Experiences of the Latin
American
Vetiver network -
Dissemination and Promotion
By Joan H. Miller
(Coordinator - Latin American Vetiver
Network, San Jos� - Costa Rica)
Presentation at the Second International
Vetiver Conference, Thailand. Jan 18 - 22, 2000
Abstract
The Latin American Vetiver Network (LAVN) was established in
October 1995 to disseminate and to assist with the exchange of
information in Spanish regarding the use of vetiver grass within
the region. The LAVN has been successful in its goals of
dissemination (as is indicated by an increasing membership,
inquiries, and participation) but feels it has fallen short of a
more active role in promotion of the technology. The latter is
generally taken up by individual members or NGOs, which have been
involved in outreach and education to convince others of its
benefits. With limited resources (both human and financial) we
have found that the LAVN has the greatest impact via information
dissemination instead of technology promotion particularly when
covering such a large region. Further promotion of Vetiver Grass
Technology (VGT) needs to be done on a smaller scale, no larger
than country-level, but better yet on an organizational level
such as through NGOs. The paper reviews the experience and
lessons learned by the LAVN in its attempts to meet its
objectives of disseminating information to Spanish speakers on
VGT and to assist with the information exchange between network
members. The paper subsequently draws some general conclusions on
the role, instruments, and approaches, which may contribute, to
achieving greater success and impacts of promoting and
disseminating VGT.
Background
The Latin American Vetiver Network (LAVN) was started in
October 1995 to serve the Spanish speaking countries in order to
expand the dissemination of Vetiver Grass Technology (VGT).
Previously the only document available in Spanish about VGT was
the green book (Vetiver, The Hedge Against Erosion).
The LAVN has no institutional or organizational affiliation.
There are a coordinator and a director who work on a volunteer
basis out of a home office. The director, Jim Smyle, seconded
from The World Bank to The Regional Unit for Technical Assistance
(RUTA) has been able to devote some of his professional time to
the LAVN within the realm of his job identifying and preparing
natural resources projects for funding by the World Bank. Most
funding has come directly from The Vetiver Network (TVN) which
covers costs for office supplies, copying, mailing of
correspondence, information packages and newsletters, and
printing of newsletters and other materials.
To kick off the LAVN, the first newsletter in Spanish, Bolet�n
Vetiver, was published in May 1996 and sent out to all
members of TVN in Latin America. This first mailing reached
approximately 400 members in 20 countries of North, Central and
South America (Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras,
Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia,
Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Cuba,
Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico). The most recent Bolet�n
Vetiver (#7 - September 1999) was distributed to
approximately 723 members. The majority of our members are
affiliated with NGOs and the second largest group is formed from
university researchers and students and individuals who are
interested in VGT. The smallest group of network members are
private companies and government and research organization.
Goals of the LAVN
The stated objective of the LAVN is dissemination of
information in Spanish about VGT, its applications and potential
uses. The aim is to provide members access to the existing
knowledge about VGT for soil and water conservation,
bioengineering and bio-remediation, its application, potential
uses and assist in the exchange of information. The Bolet�n
Vetiver permits users and researchers to share their
knowledge and experiences with not only Latin America, but also
the world through our link with The Vetiver Network. Additionally
we have worked to increase network membership. The Vetiver
Homepage and word of mouth have been the most effective means of
increasing membership.
Activities to date have included the following:
- seven newsletters published in Spanish (the Bolet�n
Vetiver);
- Volume I of Bolet�n Vetiver published which
contains newsletters Nos. 1-5 and a reference index;
- distributed vetiver videos (Vetiver, la barrera contra
la erosi�n) in Spanish;
- sent out additional technical information on specific
topics such as use of vetiver in coffee, mining
rehabilitation, and bioengineering;
- sent out questionnaire regarding use and experience with
VGT, in order to better understand members' needs;
- assembled a directory of the most active VGT users and
network members;
- assembled a growing list of vetiver grass suppliers which
is printed in each Bolet�n and posted on the LAVN
web page;
- provided networking assistance in the interaction of
network members;
- started electronic discussion group via Internet;
- provided materials to the Vetiver Network Homepage;
- maintained contact and information exchange with other
regional vetiver networks;
- obtained financing and provided technical assistance for
development of a CD-ROM and video on the use of vetiver
in bioengineering;
- visited the state of Oaxaca, Mexico twice to participate
in training and information workshops and provide
technical assistance;
- toured through southern Costa Rica to locate planting
materials for a project in western Panama;
- co-sponsored and participated in a workshop on use of
vetiver for bioengineering;
- provided small grant for initiation of vetiver nursery at
an organic coffee farm;
- supported a local university student to research and
author articles on VGT in Costa Rica;
- answered hundreds of letter and queries.
