Made possible by the 2014 Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund and other funding partners, this Master's project aims to identify the agricultural and conservation practices that best conserve birds, promote healthy communities, and sustain livelihoods.
WHY?
The vast majority of tropical forests exist as small fragments within an agricultural matrix used by humans and wildlife. These working landscapes support some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world, but are also places with the highest rates of malnutrition, deforestation, and poverty. Agroecosystems have great potential to support birds and people at the same time. For example, shade coffee and polycultures have been shown to support high levels of bird diversity as well as provide important foods and fibers for people. By protecting existing cloud forest fragments and promoting diverse agricultural places, human and bird communities are more likely to thrive.
HOW?
Our project combines ecological research, environmental education, and on-the-ground improvements to agriculture through agroecology in order to protect cloud forests and improve livelihoods of Q'eqchi' Mayan communities. We believe that biodiversity loss and poverty are complex, multi-disciplinary problems that require collaborative and creative solutions. The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund has provided us with the funding to make this exciting project come to life!
WHY?
The vast majority of tropical forests exist as small fragments within an agricultural matrix used by humans and wildlife. These working landscapes support some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world, but are also places with the highest rates of malnutrition, deforestation, and poverty. Agroecosystems have great potential to support birds and people at the same time. For example, shade coffee and polycultures have been shown to support high levels of bird diversity as well as provide important foods and fibers for people. By protecting existing cloud forest fragments and promoting diverse agricultural places, human and bird communities are more likely to thrive.
HOW?
Our project combines ecological research, environmental education, and on-the-ground improvements to agriculture through agroecology in order to protect cloud forests and improve livelihoods of Q'eqchi' Mayan communities. We believe that biodiversity loss and poverty are complex, multi-disciplinary problems that require collaborative and creative solutions. The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund has provided us with the funding to make this exciting project come to life!
"Sebob," a high elevation Q'eqchi' Village, home to an incredibly diverse community of birds, and people.
