Foundation for the Endangered Species of Guatemala Annual Report 2017 FOUNDATION for the ENDANGERED SPECIES of GUATEMALA FUNDESGUA - ANNUALREPORT 2017 Change
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Foundation for the Endangered Species of Guatemala Annual Report 2017 FOUNDATION FOR THE ENDANGERED SPECIES OF GUATEMALA FUNDESGUA - - FUNDESGUA ANNUAL 2017 REPORT ANNUAL change. change. attaining longlasting of way itselfasaneffective proved with localcommunities, andcollaboration education awareness, of areas effortscore inthe ingreat conservation, to rooted approach again ourcomprehensive 2017,once for ofFUNDESGUA and accomplishments an overview of themainprograms present we Here degradation. ofecosystem isalsothe maindriver itself, a tragedy poverty, widespread that recognizing bothpeopleandbiodiversity, hasbenefited approach the Foundation schoolscholarships, suchashousebuildingandproviding programs sociallyoriented people anddeveloping local By employing ofFUNDESGUA. values oflocalpeopleisalsoonethecore thelivelihoods Improving blooming. now conservation are where values communities creating oflocalpeople, the closecollaboration isdonewith thiswork All thecountry. andthepine-oak across Dry ecosystems Forest, and cloudforest Valley known conserve astheMotagua ishelpingto auniqueecosystem FUNDESGUA thesespecies, By targeting particularly ofthegroup. of thegenusAbronia, campbelli,themostendangered Abronia Heloderma charlesbogerti, lizards beadedlizard, alligator beenthe Guatemalan andthearboreal species have These ecosystems. highlydiverse thesametimerepresent at speciesthat targeting species inthecountry, theextinction ofthemostvulnerable prevent aims to with theInternationalReptile Conservation Foundation, inpartnership (FUNDESGUA), SpeciesofGuatemala theEndangered for Foundation The thechallenges, Despite thecountry. across of decliningwildpopulations the course change to conditions challenging created have all conservation programs, for funding of local lack ofconservation scarcity groups, poverty, legislation, Weak speciesintheworld. among themostendangered likely left andsomeoftheseare speciesare out, Many thecountry. across communities ofuniquelife array thelarge exhaust failsto system area theprotected protection, 33% ofthecountry ofstate hassomelevel Although conservation that isespeciallychallenging. wonderfulThis andimportant however, means, diversity endemism. and diversification species for ideal conditions provided have valleys interior and cloud forests mountainous isolated asGuatemala’s diversity, in highspecies results biomediversity great This plateaus. uplands and beautiful highland and forests clouds harboringhabitats incredible range mountain to tropical; to tropical very from dry ranging habitats withlowland sub- to ofecosystems, itsdiversity for isrenowned Guatemala Foundation for the Endangered theEndangered for Foundation Species ofGuatemala 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 reptile 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 reptiles 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, came, time the When home. at of seedlings number a small keep and germinate to each student schoolorschoolsassigned at anurseryschools eithercreated ourdirections Following the future. in andpreserve value theseareas to likely more are them, they planting andon on theproduction oftrees both children By engaging people. andlocal forests the newlyplanted bondbetween astronger create to importantly, efforts, butmore ourreforestation for trees produce ourneedto camefrom strategy This “Mini nurseries” local conservation. lead someday in theirjourney to helpingthem minded classmates, withotherlike-their interest FUNDESGUA - - FUNDESGUA ANNUAL 2017 REPORT ANNUAL conservation. its themoftheneedfor reminding mind, onpeople’s constantly lizard beaded keeping theGuatemalan theyear being usedthroughout backpacksthe saw continually themandwe loved Children onethousand. distributed we backpackbeaded lizard ofwhich eachchild:aGuatemalan gift for includedal little presentation conservation theeducational area, In beadedlizard theGuatemalan ourselves. do by could we what beyond program thereforestation expand to way alsoavery was This efficient sites. intheactualthe trees reforestation schools participated inplanting 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