Overall Goals
- Learn about and document the immense biodiversity of the Tres Brazos valley
- Develop a system for monitoring and maintaining a balance with the surrounding ecosystem
- Observe and explore of the rain forest
- Assimilate with other programs and species
- Improve overall sustainability
- Collaborate with experts from INDICASAT
- Educate and Inspire
- Gain more experience and knowledge as a field biologist
Potential Project Ideas
Biological Science
- Biodiversity inventory: Arthropods (insects, spiders, crustaceans, millipedes, etc.), Worms, Mollusks, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians, Fish, Plants, Fungi, anything else you can think of
- Ethnobotany (plants and their traditional/medicinal uses)
- Aquaculture
- Bee keeping
- Ecological data collection
- Weather patterns, greenhouse gas analysis, tree density/size, canopy cover, % primary forest, leaf litter plots, soil chemistry, water quality (chemical, physical, biological), common species, flower/pollinator interactions, other symbiotic interactions
- Diseases: human, animal, plant. Water or Vector-borne
- Study how burned areas alter biodiversity
- Begin developing a proposal for establishing a long-term ecological monitoring project
- Education for local Panamanians about biodiversity and the importance of conserving the forest
Water infrastructure
- Install water filter in established water pipe
- Getting a second collection tank
- Trenching/creating drainage for tank overflow
- Burying the pipe in necessary areas
- Expanding the use of the water (ex for showers, hand washing at bathrooms)
- Calculating/recording water consumption
- Develop a comprehensive wastewater plan for the valley camp
Other sustainability improvements and renewable technology projects
- Solar heated hot water shower
- Solar powered lights
- Plant natural insect repellent plants (Citronella, Horsemint, Ageratum, Catnip, etc.)
- Solar powered composting toilet
- Design and build a rainwater harvesting system to provide an additional water source for camp
- Research innovative irrigation, composting methods, and permaculture methods for the farm
- Draft an EMS, Environmental Management System, for Kalu Yala