Training Local Residents

A cornerstone of our conservation work is training and employment of local residents as parabiologists and environmental ambassadors. These men and women are highly trained field biologists who gather data on endangered species and key ecological processes in the forests surrounding their communities. Through our program, they have become computer literate, coauthored peer-reviewed scientific papers, and made presentations at national scientific meetings such as the Jornadas de Biologia. At the same time, they serve as Environmental Ambassadors and have made over 100 public presentations and hands-on workshops on environmental themes to their own and other communities. As an indication of the success of this program, Mr. Jorge Olivo was awarded the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund’s ‘Local Conservation Hero Award’, a prestigious international prize in recognition of his outstanding contributions to conservation in the Chocó.

Mr. Jorge Olivo, Community of Dogola (8/04 – present). Research focus on behavioral ecology of birds.

Mr. Domingo Cabrera, Community of Zavaleta (8/05 – present). Research focus on fruit production and seed dispersal.

Ms. Jacqueline Cabrera, Community of Santa Isabela (3/08 – present). Research focus on palm demography.

Mr. Fernando Castillo, Community of Herrera (8/06 – 12/08). Research focus on seed dispersal and pollen flow.

Mr. Victor Arbolera, Community of Viche-Cañabraval (occasional). Research focus on Long-wattled Umbrellabird.

Training University Students

We have assisted with funding, design, implementation and dissemination for a series of Honors Thesis projects by the following Ecuadorian university students. Most of these students have used this opportunity to obtain peer-reviewed publications, presentations at national and international scientific conferences, admission to international graduate programs in biology, and/or employment as biologists.

Mr. Hernán Alvarez, Universidad San Francisco de Quito (6/09 – 10/09): “Sexual selection and cryptic sexual dimorphism in the Green manakin Chloropipo holochlora”

Mr. Jorge Duque, Universidad Central (8/09 – 4/10): “Abundance and diversity of Neotropical migratory birds in the Ecuadorian Chocó”

Ms. Noemi Muquis, Universidad Central (8/09 – 4/10): “Effects of habitat quality on recruitment in a canopy level palm, Oenocarpus bataua”

Ms. Rocio Espinoza, Universidad Central (10/07 – 11/08) “Abundance and diversity of Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Scarabaeidae) in three forest types in the Bilsa Biological Reserve, Esmeraldas Ecuador"

Mr. Patrico Mena, Universidad Central (10/05 – 3/07): “Basic biology of the Green manakin Chloropipo holochlora in the Ecuadorian Chocó”

Mr. Luis Carrasco, Universidad Central (9/04 – 9/05): “Avian abundance and diverstiy in relation to habitat type in the Chocó”

Ms. Rocio Monobanda, Universidad Central,  (10/03 – 10/04): “Fruit production and phenology in the Chocó”

Ms. Jimena Nieto, Universidad Católica (9/04 – 4/05): “Economic analysis of ecotourism development in Dogola”

Ms. Maria Fernanda Armas, Universidad Central (7/05 – 12/06): “Pollination biology of Hummingbirds in the Chocó”

Ms. Veronica Armas, Universidad Central (7/05 – 12/06): “Pollination biology of Hummingbirds in the Chocó”

Mr. Jorge Vargas, Universidad San Francisco de Quito (10/02 – 10/03): “Population biology of Flowepiercers in Parque Metropolitano, Quito”

Mr. David Yunes, Universidad San Francisco de Quito (6/03 – 6/04): “Spatial and

temporal variation in macaws in the Ecuadorian Amazon"

Mr. Jose Fabarra, Universidad San Francisco de Quito (6/03 – 6/04): “Spatial and temporal variation in macaws in the Ecuadorian Amazon”

We have also assisted with, and in many cases co-designed, the following projects by students from outside Ecuador:

Ms. Sabrina McNew, Fulbright Fellowship Research. Pomona College

Ms. Kristin Davis. Independent Research. College of William & Mary

Ms. Stephanie Steele, Ph.D. Research, University of California, Los Angeles

Ms. Rachel Walsh, Ph.D. Research, University of California, Berkeley

Mr. Frederic Runge, Undergraduate Honor’s Thesis, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Germany

Ms. Jenny Hazelhurst, Independent Research. University of California, San Diego

Ms. Anu Ruohmäki, Master’s Thesis, Olulu University, Finland

Mr. Gregory Jongsma, Undergraduate Honor’s Thesis, Guelph University, Canada

Mr. Richard Hedley, Undergraduate Honor’s Thesis, Guelph University, Canada

Ms. Tessa Roorda, Independent Research, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.

Mr. Nory El Kasabi, Independent Research, Université des sciences et techniques de Nantes, France

Ms. Jenny Storey, Masters Research Project. University of York, United Kingdom

Ms. Ann Ballard, Undergraduate Honor’s Thesis, Washington State University

Ms. Sarah Batterman, Undergraduate Honor’s Thesis, Oberlin College

Mr. Daniel Carstensen, Arhaus University, Netherlands

Mr. Andrew Cook, Undergraduate Honor’s Thesis, University of Florida

Ms. Amy Rogers, Ph.D. Research, University of California, Los Angeles

Mr. Mikkel Hogdeson, Master’s Thesis, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands

Mr. Thomas Pearson, Undergraduate Honor’s Thesis, University of Bangor, United Kingdom

Ms. Moura Siverbaum, Undergraduate Honor’s Thesis, University of Gottenburg, Sweden

Ms. Erin Wianko, Undergraduate Honor’s Thesis, University of Guelph, Canada

   Ms. Lauren Woods, Undergraduate Honor’s Thesis, University of Wisconsin

Established Ecuadorian & Colombian Scientists.

We have working collaborations with the following Ecuadorian and Colombian academics and established biologists:

    Dr. David Romo, Professor of Biological Sciences, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador

    Dr. Carlos Cerón, Professor of Biology, Universidad Central, Quito Ecuador

    Dr. Luis Albuja, Director, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas de la Escuela Politécnica Nacional

    Mr. Vladimir Carvajal, Research Scientist, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas de Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Ecuador.

    Dr. Maria del Rosario Rojas Robles, Professor, Universidad de los Andes, Bogota, Colombia

    Dr. Alejandra Jaramillo, Professor, Universidad Icesi, Calí, Colombia

Overview

Building in-country capacity is a fundamental step toward achieving lasting conservation in the Chocó. Working with national and international partners, we have developed a series of innovative programs that provide training, employment and collaboration for a range of Ecuadorians, including local residents, university students, and professional biologists. Below, we provide a brief description of these programs.