INTERNATIONALBANK FOR WORLD BANK R E T C N O E N STRUCTION PM AND DEVELO December 2002 No.14 A regular series of notes highlighting recent lessons emerging from the operational and analytical program of the World Bank`s Latin America and Caribbean Region GUIDING THE WAY TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COPÁN VALLEY, HONDURAS Maria-Valéria Junho Pena and Kathryn Johns Swartz Archaeology in Copán is not just about dead people. It is about the growth and development of contemporary populations. It is about feeding poor people, giving them jobs and making them proud of their heritage. -- Dr. Ricardo Agurcia, founder and director of the Copán Association. Background One of the challenges of rural poverty reduction in Latin elaborate of all the Maya cities. Over the last decade, a America is to enhance non-farm economic activity, diversify strong program of research and site restoration has been employment, and foster enterprise activity. Although poverty accompanied by an increase in tourism and regional eco- has decreased over the last decade in Honduras, it continues nomic development. The number of annual visitors has to be pervasive, particularly in rural areas in the southern and increased from 12,500 in 1975 to 120,000 in 2001. Govern- western areas, including the Copán Valley, where the devas- ment revenue from Copán has increased and between 1997 tating economic impacts of Hurricane Mitch linger. This area and 2000, the equivalent of US$ 6.8 million was collected contains the Copán Park, one of the most informative and from visitor entrance fees. impressive Mayan ruins in Central America with a large quantity of excel- The population of the Copán Valley is lently preserved stone sculptures and hi- majority mestizo with a small contingent eroglyphic texts. This site is an impor- of international researchers and entre- tant element in the patrimony of Hondu- preneurs. About 4000 Chortí Maya in- ras and the Government is seeking to digenous people live mainly in the preserve it for future generations, while mountainous rural areas with concentra- increasing the number of tourists to pro- tions along the border with Guatemala. mote sustainable economic development. The majority live in conditions of ex- treme poverty with limited income and During 2000-2002, a small, innovative, educational opportunities. The liveli- and successful program was carried out in hood of this area has traditionally been Copán, with support from the IDA-fi- agricultural. The large number of visi- nanced Profuturo Project, to help increase employment oppor- tors has supported growth in tourism services, but has not tunities and promote research and dissemination of knowledge resulted in wider income generation opportunities for a large concerning the world of the Maya. The implementation of this portion of local inhabitants, particularly the Chortí. program provides many lessons for development initiatives in areas of tourism growth and rural poverty, particularly among World Bank Involvement. The World Bank began to indigenous communities. In coordination with local initiatives support activities in Copán in 1999 with the US$8.3 million and Government support, this program has helped to foster a Interactive Environmental Learning and Science Promotion new perspective on the role that parks such as Copán can play in Project, also known as Profuturo (Cr. 3250). Approved less regional and local development, poverty reduction, and envi- than a year after Hurricane Mitch, Profuturo promotes ronmental management. sustainable development by encouraging and expanding scientific, environmental and cultural knowledge and man- Copán Valley. Copán is recognized as one of the most agement. Profuturo was originally designed to finance a 1 facility for interactive learning in Tegucigalpa, the design of Morazán (National Pedagogical University, UPN was se- a smaller interactive learning facility on Maya heritage in lected to design and implement the program. The training Copán, and an inventory of cultural heritage for a sustain- program consisted of four sub-programs targeted at: able tourism strategy. Following Hurricane Mitch, the project was re-oriented to also address emergency works, re- Local residents and teachers - 20 men, 15 women were trained construction needs, and employment opportunities in the in a range of skills broadly covering Archeology, Astronomy, Copán region. The Honduran Council of Science and Tech- Biodiversity, Communication, Ethnohistory and Indigenous nology (COHCIT), is the implementing agency and the Populations, and 44 hours of practical training with work- Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History (IHAH) in shops and field visits. Language training (English and French) the Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Sports is closely involved was also provided. Participants generally viewed the training in all project activities in Copán. as a means of enhancing their employment opportunites (e.g. allowing them operate as guides) or of enhancing existing The Copán Program consisted of three main elements: tourist operations, including hotels. The participants learned about the importance of oral history, how to carry out a sys- Emergency Subprojects: Profuturo financed 21 emergency tematic register of local traditions, deepened their knowledge subprojects to repair areas of the park either damaged by of the Maya and Copán and also gained a better understand- Hurricane Mitch or in immediate need of preservation. All ing of the impact of tourism on the cultural resources and lo- of the subprojects, which included restoration of the Ar- cal population. There was prolonged interaction between aca- cheological Court; installation of protective coverings; Hi- demics and government officials with the participants and lo- eroglyphic Staircase; and dredging of the Copán River were cal population. The university produced bibliographies for successfully carried out providing short-term employment each training module, which has helped to systematize knowl- and skills training for local residents. . edge of Honduras and specific information on the Copán area applicable to cultural/ecotourism. UPNFM, the coordinator, Management Plan: The Copán Park has been managed as a and other professors benefited from the program and the insti- protected area since the 1950s, with the first Management tution had a successful experience which may lead to future Plan being developed twenty years ago as a part of the dec- training in the region related to tourism and guiding. laration of Copán as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An