Networking across borders for the conservation of the endangered Andean cat

MERINO MARIA JOSÉ; LUCHERINI MAURO; VILLALBA L.; SILLERO-ZUBIRI C.

Port Elizabeth, Sud Africa

Congreso; 21st Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology; 2007

Society for Conservation Biology

The Andean Cat Alliance (AGA) is an international network of conservationists brought together to ensure the survival of the Andean cat (Oreailurus jacobita), one of most endangered felids in the world, found only in the High Andes of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru. Through research, education, community participation and information integration AGA seeks to support conservation-oriented management of natural resources. Recently, teams from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and UK established a cross-border project to coordinate and integrate data collection and are training villagers and protected area staff to develop a network of local wildlife monitors. Through a series of regional workshops educators from all range countries have linked to develop a global conservation education strategy, and produced a training guide for High Andes environmental educators. We are presently training motivated local educators and integrating them into an international network. Our ultimate aim is to build capacity in local communities, raise awareness and eventually develop into a larger network of community education officers, which would in time link with the network of wildlife monitors. We hope that this cross-border networking strategy will provide long-term benefits for the conservation of the High Andes biodiversity.