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(2010- 2011)  Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Initiative

WHMSI – OAS – FEMCIDI III

Funded by FEMCIDI, the goal of the 2010- 2011 Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Initiative (WHMSI) training program  is to build upon existing WHMSI and other migratory species efforts to significantly enhance the conservation of shared migratory species throughout the Americas by strengthening institutional and human capacity, political commitment, international cooperation, and public-private partnerships at regional, national and local levels. For this purpose the GS/OAS is working in partnership with five NGOs and Government Agencies to develop different regional capacity building activities.

Study of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) migration in the

western Pacific of Guatemala

Proposal: click here

 

Coordinated by

 Consejo Nacional de Areas Protegidas de Guatemala (CONAP)

 

Executed by

 Asociación de Biología Marina de Guatemala (ABIMA)

 

The project aims to promote through research, the conservation and sustainable management of cetaceans, considered as migratory species and shared resources. This research will increase knowledge about the ecology and behavior of the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Guatemalan waters, and could be useful in the establishment of protected marine areas. In addition, through training and awareness focused on the description of humpback whales, its importance for the conservation and the benefits of sustainable tourism for the people of local communities is to create a sustainable economic alternative between community and resource.

To achieve the goals, awareness workshops will be held in communities benefiting both tour operators and park rangers, as the general population. Surveys of the research will be conducted in the Guatemalan Pacific area, across the coast of Escuintla, Retalhuleu and Suchitepéquez. In these coasts, researchers will determine space presence, variations in the composition of the group, and behavior of humpback whales. A photo-identification catalog will be developed for humpback whales that migrate in front of the Pacific Coast of Guatemala.

Study Case and Workshops:

 

Under this framework, on January 24-27, 2011 in partnership with CONAP (Consejo Nacional de Areas Protegidas) an assessment of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) migration was conducted in the western Pacific coast of Guatemala. The main objective of this activity was to design the guidelines to develop a consistent conservation framework for the area on migratory species.  Its results would be applied in the design of conservation strategies to be disseminated throughout nine awareness workshops.

The workshops will be held in local communities, benefiting tour operators and park rangers, as well as the general population. Through this capacity building activity the project will:

  • Address issues in conservation and sustainable management of cetaceans, such as migratory species and shared resources.

  • Promote education and raise awareness in local communities so that its residents value the humpback whales.

  • Increase awareness on sustainable tourism practice as a sustainable source of income to the community.

  • Create a stronger sense ownership regarding the natural resources and the whales conservation situation around the pacific coast of Guatemala.

This initiative will increase knowledge about the ecology and behavior of the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Guatemalan waters, and could be useful in the establishment of protected marine areas. In addition, through training and awareness focused on the description of humpback whales, we seek to highlight the importance of conservation and the benefits of sustainable tourism for the local communities.

   

     

Complementarities:

Institution

Website

Description
 

WHMSI
www.whmsi.net

(Initiative for the Western Hemisphere Migratory Species) seeks to contribute significantly to the conservation of migratory species in the Western Hemisphere through the strengthening of cooperation and communication between stages, international treaties and civil society organizations.

 

CONAP
http://www.conap.gob.gt/

 Coordination Entity for this Initiative.

      

Deliverables:

  • Progress Report  click here

  • Final Report  click here

 WHMSI training projects

 

        Request for Proposals:

 

 

 

 

This page was last updated on Monday October 31, 2011.