Financial Support of Network
- To date we have receive $8,000 from The Vetiver Network
for network activities. Additional funds were collected
which include the 1998 Vetiver Prize for Soil
Conservation ($1083) and a small donation of a lottery
prize (approximately $663). A Knowledge Management grant
of $42,000 from the World Bank was made to RUTA and the
LAVN for a regional workshop in El Salvador in May 1999
(see below for further details). There is no NGO status
for the LAVN due to the bureaucracy involved in the
process. Knowledge that the LAVN office would not likely
remain in Costa Rica after our return to the United
States (there exists no obvious candidates in Costa Rica
to take over the network) have contributed to this
decision.
Effectiveness of the LAVN
- The LAVN has been very effective in the dissemination of
the VGT throughout the Latin American region. Our
membership has grown by no less than 81% from original
400 members to more than 720 members currently (the
growth is actually closer to 90% due to removal of
members from the network who have moved and left no
forwarding addresses). All new members receive at least
each of the newsletters published to date in addition to
a Spanish copy of the "green book" (Vetiver,
The Hedge Against Erosion). Requests for information
and membership currently comes primarily via the Internet
and often current members request membership for
colleagues, associates, and organizations.
- Recently more specific requests have come in for
information on the use of vetiver for land reclamation,
infrastructure stabilization and rehabilitation, etc. In
such areas we have been able to utilize the expertise of
other TVN members outside the region (for example, Paul
Truong for land reclamation and use of vetiver in highly
saline environments and Criss Juliard for details of
their program for road rehabilitation in Madagascar).
- Furthermore the development of the electronic discussion
group, although not as active as we might have hoped,
gives an opportunity for individuals to ask questions and
receive answers (usually from the LAVN coordinator and
director) that are shared with the group of subscribers.
Archives of the discussion group are available on the TVN
Homepage and also are printed in the newsletter. The
discussion group was initiated at the El Salvador
workshop amongst the participants having e-mail accounts
and then opened up to the remaining LAVN membership with
e-mail accounts who responded to a subscription form.
- Generally the effectiveness of the LAVN has been
positive, based on the growing membership and the obvious
increase in sources of vetiver grass available to
potential users. This means that there is more grass
being grown and more people are interested in obtaining
it. This is a priority function of the LAVN.
- Where the LAVN lacks effectiveness is possibly in getting
information to users on specifically requested topics.
The reason for this is the inability to translate large
volumes of information into Spanish on short notice.
Correspondence is normally answered within a day and
information packages sent out within days of request (on
average), but providing information on specific and
technical issues generally takes a great effort that is
sometimes difficult to reply to in a rapid manner.
- Also we feel that our effectiveness in getting feedback
from our members and in "locating" vetiver
activities of non-members has been limited. We know that
there is a lot going on of which we have no knowledge. We
constantly "stumble" on references (written,
oral, second-hand) to activities, projects, people, etc.
But we cannot seem to effectively inspire people to
generally keep us informed. Only about 15 members provide
information/feedback on any type of regular basis (more
than once or twice a year). For those "active"
members and champions of vetiver we are grateful. For the
rest, we are frustrated.
Promotion of VGT
- Promotional activities are defined as organization and
participation in workshops, providing demonstrations and
technical assistence, establishing nurseries, etc. During
the past 4 years we have traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico twice
to participate in vetiver promotion at workshops at the
request of an active NGO network there which was also
able to convince a financing agency to pay our way. In
May 1999 the LAVN co-sponsored a 2 1/2 day workshop in El
Salvador on use of VGT in bioengineering. The workshop in
El Salvador (Bioengineering Workshop for Post-
[Hurricane] Mitch Reconstruction - Experiences with
Utilization of Vetiver Grass for Infrastructure
Protection and Stabilization) was financed through
the Knowledge Management Fund of The World Bank and
co-sponsored by RUTA, NOBS Antierosion, and the LAVN.
Forty-two people from 9 countries attended the 2-day
workshop, which included panel discussions, technical
presentations, and a full-day field trip to observe
vetiver used in both bioengineering and watershed
rehabilitation projects.
- Knowledge Management Funds from the workshop were also
used to develop an 8-minute video (Vetiver: The Hedge
for Bioengineering in Protection and Stabilization of
Infrastructure) as a tool to promote the use of
vetiver for infrastructure protection and bioengineering.
This and a CD-ROM focussing on bioengineering are
distributed to those who request it for the cost of
mailing. We then request that they make at least 2 copies
of the video and give those copies to others for further
dissemination. The Spanish version of the video
"Vetiver, the hedge against erosion" is sent,
free of charge, to LAVN members who specifically ask for
it.
- In spite of the above activities the LAVN feels that it
has not been extremely active or successful in this area.
Our lack of promotional activities is the result of
several factors.
