Curaco de Vélez & Maullín
Region
Americas
Country
Chile
Flyway
Americas flyway
Initiative
WLI Americas
About
Name of organisation
Conservación Marina
Funding support
Apoyo financiero Packard Foundation - Manomet Center - ICFC -PFF -UST
Number of staff
6
Number of visitors per year
13500
Overall aims of the centre
Promote the conservation of coastal wetlands and migratory shorebirds in southern Chile.
Description of the centre
Both sites are located in central southern Chile. Curaco de Vélez on Quinchao Island in Chiloé and Maullín in the coastal area of the Lake District, Chile. Both sites total approximately 100 ha of coastal wetlands that constitute wintering habitat for boreal and austral migratory shorebirds. The main species are Limosa haemastica, Numenius phaeopus, Rhynchops niger, Phoenicopterus chilensis, Charadius modestus, Calidris alba, Triga melanoleuca, among others. Both sites support around 60% of the waterbirds recorded in Chile. Almost 90% of the Pacific population of Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa hamesatica) arrives to these wetlands for breeding and feeding every boreal winter.
Work Areas
Main CEPA work area
Environmental outreach work on wetlands and migratory shorebirds for adults and students, seminars, lectures, continuing education in basic schools, local pride campaigns, radio programmes and preparation of public information documents.
Top three successes
Creation of local committees to give sustainability to the conservation of the sites. Implement education programmes in formal education in rural schools. Local pride campaigns to encourage the creation of local reserves.
Top three challenges
Increasing local community involvement, official protection mechanisms at local level, consolidating conservation benefits through nature-based tourism.
Expertise
Interpretation techniques
Creating signage; site information; Producing written materials; Using audio-visual tools; Developing nature trails
Visitor centres
Managing / creating habitat; Building / maintaining structures
Participation
Engaging the local community; Working with volunteers
Education and communication
Working with primary schools; Lobbying / running campaigns; Developing resources / materials
General
PR and marketing; Fund-raising; Project planning.
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