Association of Friends and Neighbors of the Coast and Nature (AAMVECONA)

Address:

Changuinola - Entrega General

 

Panamá

Phone number:

+507/758-6794

 

Email:

keruiz@cwpanama.net 

Executive director:

Eustaquio Araúz

Year founded:

2000

Mission statement:

Conserve and protect the ecosystems and species in the San San Pond Sack wetlands with programs that will improve the quality of life of the inhabitants of the region and promote awareness of the protection of local ecosystems.

Major donors:

1. Conservation International, Regional
2. Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, Regional

3. Corredor Biológico Mesoamericano del Atlántico Panameño

4. The Nature Conservancy, Regional

• Conserve the natural resources of the San San Pond Sack wetlands.
• Improve the quality of life of the inhabitants of the area by carrying out productive activities that are compatible with the environment.
• Provide leadership for conservation activities in the San San Pond Sack wetlands.

Description of the area where organization works:

The San San Pond Sack wetlands is located on the Caribbean coast of Panama, 3 miles north of Changuinola in the northwestern part of the Bocas del Toro province, bordering the Sixaoloa River.  In total, the wetlands cover 39,845 acres.  Click here to view the map.

The area was declared a Wetlands of International Importance or Ramsar site in 1993.  The wetlands are an important habitat for aquatic birds and different species of fauna that are in danger of extinction, such as manatees and sea turtles.  Mangroves and orey forests form part of the different types of vegetative associations in the wetlands.

The population of San San Pond Sak has traditionally been dedicated to agriculture and subsistence fishing, and more recently to the sale of noni (Morinda citrifolia).  Before the creation of the park, many of the inhabitants collected sea turtle eggs.  Since jobs are scare in the region, people have turned to collecting eggs and hunting within the protected area. 

Memberships:

Membership to AAMVECONA is open to residents of the region and to people who own property within the wetlands. 

Requests for membership from organizations carrying out similar work will be considered by AAMVECONA. 

Number of members: 38 members

Projects:

1. Preparing a Regional Strategy to Conserve the Manatee (Trichechus manatus) of Southern Mesoamerica

   Summary:  The Fundación Amigos del Río San Juan (FUNDAR) of Nicaragua; the Fundación Salvemos al Manatí of Costa Rica (FSMCR) and the Asociación de Amigos y Vecinos de la Costa y la Naturaleza (AAMVECONA) of Panama worked together to prepare a strategy in the three countries for the conservation of the manatee (Trichechus manatus), its habitat, and to promote sustainable use where this mammal occurs in the region. This project built on learning from the projects on The Manatee as a Tool for Integrated Conservation of the Wetlands and Forests of the San Juan River and the Tortuguero Plains, executed by the Fundación Manatí and FUNDAR, and Recovery of Manatee Populations in San San Pond Sack, Panama, Through Awareness-Raising, Habitat and Ecosystem Conservation, and Environmental Monitoring, executed by AAMVECONA.

2. Recovery of Manatee Populations (Trichechus manatus) in San San Pond Sack, Panama, Through Awareness-Raising, Habitat and Ecosystem Conservation, and Environmental Monitoring

   Summary:  AAMVECONA carried out a study of the chemical composition of the San San River, one of the most important tributaries of the San San Pond Sack wetland in Panama. The results of the study, which assessed the level of pollution in the river, were presented to local organizations and state agencies to inform them of the critical condition of the San San Pond Sack wetland.

• Reduced poaching of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in the San San Pond Sack wetlands.
• Launched a conservation strategy for the manatees (Trichechus manatus) in the wetlands.
• Provided leadership to form a co-management committee and developed a management plan for the San San Pond Sack wetlands.
• Established an agreement between the community organization and the University of Panama for the development of joint activities in research and science in the wetlands.
• Carried out efforts in:
• Community participation in monitoring, protection, and reproduction of wildlife and the development of ecotourism in the San San Pond Sack wetlands.
• Developing a conservation program for sea turtles.
• Assisting the recovery of manatee populations.

Volunteers:

Volunteer work is available in the following areas:

• Monitoring and conservation of sea turtles.  This work is carried out from February to July.
• Monitoring of manatees throughout the year.

Volunteers are charged $12.00 per day, which  includes the cost of transportation, lodging, and food.  Groups with more than 10 people and a minimum stay of one week will receive a special discount.  For more information, contact Kherson Ruíz at keruiz@cwpanama.net.