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On the trail of the horned guan, the jaguar, the quetzal and the tapir

Sumary

Theme: Conservación y monitoreo biológico Placement Core zone at El Triunfo Biosfere Reserve, and a coffee farm and at Independencia on the state of Chiapas, Mexico. Requeriments: Mínimum age of 18 years old, good phisical condition, strong interest on conservation, some knowledge of Spanish. Project language: Mainly Spanish and limited English Highlights: This is a unique opportunity to visit one of the remotest and beautyful places in the world: the cloud forest of El Triunfo and look for critically threatened species: Jaguar (Panthera onca), Tapir (Tapirus bairdii), resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) and horned guan (Oreophasis derbianus). The long treks on the trails are also a good chance to watch other local flora and fauna species. This is an ongoing project carried by a research team formed by experienced park rangers and scientific researches whom use diverse techniques such as traps cameras, analysis of tracks and food, animal behavior and geographical reference systems. Short description: The general purpose of this project is to investigate the condition of the species populations, which are priority for the conservation of El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve. Throughout the year, the volunteers can collect the fieldwork data for the biological monitoring, which is carried out by the park rangers and researchers. The work is done on two sites: in the core zone of El Triunfo, with its base in El Triunfo Camp and on a coffee farm. Both sites are situated in El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve in Chiapas, Mexico.

Date of start february the 15th 2010 Volunteers needed 4 Duration Minimum 3 months Maximum 10 mo. Prices (In US dollars) 3 months $ 4,500 4 months $ 5,400 5 months $ 6,300 6 months $ 7,200 Additional month $ 900 Book online    Other projects Promoting fair trade of organic coffee at CESMACH Teach English and institutional development

 

Detailed information

Project Partners:

This is a project by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), which is responsible for the management of El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve. As part of its management program, it has designed a biological monitoring protocol, which has the support of distinguished scientific researchers specialized in each of the priority species.

Fernando González M.Sc is a researcher at the Ecology Institute A.C. in Xalapa Mexico. Among his many activities, he carried out research on the density and distribution of the horned guan in El Triunfo for a number of years. This has made him an expert on this species and he is the Mesoamerican Coordinator of a group of specialists in cracids at the IUCN. Together with other researchers, he has collaborated with the CONANP in the design and application of the monitoring protocol of the horned guan. Currently he collaborates in training the CONANP personnel in field techniques such as data collection, the recording of samples and their analysis, to estimate the density of the horned guan in permanent sample sites.

Epigmenio Cruz Aldana M.Sc is a researcher at the Natural History Institute in Chiapas. He has more than 10 years research experience in large mammals including the puma, the jaguar and the tapir, both in captivity and in the wild. He forms part of the group of specialists on the tapir at the IUCN. He has participated in the design and application of the monitoring protocol of the tapir. Currently he collaborates in training both the CONANP personnel and the owners and employees of the coffee farm in field techniques, in the analysis of mammals’ footprints and excrement and in the use of camera traps.

Finca Arroyo Negro is the first family business that not only receive international recognition for its environmental and social stewardship, but offers coffee of unsurpassed quality. To achieve this, the Finca arroyo negro assigned for conservation and reseach an important portion of its property.

El Triunfo Conservation Fund (FONCET) is a civil association, established in 2002 to collect money to finance conservation actions in El Triunfo. An important part of the fees the volunteers pay to partake in this project is deposited in the FONCET to be assigned to REBITRI’s priority biological monitoring projects.

Ecobiosfera El Triunfo S.C. was set up to collaborate with the conservation efforts in El Triunfo by providing technical assistance and managing a visitor’s program to the reserve. Its experience in organizing transport, food, accommodation and tour guide services are crucial for arranging the services that the volunteers require.