Conservation actions developed by the Master in Wildlife Management, National University of Córdoba, Argentina: achievements and challenges

MARTELLA MB,; BRUNO G.; ROSATI V; BONINO E; NAVARRO JL

Villa de Leyva

Conferencia; Capacity Building for Conservation Conference.; 2013

Over its twenty years of experience, the Master Program in Wildlife Management has developed different wildlife conservation and management actions through research, education, and outreach programs, and products of students? thesis works. Among the most outstanding products is Mar Chiquita Program (PROMAR), which aims at promoting conservation and sustainable development of the Provincial Reserve and Ramsar Site Mar Chiquita Lake and Dulce River Wetlands, by providing technical assistance and advice in environmental topics to municipal governments of the region. Another achievement is the incorporation of this site to the Living Lakes Network, devoted to the conservation of lakes in the world. Thesis works made contributions through applied research (53%), diagnosis and planning of protected areas (27%), evaluation of damage by pest species (5%), environmental education (4%), conservation and management of privately-owned fields (4%), ecotourism (3%), and environmental risk due to pollution, evaluation of natural resources exploited by local communities, and conservation policies (4%). Self-diagnosis performed reveals the need to strengthen and promote thesis works focused on the solution of specific management problems with an interdisciplinary approach that integrates the social aspects involved.