Foundation for the Endangered of Guatemala Annual Report 2017 FOUNDATION FOR THE ENDANGERED SPECIES OF GUATEMALA FUNDESGUA - ANNUALREPORT 2017 change. education andcollaboration withlocalcommunities, proved itselfasaneffective way of attaining long lasting again ourcomprehensive approach rooted to conservation, ingreat inthe core efforts areas of awareness, Here we present ofthemainprograms anoverview andaccomplishments ofFUNDESGUA for 2017,once a tragedy itself, isalsothe maindriver ofecosystem degradation. the Foundation approach hasbenefited bothpeopleandbiodiversity, recognizing that widespread poverty, people anddeveloping sociallyoriented programs suchashousebuildingandproviding schoolscholarships, Improving thelivelihoods oflocalpeopleisalsoonethecore values ofFUNDESGUA. employing By local the closecollaboration oflocalpeople, creating communities values where are conservation now blooming. Valley andcloudforest Forest, ecosystems Dry across andthepine-oak thecountry. All thiswork isdonewith targetingBy thesespecies, FUNDESGUA auniqueecosystem ishelpingto astheMotagua conserve known campbelli,themost endangeredof thegenusAbronia, ofthegroup. particularly species have andthearboreal beentheGuatemalan alligator beadedlizard, lizards charlesbogerti, Heloderma species inthecountry, targeting speciesthat at thesametimerepresent highlydiverse ecosystems. These Foundation, Conservation with theInternationalReptile aimsto prevent ofthemostvulnerable theextinction Despite thechallenges, The Foundation for theEndangered SpeciesofGuatemala (FUNDESGUA), inpartnership of decliningwildpopulations across thecountry. lack of local funding for programs, conservation all have created challenging conditions to change the course among themostendangered speciesintheworld. Weak legislation, poverty, groups, scarcity ofconservation array ofuniquelife communities across thecountry. Many out, speciesare andsomeoftheseare left likely hassomelevel ofstate33% ofthecountry protection, theprotected area system failsto exhaust thelarge diversity means, however, andimportant This wonderful isespeciallychallenging. that conservation Although endemism. mountainous cloud forests and interior valleys have provided ideal conditions for species diversification and uplands and plateaus. This great biome diversity results in highspecies diversity, asGuatemala’s isolated tropical to tropical; to mountain range incredible habitats harboring clouds forests and beautiful highland Guatemala isrenowned for itsdiversity ofecosystems, to sub- withlowland habitats ranging dry from very Foundation for theEndangered Species ofGuatemalaSpecies FUNDESGUA - ANNUAL REPORT 2017

school assignments related to Education biodiversity and conservation. This program was found to be more effective in small schools were for conservation the conservation corner came to be a more notable element All project areas of FUNDESGUA always received with excitement. Novel educational tools were within the school. We noticed how have a strong educational effort For each presentation each tested in 2017 with great results. in small schools fitted with the put into place. Education is the educator prepares a script Although the presentations shelves, some children really took easiest and most effective way specifically tailored to each school, are engaging and loved by the advantage of it and participated to get close to local people, taking into account how long the children, now we implemented by bringing seeds, leaves, snake A

L and is crucial for the instillation school has been in the program other ways to connect students with sheds, and even armadillo and A

M of long-term the conservation and the particular conservation conservations. The new activities turtle shells. The shelve helps E

T values that a community must challenges of each community, 48 and programs are complementary giving the children that are more A

U share so conservation is met with schools were part of the program to the presentations and were interested in biodiversity the G acceptance and even gratitude. in 2017 educating about 2750 environment to learn and share

F planned to give a better hands- O Conservation that involves children. on experience on conservation: the collection, germination and S E

I communities is more efficient, a formal conservation course for Highschool conservation course planting of seeds and seedlings C

E effective and long lasting. 2017 saw a new area included in high school children, involvement 168 students the main high for a study on seed germination P S

the program, this area is formed of school children in reforestation school in the conservation area and growth of local tree species.

