Central America’s Protected Areas: Diverse, Valuable, and Threatened & Birds of Central America

Non profits El Porvenir & Trees, Water & People will speak about their nonprofit prior to the presentation.

The national parks and reserves in Central America have incredible biological and cultural diversity.  They also play a vital role in climate change mitigation and the economic health of the region.  These protected areas, however, are being threatened by a variety of factors, including need, greed, and ignorance.  Come learn how the national parks and reserves are essential for both Central America and the United States.

Larry Lechner, Affiliate with the Center for Protected Area Management at Colorado State University

Many ecotourists visit Central America, home to over a thousand bird species, to witness some extremely charismatic birds such as the Scarlet Macaw and the Resplendent Quetzal. Many species in Central America are increasingly threatened by habitat loss.  This presentation will feature images of endemic Central American species as well as migratory species that winter in tropical ecosystems but migrate north annually to breed in the U.S. and Canada.

Nick Komar, a career biologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Fort Collins