Adaptive strategy Scale Dimension Harmonize institutional planning responses, integrate participatory decision making processes: • decentralization, without deregulation, that creates, strengthens, and delegates power and economic responsibility to local organizations and institutions • private–public partnerships national–regional–local institutional Revise international trade policies to improve market access: • take advantage of existing mechanisms for “local products” and special “safeguard mechanisms” to protect national agricultural sectors • establish appropriate food stocks to prevent price volatility • secure access to information and microcredit national–international political Mechanisms and funding to support rural investments: • establish appropriate policies to reduce impacts of food-price inflation • invest in agriculture in low-potential areas as a social investment • diversify rural on-farm and off-farm economies • financial compensation for ecosystem-services protection • infrastructure investments national–international political Strengthen law enforcement for land ownership and rights to natural resources access: • secure land rights • ensure land access for disadvantaged groups • restrict land sales to foreign investors national political Reinforce organizations and networks (governance and adaptive comanagement): • capacity building for communities to achieve self-sustaining projects • strengthen alliances and coordination between comanagers (FORO Miraflor), communities, landowners, ranchers, trade unions, councils, and academic institutions • enhance market competitiveness, e.g., construct warehouses for crop and dairy products local–regional social–institutional Farmer-to-farmer knowledge exchange and extension: • share good farming practices through the establishment of model farms, and strengthen capacity to monitor and assess • exchange native crop varieties through local seed fairs • join national networks, e.g., Farmer-to-Farmer Program; initiatives such as “Seeds for Identity” • farm-planning design with ten-year timespan local–regional–national social–institutional Innovative agricultural practices: • switch from monoculture to diversified agriculture: use traditional maize–bean intercropping system, cultivar rotation with green manure or farm-cattle manure • technological innovation (low energy input) to produce quality dairy products • equilibrate nutrient flows through integrated management with mixed-farming systems, crop–pasture nutrient management • improve livestock systems with rotational grazing systems, fodder bank for livestock, fodder tree in paddocks • support on-farm experiments with rotational livestock and protein banks local environmental–productive Dry forest conservation programs: • reforestation with local species for vulnerable and exposed areas • planned natural regeneration • development of management guidelines local environmental Water-system technologies: • small-scale water management solutions, i.e., rainwater harvesting techniques, tanks • water retention in soil, through innovative agricultural practices local–regional social–institutional–environmental Alternative energy sources: • create communal “energy forest” to supply fuel wood without threatening remaining dry forest • develop wind power local–regional–national social–institutional–environmental Communication plans: • transfer technical and scientific knowledge to local stakeholders • coordinate early warning systems and disaster risk programs • coordinate between comanagers and councils to enhance their prevalence in the area (strengthen the efficacy of local rules) local social–institutional Investigate feasibility of ecotourism: • create and train a tourism commission local–national social–economic