GVI Costa Rica Coastal Rainforest Programmes

Facts and Figures Quepos Community Project

Ongoing education support to over 330 primary school students within 2 local schools (2011-2012)
227,400 hours of Primary School students hours taught (2011-2012)
Over 1700 hours of English classes taught to adults and secondary school students (2011-2012)
Volunteer led English lessons with the 5 best students in each grade within the structure of El Cocal Primary School and Maria Luisa Primary School in Boca Vieja.
Extracurricular initiatives including, beach cleans, summer school activities, field trips, sporting events and environmental education workshops.
Estimated figures for 2011-2012 # of calories burned jump roping:320,572, # of water balloons thrown:879, # of faces painted:240, # of piñatas filled with candy:18

Facts and Figures Jalova Expedition

Largest consistent workforce in our conservation area, conducting more research and community initiatives than any other organization working locally.
Over 3300 beach miles walked between 2006-2012 monitoring and protecting 4 species of endangered and critically endangered sea turtles. Green turtles, Chelonia mydas (endangered), Leatherback, Dermochelys coriacea (critically endangered), Hawksbill, Eritomochelys imbricata (critically endangered) and Loggerhead, Caretta caretta (endangered) turtles.
An average of 1300 hours of night walks yearly during turtle season (March-October).
Over 3000 turtle nests monitored and over 300 nests excavated (2010-2012).
Data collected on 1339 Jaguar predated Marine Turtles. Over 12 jaguars identified as sharing hunting ground on Tortuguero beach between mile 18 and mile 10 (2006-2012)
In 2012 GVI Jalova partnered with Panthera the world’s leading wild cat conservation organization.
Over 430 individual species identified, the largest group being birds at 304 species, Reptiles 62, Mammals 34 and Amphibia at 31.
6 beach cleans conducted between 2010-2012 removing over 250kg of trash.
Ongoing environmental education workshops in the local town of Parismina and with Tortuguero National Park rangers.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Denver: The Mile High City

A little different to what we are used to in the tropical rainforest of Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast where we conduct our research. Denver, Colorado, is the setting for this year's conference on Carnivores held by the Defenders of Wildlife, and organisation established over 60 years ago and working with researchers and professionals around the globe. This year's theme is Carnivore Conservation in a Changing World, and is focusing on issues related to climate change around the world. It is being held in Denver - described in the program as being "at the forefront of so many carnivore conservation issues".

After over two-and-a-half years in the beautiful tropical climate, Country Director David Aneurin Jones is experiencing a bit of a climate change of his own! Here's some photos from the Mile High City to get you acclimatised to the happenings over the coming week.

This year's meet & greet was held at the Wildlife Experience centre - a museum of wildife and conservation combined with an interactive learning and animatronic displays. Below are some pictures featuring many of the animals we are lucky enough to see in real life almost every day on the expedition in Costa Rica (and some less so!)