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Gifts like yours expanded our global impact. Thank you!
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CONSERVATION IN ACTION
It’s that time of year again: humpback whales are arriving in the warmer waters of Central America for the winter. These large mammals travel many miles from the coast of California and Oregon to reach their breeding grounds.
The Central American humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a sub-population of whales that is in danger of extinction. This group of whales spends its summers feeding off the coast of California and Oregon, and then breeds and calves in the waters of Mexico and northern Central America. To help protect these whales, our team has been supporting fishermen and women to use low-impact fishing practices. Now, thanks to your support, we are doing even more for marine wildlife.
Recently, we joined as a member organization on the conservation committee of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). Thanks to donors like you, our marine biologist Osmar Sandino contributes by reviewing the most recent science and helping the committee make recommendations to countries. Your support helps speak up for the marine mammals in northern Central America. You are helping them survive now and into the future. Thank you.
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This map shows locations of the 14 distinct population segments of humpback whales worldwide. Subpopulation #6 is the Central American humpback population, which is endangered. Source: NOAA
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At the same time, you have made it possible for us to partner with El Salvador's Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (MARN) national marine mammal program. There, we support the ministry and partners such as the IUCN-Central America as they work to provide training and create conditions for responsible, low-impact whale tourism.
By helping protect humpback whales on their breeding grounds in Central America, you are making a difference for the oceans and our planet. Thank you for supporting our work!
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Thank you for protecting the whales!
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Tomás Chévez started working with Paso Pacifico several years ago. Since then, he's played an important role on our team! At first, he helped us deliver school lunches to children in San Juan del Sur and Cárdenas as part of our former program known as Proyecto Noble. In 2018, he joined us as a beach ranger. While on the beach, he helps protect nesting sea turtles and collect data about them.
In addition, he helps with logistics for events such as the International Coastal Cleanup and Global Big Day. These activities are vital to helping Junior Rangers learn about the beautiful wildlife around them and why protecting it is important.
We are so grateful for his amazing work that has helped save sea turtles and is shaping a generation of environmentally conscious kids. Thank you for your phenomenal work, Tomás!
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As we start this new year, we want to extend a special thanks to Paso Pacífico's board of directors. This month, our leaders concluded a series of virtual board retreats in which we considered opportunities for the future direction of the organization.
In these meetings, the board focused on our mission and how we can expand our corridor-building efforts through regional and local alliances. We are also excited to move towards this goal by building a groundbreaking technology platform that will connect youth and farmers and thereby catalyze forest restoration.
We are so fortunate to be led by a board that comes from a range of business, science, and conservation backgrounds. They generously give their time, insights, and expertise to this organization. Thank you.
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The SWOT (State of the World's Sea Turtles) program is a global partnership to assess the conservation needs of sea turtles and help save them from extinction. Its annual publication helps share turtle knowledge and conservation approaches with diverse groups worldwide. This month, SWOT partner the Oceanic Society announced the recipients of SWOT's conservation grants.
Paso Pacífico is thrilled to be among the nineteen organizations to receive a SWOT grant! With these funds, rangers in Nicaragua will teach Junior Rangers in 9 communities about the critical ecological role of sea turtles. We extend our sincerest thanks to SWOT and their donor partners at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the Sea Turtle SAFE (Saving Animals from Extinction) program. And lastly, we thank YOU for helping protect sea turtles.
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PARTNERS MAKE IT POSSIBLE
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We want to extend our thanks to the PCMN, or Programa de Conservación de Murciélagos de Nicaragua. With their team of volunteer bat experts, they evaluate important areas for bat conservation and organize monitoring events like the Christmas Bat Count. They also work to build awareness about bats.
More than 100 Junior Rangers attended bat workshops led by Professor Octavio Saldana. The kids had a great time learning about bats' adaptations for hunting insects, pollinating flowers, and even catching fish! After classroom learning sessions, the kids got to see real live bats captured by the PCMN biologists (below). We are so thankful for PCMN's knowledge and dedication. We also thank all the donors who gave last fall and made these workshops possible!
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