Community relationship development in combination with staff
training.
Figure 1- GVI staff and representatives of MINAE attending a
plant identification course hosted at the Jalova base.
Staff and volunteers at GVIs Jalova base in Tortuguero National
Park have always prided themselves on theirclose relationship with
the local community and governmental agencies, which are integral
to the workconducted at Jalova. In recent weeks this association
has been further developed as staff from the basehave attended a
number of training courses organized by both MINAE (Ministry of
Environment andEnergy) and GVI in an attempt to increase knowledge
and understanding of the flora and fauna present inthe park.
The most recent of these activities involved the local rangers
and GVI staff taking part in a three-daycourse aimed at the
identification of local plant species and the appropriate
techniques used to cataloguethe abundance of these species.
The course was conducted at Jalova and provided the opportunity
for GVI staff and the park rangers tointeract on a personal level,
building on already established relationships as well as giving the
chance tomake new friends and contacts. This unique experience
contributed greatly to facilitating the work ofboth GVI staff and
the park ranger service and will provide valuable information
relevant to plannedfuture projects such as the monkey research
initiative.
