Edition: April 2010
Conservation in ACTION

As top predators, carnivores are the keystone of any healthy ecosystem, but hunting and habitat loss threaten their survival in Nicaragua. Over the past few months, local farmers have reported numerous jaguar and puma sightings to Paso Pacifico biologists, while Paso Pacifico staff have directly observed large cat tracks and sighted smaller carnivores such as Ocelots and Jaguarundis. This year, Paso Pacifico will be working to validate the presence of Jaguars and Pumas in the Paso del Istmo Biological Corridor through targeted interviews and field surveys. The Paso del Istmo Biological Corridor borders a Jaguar Conservation Unit, which is a high priority within the regional Jaguar Conservation Initiative. As the Paso del Istmo and Jaguar Conservation Unit are not separated by any major geographic barriers, the Conservation Unit has the potential to serve as a 'source' for the recovery of the jaguar population in Nicaragua.

Meanwhile, Paso Pacifico is also working to reduce the number of large cats that are killed by farmers through public awareness campaigns such as movie nights in remote villages, which bring communities together to watch educational films while learning about the negative impacts of wildlife trafficking. By rebuilding forest habitat, creating new protected areas, and educating the local communities, Paso Pacifico is building a space for the safe return of the jaguar to the Paso del Istmo.
Paso Pacífico in the News

Paso Pacifico's efforts during the International Coastal Clean-up in Nicaragua made news recently when the Ocean Conservancy released its annual report Trash Travels: From Our Hands to the Sea, Around the Globe, and Through Time describing the impact made by volunteers from over 100 countries during the 2009 International Coastal Cleanup.

The report includes data from the work of Paso Pacifico and our 6,000+ volunteers who cleaned up more than 80 beaches across Nicaragua, removing over 332,924 pounds of trash. The report also explains how millions of pounds of debris, consisting mostly of non-biodegradable plastic products, are caught in ocean currents annually, contaminating the water and washing up on beaches. This trash pollutes our beaches and oceans and is a direct danger to marine life, such as sea turtles, which get caught in or eat the debris. Participation in coastal cleanups is a great way for volunteers to get involved in protecting our ocean resources.

Partnerships make it possible

In support of expanding our ocean conservation programs to the surf community in Nicaragua, the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) has honored Paso Pacifico as a 2010 Beneficiary of their Environmental Fund. Young Nicaraguans have fallen in love with surfing, and by partnering with SIMA, Paso Pacifico hopes to channel this newfound passion into ocean and coastline conservation by empowering leaders in the local surf community. These leaders will educate their peers and clean-up the beaches near popular surf breaks. As a SIMA beneficiary, Paso Pacifico also joins an impressive network of well-respected ocean conservation organizations, such as the Surfrider Foundation, Ocean Institute, Reef Check and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper. We look forward to building strong partnerships with SIMA and these other fantastic organizations.

 

Team Member Spotlight

A dynamo in the field, Paso Pacifico's Forester Claudia Perla manages the reforestation plans for Paso Pacifico's nine Return to Forest plantation sites, where over 200,000 native trees have been planted since 2007. When on site, Claudia has a reputation for being "tough as nails," frequently spending the entire day in the field, braving the elements and the mud, and managing her numerous male counterparts. Her no-nonsense approach combined with her energy and excellent work ethic have helped make our Return to Forest program such a success.

Paso Pacifico is expanding our conservation efforts in the world of social networking, and this month, we are hoping to increase the number of supporters for our Facebook cause, where it is possible for us to easily receive donations and post updates for our followers. Please support Paso Pacifico by joining our cause, checking out our weekly newsposts, and most importantly, inviting your friends to also support and follow us online.

By sponsoring the new Karen Warren and Susan White Spider Monkey Sanctuary and Education Center at the Domitila Reserve, Karen Warren and Susan White are leading the charge to protect the endangered Black-handed Spider Monkey from extinction. Over 2000 Nicaraguan school children will able to visit the Center annually to learn how to respect wildlife and protect forests. Thank you, Karen and Susan!
Mission | Website | Partners

© 2006 Paso Pacífico
USA Address: PO Box 1244 • Ventura, CA 93002-1244 • Phone: 1-805-643-7044
Nicaragua Address: Km 15 Carretera Ticuantepe, Centro Comercial MercoCentro, Modulo #5
Ticuantepe, Nicaragua • Phone: +505-2279-7258