CREST - Playa Viva Innovations in Community Development

Innovators in Coastal Tourism Symposium

Workshop 3: Community Engagement

Background

• Background– Principals

• David Leventhal – Media and Technology Entrepreneur, Accidental Environmentalist

• Sandra Kahn – Mexican National, Medical Professional, Environmentalist

• Commitment to Innovative Models of Conservation and Sustainable Development in Mexico

– Rainforest2Reef.org (1999) • Celebrated 10 year Anniversary

– Casa Viva (2001) • “Green” Bed and Breakfast

• 2009 2nd Best Year

– Playa Viva (2009) • Sustainable/Regenerative Resort

Models for Sustainable Development in Mexico

Casa Viva

Playa Viva

Rainforest2Reef.org

- Innovative Model for

Private Reserves

- 350,000 acres und

Conservation Easement

Program

- REDD Carbon Credits

- Local Programs for

Reforestation

Casa Viva Troncones

• Solar Thermal Water

• Grey and Black Water

• Some Solar Electric

• Edible Landscape

• Social Architecture

Playa Viva

200 Acres 85% in Private

Reserve

1.3 km of Beach Front

100% Solar Off-Grid

Grey and Black Water Natural

Management Systems

Permaculture Gardens, Forest

and Estuary Restoration

Social Architecture

Playa Viva Project Values

• Promote Biodiversity

• Generate more power than we use

• Generate cleaner water, use less water

• Promote Transformative Experiences

• Create a Living Legacy

• Promote “Meaningful” Community

Evolution of “Meaningful”

Community

• Various Levels of Community– Real and Virtual Communities - (Chris Carfi)

– New and Existing

– Overlaps (On-going Volunteer Tourism) – Core to our Brand

• Understanding the Community– History of Place (Bill Reed and Regensis)

• understanding where it has come from to understand our role in its evolution

– MIA – Environmental Impact Study• Understanding of key economic and social indicators

• Defining the initial community engagement plan

• New Frameworks for Viewing our work – 6 Key Ecosystem Services – (Verde Venture/CI

and Root Capital)• Climate Security, Water Security, Food Security, Health

Security, Cultural Values, “Optional” Values

• Biodiversity Threats

Discovering The Local

Community• The Community of Juluchuca – Town of

450 people– Aspirations of locals – “History of Place”

• “Abundance and Biodiversity”

• “Loss of Generation – to big cities or to „el Norte‟ for work”

– Evaluating Existing Resources and Industry

• Light Industry – coconut candy factories

• Minerals – Artisanal Salt

• Agriculture – organic and traditional growers - LaCosta

• Environmental (non-profit) – Turtle Sanctuary

• The Watershed

• Archeological Site– Playa Viva is situated on site of

Xuluchuyan - old city of Juluchuca

– What is our role in connecting pride in ancestry

Example: Turtle Sanctuary

• La Tortuga Feliz– All Volunteers

– Located on Playa Viva land

• Initial Direct Support– Equipment

– Expenses

• Ocean Foundation– Fiscal Sponsor

– Raised Funds from 3rd

Parties

• SunPower Foundation– Solarized Sanctuary

– “Now have the most modernturtle sanctuary in Mexico”

Example: Sal Viva• Artisanal Salt

– History of Place

– Product is Under-Valued

• 120 members in coop - 80 Active– 40 “Organic”/ 40 “Plastic”

• Invest in Packaging

• Opportunity Collaboration – – MicroFinance Leaders

• Social Venture Network – Investors

• Initial Order for Online Sales

• Benefits– BALLE Model

• Direct Benefit of Potentially 120 families

– Brand Extension

– Environmental

Example: TerraCycle• Access to Market - US firm TerraCycle

– History in Waste Management

– Emergency Need to fill order

– Partner with member of “Guest Community” – Noryol/GV

– 50 employees over 2 shifts

– Fusing Bags for Target

– Non-Certified Facility

• Largest Employer and Power Consumer

• Negatives:– Factory operated for 6 months, Had to release all workers

• Positives:– Hired back many of the best workers for construction team and then

Playa Viva Team (filter quality in local labor force)

– Joint Venture with Gente como Nosotros AC resulted in development of new project ReBOLSAble

ReBOLSAble

Complete Community Commitment

• Organic Agriculture Courses – (Water, Food)– Producers require markets for organic production

• Supporting Existing Organic Growers (Water, Food, etc.)– Procuring Organic Seeds

– Pre-buying Organic Basket

– Promoting Basket to other B&B‟s and Hotels

– Promoting Network of Organic Producers and Consumers

• Access to Capital and Markets– Turtle Sanctuary Support (Biodiversity) - expanding species

– SAL VIVA and Salt Coop Support (Cultural, Economic)

– Opportunity Collaboration Program • Integration with Poverty Alleviation Conference

• Assist Locals in developing Eco-Tourism Opportunities

• Model for Sustainable Tourism for the Mexico‟s Coast– Serve as Catalyst and Promoter for other local eco-tourism and

sustainable developments

• Waste Management and Recycling Programs (Health, Cultural)

– Education, Resources and Cultural Evolution

6 Key Ecosystem Services

- Climate

- Water

- Food

- Health

- Cultural Values

- Optional Values

Lessons

Learned• Grow Organically

– TerraCycle -> ReBOLSAble

• Expect to Move at the Local Pace

• The Smaller the Town, The Bigger the Problems– Deep Cultural Issues

• Careful of Role as Outsider– “Gringo Knows Best”

– Leverage Local Leaders

• The Best Relationships take time to Develop– Work side by side

– Share Resources

– Find Common Goals

• Engaging Your Community Expands Your Community– i.e. SunPower

Innovation in Community

Engagement

• Holistic Approach– Start with PV and work up to the

watershed• Clean Water, Reduction in use of Pesticides

and Herbicides, etc.

– BALLE Model – Building Local Living Economies

• Sal Viva, La Costa Organics, RemBOLSAble

• 3rd Party Ecotourism

• Brand Extension, Mutually Assured Security

• SLOW Travel– Playa Viva = Connecting People, Place

and Food

– Community Engagement is core to the Playa Viva guest experience