Maderas rainforest conservancy
Encyclopedia
The Maderas Rainforest Conservancy is a nonprofit organization
which was established to promote the conservation, protection, and management of Mesoamerican forests and animal and plant biodiversity
through education
, reforestation
, preservation, and by working with local communities, and national and international institutions and universities.
Increases in real estate
sales, irresponsible tourism, live animal capture for the pet trade, and agricultural deforestation
have left the species and ecosystems of Mesoamerican forests extremely vulnerable. The Maderas Rainforest Conservancy exists to combat these growing concerns.
The Maderas Rainforest Conservancy grew out of two field school locations offering classes in Rainforest Ecology, Primatology
, Art Workshops, and other classes relevant to the area: Ometepe
, Nicaragua and La Suerte, Costa Rica. Rampant deforestation of these areas prompted the creation of a nonprofit organization geared to protecting and reforesting these areas.
According to the conservancy, first and foremost, the mission is to protect the ecosystems of Mesoamerican forests by purchasing and managing forested and deforested lands in strategic locations, initially in Costa Rica
and Nicaragua
. Deforested lands will be tactically replanted. Forested lands will be protected from clearing. Animals in these areas will be protected from capture and hunting.
Secondly, the conservancy runs field schools in two locations (one in Nicaragua, the other in Costa Rica) where undergraduate and graduate students
can take classes based on the ecosystems of these areas. These classes (including primatology, rainforest ecology, and art in the rainforest) give students the opportunity to explore Mesoamerican forests and gain a first hand understanding of the ecology therein. It is the hope that these students turn this education into increased awareness of the conservation issues facing both these forests and vulnerable habitats everywhere in the world.
Finally, the conservancy seeks to establish a relationship with local communities in the preservation of these lands. It is the philosophy of the MRC that the strongest allies these lands can have are the local communities. Through greater local education of the importance of these lands, greater conservation efforts will be gained.
s (C. capucinus) and Howler monkey
s (A. palliata). Both capuchin monkeys and howler monkeys are seed germinators and seed disperses What has occurred in the area is agricultural deforestation cutting through corridors that these species use to traverse across the forest. Because of this, large pockets of the forest are left without these species and the seed dispersal
they provide the forest. The conservancy is currently mapping out and taking a census of the population and a survey of where these primate species are traveling. This will enable the maderas rainforest conservancy to strategically acquire deforested land for a reforestation project of primate corridors.
and La Suerte Biological Field School
. Both schools offer classes in primatology. These classes offer students the opportunity to study both white-faced capuchin
monkeys (C.capucinus) and mantled howler
monkeys (A. palliata) at the two sites. The field school employs primatologists from universities worldwide to teach the courses. Students usually design, perform, and write up their own research projects.
Besides primatology courses, the field school offers courses in rainforest ecology, herpetology
, comparative anatomy
, and conservation. In addition to this, the field school has an art program where students can take a variety of art courses in the rainforest.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
which was established to promote the conservation, protection, and management of Mesoamerican forests and animal and plant biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
through education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, reforestation
Reforestation
Reforestation is the natural or intentional restocking of existing forests and woodlands that have been depleted, usually through deforestation....
, preservation, and by working with local communities, and national and international institutions and universities.
Increases in real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
sales, irresponsible tourism, live animal capture for the pet trade, and agricultural deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
have left the species and ecosystems of Mesoamerican forests extremely vulnerable. The Maderas Rainforest Conservancy exists to combat these growing concerns.
The Maderas Rainforest Conservancy grew out of two field school locations offering classes in Rainforest Ecology, Primatology
Primatology
Primatology is the scientific study of primates. It is a diverse discipline and researchers can be found in academic departments of anatomy, anthropology, biology, medicine, psychology, veterinary sciences and zoology, as well as in animal sanctuaries, biomedical research facilities, museums and zoos...
, Art Workshops, and other classes relevant to the area: Ometepe
Ometepe
Ometepe is an island formed by two volcanoes rising from Lake Nicaragua in the Republic of Nicaragua. Its name derives from the Nahuatl words ome and tepetl , meaning two mountains...
, Nicaragua and La Suerte, Costa Rica. Rampant deforestation of these areas prompted the creation of a nonprofit organization geared to protecting and reforesting these areas.
Mission
The Maderas Rainforest Conservancy states its mission to be threefold:According to the conservancy, first and foremost, the mission is to protect the ecosystems of Mesoamerican forests by purchasing and managing forested and deforested lands in strategic locations, initially in Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
and Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
. Deforested lands will be tactically replanted. Forested lands will be protected from clearing. Animals in these areas will be protected from capture and hunting.
