Meet Javier Mancera, Wildlife Works’ Global Director of Community Development. Javier’s thoughtful nature and passion for community-led conservation makes him an invaluable part of our team. As Javier describes his role, "Working with communities challenges me to see the world through different perspectives and I learn something new every day.”
In this Q&A blog, get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to effectively engage communities and develop high-quality REDD+ projects, to hear a story of Javier’s closest wildlife encounter, and to get a great book recommendation.
Q: As Global Director of Community Development, what is one of your favorite memories of working with communities?
A: I have many stories to tell, but the first that comes to mind is a harmonization ceremony in an Indigenous maloca in the Colombian Amazon. We were discussing whether the community was prepared to take on the commitments and challenges of a REDD+ project.
While several people responded affirmatively, a Paye (traditional elder and spiritual leader) gave us a more profound answer, "“Javier, after suffering the sad stories of rubber exploitation in the Amazon, coca production for illicit use, illegal mining, and violence, the spirits of the jungle whispered to me that we are ready to take the step, but to take the step with you and your team, with those who have walked with us for several suns and several moons.
This is because you and your team believe in the same thing that we believe, but you call it differently, because believing goes beyond human understanding.”
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Q: What challenges have you faced in building trust with communities of another culture?
A: Projects involve a range of stakeholders with diverse languages, cultural patterns, and belief systems. All these actors have expectations regarding the benefits and risks of the project, as well as the timeframe for their realization. To overcome this, I provide open and transparent information about the project, confirm true statements, and respond with 'I don't know, but I can find out' when I don't have the answer to a challenging question. People can perceive sincerity and distinguish between truth and falsehood.
Q: What's an experience that was pivotal in building trust with community partners?
A: It is difficult to summarize trust building in a single event. I believe it is a chain of events woven by sharing experiences, which helps build this value. However, climate and conservation projects must emerge from the communities as an initiative of their self-determination. To borrow the words of a wise indigenous elder leader from one of our partner communities in Colombia:
"This REDD+ project has been built like the gait of a Morrocoy tortoise, that is to say: without haste, but without pause, and with the confidence that with each step we advance safely in the right direction.”
Q: What is the most misunderstood aspect of running a project on the ground?
A: The distribution of non-monetary benefits in communities, particularly employment and occupational opportunities in project activities, is often misunderstood or overlooked.
Q: What message would you like carbon market stakeholders to understand?
A: Communities should always be at the forefront.
Q: What inspired you to join Wildlife Works?
A: I found out about Wildlife Works through social media. As I delved deeper into their content and heard stories from the communities where WW operate, I became increasingly drawn to their work. I was particularly impressed by their ability to impact positive change at a local level while also having a global impact.
When I joined WW, my country was in the midst of a peace process following a devastating civil war that left us all deeply affected. I believe that WW's value proposition has the potential to aid my country in moving towards a more peaceful and optimistic
future.
Q: What is your favorite species of wildlife?
A: One of my initial roles was to preserve the Andean bear's habitat. Despite years of monitoring and promoting conservation efforts, I never had the opportunity to witness it firsthand. After 15 years of dedicated work, I was fortunate enough to encounter a mother bear teaching her cub about the local flora. This was one of the most beautiful moments of my life.
Q: What book are you currently reading?
A: I love reading science fiction, and if I could suggest one, it would be CIXIN LIU's "Supernova Era.” This book poses a dilemma that all of us in developmental science face, which is that we assume that the issues that concern us today will be of concern to future generations.
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