D The educational program of 2017 by a group of 12 communities E by creating school based tree for the Guatemalan beaded lizard This proved to be an effective R

E repeated our now traditional around the ‘Enchanted Forest’, nurseries and bringing children participated in a formal course way to engage older children G conservation presentations at a forest in which we started to to reforestation areas, and the taught by one of our educators at that had received educational N

A schools in all the areas worked work in late 2016 which contains implementation of “conservation their school. The course consisted presentations through their early D

N by the Foundation. These areas inhabited by two species of corners” at schools. These programs of 19 biodiversity and conservation childhood in primary schools. This E

E presentations bring live Abronia lizards. were successful and are ready to be topics and lectures and was taught course gave the opportunity for the H

T to the classrooms where we are expanded and improved in 2018. biweekly. Students learned about students that are more interested R local biodiversity and participated in biodiversity and conservation to O F in workshop style discussions to further develop their interest and N

O analyze conservation problems acquire additional knowledge. The I

T and propose solutions. In addition, course put them in closer contact A

D they learned about reforestation with an educator expert in the N

U processes and participated in topic, who devoted time to ensure O

F this strong interest produces devoted local conservationists in the future.

Conservation corners This program consisted of providing some schools with a corner shelve to be used to display conservation decorations, natural history items collected locally, books on biodiversity and FOUNDATION FOR THE ENDANGERED SPECIES OF GUATEMALA at home. When the time came, keep a small number of seedlings each student to germinate and at schoolorschoolsassigned schools eithercreated anursery the future. Following ourdirections to theseareas value andpreserve in planting them, they are more likely oftreeson theproduction andon people. engaging By children both the newlyplanted forests andlocal create astronger bondbetween efforts, butmore importantly, to produce trees for ourreforestation This strategy camefrom ourneedto “Mini nurseries” local conservation. toin theirjourney someday lead minded classmates, helpingthem their interest withotherlike- FUNDESGUA - ANNUALREPORT 2017 conservation. conservation. reminding themoftheneedfor its lizard constantly onpeople’s mind, keeping theGuatemalan beaded being usedthroughout theyear continually saw the backpacks Children loved themandwe we distributed onethousand. ofwhich beaded lizard backpack forgift eachchild:aGuatemalan presentation includedallittle area, theeducationalconservation theGuatemalanIn beadedlizard do by ourselves. program beyond what we could way to expand thereforestation sites. efficientThis was alsoavery reforestationthe trees intheactual inplanting schools participated FUNDESGUA - ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Reforestation

For most Guatemalan species, and particularly for Abronia campbelli, severe habitat loss and degradation constitute the main threats to their overall conservation. The

A years as habitat restoration, and 8000 oak trees were planted in

L populations of Abronia campbelli

A the establishment of a second this mountain by the community

M are in a highly fragmented habitat community forest in one location themselves. E

T which affects natural demographic where we had recently discovered A

U processes that are needed for an isolated and previously In the Guatemalan beaded lizard G the population to remain viable. F unknown population of Abronia project area reforestation is yet O As conservationists we need to

S campbelli. This new community to take place, but 2017 was a E I look and address the causes and proved to be a great ally for year of preparation for it. Along C

E reasons for habitat loss, while FUNDESGUA resulting in the with high school students and P S we also look at the needs of creation of a 10,000 tree forest, other volunteers, a lot of effort D local people and local economic E planted with a rapid-growing tree was put into collecting seeds R

E activities. This means conservation species. All seedlings in this rapid- and attempting the germination G must be comprehensive and N rowing forest were germinated of as many local tree species as A look for sustainability, which has

D and grown from our own nursery. possible. Growth and germination

N been one of the main traits of

E As always, we looked to engage rates were assessed, and after the

E our Campbell’s alligator lizard as many local people and results of the study were collected H

T conservation program. communities as possible, receiving we produced a protocol for the R

O the enthusiastic help from propagation of the most important F As in previous years, the

N hundreds of men, woman and species for the dry forest. For 2018,

O reforestation program in 2017 I children during the reforestation we are ready to conduct our first T included two approaches: habitat A days. reforestation project in the area, D restoration for the lizards, seeking

