Countryside Management Association News

It was pointed out to me that you may not want to know what a fantastic time I’m having in South America, and all the Rangers I’m meeting from around the world. So, I won’t tell you about the hotel pool with palm trees around the edge and a bar at the side. Or the fantastic buffet breakfasts...

Anyway, we arrived in Santa Cruz on Saturday 31st October after travelling for over 24 hours into temperatures of 42 degrees (a heatwave here apparently given it’s only spring). The opening ceremony took place Sunday evening, with welcome speeches (simultaneously translated from Spanish where necessary). The Bolivian people are very proud of their protected areas and culture, and we got an insight into that from the speeches, and from some excellent performances by local dancers and a band. As with a lot of South American countries the pace of life is relaxed, everything happens eventually, and so it was that we had dinner at 10.30 p.m., which nicely rounded off the first evening.

The first day got underway with a change to the programme due to the late arrival of some speakers. In multi-national groups we considered the effects of climate change on a Rangers job, and how Rangers could help address the issues. It was interesting that so many different countries came up with similar issues, like loss of habitat due to rising sea levels, and similar solutions, like leading by example. The speakers gave insights into how climate change affected the Bolivian environment and the importance of monitoring changes – not just to create statistics, but to inform decisions.

After some fairly lengthy negotiating, Nick Eade (the other CMA delegate) managed to secure some wall space and sellotape so we could finally put up the CMA poster. So that’s now available for delegates to look at.

More later, and thanks again to the CMA for the bursary to support my coming here.

Adios!

Janice