- The present logistical situation, in both project areas, is that we cannot satisfy present demand from farmers for Inga seed and Technical Assistance.
- The bringing together, under IF's direction, of the Rio Cuero (San Marcos) operation and the demo-plots / seed-bank at CURLA is intended to overcome this long-standing obstacle to progress. Further seed-banks, in the key locations, are very necessary; and are planned.
- Present implementation strategy is that the introduction of the system to interested families is effected by our field employees who, themselves, have Inga plots. In many instances, it is these plots that are used for the system's demonstration. The areas-of-interest, were originally identified by the partner NGOs and interested families came forward following open meetings organised by the NGOs. As the use of the system grows and spreads, we expect that a natural inertia will slowly be overcome and that the project's expansion will begin to occur spontaneously. The siting of seed-banks for the trees, together with collection-centres for the cash-crops, will become a high priority in the next few years.
- This program for the introduction of Inga a-c had been funded by the Vanderbilt Family Foundation (VFF), via FUPNAPIB; in a project of which Mike Hands was overseas co-ordinator. This continued until the events of December 2008. In the light of a number of disturbing reports, all support, or intended support, was withdrawn or withheld from this NGO by all the international funding bodies concerned. This followed the apparently illegal takeover of the NGO's governing body by a small group of employees. These events occurred against the background of a growing dissatisfaction, on the part of VFF and IF regarding progress in the field operations.
- Current information available to us (February 2010) suggests that FUPNAPIB's mandate to operate in the National Park is under review by the Honduran Forest Authority (ICF).
- The Inga (Guama) Project in the Valle de Cuero has continued, without a break, under the direction of Inga Foundation's Field Director. The operation will be directly-funded by IF in this way until Fundación Guama becomes established under Honduran Law.
|