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Grant Recipients 2012 - Tapir Specialist Group Conservation Fund
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The Baird’s Tapir National Action Plan for Guatemala: Linking Research, Conservation and
Management
Manolo García, GUATEMALA
The project aims to integrate field information and
spatial analyses developed on previous researches with the existing draft document of
the Strategy for the conservation and management the Baird’s tapir habitat into the National
Action Plan for the species in Guatemala. In the past 5 years the research team have
collected information in the field, performed spatial analyses and conducted workshops
for the development of the Strategy for the management of the species habitat. These
efforts needs to be updated and continued in order to conclude into the development and
future implementation of a National Action Plan. In this project spatial models for the
species habitat quality and potential distribution will be updated with field data and
the inclusion of the most recent spatial data for the country; and interviews and workshops
will be conducted in order to edit and validate a document containing the National Action
Plan. The update and increase of field data and analyses will lead to the publication
of results to be shared with other researchers. The goals and activities of the project
are based on the Baird’s tapir Action Plan.
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Mapping Distribution and Habitat Use of Nicaragua’s Baird’s Tapirs
Christopher Jordan,
NICARAGUA
Little was known about Nicaragua’s Baird’s tapirs before November 2010. There
were two confirmed populations: one in the far north and another in the far south. Otherwise,
almost no information existed. We have spent two years gathering baseline data on Nicaragua
tapir distribution with camera trap and track surveys along the entire Caribbean coast.
Results suggest a viable tapir corridor between the previously documented populations may
exist. Two areas remain to be surveyed: Prinzapolka, RAAN; and north Bluefields, RAAS.
Our specific goals for this funding include: 1) sample the two regions that would complete
our survey of the corridor between the known populations, and 2) foment the development
of a Tapir Conservation Committee and Conservation Action Plan in Nicaragua. We have the
field supplies, local support, and permits to complete the project. Two local university
students, the only Nicaraguans undertaking tapir field research, work as field assistants
and are using the data to complete theses. We do not have funding to complete this project;
$2,000 would allow us to sample the remaining areas. When completed, we will create accurate
distribution and habitat use maps for the Baird’s tapir in Nicaragua using occupancy and
maximum entropy modeling. These actions address Problem 1 and Goal 2 of the Baird’s Tapir
Action Plan. During fieldwork we work to build a network of Nicaraguan government officials,
community members, and professors and students who support our efforts. Research results
and this strong network will be used to draft a viable Nicaragua Tapir Conservation Action
Plan.
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Teaching Teachers about Tapirs: Building the Capacity of Schoolteachers and Environmental
Educators to Raise Awareness of Baird’s Tapir in the Toledo District of Southern Belize
Julio
Chub and Lee McLoughlin, BELIZE
The objectives of the project are: 1) ≥6 NGOs and ≥5 primary
schools in Toledo have increased capacity to raise awareness of Baird’s tapir and surrounding
conservation issues; 2) teaching resources are available to teachers throughout Belize
to raise awareness of Baird’s tapir and surrounding conservation issues; 3) ≥50 primary
school children have enhanced appreciation of Baird’s tapir and increased awareness of
the threats to the species. To achieve these objectives, Ya’axche Conservation Trust’s
education officer will conduct the following activities: i) identify ways in which Baird’s
tapir is valued in Belizean culture (including indigenous Maya culture) and incorporate
these in educational activities; ii) in collaboration with the Belize Zoo & Tropical
Education Centre and schoolteachers, design a series of educational activities to raise
awareness of Baird’s tapirs and surrounding conservation issues among primary school students;
iii) organize a competition for high school students to design teaching materials to
teach younger children about Baird’s tapirs, for instance designing a tapir costume;
iv) trial the educational activities during classroom lessons and field trips to Bladen
Nature Reserve with ≥5 school teachers and ≥50 students; v) refine the educational activities
based on the trial results and present them in as user--‐friendly education pack for
teachers; vi) share the education pack with ≥5 environmental educators from other local
NGOs through a local “Environmental Educator’s Alliance”; vii) make the materials available
online and promote them to teachers throughout Belize.
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Environmental Education Successfully
Complementing Tapir Conservation
Jamal Andrewin-Bohn, BELIZE
The project addresses the
challenge of Human Impact, listed in the 2005 Tapir Action Plan for the Central American
Tapir (Tapirus bairdii). In Belize, the Central American Tapir is the national animal,
affectionately known as the “mountain cow.” However, reports from the field about hunting
and persecution of this endangered species, increased fragmentation of tapir habitat,
as well as periodic tapir deaths due to vehicular collisions indicate that tapir populations
face a bleak future in Belize. To assist in raising awareness about tapirs, The Belize
Zoo (TBZ) has produced a children’s storybook, “Tambo the Tapir Tells his Tale”. Important
natural history and conservation concepts are discussed, and the book promises to be a popular
addition to the literature resources in Belize. Complementing the book’s arrival is TBZ’s
initiative
to have each 27th of April celebrated as National Tapir Day, coinciding with World Tapir
Day, which has been approved the Belizean Prime Minister’s office. This day of celebration
for the tapir is mentioned in the storybook. TBZ would like to see the storybook distributed
to every school in the nation. Accompanying the book’s distribution, TBZ wishes to develop
a poster which celebrates the Central American Tapir, through attractive graphics and
clear and concise conservation messages in both English and Spanish. In addition, simple
road awareness signs to be placed along the major collision “hot spots” on the highways.
These conservation resources would serve to bring about an increased awareness about
the special profile of our national animal, and the need to protect its species.
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