, and as Carmen Julia asserts, “based on this information, our community has made agreements with local authorities. We have also put in place temporary bans on harvesting. We need to take into account that the mangrove must recover, and the shellfish must reproduce and grow. This is sacred for everyone. Today we have a type of social surveillance, which is stricter than that of the police because we all understand the need for preserving the mangrove in order to maintain our livelihoods.”
The newly acquired skills have served to negotiate a fourfold increase in the price paid by Ecuadorian intermediaries. And awareness of legal rights has led to access to health and education services. 40% of the fisherwomen are now covered by subsidised health insurance, compared to 20% three years ago, and the Association manages a literacy centre in the area, and provides tools to the community to access better work and training opportunities. It has also organised a childcare service that benefits 25 fisherwomen families.
1. Partners include Advisors in Social Development (ASDES), the Chonapi Foundation, the Special Administrative Unit of the National Natural Parks (UAESPNN), The Sanquianga National Park, and the Javeriana University.