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12/5/2008
Local guides build new skills in ocean kayaks
Throughout November and December, Paso Pacífico worked on advancing a community based kayak tourism project in Ostional, Nicaragua. This work included finding adequate tour routes for half day and full day tours and training of local residents. Steve Spencer, a water trails expert from the State of Maine and a volunteer to Paso Pacifico, led the training course. To date, six participants aged 17-21 have successfully completed the training and assessment. With safety training and improvement of their English-speaking skills, these guides will be ready to lead kayak tours for American travelers.
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9/20/2008
Nicaragua holds its First Annual International Coastal Clean-up Day!
We are proud to announce that Paso Pacífico’s International Coastal Clean Up Day was a huge success. Over 1000 people participated in the one-day event designed to rid the ocean and coastlines of trash and debris. The action was covered in all national media and final data was reported to the Ocean Conservancy. International Coastal Clean Up Day was sponsored by the Ocean Conservancy, the national phone company (Enitel), the San Juan del Sur municipal government, Fauna and Flora International, and the USAID and United States Forest Service-IITF.
8/20/2008
Community tour guide group formed and training begins
Paso Pacífico made strong efforts to build capacity for community-based eco-tourism in the coastal area of the Paso del Istmo corridor. Led by summer intern Teresa Lang, community tour guides formed groups to study English and to learn about how to greet tourists and lead tours. The Mesoamerican Eco-tourism Alliance and USFS-IITF also supported this training process through expert training workshops in birding and tour guiding. The USAID project Sustainable Tourism in Critical Watersheds has made this program possible.
June 28, 2008
Children learn how to observe and protect Wildlife
Paso Pacífico successfully completed the Binoculars For Slingshots program. Visiting ornithologists including Lynn Crew and Aaron Miller from the San Bernardino County museum donated their time and knowledge to teach classes about bird biology and conservation topics. The courses took place over a period of four weeks. During the final week, students made educational posters as part of a poster contest and took part in practical lessons on how to use binoculars and observe birds. The course culminated in the distribution of 100 binoculars to the students in exchange for their sling-shots, a common weapon used to kill wildlife. Paso Pacífico would like to thank “Optics for the Tropics” for generously donating binoculars to our program.
4/22/2008
The Nicaraguan Embassy celebrates Earth Day with Paso Pacifico
The Nicaraguan Embassy in Washington D.C. celebrated Earth Day 2008 by showcasing the Paso Pacifico "Return to Forest" reforestation project. The event was carried out in partnership with Paso Pacifico, Carbonfund.org, Rainforest Alliance, and the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Alliance. The honorable ambassador Arturo Cruz opened the evening by expressing the importance of the conservation for the sustainable development of Nicaragua. His words were followed by those of Nicaraguan Vice-Minister for the Environment, Roberto Araquistain who spoke of how reforestation is a major priority for the government. Executive Director of Carbonfund.org Eric Carlson highlighted the innovative partnership between Paso Pacifico and his organization. Jeff Hayward of the Smartwood program at Rainforest Alliance shared with attendees more about the Climate, Community, and Biodiversity Standards (CCBS) and announced that the Paso Pacifico ‘Return to Forest’ project has received CCBS verification at the gold level rating.
The Executive Director of Paso Pacifico, Sarah Otterstrom, closed the event by emphasizing that this project could replicated throughout the developing world to reduce the threat of global warming while benefiting biodiversity. There were over one hundred attendees from diverse government and non-governmental organizations. Representatives from important Paso Pacifico partners such as the International Institute for Tropical Forestry (US Forest Service) and the landowner partners (Leo S.A.) were also present.
Sarah Otterstrom, Jerry Bauer (IITF/USFS), Sandra Pearson, Ambassador Arturo Cruz, Liza Gonzalez, and Eric Carlson (Carbonfund.org). These partners stand together on Earth Day 2008! With CCBS Gold rating certificate from the Rainforest Alliance.