N planned for 10,000 trees! U to increase habitat and provide In this community we also O F connectivity between remaining witnessed a turning point in patches, and the creation of local culture towards biodiversity exploitable community managed conservation when we heard forests to provide people with about the community’s wish to firewood while preventing further also plant a forest exclusively habitat destruction. for protection and preservation. Community leaders took us to see As part of this program 2017 a mountain which they wanted culminated with the planting of to protect, explaining to us their 8000 oak trees, which add up to desire to leave something better 30,000 trees planted in previous for future generations. Part of the FOUNDATION FOR THE ENDANGERED SPECIES OF GUATEMALA Research &captive breeding locations, whichwe have named was recorded from three new The Campbell’s alligator lizard charlesbogerti. and Heloderma areas bothfor Abronia campbelli devoted to theexploration ofnew of2017was of thisobjective, part FUNDESGUA’s priorities. As part species isalways within ofourtarget New knowledge target species surveysDistributional ofthe FUNDESGUA - ANNUALREPORT 2017 great news for of theconservation campbelli. These discoveries are is suitableecosystem for Abronia size, althoughit’s unlikelyallofit habitat, more than 1000 ha in a hugepatch ofwell-preserved of it. The of otherareas are part even hasaforest ranger incharge small national protected area, and collectors. Oneoftheseareas isa to protect the speciesfrom illegal “new zones distribution A,BandC” term survival. about Abronia campbelli’s long- make usmuchmore optimistic These positive 2017discoveries chance oflong-term success. two places that promise agood to these efforts our conservation this species, and allow usto direct populationsites to allow usin2017 data intheold to thesurvey of thenewsites was added Data thesurvey obtainedduring Abronia campbelli Population size estimation of more effective. future to where theycould be inthe efforts our conservation information willhelpuspinpoint beaded lizards. Again, thisnew small population of Guatemalan being still inhabited by at least a confidenttwo ofthe newareas theseforests,exploring we are localpeopleand interviewing By to spot any possible habitat patch. carefully overlooking thedistance have goneover road, almostevery can say theseyears after that we the Motagua Valley, ofwhichwe places by visuallyallof exploring information. We found these two in aplace canbeasource ofprecise people who have spent a lifetime able to findone. However, local occurrence for years withoutbeing could lookfor itinplaces ofknown species isincredibly secretive, one two newareas were explored. This For charlesbogerti Heloderma restored patches ofhabitat, as recolonization processes to newly has prepared usto accelerate Guatemala City. This program forfacility Abronia campbelliin to operate thecaptive breeding restoration program, we continued to thehabitatComplementary Captive breeding program entirety. as itatoflosinghabitat risk inits to probability reduce extinction itself doesn’t contribute asmuch this speciespopulation size by vulnerable to deforestation. For offorestsingle hectare isalsovery to keep inmindthat a important than previously thought, itis and provides abetter scenario hectare. While thisispositive news as many as600individualsper more forest, intact there could be estimate that inacontinuous, capture andrecapture data to of Abronia campbelli. We used the current population density to produce a rough estimate of 2018. in research, thisstudywillstart material to beusedfor population having of genetic a big collection dozens ofabronia lizards, now obtaining blood samples from 2017weIn alsosucceeded in point.this critical species wouldn’t bedestroyed to what itwould beifhabitat ofthis genetics ofthisoffspring recreate isolated forest remnants, meaning parents representing allthenow of offspring from wildcaptured reliably produce large numbers improve thisprogram sowe can and experience to constantly provided uswithknowledge individuals.born Eachyear has to populate themwithcaptive become suitablewe willbeable as soonreforestation areas into oldgrowth habitat, but 2017 neonates were reintroduced populations and genetic diversity. well asto strengthen itswild FOUNDATION FOR THE ENDANGERED SPECIES OF GUATEMALA Social programsSocial needed it. great all-female familythat really home,the fifth which went to a than otheryears andwe built country. 