Different WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals) Latin American member societies met with the goal of sharing experiences and to strenghten in topics related to volunteer programs, fundraising and project management.
JOCRES Eco-marine Festival
JOCRES youth association organized the first eco-marine festival in the coastal province of Puntarenas. The objective was to raise awareness to environmental problems and to promote marine protection in order to ameliorate the sea degradation within this coast.
This Workshop was organizad by WSPA with the goal of discussing and analizing main causes and effects of the industry linked to dolphins in captivity in a regional and global scale. We identified stakeholders in order to establish an action plan for the future. NGOs from 5 countries were participants, including Keto Foundation, Fundemar, Jamaican Environmental Trust and Human Society International.
Whales and Dolphins Festival
We were present as partners in organizing the first Whales and Dolphins Festival of Costa Rica in Bahia Ballena, South Pacific. This activity was organized by the Association of Tour Operators in Bahia Ballena and the Marino Ballena National Park (MBNP) . The activity was organized to stimulate the local economy, to bring the MBNP to Costa Ricans and to educate about the proper conduct for whale watchers. This first experience has attracted at least three thousand visitors.
Biologists from Keto certified as Reef Check trainers
Between 18 and July 23, 5 biologists from Keto were trained as the first Reef Check Trainers in Costa Rica by Ruben Torres, a specialist from Reef Check Dominican Republic. This is part of a first stage within the project Coral reef community-based monitoring in Costa Rica. Reef Check and REEF monitoring protocols involve the coastal inhabitants’ participation through volunteer reefs’ monitoring. The objective of this project is to establish a monitoring network of coral reefs with community volunteers and led by trained scientists, to monitor indefinitely health of reefs. The project aim is to establish a coral reef monitoring network with community volunteers leaded and trained by scientists, to monitor reef health in the marine protected area (MPA) of Caño Island Biological Reserve, in the Southern Pacific of Costa Rica. We appreciate our sponsors support.
Workshop on Climate Change and Adaptation Options for Cetaceans and Other Marine Biodiversity of the Eastern Pacific
(WWF- Costa Rica, 9-11 February 2009)
The workshop consisted of a collaborative, scientific review of the impact of climate change on oceanographic conditions in the Eastern Pacific and their interpretation for the design of adaptation responses. This is of relevance to endangered species conservation (e.g. cetaceans), fisheries management, nature tourist operators and other users. Despite its emphasis on cetaceans (species, habitats and prey), the interpretation of the climate scenarios in working groups for the identification of potential adaptation responses is open to an analysis of implications for other marine taxa (depending on the expertise of participants). The results will feed into the Siena workshop, and help to pave the road for the design of adaptation measures for cetaceans in that forum
International Marine Conservation Congress
(IMCC-Washigton D.C. 19-24 May 2009)
The IMCC was an interdisciplinary meeting that engaged natural and social scientists, managers, policy-makers, and the public, organized by the Society of Biological Conservation (SCB). The goal of the IMCC was to put conservation science into practice through public and media outreach and the development of science-based deliverables that will be used to drive policy change and implementation. Two members from Keto Foundation were part of the small group of representatives from Latin America. We acknowledge the Duke Marine Center for Marine Conservation and Oak Foundation for making possible this participation.
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