Expert from the University of Costa Rica spoke about the coexistence between humans and carnivores

Through benefits to the community that are linked to a conservation effort, Dr. Ronit Amit has worked as a team to fight and contribute to the conservation of felines in Costa Rica. These experiences were shared in the talk “Human and carnivore coexistence: community-based incentives in Costa Rica”, which was held at the Faculty of Forest Sciences and Natural Resources of the UACh.

The activity was coordinated by Dr. Marcela Márquez, Associate Professor of said Faculty and with the support of the Graduate School and the Wildlife Laboratory of the Faculty of Forestry Sciences and Natural Resources of the UACh and the Río Wetlands Center. crosses.

The Dr. in Ecology and Wildlife Conservation covered concepts such as interdisciplinary ecology, where there are various social actors and, therefore, there are more truths and more perspectives.

How to improve relations between human beings and nature? Here the concept of “incentive” arises, where Dr. Ella explained how the “Friends of the Felines” project came about. This interaction between humans and fauna is positioning itself in the municipal and government agendas, since it generates controversy and at the same time is subjective.

“The idea is to reach the community with a slogan that tries to reach the local family from another perspective. This project was born from a series of previous studies and develops benefits, an incentive that is linked to a conservation effort”, he indicated.

huge biodiversity

“We are privileged that our topography and climate generate great diversity,” said Dr. Amit. However, she explained that many species and Protected Areas are in danger, facing many threats. Among them, abuses and death by retaliation, when a wild animal attacks domestic animals. Habitat fragmentation and the weak regulatory capacity of the legal framework also negatively affect fauna.

For Dr. Eduardo Silva, an academic from the Faculty of Forest Sciences and Natural Resources, and Director of Graduates, Dr. Amit’s visit was relevant because “he exposed to students, professionals and researchers a reality in which Chile is on the right track.” , which is the subject of social sciences linked to conservation. It was a good opportunity for students and professionals who want to know more from an interdisciplinary view of conservation”, commented Dr. Silva.