Spotlight - Community Projects

COMMUNITY PROJECTS

The Center has contributed to biocultural conservation efforts since 1991. We bring together people from different perspectives, institutions, and cultures to co-create solutions to socio-environmental challenges in the region. One important component is community participation and leadership. This season, the Center, with a lot of help from our donors, dramatically increased its support for collaborative community projects by funding and supporting 7 projects involving 83 local and indigenous community members. These projects represent partnerships between Center staff and community members towards common goals. Projects address local needs, provide economic alternatives, and integrate science, education, traditional ecological knowledge, and local leadership toward long-term biocultural conservation.

Community projects run at different levels of autonomy. Initially, Center staff take more of a leadership role and community members engage as participants. As community members gain more experience and initiative, they assume more leadership responsibility, with Center staff offering continuing support.

Grupo Tortuguero de Bahía de Kino

Goal: Protect sea turtles through monitoring and education

13 participants

Results: 10 monitoring surveys and regular education and information sharing

Coijaac Group

Goal: Advance waterbird monitoring, training and traditional ecological knowledge Escuela Biocultural(TEK) in the Canal del Infiernillo

2 participants

Results: 8 monitoring surveys, application of data and TEK to conservation and education efforts

Laguna la Cruz Fishermen

Goal: Promote conservation, awareness, and participation

12 participants

Results: 5 estuary clean-ups

Biocultural Field School

Goal: Connect Comcaac youth with TEK

35 participants

Results: 7 field trips led by Comcaac mentors to important biocultural sites

Comcaac Leader Group

Goal: Facilitate dialog between conservation leaders in the Comcaac communities

15 participants

Results: 8 dialogs to identifying key priorities

Canal del Infiernillo Dolphin Monitoring

Goal: Advance dolphin monitoring, training, and TEK in the Canal del Infiernillo

2 participants

Results: 4 monitoring surveys of resident dolphins and 2 training workshops

Environmental Education: Sea Turtle Nesting

Goal: Increase awareness and training

5 participants

Results: 1 training workshop, educational material, and 2 public educational events