updated Plan was necessary to identify deterioration of the Indigenous Residents - Eighteen young adults representing site due to natural and cultural factors and to provide a three Maya Chortí communities attended courses and prac- framework for a systematic conservation program going for- tical training. The recruitment of participants was handled ward. The plan, which will be finalized this year, was pre- through the National Council of the Indigenous Maya pared by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and con- Chortís (Consejo Nacional Indigena Maya- Chortí de Hon- sists of a resource inventory; evaluation of current manage- duras, CONIMCHH) and announced through the local ment; prioritization of needs; and an operational plan. The councils, with the coordinator visiting each aldea (village). preparation of the Plan benefited from a high level of input from stakeholders, including participatory workshops and The training was tailored to the participants' needs, circum- consultations. stances, level of schooling (most had completed primary school), age, and available hours. The main topics ad- Pre-Hispanic Heritage: The Pre-Hispanic subcomponent in dressed were Archeology, Biodiversity, Communication, Copán was designed to support research on pre-Hispanic Astronomy, History of Honduras, Guiding for Tourists, practices and provide scientific knowledge for teachers and Museography and English language skills. The participants students, promote ownership among indigenous peoples, learned methodologies used in documenting traditional and help establish a small learning center on the Maya for practices. The training, in particular the unit on children. This subcomponent was implemented by the non- Museography, provided participants from one village with profit organization, the Copán Association through an the inspiration and the necessary skills to install a commu- Implementation Agreement with the Profuturo Project. The nity museum. sub-component supported: (A) Guide Training Program; (B) Research and Information Program; and (C) Small Interac- As a result of this training program and concurrent initiatives tive Learning Center on the Maya. The implementation and carried out by the Chortí organization and community leaders, outcomes of this sub-components are discussed in detail be- the Chortí villages are beginning to make plans for tourism in low. their villages and for possible employment in the park. The training program was timely and it has served as a catalyst for Learning program brings opportunities the aspirations and ideas that the communities have for tour- ism. By providing knowledge and skills training, it has em- powered the communities to provide their own guiding and The training program was a unique partnership between other services, rather than rely on intermediaries. Government, a local non-profit organization, and a university. The Copán Association managed this program University Students - The Program Director from UPNFM and the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional Francisco provided lectures on the Mayas and their neighbors and 2 tourism; a comprehensive bibliography was developed and of the exhibits, special emphasis has been placed on the presented to the students; and there were eight organized spiritual relationship between the Maya and their environ- study tours of about four days to Copán with a total of about ment to help the children become more aware of the impor- 100 students participating. tance of this relationship. Casa K'inich opened in January 2002 and to date, about 8,000 children have visited the Casa. Advanced Students/Professionals - This module was initially developed to attract university professors and advanced stu- Lessons Learned from the Copán Program dents to become involved in a long-term research project at Copán. While it initially proved difficult to attract professors given the limited stipend available, the addition of key This relatively modest project has generated a number of professors and young professionals helped. Twelve partici- tangible benefits. There is a better understanding about pants representing a variety of disciplines were selected to cultural resources and related economic opportunities become involved in short periods of fieldwork and research among all stakeholders , which should facilitate better and attend lectures. Fieldwork experiences included research planning and management of the entire area. Increased on land use/vegetation change during the last 40 years, participation of local organizations in these processes archival research, and practical training in geoscience tech- potentially extends the benefits of eco/heritage-based niques. tourism to many sectors of the local population and pro- vides clear gains for the poor. Training provided by the One of the most interesting outcomes of this subcomponent program, particularly for the indigenous population, was that the concept of interdisciplinary should greatly enhance their integration research, as carried out in Copán, was into the economic development of the introduced into the university environment. Copán Valley and has, as importantly, This should broaden employment prospects provided them with a sense of dignity for students, many of whom, it is hoped, derived from the knowledge of their own will choose to continue their professional history and cultural environment. Spe- development in this field. cifically, the main lessons learned have been: Understanding 4000 years of change · Building Local Ownership and Decen- tralized Implementation: Most of the The main objective of the research program project work in Copán, was carried out was to construct a model of interaction be- through an Implementation Agreement tween the cultural and natural landscapes with the Copán Association. By keeping and the population of the valley over the last the objectives modest and targeted, and by 4000 years. This program brought together linking the program to a trusted NGO and the efforts of numerous researchers with both a local community-based organization public and private sector support (up to 15 (CONIMCHH), the program was accepted different universities and organizations in- and had a very positive impact. volved). The French Center for Mexican and Central American Studies (Centro Francés · Setting Achievable Objectives: In de Estudios Mexicanos y Centro- Copán, Profuturo worked with indigenous Americanos, CEMCA) was selected to coor- communities at a micro level--the project focused dinate the program. A portion of the research focused specifi- simply on providing training and increasing