4/23/2008
Paso Pacifico, Carbonfund.org, the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA), and the Rainforest Alliance announce an innovative reforestation project, Return to Forest, aimed at combating climate change, conserving biodiversity and supporting local communities in Nicaragua. This exciting project is using carbon finance to restore hundreds of acres of moist and dry tropical forest in Central America's most critically endangered ecosystems and was awarded the highest standard "Gold" rating of the Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standards. This film describes the Return to Forest project:
04/20/2008
Refuge, recently hired resource guides of Paso Pacifico and members of the Nicaraguan Army
During the week of April 14-18, Paso Pacifico, in coordination with the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA) offered a workshop for the rangers from the La Flor Wildlife Refuge, recently hired resource guides of Paso Pacifico and members of the Nicaraguan Army. The goal of the workshop was to examine the roles and responsibilities of a 21st century ranger, especially in relation to protecting the marine turtles which come ashore to establish their nests and deposit their eggs on nearby beaches. The workshop was held in the community of Ostional in their community center. Local residents provided lunches and snacks for the participants.
The participants had the chance to share with their colleagues the challenges they face at work and develop new skills in visitor management and ranger work. They took advantage of the small team work to learn to express themselves better and listen respectfully to others. Almost everyone showed some improvement in being able to stand up and talk publicly. The facilitators of the workshop rated it as successful and the participants had nice things to say about it. At the end of the workshop, the Paso Pacifico employees had the opportunity to overfly the area in which they are going to work, courtesy of the NGO, CAVU, headquartered in Costa Rica.
A baby Olive-Ridley turtle hatchling recently hatched from a
beach being protected by community rangers
04/20/2008
Ofreció un taller para los guardaparques del Refugio de Vida Silvestre La Flor
Durante la semana de 14-18 de abril, Paso Pacífico, en coordinación con el Ministerio del Ambiente and Recursos Naturales de Nicaragua(MARENA), ofreció un taller para los guardaparques del Refugio de Vida Silvestre La Flor, los guardarecursos empleados por Paso Pacífico, los voluntarios-comunitarios, y los miembros del Ejército Nicaragüense. El propósito del taller fue examinar los roles y responsabilidades de un guardaparque en el siglo XXI, especialmente en relación a la protección de las tortugas marinas que llegan a las playas circundantes para establecer sus nidos y depositar sus huevos. El taller se realizó en el pueblo de Ostional en su centro comunal. Algunos miembros de la comunidad suministraron los almuerzos y bocadillos a los participantes.
Los participantes tuvieron la oportunidad de compartir con sus colegas los desafíos que se enfrentan durante su trabajo y de desarrollar nuevas destrezas en atención de visitantes y en el trabajo general de un guardaparque. También aprovecharon del trabajo en equipos para aprender a expresarse con más confianza y escuchar a otros respetuosamente. Casi todos demostraron más confianza que antes en ponerse de pié para hablar públicamente. Los facilitadores del taller lo calificaron como un éxito y los comentarios de los participantes fueron muy buenos. Al fin del taller, los guardarecursos de Paso Pacífico tuvieron la oportunidad de hacer un sobrevuelo del terreno en el cual trabajarán, cortesía de la ONG CAVU, con sede en Costa Rica.
Historic meeting between community leaders, army officials and Ministry of Environment Officials to discuss ways to improve communication and cooperation surrounding sea turtle conservation
02/05/2008
Students from North Carolina raise awareness about climate change and Paso Pacifico
Six high school students from North Carolina held a bake sale to raise funds for Paso Pacifico's reforestation program and to educate the public about climate change. As a result of their efforts they were selected as one of ten winning teams for the Lexus Environmental Challenge. Prior to their sale, they spent an entire day baking 300 homemade tree-shaped cookies with green icing and bagging green and white popcorn. The students set up shop at a local shopping center and shared information about the threat of climate change and what we can do the address it. They raised hundreds of dollars through by selling tree cookies. The money raised will be used to reforest Nicaragua and reduce greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Paso Pacifico will share the story of their concern and support with students in Nicaragua. Thank you Team Earth!
Photo Caption: Team Earth! Students Evan Keith, Zac Rushton, Joe Coulter, Maggie Sullivan. Photo: Katy Link, also Team Earth! Member
01/15/2008
Paso Pacifico and IChapters team up to launch an innovative initiative
Paso Pacifico and IChapters team up to launch an innovative initiative aimed at benefiting trees and forests. When college students buy digital books from IChapters they save trees. IChapters is making their positive impact go even further by planting a tree with Paso Pacifico every time a digital book is sold. We hope that all Paso Pacifico supporters will become a part of this effort to reduce paper use and help us to reforest Nicaragua. For more information visit http://www.changingthepresent.org/drives/show/1002
12/13/2007
Community members attend concert in support of sea turtle conservation
Community members who live near La Flor Wildlife Refuge attend concert in support of sea turtle conservation. Through the support of the USAID and US Forest Service, Paso Pacifico was able to invite ten community members to Managua to enjoy music and listen to messages in support of sea turtle protection. The concert was organized by Fauna and Flora International and the Nicaraguan Sea Turtle Network. The concert also promoted the national campaign to stop sea turtle egg consumption. The trip also included a visit to the National Zoo where community members learned from an exhibit on butterfly conservation.
