Building Capacity in Central America to Protect Biodiversity The My Community, Our Earth (MyCOE) partnership is conducting a new initiative in partnership with USAID, USGS, ESRI and other public/private partners and focusing attention on building local capacity to use geography and geographic technologies for biodiversity initiatives in Central America. (www.geography.org/sustainable)
A MyCOE Biodiversity Cadre has been formed from 12 teams of students and their mentors in six countries, competitively selected for their long-term potential to contribute to the region's biodiversity issues. They will attend a capacity building workshop in Panama in January 2008 and will be provided with additional resources such as software, data, tutorials, and mentoring from the MyCOE partnership. Both students and their mentors receive modest stipends to conduct projects of 3 to 6 month duration and travel support to attend the workshop.
About the Students
Student participants are local to the countries in which they work and are enrolled or completing studies at a university or similar educational institution (undergraduate or graduate). Participants were competitively selected on the basis of existing capacity and long-term future potential.
Local Organizations Serving as Youth Hosts
Local and regional organizations proposed projects in response to the criteria below and work in conjunction with their paired student through an appointed mentor.
Selected projects:
- Use geographic technologies such as GIS and GPS
- Incorporate activities that respond to local threats to biodiversity
- Address local areas with biological significance
Selected Participants and Project Titles (Spanish version)
COLOMBIA
Research on the Flora Component of the Peñas Blancas Protected Area
Student: Luís Gabriel López Herrera, Forestry Engineering, University of Tolima
Mentor: Noemy Medina Guzmán, Montano Forest Environmental Corporation
Inventory and Morphometric Analysis of the Barrancabermeja Marshlands using GIS and Remote Sensing
Student: Pedro Agustín Arguello Vargas, Environmental and Sanitation Engineering, Peace University (BIORED-UNIPAZ)
Mentor: Luís Molina López, Urban Regional Research Group of Magdalena Medio, Peace University (GERUM-UNIPAZ)
Identification of Biological Corridors in Coffee Landscapes in the District of San Sebastián de Palmitas, Medellín, Colombia
Student: Javier Alfonso Racero Casarrubia, Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Córdoba
Mentor: Jorge Luís Vásquez Muñoz, Foundation Group HTM
Participative Ecological Restoration of the Amatea Reserve
Student: Alejandro Alberto Castaño Gallego, Environmental Administration, Technological University of Pereira
Mentor: Isabel Bravo Baeza, Amatea Foundation
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Analysis of the Diversity of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates and Microalgae based on the Longitudinal Gradient and Chemical Variables of a River in the Haina Watershed
Student: Litay Amelia Ramos Pimentel, Biology, University of Santo Domingo
Mentor: Bienvenido Santana Ferraras
GUATEMALA
Establishing a Reference Collection and Information System for Biological Diversity and Conservation
Student: Mayra Lisseth Maldonado Montufar, Biology, University of El Valle de Guatemala
Mentor: Enio B. Cano, Guatemalan Natural Museum of History
MEXICO
Species Richness of Medium and Large Mammals in Deciduous Lower Forest Fragments in the Huasteca Plains
Student: Blanca Margarita Vázquez Villa, Geography, Autonomous University of San Luís Potosí
Mentor: Dr. Humberto Reyes Hernández, Autonomous University of San Luís Potosí
Diagnostic Study of Mangrove Degradation in the Coastal Zone of Xcalak-Mahahual, Quintana Roo, México
Student: Marina Hirales Cota, Natural Resources and Rural Development
Mentor: Dr. Julio Espinoza Avalos, College of the South Border
NICARAGUA
Illegal Extraction of Marine Fauna and the Danger of Extinction of Marine Turtles in the Municipality of San Juan del Sur
Students: Raquel López Ramos and Ana Vega Guillen, Geography, National Autonomous University of Nicaragua
Mentor: Alfonso Jirón García, National Autonomous University of Nicaragua
Study of Tree Biodiversity in Public Urban Spaces in Principal Thoroughfares in Districts II, IV and VI of the Municipality of Managua, Nicaragua
Student: Francisco Torrez, Natural Resources Engineering, National Agrarian University
Mentor: Dr. Marcia Mendieta López, National Agrarian University
PANAMA
Establishing a Comprehensive Geographic Information System for Cocobolo and the Mamoni River Watershed
Student: Emilio Espino, Biología, University of Panama
Mentor: Michael Shiven Roy, Conservation through Research Education and Action
Exploring the Problematic of Existing Marine-Coastal Systems in Gaymau Region
Student: Natalia D. Tejedor Flores, Environmental Engineering, Technological University of Panama
Mentor: Teobaldo Hernández, Pronatura
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