Secondly, the conservancy runs field schools in two locations (one in Nicaragua, the other in Costa Rica) where undergraduate and graduate students
Graduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
can take classes based on the ecosystems of these areas. These classes (including primatology, rainforest ecology, and art in the rainforest) give students the opportunity to explore Mesoamerican forests and gain a first hand understanding of the ecology therein. It is the hope that these students turn this education into increased awareness of the conservation issues facing both these forests and vulnerable habitats everywhere in the world.
Finally, the conservancy seeks to establish a relationship with local communities in the preservation of these lands. It is the philosophy of the MRC that the strongest allies these lands can have are the local communities. Through greater local education of the importance of these lands, greater conservation efforts will be gained.
Reforestation projects
Forest fragments on the island of Ometepe, Nicaragua are ecologically fragile due to the lack of native arboreal primate species who will not traverse the fragmented areas. The Maderas Rainforest Conservancy is in the process of obtaining and protecting these forests around the Maderas volcano on Ometepe. The area is home to an extremely biodiverse population of fauna. Of prime interest to the project are the Capuchin monkeyCapuchin monkey
The capuchins are New World monkeys of the genus Cebus. The range of capuchin monkeys includes Central America and South America as far south as northern Argentina...
s (C. capucinus) and Howler monkey
Howler monkey
Howler monkeys are among the largest of the New World monkeys. Fifteen species are currently recognised. Previously classified in the family Cebidae, they are now placed in the family Atelidae. These monkeys are native to South and Central American forests...
s (A. palliata). Both capuchin monkeys and howler monkeys are seed germinators and seed disperses What has occurred in the area is agricultural deforestation cutting through corridors that these species use to traverse across the forest. Because of this, large pockets of the forest are left without these species and the seed dispersal
Biological dispersal
Biological dispersal refers to species movement away from an existing population or away from the parent organism. Through simply moving from one habitat patch to another, the dispersal of an individual has consequences not only for individual fitness, but also for population dynamics, population...
they provide the forest. The conservancy is currently mapping out and taking a census of the population and a survey of where these primate species are traveling. This will enable the maderas rainforest conservancy to strategically acquire deforested land for a reforestation project of primate corridors.
Field school
The Maderas Rainforest Conservancy operates two field schools: Ometepe Biological Field SchoolOmetepe Biological Field School
The Ometepe Biological Field School, located on Ometepe Island, Nicaragua, is one of two field school operated by the Maderas rainforest conservancy The Ometepe Biological Field School, located on Ometepe Island, Nicaragua, is one of two field school operated by the Maderas rainforest conservancy...
and La Suerte Biological Field School
La Suerte Biological Field School
La Suerte Biological Field School, located in Northeastern Costa Rica, is one of two field schoosl operated by the Maderas rainforest conservancy . The site is situated in a tropical rainforest basin...
. Both schools offer classes in primatology. These classes offer students the opportunity to study both white-faced capuchin
White-headed Capuchin
The white-headed capuchin , also known as the white-faced capuchin or white-throated capuchin, is a medium-sized New World monkey of the family Cebidae, subfamily Cebinae...
monkeys (C.capucinus) and mantled howler
Mantled Howler
The mantled howler , or golden-mantled howling monkey, is a species of howler monkey, a type of New World monkey, from Central and South America. It is one of the monkey species most often seen and heard in the wild in Central America...
monkeys (A. palliata) at the two sites. The field school employs primatologists from universities worldwide to teach the courses. Students usually design, perform, and write up their own research projects.
Besides primatology courses, the field school offers courses in rainforest ecology, herpetology
Herpetology
Herpetology is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians and reptiles...
, comparative anatomy
Comparative anatomy
Comparative anatomy is the study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of organisms. It is closely related to evolutionary biology and phylogeny .-Description:...
, and conservation. In addition to this, the field school has an art program where students can take a variety of art courses in the rainforest.
Notable research and papers
- "The ecological role of the prehensile tailPrehensile tailA prehensile tail is the tail of an animal that has adapted to be able to grasp and/or hold objects. Fully prehensile tails can be used to hold and manipulate objects, and in particular to aid arboreal creatures in finding and eating food in the trees...
in white-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus)" (Garber et al. 1999) - "Geographic Microsatellite Variability in Central American Howling Monkeys" (Winkler et al. 2004)
- "Using TreeNet for Identifying Management Thresholds of Mantled Howling Monkeys' Habitat Preferences on Ometepe Island, Nicaragua, on a Tree and Home Range Scale " (Popp et al. 2007)
- "A Preliminary Study of Mantled Howling Monkey (Alouatta palliata) Ecology and Conservation on Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua." (Garber et al. 1999)