- Our area of coverage is very large - a total of 20
countries spread between approximately 30� N and 55�S
latitude and 35� and 117�W longitudes, thus it is
difficult to organize or attened to promotional
activities with a small staff and lack of institutional
association or support.
- Financially all travel is paid for personally. Where VGT
is in use in watershed management and natural resources
projects, the LAVN can only provide information, whreas
direct technical assistance or training would be much
more effective. With only two people involved with the
administration of the network, personnel resources are
spread quite thin for any further activities. There are
currently no other Spanish-speaking "vetiver
consultants" within region aside from NOBS in El
Salvador, but technical assistance is not their core
business; though some are developing in Mexico,
Venezuela, Costa Rica, Honduras, Chile and Ecuador.
- Finally language has been a barrier. The coordinator
spoke no Spanish prior to living in Costa Rica and
although currently fluent, the ability to make
presentations and making all information of interest
available in Spanish has been difficult. Volunteers
within the LAVN have been used for translation and
editing services, but there are limitations to the
efficiency of this.
- The LAVN's one large promotional activity, the workshop
in El Salvador, has shown its effectiveness through the
resulting activities carried out by many conference
attendees and the references which have come about since
then. Following are some of the activities of conference
attendees since May:
- Workshop organized by CARE Honduras on vetiver for
watershed management and roads construction;
- Development of mother nurseries and micro-nurseries and
planting of hedges by CARE - Honduras;
- Coordination between CARE Honduras and Chiquita
Brands/Tela Railroad Company for locating and planting
vetiver for joint nurseries;
- Protection of drainage canals with vetiver in banana
plantations in Honduras;
- Development of additional nurseries and plantings in
Costa Rica by Chiquita Brands;
- Week-long workshop on organic agriculture in Costa Rica
given by a workshop participant which included a vetiver
component;
- Development of a proposal for the "Establishment of
a Vetiver Nursery as a Source of Planting Material for
Environmental Conservation and Stabilization of
Infrastructure Projects" in Honduras;
- In Panama the "Rural Poverty and Natural
Resources" Project have been giving talks and
practical seminars about VGT and disseminating copies of
the video and plan on establishing 8 nurseries.
- The US Army Corps of Engineers, the World Bank and the
Interamerican Development Bank are both calling for use
of VGT in landslide and road stabilization;
- A small, but tangibly growing interest is being felt in
VGT for infrastructure and roads in Costa Rica,
Nicaragua, and the Honduran Minstries of Transport.
Also as a result of the workshop we have seen increased
correspondence between many of the workshop participants and the
LAVN. A follow-up assessment of workshop participants'
vetiver-related activities and promotion is planned for May - one
year after the event.
We have seen success in the promotion of VGT in the region
through a number of dedicated individuals and groups. Included
here were the three projects that received grants from TVN
Support to NGOs Program. These projects were PCERS (Oaxaca,
Mexico), Fundaci�n Golondrinas (Ecuador) and Sociedad
Conservaci�n Aragua (Venezuela). Promotional activities in these
projects included workshops, technical demonstrations, and
nursery establishment, etc.
Aside from the effectiveness of their promotional activities
another benefit which came out of these projects was that we were
able to confidently refer other interested vetiver grass users to
these groups for technical advice and potentially as a source of
planting material. And even more importantly to us now, is that
these groups will likely be tapped to officially take over
networking responsibilities for either their region or country.
Decentralization of the LAVN
Because of our departure from Costa Rica scheduled for July
2000 we intend not only to transfer the LAVN to another
coordinator, but also request the participation of individuals in
other countries to act as local coordinators to disseminate
technical information, improve promotional activities and further
gather information on the use of vetiver in their
regions/countries.
Ideally the LAVN will be transferred to an organization or
individual which has both the interest in running the network
and, equally as important, an association with an organization
which would support their activities both on the time required
and some of the basic overhead costs. Such an organization might
include a university, technical school, NGO, or a private
company. Responsibilities would include at least maintaining a
database of members and user profiles, publication of LAVN
newsletter, and directing inquiries to the appropriate regional
coordinators.
Smaller regional coordinators would be identified based on
their participation, interest, motivation and desire to carry out
the responsibilities of the coordination for their region.
Optimally there would be coordinators for each of the 20
countries in the region. If a country at that time doesn't have
the in-country expertise or interest then a coordinator from an
adjacent country could take on the responsibilities. The
responsibilities foreseen for these local coordinators would
include dissemination of vetiver information packages
(newsletters, green book, etc.), maintaining and expanding a
database of vetiver users, nurseries and other sources for
planting material, providing country/regional updates and
articles to the LAVN for inclusion in the Bolet�n Vetiver,
etc.
