Biciola: Shifting the Paradigm in Environmental Conservation

It is not enough to make decisions from distant offices; it is essential to involve local communities in the environmental and social struggle. Only by working hand in hand with those who know the terrain and are directly affected by the issues we seek to address, can we help build truly effective and sustainable solutions.

 

After facing several failures working in the field, we realized that conventional conservation approaches were not sufficient to achieve effective results. We recognized the need to adopt a much bolder and radically different approach, one that would allow us to fully understand the complexities of ecosystems and the needs of local communities. Instead of making decisions from a distant office, we acknowledged the importance of engaging more deeply and closely.

It is truly exciting when community members feel truly part of the project, when they open their doors and invite us to be part of their stories. On multiple occasions, we have witnessed how, even after our departure, their motivation and commitment to sustainable practices continue to increase.

This phenomenon takes on special relevance in long-term projects, where success depends on the continuity and dedication that communities provide. For this reason, we firmly believe, that offering solutions from afar is not enough; it is necessary to get our hands dirty alongside the people who inhabit the area, working closely together and empowering them to become the primary guardians of their own natural environment. They are the ones who live on those lands, who know those seas, forests, and rivers. As we move forward, we become increasingly convinced that their understanding and ancestral knowledge are invaluable for the success of any conservation project.

Our experience has shown us that each local population has its unique approach and diverse understanding of nature, based on their history, traditions, and ways of life. By embracing and respecting this diversity, we can learn from one another and build more inclusive and holistic solutions. This is the approach with which Biciola was born, a project that seeks precise answers about the motivations that lead people to engage in conservation projects. Our goal is to thoroughly understand what drives the community to commit to nature protection, and find innovative ways to foster their engagement.

Biciola requires the active participation of local communities, which is why our team seeks to empower people and work together harmoniously to create a future where conservation is enriching for all. It is time to value this knowledge and allow them to become true agents of change. As Mario Benedetti aptly said, "And in the street, side by side, we are much more than two." The transformative power of Biciola lies in teamwork, because we have learned that when we collaborate closely with communities, the impact multiplies.

With our project, Biciola, we focus on raising awareness about the issue of microplastics. Our main objective is to change the way we interact with nature and have a positive impact on long-term biodiversity conservation. We focus on gaining an in-depth understanding of people's motivations and promoting their active participation in conservation projects. Through research and constant dialogue with communities, we strive to create personalized training programs that adapt to their specific needs and realities. Furthermore, we are committed to playing an active role as facilitators, providing local communities with the techniques, resources, and tools necessary to actively carry out conservation activities and contribute to the success of the project.

However, our current challenge lies in overcoming barriers that limit citizen participation and underestimate its importance, recognizing their needs to foster a more inclusive and equitable vision. By breaking free from this paradigm, we will not only avoid conflicts, but also achieve greater effectiveness in our project, as well as a shared sense of responsibility, equity, and inclusion.

In this fascinating journey we have embarked on with Biciola, we have discovered that the diversity of voices and approaches is an invaluable opportunity to address environmental challenges from different perspectives and find more effective and context-ada pted solutions. Therefore, we invite our colleagues to promote equity and authentic collaboration with communities along this path. We believe that the success of Biciola will serve as motivation to include genuine measures of participatory and equitable management in future research and conservation projects. This has the power to transform our reality and preserve biodiversity, forging a world where every step is a step forward towards a more promising future, where both communities and nature can flourish in harmony.