Jalova Monthly Achievement Report May 2016

Local Community learns about GVI and Endangered Species

Objective
To create awareness increasing cultural understanding and awareness of global issues within
volunteers, staff and community members. To make an impact on making long term and sustainable contributions toward key global and local issues. To equip our alumni and staff with
the knowledge and ability to further contribute towards Sustainable Development Goals.
Summary
On May 20th, we celebrated the 11th annual Endangered Species Day. Endangered Species
Day highlights the plight of many at risk and critically endangered species of wild animals and
suggest ways in which we can alter our behavior in small manners on a daily basis in order to
help to protect them. GVI took this as an opportunity to reach out to the local community of
Parismina and use education as a tool to connect with local students teaching them about the
endangered species found in the nearby national park.
Report
GVI Jalova educates interns and volunteers from all around the world on the importance of
conservation, and how they can make a difference. This month GVI staff made it their mission
to educate outside the gates of Jalova. GVI Jalova chose the neighboring ocean-side town of
Parismina to infiltrate. Parismina has had a history of poaching within the community along
with children rarely attending school. To target both of those concerns GVI decided to host an
after school activity. The principal and teachers of the school promoted the event to their students hoping for a large turnout.
Intern-field staff, Alyssa Kirkham, created a presentation to introduce GVI and the four projects
that Jalova Base runs; Forest Biodiversity, Aquatic birds, Sea Turtles, and Jaguar Project. The
presenation needed to be given in Spanish so GVIs bi-lingual staff members translated and
helped staff and volunteers with their Spanish skills.

Photo 1. Alyssa Kirkham sharing photos of GVIs previous

and present volunteers on a
forest survey.

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The Forest Biodiversity project included an abundance of species for the children to learn
about. GVI conversed about species that the students would be most familiar with, along with
species that students knew nothing about. The presentation highlighted species that were
considered near threatened to endangered on the ICUN list. One particularly mentioned included the Central American Spider Monkey, which is a bio-indicator for Tortuguero National
Park. The Central American Spider Monkeys are one of the first species to disappear due to
habitat disturbance.
The Aquatic birds project was presented by its own project leader Edwin Vaca. Edwin gave a
photo slide show of target canal birds he searched for in the canals. Edwin explained that
though these species can be found in the students back yard, they should appreciate the
wildlife they encounter because volunteers come from all around the world to view the birds
of Costa Rica. The students were educated on how to properly use binoculars and what specific features to look for to help identify an unknown bird such as beak shape.
GVIs turtle project was given by Jalovas own base manager Ale Carvallo. The students were
much more familiar with turtles, but Ale inspired them with new information. The students were
introduced to the turtle life cycle, the science and data behind working turtles, and what species they would most likely find along their very own beaches. Ale expressed her concern for
the dwindling reptiles, and how these students can be the difference.

Fig. 2 Ale Carvallo using intern Jeb Hartman as a measuring tool to show the actual size of a
leatherback.

Finally last but not least, GVIs Jaguar Project. The mysterious and endangered feline intrigued not only students, but drew interest from school staff as well. The jaguar project included information on what research GVI and its partners, Coastal Jaguar Conservation, are
carrying out within Tortuguero National Park. GVI staff discussed the importance of camera
trapping and how they use these images to identify individual jaguars in the park. Along with
jaguar images, the cameras catch glimpses of many of the prey species which are compared
with the analysis of the jaguar scats that are collected. GVI also educated the schools staff
and students about proper protocol if they ever encounter a jaguar.
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Fig. 3 Intern Thijs Claes encouraging students to get creative with their flag and supplies.

After all that learning, GVI decided to get the students up and moving. The volunteers that
tagged along brainstormed together to create an opportunity for the students to reflect on what
they had learned and channel it into art. GVI volunteers gathered recycled goods around base
including bottle caps, card board, and string to use to create a flag for each project that GVI
Jalova runs. The students were all involved and attended the full school day to see what GVI
had to offer. The students and staff of Parismina enjoyed their time so much they asked us to
return and teach them more about what other amazing things GVI does in Tortuguero National
Park.

Alyssa Kirkham
Intern-field Staff

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