Actual promotional activities would be determined by the
individual regional coordinators based on their abilities (i.e.
financial and personnel) and commitment to carry this out. This
would include organization and participation in workshops and
demonstrations when possible. Many of individuals being
considered for coordination positions already are promoting VGT
within their own organizations, regions and projects. There is
great need in all countries for the participation of
knowledgeable and experienced vetiver users for giving
presentations and demonstrations of VGT. It is hoped that these
more local coordinators will be able to help fill this need and
also help train others to do the same.
What Have We Learned ?
The LAVN uses a single office to network, gather and
disseminate information to its members in the Latin American
Region. The years of experience have revealed the following:
- Members generally request information on the following:
(a) source of planting material; (b) how to become a
member of the LAVN; (c) requests for general VGT
information (green book, newsletters) or more specific
articles, documents and technical information relating to
special interests; (d) letters of support and membership;
(e) and sources and help in financing projects. A recent
questionnaire that we sent out to the other Vetiver
Networks indicates that these are substantially the same
questions and requests received by them.
- The most serious concerns or problems expressed are: (a)
high altitude limitations - There has been some concern
and lack of support for the use of vetiver at altitudes
above 2500 meters in the Andean countries (predominantly
Bolivia and Ecuador) where there has been a perceived
lack of growth; (b) potential for weediness - in Chile
there has been extreme difficulty in finding plant
material although there is great interest from several
members there to start vetiver propagation and planting
programs [1]; (c)
lack of planting material - many members feel that if
they can't immediately obtain the desired quantity of
planting material for a project then it can't be done. It
has been difficult to convince individuals that they
should start with planting a nursery and agressively
propogate vegetative material for their needs a year or
two down the road. You could say that lack of planting
material forms a barrier to progress; and (d) lack of
financing for projects - many individuals lack the access
for financing for individual projects or start-up costs
to get nurseries started. Understandably there is a great
deal of frustration amongst people and there has been no
easy answer as to where they should go for funding,
although local support through government and donor
projects (especially bi-lateral) and developing
relationships with private companies is encouraged.
- Interests of LAVN members vary widely to include: general
use in agriculture for erosion control; its role in
organic agriculture; coffee plantations; oil production;
bioengineering and infrastructure stabilization; soil
restoration and land reclamation in disturbed areas and
mines; in-vitro propagation; how to develop a nursery;
other uses and products; cost information for
applications and propogation and nursery development;
etc. Often new interests are generated by the information
coming out of the network (e.g. by providing information
on artesanal uses of vetiver, the network began receiving
significant numbers of sequests for more information).
- There is a small number of LAVN members who write
anywhere from once a year to several times per month to
update us on such themes as how their plants are growing,
their progress in projects (both underway and in the
planning stage); frustrations with either the plant
itself or more likely government bureaucracy and
disinterest; new sources of planting material; change of
addresses etc. These people are the
"life-blood" of the network and should be
encouraged as much as possible... they would also be the
easily identifiable prime candidates for funding should
such an opportunity ever become available.
- Efforts to increase membership such as mass mailings are
generally not worth it. On several occasions we sent
either letters of invitation to join the network (with a
green book enclosed) with little or no response. A
worthwhile task would be to follow-up on activities and
progress of existing members who have written for
information or updated the network in the past and invite
them to contribute to the newsletter in the form of
articles.
- No matter what is written in newsletters, people will
write and ask for the same information. This may be an
indication that much of the same information, variously
presented should be recycled and summarized in future
newsletters!
- We would recommend further translating into Spanish as
much technical information as is possible and made
available to members. Although there are is a significant
number of members who speak and are able to correspond in
English, the LAVN needs to be able to provide all
existing information and data in Spanish. This can be
done by having the LAVN reside with a native
Spanish-speaking coordinator and also by increasing the
pool of technical assistance experts to both help answer
inquiries and provide personal technical assistance.
Conclusions
The role of the LAVN is simply stated as the gathering of
information for further dissemination. This is currently
accomplished through a single LAVN office which carries out
correspondence with a growing membership, provides contacts and
technical information when requested, and publishes of a
newsletter. As the LAVN is transferred to another office and
coordinator, it is anticipated that the role of the LAVN might be
expanded to increase effectiveness and influence of networking in
the region through further promotion and increased participation.
This can hopefully be accomplished though the expansion of the
LAVN through the development of locally situated network
respresentatives and offices. Such a change will likely require
additional financing through fund-raising activities, project
support, corporate/industrial sponsorship or the selling of
technical assistance services. This is a challenge that we hope
to overcome as we transfer the network in the year 2000.
Footnotes
[1] The phytosanitary
regulations in Chile are so strict that it has been suggested
that it would be impossible to successfully bring in material and
there is a general opinion that vetiver, being an imported plant
will bring them nothing but trouble