Mónica Torres
Other projects
9 Jul 2020
Creation of Biological Corridors Using Family Plots, for the Conservation of Abronia campbelli, within a New Distribution Zone for the Species
Abronia campbelli is a critically endangered Guatemalan endemic alligator lizard. New scientific data combined with an increased involvement by private farms and families, call for an expansion of our conservation efforts. For the conservation of Abronia campbelli we have focused in reconciling agricultural production activities with forest protection, creation, and connectivity by establishing biological corridors, due to habitat loss caused by unsustainable agricultural livelihood practices being the main threat to the species.
Abronia campbelli. ©Thomas Schrei
This project will establish automated nurseries that will double the number of trees produced each year for habitat restoration. Additionally, these nurseries will serve as research sites to inform techniques to increase efficiency in seedling germination and growth, resulting in habitat restoration generated, enhanced, and sustained by local farms. These actions will have great impact on the conservation of A. campbelli not only because of the permanent result of the creation of biological corridors, but also because the investment made during this project will improve and increase our results for the coming years.
We estimate that in the next five years these nurseries together will produce up to 100,000 trees, in addition to the trees produced in our main nursery. This will allow us to achieve results at the desired scale, quality, and time, in accordance with the critical state of Abronia campbelli´s habitat.
Header: Habitat degradation. © Monica Torres.