09/15/2007
Domitila Reserve partners with Paso Pacifico to reforest over 100 hectares
Domitila Reserve partners with Paso Pacifico to reforest over 100 hectares. Domitila Reserve (www.domitila.org), one of Nicaragua's premiere private reserves, has now joined with Paso Pacifico as part of our Return to Forest restoration project. This project is working to restore tropical dry forests while benefiting communities and sequestering atmospheric carbon. At Domitila alone, the project is providing employment to over sixty members of the local community who would otherwise be unemployed. Additionally, Domiltila owner and Paso Pacifico staff have hand-selected over 25 native tree species for reforestation. Domitila Reserve is one of the largest reforestation areas in this year's Return to Forest reforestation project. The Domitila Reserve is at the northern edge of the Paso del Istmo corridor and plays an important role for connectivity between Lake Nicaragua and tropical dry forest ecosystems.
Photo caption: Community members are ready to plant thousands of trees at Domitila Reserve
09/03/2007
Community members visit Mombacho Nature Reserve to learn about protected areas
Community members visit Mombacho Nature Reserve to learn about protected areas. Members of communities located in the Paso del Istmo corridor were guided on a behind the scenes tour of the Mombacho Reserve by scientists at Fundacion Cocibolca. They learned about the value of interpretive trails, a visitors center, wildlife protection, and the potential for reserves to attract tourists. Community members are considering creating a community-based reserve in partnership with Paso Pacifico.
Photo caption: Community members in the lush cloud forest at Mombacho
07/20/2007
Rick Smith Addresses First Ever National Meeting of Park Rangers in Spain
Paso Pacifico Board Member, Rick Smith, was one of 5 invited rangers from other countries to address the first-ever national meeting of the park rangers of Spain. 350 rangers, called agentes medioambientales in Spain, met in Murcia, Spain, to discuss conservation issues common to the protected areas of Spain. Smith was asked to speak on the roles and responsibilities of US park rangers, with special emphasis on the duties of those assigned to Yellowstone National Park, the world's first national park. Rangers from France, Portugal, Argentina, and Italy made similar presentations on ranger activities in their respective countries.
06/12/2007 Cooperative hosts Paso Pacifico Board of Directors
Paso Pacifico board of directors were given a real treat during their annual board meeting in Nicaragua. Cooperative members led members on a tour of their well-protected tropical dry forest. Then they served board members with a roasted "pelibuey". Paso Pacifico will be supporting cooperative members to create a private reserve.
05/12/2007
Dr. Rodolfo Dirzo is awarded a Society for Conservation Biology Distinguished Service Award
Paso Pac’fico is proud to announce that board member Dr. Rodolfo Dirzo has been awarded a distinguished service award by the Society for Conservation Biology. This prestigious award is given to professionals in Conservation Biology who have used their career to benefit the goals of conservation. Dr. Dirzo continues to support on-the-ground conservation by playing an active role on the Paso Pac’fico board of directors.
04/12/2007
Paso Pacifico publishes its first newsletter
Paso Pacifico is pleased to announce the publication of its first newsletter. This four-page color document will help us to communicate our mission to the public. Initially, Paso Pacifico will publish the newsletter on a bi-annual basis. Paso Pacifico is particularly grateful to newsletter editor Elaine Hurd. A digital copy of the newsletter is on our website.
03/23/2007
Dr. Sarkar from University of Texas, Austin views corridor
Professor Sarkar, an expert in conservation planning and corridor design, visited the Paso del Istmo corridor. He will be working with Paso Pacifico over the coming year to help prioritize areas for restoration and conservation within the corridor.
02/28/2007
Paso Pac’fico presents community study at International Sea Turtle Symposium
Liza Gonzalez presented research findings at the International Sea Turtle Symposium held in South Carolina. The presentation was of a socio-cultural study at the La Tortuga community and the Jose Adan Calderon cooperative adjacent to La Flor Reserve. Results demonstrate the opportunities to work in coordination with the local community to better protect sea turtles and to better support managers at the La Flor Willdife Refuge.
