Highlights from Latin America & Caribbean - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sierra Madre Occidental; Chihuahua, Mexico Ecosystem Protection in Southern Mexico Pronatura, A.C.; Mexico El Carricito del Huichol; Jalisco, Mexico Fundación Vida, Honduras The Pantanal, Bolivia Nicaraguan Protected Areas Pic Macaya National Park, Haiti

BSP's Latin America & Caribbean Program

The Pantanal, Bolivia

Strengthening NGOs and protected area management in Bolivia.

BSP provided funds to the WWF/Bolivia office to aid in the conservation of the Pantanal, one of the largest wetland complexes in the world. Because of its vulnerable status and globally outstanding value for biological diversity, the Pantanal has been identified as one of WWF's Global 200 ecoregion conservation priorities. BSP's assistance helped to strengthen local capacity in indigenous and non-indigenous communities to initiate a process of gradual inclusion of the local stakeholders in the management of these protected areas. The program conducted a comprehensive assessment of the natural resources in San Matias and Otuquis. The biological and socioeconomic information gathered will be used for future planning and management. Finally, park guards were trained to protect resources and provide environmental education in the Bolivian Pantanal.