opportu- cally on changes to the environment which have occurred in the nities for the local residents. The Guide Training pro- last 40 years and their impact on local populations but also gram had the most impact of all the training activities included the identification and description of Chortí medicinal in Copán and because of the incorporation of the and ornamental plants. The research program has already Chortís, it was possible to open a door to their partici- produced some new theories related to the Maya, particularly to pation in tourism development utilizing their apprecia- the characteristics of the natural environment at the time of their tion and knowledge of their own heritage. To help in- arrival in Copán and how it may have been transformed and crease the involvement and capacity of local commu- adapted by its human inhabitants. It is hoped that this work nities, PHRD grant funds were provided for technical can help inform environmental planning in the Copán Valley. assistance for indigenous communities and gender is- sues near the park. Linking past and present · Making the Linkage between Past and Present: All of the work in Copán has focused on producing and shar- The objective of the Casa K'inich Learning Center is to ing information about the linkages between pre-His- create a forum for children and families of residents and panic Copán and the current indigenous residents. visitors to learn about the Mayan civilization. In the design 3 · Scaling up: The Copán program was designed on a small · Human Resources. Using highly respected local profes- scale to address priority problems in the Park and in- sional brought legitimacy to the Project. Both the archeo- crease knowledge about the Pre-Hispanic world. The logical and pre-hispanic programs were coordinated by training program was designed to test the methodology prominent and very experienced professionals. Similarly, and see how local residents and students responded to the coordinator the training program at the University opportunities to learn more about the Maya world. Re- was also well qualified and respected in the field. ports from the training show that it has created demand, particularly among the local residents, for more learning · Interdisciplinary Research. The research program and opportunities and it has complemented other initiatives in the involvement of university professors in the training the Valley. program have opened up new areas for potential research and collaboration outside of the disciplines of archeology · Partnering for Maximum Effect. The small-scale success and history, such as in astronomy and physics. of this program prompted the collaboration of bilateral agencies, Government agencies, and other international · Learning by Doing. The guide training program placed a organizations. strong emphasis on theory, but also on practical experi- ences such as field visits, workshops, and oral history ex- · Flexibility: Profuturo and the Bank were able to ercises. The Casa K'inich exhibits are designed to be in- accomodate unforeseen needs that arose during the teractive. implementation of the project. Future Challenges · Gender Equity. Men have traditionally dominated tourist guiding in Copán. As a result of this program, it became clear that there is a need to create more opportunities for women to be involved in income-generation activities. The Bank Project team was awarded a Norwegian Trust Fund for Gender Mainstreaming in 2002 which will help support a targeted educational program for local residents, and specifically indigenous women. · Cultural Values. Future projects that seek to involve the Chortí should also focus on ways to help the communities recapture the values represented in their language and traditions. Full and active participation of the Chortís in the protection of their cultural and natural inheritance is a requirement. · Growth in Tourism/Need for Environmental Management and Education. Tourism has grown exponentially in Copán and with current discussions for improved infrastructure and access to the site, it can be expected that the number of visitors will continue to increase. It will be important to provide education to local residents about natu- ral resource management and environmental planning so that they will have a stake in making decisions about how to ensure sustainable use of the rich resources of this zone. · Human Resource Capacity. During the implementation of these activities, it was apparent that Honduras lacks Notes qualified experts and workers to carry out work related to cultural patrimony. Future programs should seek ways to build the human resource capacity of the country related to historical preservation. This is a growing sector and is linked to tourism and could provide new and diversified skills training for residents living near these sites. 1- Voices of the Poor, World Bank 2000 (see http:// · Access to Opportunities. For the outlying indigenous aldeas and those with difficult access, the lack of regular www.worldbank.org/poverty/voices/) transportation is a limitation for recruiting potential participants. 2See Thinking Out Loud I and Thinking out Loud II as well · as Food for Thought, World Bank Incentives for Long-term Research. The program was not able to provide competitive stipends for university pro- fessors to become engaged in long-term research. In fact, it became very clear that there is little space in higher education in Honduras for research as part of academic work. In order to increase the participation of professors and other established professionals, any future program should focus on the personal commitment needed for the work, and also provide competitive compensation for individuals' time and abilities. · Management Plan Implementation. Profuturo financed the preparation of the Management Plan for Copán and the next challenge will be to actually implement the priorities of the plan. A new World Bank operation currently un- der preparation may help to address those priorities and also help to preserve and develop other nearby sites. About the Authors About "en breve" To subscribe to "en breve" send and email to "en_breve@worldbank.org" Maria-Valeria Junho Pena is Lead Sociologist in the Social Development family of the Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Sector Management Group in the Latin America Useful links and the Caribbean Region of the World Bank. Kathryn http://www.profuturo.edu.hn Johns Swartz is a former Bank staff member, currently http://www.honduras.net/copan/ working as a short-term consultant. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/copan/index-m.html 4