02/15/2007
Primate Scientists visit Paso del Istmo corridor to begin population genetic study
Dr. Stephanie Spehar and Suzanne Hagell visit various farms throughout Paso del Istmo corridor collecting spider monkey fecal material to analyze genetic information that will tell us information such as degree of inbreeding and dispersal across different population groups.
01/27/2007
Dr. Sarah Otterstrom challenges UC Davis alumni to make a difference
Paso Pac’fico Executive Director spoke to UC Davis alumni at its annual awards banquet challenging them to make a difference at the time and place where one has the opportunity to do so. Dr. Otterstrom shared her gratitude to the Nicaraguan people and her professors for helping her to develop Paso Pac’fico and to work for the benefit of conservation.
12/10/2006
Paso Pacifico’s Executive Director is awarded UCDavis Alumni Award!
Paso Pacifico’s Executive Director, Dr. Sarah Otterstrom, will be awarded the Emil M. Mrak International Award for her distinguished career and service outside of the United States. Otterstrom will be honored alongside six other alumni at the 2007 Alumni Awards Ceremony on January 27th
11/25/2006
Paso Pacifico begins work with Jose Adán Calderon Cooperative
The Jose Adán Calderon Cooperative is located adjacent to the La Flor Wildlife Refuge, a globally important sea turtle nesting site. The cooperative members are looking to move away from poaching sea turtle eggs. Paso Pacifico will work with them to identify viable opportunities in eco-tourism. The cooperative owns and protects over 200 hectares of endangered tropical dry forest strategically located within the Paso del Istmo wildlife corridor.
11/15/2006
Children play inaugural baseball games for the new Paso del Istmo baseball league
Children from three schools across the Paso del Istmo wildlife corridor have new baseball equipment and uniforms to begin the 2007 baseball season. The newly formed league will enable children to more safely and proudly participate in recreational activities. Paso Pacifico worked with Eagle Scout Nils Otterstrom to make the equipment donation and uniform purchase possible. Outdoor opportunities for youth build community pride and cooperation, and that is good for conservation!
10/8/2006
Paso Pacifico participates in Wildlife Conservation Expo
Liza González, Paso Pacifico’s country director recently visited the United States to staff a table at the WCN Wildlife Conservation Expo in Los Altos, CA. Paso Pacifico shared information with the public about its efforts to protect and restore habitat for the endangered Geoffroyi spider monkey.
09/26/2006
Landowners work to Restore Coastal Dry Forest
Over 27,000 trees were successfully planted on the Nica Dev S.A. property located in the Paso del Istmo wildlife corridor. Thirty workers braved the rainy season mud to dig holes and move native tree seedlings to previously deforested areas of the private reserve and Nica Dev S.A. development. Plants were moved from the tree nursery to the field using oxcarts and a truck. Species planted include the threatened Spanish cedar (Cedrela odorata), the endangered Pacific Mahogany (Swietenia humilis), and the wildlife benefiting Guapinol tree (Hymenaea courbaril). Landowners and Paso Pacifico will continue to work together to ensure the success of the seedlings. Local community members who participated in this reforestation project are considering launching a small native tree nursery as a type of sustainable business. Paso Pacifico and Nica Dev S.A. are considering ways to support community members in such an endevour.
07/29/2006
Women’s Group Begin Gardens
Rural women along the Paso del Istmo corridor are working to increase the agricultural diversity in their household gardens while improving family nutrition. Paso Pacifico has supported women from the El Carmen and Aceituno communities in Cardenas in establishing home gardens that include high nutrient vegetables and fast-growing fruit crops (i.e. papaya, passionfruit). These women, who normally have a limited opportunities to participate in community organizations are now working together and plan to eventually sell a portion of their crops to the local market.
07/29/2006
Reforestation to Begin on Coastal Dry Forest
Landowners in San Juan del Sur, Rivas prepare for rainy season planting of thousands of native trees to restore their watershed and create a nature reserve. With over 26 species of native trees in the tree nursery, this reforestation effort is expected to be an important first step towards restoring tropical dry forests within the Paso del Istmo corridor. Seeds and stakes were collected from local seed sources. Nica Dev S.A. hired the help of local community members. This is the first year of a multi-phase restoration effort funded by Nica Dev S.A. These landowners are committed to conservation and are eager to have their private reserve become a corridor for the endangered spider monkey. Such collaborations between Paso Pacifico and the private sector demonstrate the potential for sustainable development in the Paso del Istmo corridor.
