Introduction - The Fundacion's Story
Of Bats and Ectoparasites
Learning to Preserve

"We need a competent doctor that lives in the village," adds another villager.

Garay writes down the participants' comments on a large flip chart. Later, he will encourage the group to drum up possible solutions. Garay and other FMB staffers are leading a series of workshops in six villages throughout the Mbaracayu buffer zone to raise awareness of the reserve. But in order to do so, FMB realizes that it needs to win the community's respect. Listening to the villagers and helping them meet their basic needs is an important strategy.

"We realize that conservation incorporates many things, like health and education," says agronomist Luvys Canete, the director of FMB's sustainable development program. For example, FMB recently helped the villagers acquire an ambulance.

"People have been so accustomed to being told what to do and how to think," says Vera.

"This is the first time in history that these villagers have gotten together like this to express their problems freely," he adds.

As part of this democratic exercise, the villagers learned how to be protagonists of their own future. Workshop leaders encouraged the villagers to find solutions within themselves because FMB wants to avoid a dependency situation. FMB was thrilled with the level of enthusiasm.

"There were several times in the Villa Ygatimi workshop when they would stop the meeting and say, "okay, lets form a committee." For example, they established a committee to determine the legal boundaries of Ygatimi," says Morrison.

One result was particularly encouraging as far as Mbaracayu's future is concerned.

"The town mayor and some of the teachers offered to help us reach out to the 35,000 people in the buffer area to raise consciousness of the reserve. They asked for a meeting to organize a commission to organize this project, " says Canete. "That filled us with a lot of hope. "

The results were surprisingly similar throughout the villages -- even in Guyra Keha, the most "at-risk" community. Most hunters are suspected to come from this colony, established just three years ago on Mbaracayu's southeastern boundary.

"I think we made an impact...it was really positive," says Morrison. "When Victor Vera came out and said that hunting is illegal in the reserve, they (residents of Guyra Keha) seemed to take that well. I felt like it was a discussion between two equal parts."

"They all seem to understand that it is important to keep resources for future generations. They would like to have their children see forest when they grow up and swim in a clear stream."

Mendoza Rojas, a mechanic from Villa Ygatimi, was one of many attendees who understood the importance of working with FMB.

"I think its very important to protect nature. Through the forest you receive oxygen."

FARMING THE FOREST

In addition to the workshops, FMB has administered a sustainable farming program in the buffer area since 1988. FMB is concerned not only about the loss of biodiversity but the permanent damage that deforestation and other intensive farming activities can cause to the area's weak soils, says Canete. Once the protective vegetative layer is removed, these lands are exposed to the hot sun and can lose their usefulness. Furthermore, strong winds and rain storms can sweep soil away.

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