Background:
Communication and collaboration significantly benefit conservation and research among those working in the Neotropics -- a region extending from southern Mexico to Argentina and including the Caribbean Islands. The Neotropics contains some of the greatest biodiversity on Earth, but there is still much to be discovered there. Dozens of species of birds of prey are found throughout Central America and the Caribbean, yet little is known about many of the raptors that can serve as indicators of the overall health of an ecosystem.
Formation of the Neotropical Raptor Network was proposed to participants at the First Neotropical Raptor Conference in 2002. An advisory board was established, a website begun, a list-server created, and publication of a semiannual electronic newsletter highlighting the work of raptor conservationists throughout the region was launched. The network hosted the Second Neotropical Raptor Conference in Argentina in 2006.
The network has proven to be a quick and effective tool for researchers, graduate students, conservation institutions, and potential collaborators to track down lines of investigation and get in immediate contact with those researchers on the leading edge of Neotropical raptor conservation.
Recent Results:
- Two newsletters were produced and distributed to 316 members of the network. For the first time, the newsletter was made available in Portuguese in addition to English and Spanish.
- Improvements were made to the webpage, which serves as a home to the network, and provides information in Spanish and English.
- Progress was made in plans for a raptor symposium in 2011 and discussions were held about a joint Neotropical Raptor Network and Raptor Research Foundation meeting in Argentina in 2013.
Newsletter
For the first time, the Neotropical Raptor Network Newsletter was made available in Portuguese in addition to English and Spanish. Improvements were made to the overall look and feel of the publication to generate more interest and reach a wider audience. We gave the newsletter an official name, Spizaetus, because the word (the genus of the Neotropical hawk-eagle species) is meaningful in any language and because this genus of raptors is found from southern Mexico to northern Argentina, making it an excellent representative of the region. Nine newsletters have been published and made available on the Neotropical Raptor Network website, including two produced in 2010. The newsletters include popular articles from network members, as well as updates on activities and general information pertaining to raptors in the Neotropics.
List-server
The network’s list server provides an informal discussion forum on issues pertaining to raptors in the Neotropics. All discussions and information posted on the list server is stored and archived so that people may review past dialogues. Membership on the list-server increased from 285 to 316 and improvements were made to the webpage , which serves as a home to the network and provides information in Spanish and English (www.neotropicalraptors.org).
Project Links:
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Species involved
People involved in this project:
Combined Federal Campaign # 10639
