October Newsletter Online

Jaguars, coastal clean-ups, and sloth action shots!

Check out our October newsletter to learn about jaguars and coastal clean-ups, and to read our biologists’ adventures in camera trapping.

Our friends at the International Institute of Tropical Forestry present a peek inside the Rio +20 Earth Summit, from a unique perspective, that of one of their students:

“In 1992 I was one year old, I was learning to be a person, walk, talk, eat etc. I had no idea that there was an Earth summit or even a UN.”

You can follow the adventure on her blog.

Paso Pacífico works from ridge to reef to protect biodiversity and empower communities. What are we doing along coastlines and at sea?

Understanding Marine Ecology
Our Coastal Marine Research Project contributes to the scientific understanding of sea turtle populations and marine ecology.

Our science-based monitoring gauges the effectiveness of management at marine protected areas and the protection of key indicator species – like sea turtles – which are also flagship tourism species. In addition to bolstering conservation efforts, this project provides field training to young marine scientists.

Cleaning up the Coastline
We are proud to work with the Ocean Conservancy as the coordinator for Nicaragua’s participation in the International Coastal Cleanup each year.

We are pleased to partner with Café las Flores and Proyecto Tesón to gather trash and recyclables along Nicaragua’s coast, and we are members of the Alianza Yo No Tiro Basura! alliance against litter.

We also work with the Ocean Recovery Alliance on the Global Alert system to remind people that riverbanks are actually inland coastlines and serve as conduits for floating trash to reach the ocean, and to encourage them to take local action to solve a global problem.

Protecting Mangroves
Our community guides lead eco-tourists on kayak trips and help these visitors understand the ecological importance of threatened mangrove forests which protect the coastline from erosion and storm, and provide critical habitat for aquatic wildlife.

Supporting Nicaragua’s First Sustainable Fisheries
Although their stories are largely unpublicized, a number of fishing communities have avoided self-destructive overexploitation for decades. And they do it with minimal, if any, governmenal regulation.”
Donald Leal, PERC, “Community-Run Fisheries”

Around the world, community-run fisheries are being created by fishermen who want to preserve their livelihoods for themselves and their children. From the North Atlantic to the Northern Sea, to the Caspian and the Pacific, fishermen are banding together for self-regulation of sustainable fishing practices, and in so doing are earning more money for themselves and their families.

Our Sustainable Fisheries Initiative is helping the fishermen of Nicaragua follow suit, empowering them with the science and technology necessary to gather data, assess and monitor resourcess, and determine best practices.

Protecting Critically Endangered Marine Wildlife
Sea turtles throughout the world’s oceans are endangered and species such as the Leatherback and Hawksbill turtles of the eastern Pacific are nearing extinction. Both critically endangered Leatherbacks and Hawksbills, as well as olive Ridley and Pacific Green sea turtles nest along the Pacific beaches of southern Nicaragua.

Paso Pacífico’s turtle rangers provide the “thin green line” between critically endangered sea turtles and would-be poachers and protectors, helping thousands of baby turtles to the sea each year.

Protecting Reefs
Our reef rangers program will build on the successes of our turtle ranger programs. We are recruiting divers to receive similar training to encourage sustainable fishing practices and serve as ambassadors for conservation in the marine community.

Creating a Culture of Coastal Conservation
Our environmental education program includes a significant component on ocean conservation, particularly for those communities lying in coastal areas where often more than half the community is involved in fishing and other ocean-related livelihoods.

Our junior ranger program is teaching coastal kids about marine ecology and developing the next generation of biodiversity stewards along Nicaragua’s Pacific slope.

Our surf ambassadors program works with Nicaragua’s young and growing surf community to ensure a sustainable future for watermen and the marine creatures who share the waves with them. Thanks to the SIMA Environmental Fund, we are building a strong foundation for ocean conservation and surf access through leadership development, conservation science and education, capacity building, and international networking.

Photo courtesy of The Barrio Planta Project

In July 2012 Nicaragua will host the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship, meaning more tourists than ever, and another big surge in surfing among local Nicaraguans. We’re excited about this because the surfing community has a long tradition of environmental awareness and respect for the ocean.

You can help us create a culture of conservation in coastal Nicaragua!

Summer 2012 Fundraising Goals:

Today: World Ocean Day
Goal: $500
To publish maps of critical marine wildlife habitat.

June 16th: World Sea Turtle Day
Goal: $1000
To provide one hundred days of protection at a newly identified sea turtle nesting beach.

July 14: World Surfing Championships Opening Ceremony
Goal: $2500
To help budding filmmakers highlight the Nicaraguan surfing community’s commitment to ocean conservation.

Help us reach our goals. Donate today!

The Pacific slope of Nicaragua – home to threatened mangroves, endangered sea turtles, and yellow-naped Amazon parrots – is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. As in many impoverished places, the pervasiveness of rural poverty can generate tension between locals and conservationists.

Since 2005, Paso Pacífico has worked to mitigate climate change, restore migratory corridors, and increase prosperity from ridge to reef. Our science-based and community-driven methods have produced great results in terms of ecological understanding and environmental restoration across the Paso del Istmo biological corridor where we work.

We are extremely pleased with the progress we have made in changing hearts and minds to respect a culture of conservation, but there is still work to be done.

After rangers explained that hunting was restricted in our reserves, last week hunters set fire to the forest in retaliation. This incident, though isolated and rare, highlights the need for continued environmental education, as well as the importance of our longstanding commitment to economic development and conflict resolution.

We will continue our integrative programs, but our most pressing need now is to restore the connectivity of wildlife habitat crucial for endangered spider monkeys and nearly extinct jaguars. Help us replace the trees destroyed in the fire.

• Plant Native Trees – $10 will plant 10 native saplings, providing clean air and water and wildlife habitat.
• Sponsor a Junior Ranger – $50 will help a young person become a leader as we develop the next generation of biodiversity stewards in coastal Nicaragua.
• Launch an Enviropreneur – $250 will provide specialized training and small business loans for small enterprise in the fields of sustainable farming, geotourism, and ecosystem services.

Help us promote biodiversity, entrepreneurship, and conservation. Please visit our website to learn more, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Pinterest, or donate today to help us plant a seed of change.

Conservation in ACTION
Globally important sea turtle arribada beaches like La Flor Wildlife Refuge (pictured above) receive tens of thousands of sea turtles each year. The greatest threat to successful nesting is high mortality among adults caught in fishing gear as turtles gather to mate….

Paso Pacífico in the News
At the annual Clinton Global Initiative meeting last month, Paso Pacifico Executive Director Dr. Sarah Otterstrom addressed government officials, business executives, directors of major nonprofits, and other global leaders on Women and the Environment.

Dr. Otterstrom shared the success stories of Nicaraguan women who conserve wildlife, lead reforestation efforts, and combat climate change as they empower themselves, improve their community, and help the environment….

Read the full newsletter online.