Asociacion Para El Desarrollo Rural De La Isla De La Palma

Asociación para el Desarrollo Rural de la Isla de la Palma

In Spain, Island of La Palma Association for Rural Development (in English) is a nonprofit organization that was created in September 21st of 1991 with the merely purpose to foster the Island’s Rural areas sustainability and development. Island of La Palma Association for Rural Development (ADER-La Palma) supports, funds, and manages local programs promoted by public entities, private entities, businesses and individuals. Currently the Association is formed by 58 public and private entities, representing rural businesses (36% of the assembly), public entities (the Island Council and each of the 14 municipalities, which have the 32%) and social groups (which include 32%). Also, ten technicians and a manager are responsible for implementing the decisions of the Board, composed of 11 representatives, with Luis Vicente Martín de Paz as the current President. Moreover, ADER-La Palma main objective is to serve as core convergence and representation of all individuals, organizations and stakeholders in order to contribute to a sustainable development of the Island (ADER-La Palma, 2014).

ADER- La Palma was founded to coordinate the management of the Community Initiative LEADER I (1991-1994). Between 1996 and 2001, the Association took over management of the LEADER II program, pursuing diversification of economic activities in rural areas and facilitating investments that would improve the quality of life of the rural population as well as the appreciation of its natural and cultural heritage. From 2002 to 2007, has continued with the implementation of this initiative with the LEADER + program, which was a major effort focused on the active participation of the population in local development, the enhancement of natural and cultural heritage and the establishment of access facilities for technological innovation in rural areas. It is now managed by the County LEADER Rural Development Programme 2008-2013, which funds creative and innovative rural development projects on the Island of La Palma, in order to contribute to increase the competitiveness of agriculture and forestry, improving the environment and countryside, the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging diversification of economic activity, and improving governance and mobilizing the endogenous development potential of rural areas (ADER-La Palma, 2014).

Island of La Palma is part of the Canaries Island, Spain, in the north-west coast of Africa. The total population of the Island according to 2011 Spanish Census (INE) is 86,000 people, where most of the population lives in the main two Island’s towns, which are, Santa Cruz de La Palma (capital city) and Los Llanos de Aridane. The Island of La Palma (706 km2) is 7 times bigger than the City of Nanaimo (91. 3 km2) but 11 times smaller than Vancouver Island (32,134 km2).

Since the creation of ADER-La Palma, the association has had an important positive impact in its society in addition to the sustainable oriented rural development, which, can measure the association’s success in the Island over the years. The Island of la Palma Association for Rural Development in collaboration with Tripartitas Foundation, provide aid to enterprises, employers, employees, and unemployed people through its various courses that provide training for different areas but all channeled to improve the Island’s local economy. As many Island around the world are subject of food dependency, Island of la Palma is no exempt of this issue which ADER-La Palma attempts to neutralize. According to a recent analysis made by Spanish Economist Manuel Redondo Zaera in regards to food dependency in the Canaries Islands, which Island La Palma is part of, states that: “This food dependency is particularly evident in products such as milk and meat, to mention a few, with coverage rates by the local Island producer of 18% and 7% respectively.” As a result, most of the food basket produce are being imported hence the Island of La Palma relies enormously on foreign farming. For instance, Vancouver Island, Canada, is not exempt of this issue as 85% of the food being consumed in the Island is coming from off the Island (MacNair, 2004).

ADER-La Palma is currently imparting three training programs combined with employment, with 15 students in each, to facilitate the recruitment of unemployed persons, financed by the Canarian Employment Service, the European Social Fund, the Council of La Palma and the councils of the participating municipalities. In addition, ADER-La Palma advocates for social and economic development of the Island

...