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News and Events Millennium
Institute for Ecology and Biodiversity. The Diversitas
Conference – October 15-18, Ecological
Society of International Sustainability Seminar: Dr. Ricardo Rozzi, director and president of the Omora NGO and Ethnobotanical Park, will present the experience of the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve at the conference on sustainable tourism entitled “żUna Travesía Sustentable?” Dr. Rozzi will be an invited expert at this event from August 4th and 5th, sponsored by the government of Great Britain, the Darwin Initiative and the Chilean Tourism Service. Read more. Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve Declared by UNESCO – On June 28th, 2005 UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program announced its approval of the nomination to designate the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve. This four year initiative, led by Omora, has culminated in this honor, which recognizes that the area has achieved a sustainable and equitable plan for using and conserving its natural resources. The process has involved numerous people and institutions to accumulate the knowledge of the area, including biological, cultural, historical and social, and then create a consensual politico-administrative process to ensure proper implementation of this knowledge for equitable benefits to all local residents. We thank all those who have labored in this process and believed in the outcome. Read more! Omora Center for Environmental Ethics and Ecology – In 2004 Omora purchased a plot of land in Puerto Williams for the future site of the Omora Center (see photo). In collaboration with the University of North Texas, the Omora Sub-Antarctic Alliance, Polshek Partnership Architects and other national and international institutions, Omora is preparing for a capital campaign that will permit the construction of a resident and research facility in Puerto Williams that will help further our mission of “integrating biocultural conservation and social wellbeing at the ends of the earth.” BIOKONCHIL Exposition: Living on Isla
Navarino: a diverse world at the end of the world – by Uta Berghoefer With this exposition we would like to invite the people of Puerto Williams to form an idea of the Chilean-German research Project entitled BIOKONCHIL. The project participants are associated with the Omora Foundation, the University of Magallanes, the UFZ Centre for Environmental Research and the University of Göttingen, Germany. The work began in July 2003 and it is centered on studying biological diversity, which is to say the diversity of nature going from species all the way to landscapes. We study biological diversity, but also the value that is attributed to it from ecological, economic and ethical points of view. UIT this exposition we want to share our research with the goal on the one hand of share the topic of biological diversity and on the other hand present our methods of working and invite dialogue. During the exposition we will present the different areas of research, concerning such topics as the woodpecker, the mink, mapping with satellite images, interviews concerning people’s perceptions of the island, options of development and the planning of the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve. The inauguration of the workshop will be Saturday, the 13th of August
2005 in the Puerto Williams school house.
All participants in the project will be present to act as guides for
those who would like to get to know the results of the project. Together with the local community and
teachers, local and regional authorities are also invited. During the exposition until the end of
September conferences, guided tours and other student activities will be held
in the classroom as well as outdoors at the Omora Park. Timeline of Omora
2005 Recognition of students – In the past several months students who are developing their theses and internships with Omora have received recognition in the form of awards and scholarships. We congratulate Álvaro Gutierrez from the Universidad de Chile for his DAAD scholarship from the German government to conduct his Ph.D. at the UFZ Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig. Clayton Griffith was awarded the title of “best undergraduate poster” at the University of Georgia-Institute of Ecology’s annual Graduate Student Symposium for his research on the beaver in Navarino. William Collier also received the Georgia Museum of Natural History’s Laerm Award to support his upcoming research in Chile, and Elke Schuettler from the UFZ has also received support for her dissertation which will allow her to study the effect of mink on coastal water birds for the next three years. ˇFelicitaciones! 2004 The Doctor José Tohá Castella Award was given to Dr. Ricardo Rozzi during the tenth annual National Science and Technology Week, put on by the EXPLORA program. This prize annually recognizes a scientist, educator and communicator who have stood out in the area of diffusion of science and technology to the public. Ecology in
Times of Change was the title of this year’s binational
ecology conference between Chile and Argentina held between 31 October to 5
November, 2004. Omora Park helped
coordinate the seminar that related ecology with society. Dr. Ricardo Rozzi presented the education
program of Omora, and Ximena Arango and Silvina Ippi presented posters on
their graduate research. APEC Sustainable Tourism and Science: From October 14-15 the APEC’s Sustainable Tourism and Science Forum was held in Puerto Williams. During the Conference participants discussed the link between sub-Antarctic and Antarctic ecosystems, as well as the application of the Cape Horn Archipelago as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Dr. Miguel Cluesner-Godt, director of the Man and the Biosphere Program, and Dr. Eduardo Muller, president of the IberoAmerican Biosphere Reserve Network, attended and provided valuable support and assistance in completing the next steps for the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve. From now until April 2005 a committee has been established to incorporate marine areas into the application and another is coordinating the definition of the reserve’s administration.