2017was nodifferent region ofthe inthewestern part in needtheHuehuetenango ahousetobuilds andgifts afamily year FUNDESGUAin whichevery A House for Home is a project Every have beenableto help. poverty, someofthemwhichwe people that live inextreme we have met many hard working Through our work in the country not translate into better wellbeing. work ofmany Guatemalans does a situation inwhichthearduous Guatemala’s socialdynamicscreate increasing beyond arate of60%. telling usthat itcould beeven country, withsomeindicators ridden Guatemala isapoverty A House for Every Home FUNDESGUA - ANNUALREPORT 2017 area. available to young peopleofthe education there isnootheractivity agriculture, butwithoutaccess to favorably againstsubsistence wouldAny compete otheractivity habitat to grow their own food. forestother thanto destroy dry haven’t hadmany otheroptions generations however, peoplethere is difficultandundesirable. For ecosystem where agriculture regionproject iswithinadry The Guatemalan beadedlizard programScholarship scholarship program provides high school. The FUNDESGUA in thearea from finishing obstacles that prevent children beaded lizardaway by taking oftheGuatemalan conservation environment for long term same timeproviding abetter while at the poverty to tackle FUNDESGUA has been working through formal jobs. income isbrought to thesevillages noticeable how additional very for school.afew In years itwill be finish assignments andget ready the streets, we now seetherushto used to beseendoingnothingin where teenslittle villageslook, has already changedhow these to subsist. To date thisprogram Guatemalan’s beadedlizard habitat to destroyfamilies that mustresort and greatly reduce thenumberof towns, helpingto alleviate poverty are available innearby industrial as many formal jobpositionsthat These students willtranslate into students finishingtheschool year! 2017theschoolhad170 2015. In backin started when theproject students attending highschool regionproject there were only38 is accessible to the everyone. In and additionalteachers soschool uniforms, equipment transport, school materials andsupplies, FOUNDATION FOR THE ENDANGERED SPECIES OF GUATEMALA Disney hero award them. During thisexperience them. During us thelizards sowe could release conversation heagreed to give moment ata long first but after them goeasily. tense was avery It themandwouldn’tcollected let with about20abronias! Hehad cage to amakeshift standing next hero Cristian conservation what we found was ournow We investigated, andeventually these lizards to sellto smugglers. aware ofayoung mancollecting that ourresearch team became rediscovery ofAbronia campbelli FUNDESGUA’s after was shortly It even by mistake. by accident, unintentionally, and childhood dream, itwas infact by journey an early conservation change. didn’t Cristian begin his even ifthismeansaradical life goodwill to pursuewhat isgood Cristian’s isaboutauthentic story HeroConservation medal. thathimthe earned bit ofthestory herewith Cristian, we share alittle hasbeenagreatIt honorto work receivedwho deservedly theprize. Campbell’s alligator lizard area, ourlocalemployeeRamirez, inthe 2017weIn nominated Cristian around theworld.conservationists FundConservation to local award is given by the Disney The Hero Disney Conservation FUNDESGUA - ANNUALREPORT 2017 recognized hisgreat work. FundDisney Conservation hasalso has done, andwe are grateful the be happier with the job Cristian enjoy helpinghim. We couldn’t groups ofyoung volunteers that and evencommunity organizing becoming aleaderofhis duties infavor ofconservation, going many timeswell beyond his commitment,shown a remarkable educational programs. Hehas intheresearch and and takespart trees beingplanted eachyear, of producing thethousandsof isnowCristian thepersonincharge able to offer himapermanent job. abouttwo yearsand after we were relationship withFUNDESGUA his lovely family. his That started his commitment to provide for reason abronias to collect was was agoodpersonwhosesole we realized soonthat he very FOUNDATION FOR THE ENDANGERED SPECIES OF GUATEMALA • ProgramConservation • Fund Biology Conservation Danforth • Fund • We thankthefollowing organizations, grant conservation programs in2017: andpersonsfor theirsupport Supporters 2017 The Pittsburgh Zoo &PPG for Zoo –Quarters Knoxville Roger Williams Park Zoo: Sophie The Disney Conservation FUNDESGUA - ANNUALREPORT 2016 Botanical Garden CARE grant Garden CARE Botanical • • • Areas (CONAP) • FundSpecies Conservation • (AZH) Horticulture • (Zoo Atlanta) EndowmentConservation Fund • Fund • FundSustainability Aquarium’s and PPGConservation Oklahoma City Zoo City and Oklahoma Zoos Victoria The Zoo at Chehaw National Council ofProtected The binZayed Mohamed Association ofZoological Reeder The Dorn Mable Greenville Zoo Conservation • LawsonDwight • • • • • • • • • • Quigly • (SEAVS) Services Veterinary • Dr. Thomas Torres Heagney Williams Kathy Dr. Mitchell Mark Lori Perkins Sharon, Jeff, Ashley andJake Dr. ScottStahl andStahl Exotic Dillon Dimuth Dr. Rebecca Snyder andDr. Barr- BARRScages Doug PrescottMax Ogle Michael Dr. Brent Morgan Dr. Javier Nevarez