As part of HSI’s program to improve CITES compliance and stop the illegal trade in wildlife, in 2006, twelve small grants were given to local NGOs involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife and the development of sustainable economic alternatives, such as ecotourism. The small grants went to support projects aimed to strengthen the capacity of local NGOs to successfully receive and rehabilitate confiscated wildlife, as well as to support education and outreach campaigns to protect wildlife. A short description of the projects follows:
Fundación Restauración de la Naturaleza (ZOO AVE) – Costa Rica
Project: Support of Educational Programs Against Extracting Wildlife from Their Natural Habitat
Grupo Jaragua – Dominican Republic
Project: Awareness Campaign to Protect the Hispaniolan Parrot in the Dominican Republic
Fundación Zoológica de El Salvador (FUNZEL) – El Salvador
Project: Strengthening the Sustainability of the Wild Fauna Rescue and Rehabilitation Program
Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Society (ARCAS) – Guatemala
Project: Strengthening Institutional Capacity of the Wildlife Rescue Center Through Improvement of Information Dissemination Capability
Asociación del Medio Ambiente y Rehabilitación Silvestres (AMARAS) – Honduras
Project: Organizational Strengthening of AMARAS
Fundacion Zoologica Nicaragüense (FAZOONIC) – Nicaragua
Project: Educational Program for Conservation of National Fauna in Guajiniquil-Cárdenas Rivas
Asociación ANAI (ANAI) – Costa Rica
Project: Development and Training for Community Artisan Project
La Fundación Pro-Desarrollo de las Ciencias Marinas (FUNDEMAR) – Dominican Republic
Project: Dolphin and Coastal Resources Conservation Through Sustainable Tourism
Fundación Ecológica de El Salvador (SalvaNATURA) – El Salvador
Project: Promoting Sustainable Birdwatching in El Salvador
Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Society (ARCAS) – Guatemala
Project: Supporting Volunteer Ecotourism Program to Promote the Protection of Marine Turtle and Mangroves in Hawaii, Guatemala
Honduras Coral Reef Fund (HCRF) – Honduras
Project: Training Program for Community Based Ecotourism Project in Cayos Cuchinos
Asociación Tierra y Vida – Nicaragua
Project: Supporting Community Ecotourism for Conservation of Wildlife Refuge of Rio Escalente – Chacocente