Educate

 

Annual Spider Monkey Education Initiative

Since 2010 we have been reaching out to local elementary schools closest to Azuero spider monkey habitat and their surrounding communities. We now work with students in six schools – Nuario, Vallerriquito, Oria Arriba, Los Asientos, Colan and Bajo Corral –  to explore the importance of spider monkeys in the local environment, the dangers these animals face from hunting, development, and deforestation, the uniqueness of the dry forest ecosystem, and how reforestation can increase farm productivity. For more information about our in-school educational program, please see our annual reports:

 

Pro Eco Kids

In 2010, we formed a program called Pro Eco Kids, a group of 5-12-year-old youth environmental leaders that meets weekly at our office in Pedasi to discover the importance of environmental conservation through fun and hands-on experiences. In the past the Pro Eco Kids have explored topics such as waste/recycling, biodiversity, the science and importance of plants, sea turtles, and respect for nature. Some Pro Eco Kids activities include planting in the AEP garden, promotion of reusable bags to town residents, participation in the 2012 Pedasi Local Parade (read about it here), and visits to local protected areas and farms.

A key strength of this program is that it involves an exciting collection of guests from the community to engage the kids through their passion for different aspects of conservation and environmental issues. If you have an idea of something you would like to share with the Pro Eco Kids or would like to join us in our weekly adventures, please email or (507) 995-2995.

 

Guest Expert Series

Throughout the years, the Azuero Earth Project has invited a series of guest experts with geographically-specific or subject matter expertise, to lead workshops and interactive demonstrations at the AEP office. Oftentimes, these environmental leaders are developing pioneering practices in the local community or bring in fresh perspectives from other regions of the country and the world. Headlines from previous Guest Expert events are below.

Visit our Events Calendar for information about upcoming learning opportunities.

Growing your Soil

Bruno Borsari, visiting Fulbright scholar from Winona University offered a series of in the field lectures at the USMA farm in Las Minas, Panama. Azuero Earth Project has been fortunate to have an extended connection …

Wildlife DNA barcoding in Tree Cavities

¿How and where do wildlife nest when no trees are available? This is one of the questions researcher and Villanova University student Bonnie Britt will be trying to answer during the following months in the …

Students Complete Research on Mangroves in Pedasi

On April 24, our students interns Rebecca Alvarez McInnis and Hans Herrmann from McGill University in Canada concluded four months of stay and scientific research in Panama with an excellent presentation of results at our …

Simple Methods for Evaluating Soil Quality

Bruno Borsari, visiting Fulbright scholar from Winona University, offered a series of in-the-field lectures at the USMA farm in Las Minas, Herrera, Panama.  Azuero Earth Project has been fortunate to have an extended connection with …

The Big Cats of Cerro Hoya

Our April began with a very creative and educational activities at the school of Pablo Ballesteros in Los Asientos. An interactive presentation was given by Jessica Fort- Masters student Wildlife Southern Illinois University, who performed …

How to Make Organic Fertilizers that Work

People often ask us, “But if I’m not using chemicals, how do I maintain my yields?”  Years of experience has taught many farmers that using local and natural materials can help you maintain healthy plants …

A Visit from the Snake Expert

Which snakes bite harder, males or females? This was one of the many questions asked by the fourth graders of the Pedasi Elementary School during the “Snake Talk” given by herpetologist Jim Knight. Azuero Earth Project …

Workshop on Small-Scale Organic Gardens

What began as a dreary, rainy day turned into a bright, sunny morning as Azuero Earth Project staff headed off to Los Asientos. With more than 15 people in attendance, the agricultural engineer Meinaldo Mitre gave …

Workshop on Organic Fertilizers for your Garden

Amid the bright sun of this very strange El Niño year, people gathered for a traditional event in Azuero... a Matanza. Hosted by Olmaedo Sáenz at the Finca Doña Carmen, more then 50 people were …

Creative Recycling Worshop at the AEP

To the untrained eye, it appeared that several tables at the Azuero Earth Project offices in Pedasí were covered in trash. But in truth, the empty chip bags and containers filled with used cooking oil …

Guest Expert Workshop: Starting Your Own Organic Garden

On Saturday, November 23, a diverse crowd filled the patio at the Azuero Earth Project offices to listen to talks from Ashley Stonecipher and Jairo Batista, the AEP’s organic gardening experts. Ms. Stonecipher, who is in …

Sustainable Practices: How to Build an Ariete and Make Bocashi

On Saturday, October 13, the Azuero Earth Project brought together local farmers and community members for back-to-back hands-on lessons in sustainable land use techniques. The AEP invited not one but two guest experts, Professor Manuel Cedeño, …

Dr. Solis Presents Environmental Laws of Panama

What are the laws that govern environmental protection in Panama? On June 15, Dr. Ronel Solis presented important environmental laws to the Pedasí community at the AEP office. Dr. Ronel Solis teaches at the Faculty …

Pedasí Community Visits Organic Farm in La Canoa!

Over 40 members of the Pedasí community met at the AEP office early on Saturday, January 19th to visit the Santiago Gomez’s organic farm. Santiago has been growing crops on his farm in La Canoa, …

CEASPA Promotes Responsible Whale Watching and Snorkeling

The Panamanian Center for Studies and Social Action (CEASPA in Spanish) presented their project: “Use of Marine Resources for the Development of Sustainable Economic Alternatives in Communities on the Azuero Peninsula” in Pedasí with the …

How to Save Money with Bio-Gas

César González, professor at INADEH (National Institute for Professional Formation and Training for Human Development) and UTP (National Technological University of Panama), showed Pedasi residents his car that runs on bio-gas from pig excrement at …

Annie Young inspires community conversation about Ecotourism

Annie Young from APTSO   Annie Young, from the Panamanian Association for Sustainable Tourism (APTSO), discussed possibilities of ecotourism with community members on March 31, 2012. Annie encouraged local landowners to consider joint ecotourism partnerships rather than …

Easy-Make Neem Pesticide

Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a tropical tree species (from the mahogany family) which is native to India.  Although an exotic species, neem is commonly found in the Azuero on roadsides, parks and yards, mostly due …

Knowing Azuero through Maps

A map showing connectivity between forest patches in Azuero   On Saturday afternoon, the 21st of January, Guillermo Duran, AEP GIS Administrator gave a presentation entitled “Knowing Azuero through Maps” as part of the AEP monthly lecture …

Trees and Cattle: They can live together!

  On December 10 the Azuero Earth Project hosted a Guest Lecture entitled Trees and Cattle: They can live together! Nearly thirty attendees gathered on the Azuero Resource Center patio to hear a lectured presented by the …

Think you can beat leaf-cutter ants? Think again!

Brothers Raigner and Raymond listen together c. Guillermo Duran “When you pour gasoline into a leaf-cutter ant hole, you kill only a few individuals,” explained Prof. Hector Barrios, AEP Guest Experts speaker, on Sept. 17, “because …

Botanist talks trees in Pedasi!

  The 19 and 20th of March were big days for tree science in Pedasi, as Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute botanist Rolando Perez spent the weekend discussing with community residents about botany science and the uses …