Developing Countries Methodology

(April 24, 2018) My comprehensive Developing Nations Integration Outreach paper is now available. The outline is available under "Current Writings"  The full paper is available to appropriate individuals and organizations upon request.

Conservation management practices have taken me on an extraordinary cultural experience. During my 24 years in the British Virgin Islands I was the director of various marine profit and nonprofit businesses and conservation initiatives. The development of innovative programs within multiple social, economic and cultural environments was challenging yet extremely rewarding.

All developing nations have their own independent government and disjointed political representation. Change can occur often and suddenly in unconventional and unpredictable ways. Managing multiple priorities and maintaining attention to detail is done only by assessing the values and concerns as a collective understanding within each region, culturally.  Without the incorporation of this principle the constant changing nature of legislation will dictate all environmental programs to the desire of the current governing body. Societal, environmental and economic benefits have to be developed from within each region. This is the key to obtaining viable, sustainable and productive projects across the varying elements.

I have witnessed the human spirit in the love of the natural environment throughout the Caribbean. Fisherman, cash crop farmers and boatman continue to use long standing traditional methods. The slow globalization within developing countries is providing opportunities beyond subsistence.  These countries are finding economic value in managing their resources for tourism and commodity exporting.  The desire for financial returns is creating Issues faster than environmental considerations are being thought thru.  Unprecedented harm is occurring with land reclamation and mangrove destruction.   Expanding land sales have created massive surveying of pristine areas for roads causing enormous sedimentation outflow. Nitrates and Phosphates from agriculture, inadequate sewerage, mismanaged water treatment and desalination systems are causing eutrophication.  

Offshore financial trust companies, larger cruise ships with more facilities, multi-regional charter yacht companies with larger and better equipped yachts and new marinas are creating economic inequality. This has caused a separation in population demographic growth,  and it extended beyond infrastructure development.  Cruise ship visitors required sanitation facilities are grossly inadequate. European accountants arrive for two year contracts with large stipends for housing and entertainment creating a large economic gap and societal impudence. The rich and famous continually move the bar towards unnatural extremes.  Private large self sustaining resorts are not being held accountable.

Concise and timely communication is important to align resources in multinational regions.  Program development has to integrate teams from various backgrounds, expertise’s and related independent organizations operational structures and objectives. Leadership in conservation initiatives requires the ability to work in programs of differing policies and communication styles. We have to comprehend various dialects and expressions that are vastly different to our own and can easily be misinterpreted. Natives do not respond positively to others ignorance and lack of appreciation for their, very different, way of life.  The supervision of teams from cross cultural identities to perform divisional strategies as part of a larger objective takes patience and an acute understanding of each regions desires.  

Warmer summers, changing rainfall patterns and lower ground water table levels are creating stronger hurricanes, less drinking water and an increase use and impacts of nitrate and phosphorous. Nutrient management, manure and water storage, have to be improved for any sustainability to occur. 85% of marine protected areas are not large enough, not protecting refugium areas and are adjacent or surrounded by unregulated, heavily fished, ocean zones.  Coral and climate adaptation planning has to be introduced thru education and community programs specifically designed within individual cultures throughout each region. Old developments have to be reconfigured and new developments have to be constructed with sea water rise and enormous wind storms as a future realism. Scalability performance goals using adaptation design tools have to be developed within societal parameters, not scholarly analysis alone.  

Successful conservation practices in all societies require behavioral change.  Caribbean populations are inherently integrated closely with their land and seas.  The  segregation of cultures offers opportunities and complications. It does not take large scale efforts and multi layered complex management structures for change in Caribbean communities. Successes are welcomed and appreciated as long as it is done from conservationists willing to spend a considerable amount of time within communities in targeted regions.  Without proving that you value their culture, an impenetrable defensive wall will prohibit all of the best conservationist’s intentions. 

In order to cross cultural barriers to influence positive behavior conservationists must use national commonalities.  Caribbean nations have distinctive characteristics in their culture in relation to music, dance, emancipation (carnival) celebrations and sports. Caribbean musicians, celebrities, heroes and athletes would not be recognized by any mainstream developed nation. It is not difficult to assess this powerful cultural influence in the Caribbean by simply engaging in the communities. Obtaining environmental publicity from these cultural icons is not difficult. The successful ones are willing and available to assist in the welfare of their native lands and the up and coming ones are happy to participate. 

An area often not often discussed, but is drastically evident in the developing countries, is corruption. Caribbean nations struggle with corruption due to the family hierarchy of regional political power.  Many Caribbean countries have a handful of persons that rule a majority of the judiciary, legislative and black market dealings, but not necessarily the natives. From a conservation perspective I never viewed this as an impasse. Conservation has to focus heavily on education that promotes better health for the country. Nothing can be accomplished without the powerful on our side.  This might be a difficult task for many who become inept outside their comfort zone. Caribbean conservationists are required to get involved with persons who have dealings we are not in support of. We cannot be afraid to engage them. Avoidance would only evoke suspicion and revolt in which would completely block any initiative we develop. This part is tricky. It takes courage. We have to be completely confident in our community relationships. Exemplifying community knowledge in our programs gains us respect for our level of care and understanding of their culture. We are then able to create pathways for results. Although we may find that they are unable too, we are focused on the larger and future outcomes. We are here to help everyone.

Developing countries have an enormous potential for future blue print environmental change. The nature of their demographics provides a world stage to work on. Twenty years ago I was in the Caribe Territory on Dominica’s far North Eastern coast. There I found a toothpaste company representative with a box of t-shirts. She was the only other white person, but appeared very popular. There were dozens of children around her. She was all smiles as they watched her brush her teeth. Only after they showed her how they could do it did she give them a care package. Their free t- shirt said, “Look At My Smile!”

Tony Brunn

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