"The White Sheep:" Radio Polar destinguished Dr. Ricardo Rozzi with the Oveja Blanca ("white sheep") Award on June 25th for his contribution to the Magallanes Region. The prize highlighted Dr. Rozzi's work and the initiatives of the Omora Foundation in the region to promote research, education and conservation of the sub-Antarctic ecoregion. View Radio Polar
Expedition to Cape Horn: The Omora Foundation and the EuroChile Foundation launched a new program to study the Cape Horn Archipelago with the purpose of gathering information that will serve for ecotourism planning, and also to give tourism activities content that will provide the visitor with an educational, as well as enjoyable, experience. On January 30, scientists from around the world joined Omora in its first “Expedition to Cape Horn” aboard the Don José Pelegrin. Scientists from diverse fields, including bryologists, marine biologists, botanists, ornithologists and mammologists, spent two weeks navigating in the austral channels, collecting this important information that will be useful to science, tourism and policy-making. This project will fund a second expedition by boat around the west part of Isla Navarino to Cape Horn in March / April.
Biokonchil – In September 2003 an exciting long-term, three year project funded by the German Ministry of Education and Technology began. Omora founding member Dr. Kurt Jax is heading up this project, known as Biokonchil, which plans to characterize the fourteen habitat types in the province and use that information in GIS and other techniques to offer planning and conservation options for political and economic development. Together with the expeditions this summer, this baseline data will be indispensable as we seek to create a “native” ecotourism and sustainable development.
Explora – In November 2003, Omora won a grant from Explora, the Chilean national science commission’s environmental education division. Our project, entitled “The Micro-biodiversity of Cape Horn,” focused on the small, but very diverse, organisms of the area. Instead of lamenting the fact that there are only 10 native mammals and 3 native trees in the region, we taught the kids that there are over 1,500 species of moss, liverwort and lichen, which is a world biodiversity hotspot for non-vascular flora and approximately 10% of the world’s total. We also focused on terrestrial and aquatic insects, opening previously unknown worlds to groups of school children, teachers and the local scout troop. A special thanks to Silvina Ippi and Maggie Sherriffs for executing the major part of this project and making it a success.
Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve – Probably the most exciting news of the year is that the proposal to create the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve is picking up steam, perhaps enough to make its declaration inevitable! Ricardo has worked tirelessly to gain local and regional support from authorities in the national parks service all the way up to the regional Intendent. In October, an even bigger step was made when by coincidence UNESCO held a meeting in Olmue, Chile. Augustin Berghofer and Ricardo attended the meeting, where they presented the concept of this new and important biosphere reserve. The idea was received warmly and enthusiastically. In fact, the head of the Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB) ended the meeting by saying that he was glad to be in Chile for the beginning of this new initiative. The plan is to now submit the application by May and the reserve should be declared by the end of 2004!
2003 Eartwatch – In November we received our third Earthwatch team. The fourth will come in January. We first battled some crazy and unpredicted weather, having three consecutive days of pounding snow in the middle of Spring, but the volunteers maintained good attitudes and in the end we were able to get back into the field and do some work. This Earthwatch project was also a good learning experience for the Omora team, and we look forward to continuing it even better into 2004-2005.
Chile Trail – For those lovers of trail walking, we invite you to come visit our newly completed segment of the Chile Trail! In his March 2003 “State of the Union” address, Chilean President Ricardo Lagos committed his administration to creating a trail that connects all of Chile’s ecosystems and cultures. One of the first parts of that trail is being completed here on Isla Navarino. The part of the Sendero de Chile that goes through the Omora Park is meant to be an educational trail. For example, before doing the traditional trekking around the island, hikers can start in Omora Park and see and learn about the biology and culture of the island. Diverse people worked in this project. Again a special thanks to Maggie Sherriffs for heading up the team. German González, aka Popi, was the crew chief, who we thank for the great bridges, benches and the trail itself, and local Yahgan artist Cristina Zárraga did many of the signs that add beauty and content to the walk.
Bryophyte Course – Between January 4th-11th, experts from around the world met in Puerto Williams to conduct a workshop on the ecology and taxonomy of Chilean bryophytes with special emphasis on the startling diversity of mosses and lichens in the Magallanes Region. The workshop was geared towards training university lecturers and professors in this emerging field of Chilean ecology. For more information on this project visit the website: www.eeb.uconn.edu/faculty/goffinet/goffinet.htm.
New Exotic Species – Omora investigators registers a new
species of earthworm (E. tetraedra)
for Isla Navarino. This
worm is originally from Europe, but now inhabits most temperate habitats
around the world. It is a semi-aquatic species that is often found in
and around streams. 2002
Presidential
Visit – In February 2001
Chilean President Ricardo Lagos visits Omora Park. 2000
Creation of Omora – In May 2000, the Omora
Foundation is created to formalize and strengthen the biocultural
conservation initiatives already begun and to develop new and innovative
strategies to integrate human society and environmental protection. 1999
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