The overall goals of AP5 are (i) to conduct biodiversity inventories in well preserved terrestrial ecosystems in Panama, (ii) to provide materials for the drug discovery components of the Panama ICBG and (iii) to develop programs that contribute to biodiversity conservation in Panama.
Aims:
1. To carry out biodiversity inventories of terrestrial plants in the Caribbean Forests of Panama (Indigenous Comarca Ngöbe-Buglé and Northern Veraguas Province) whose flora is largely unstudied.
2. To provide plants for endophytic fungal isolation and to provide other terrestrial and freshwater microorganisms (e.g. cyanobacteria) for the drug discovery activities of the Panama ICBG.
3. To work with the local population, Panama's National Authority of the Environment (ANAM), local and international NGOs, in the design and implementation of programs to protect the Caribbean forests in selected areas of the indigenous Comarca Ngöbe-Buglé and Northern Veraguas Province.
4. To train local students in botanical inventory methods, identification of specimens and conservation issues.
5. To train local rangers and guides in natural history and conservation issues of their respective regions that will enable them to take advantage of the tourism development that is occurring in the country.
6. To produce user-friendly publications for education and ecotourism about the flora and natural history of the areas under study.
Personnel:
* Alicia Ibáñez (STRI) |
