Bio-diversity

When the area around the Aguacaliente Swamp was designated a Wildlife Sanctuary, many of the sources of income for the communities such as hunting, fishing, extraction of non-timber products and farming in the Sanctuary became restricted. Due to the already scarce amount of income generating activities, community members continued unsustainable and illegal activities inside the sanctuary that threatens the biodiversity of the Aguacaliente Wildlife Sanctuary (AWS). There is a need to enhance the ability of the communities that surround the AWS to generate income in a sustainable manner. Doing this will further the preservation of the biodiversity of the AWS. The health of the AWS is intertwined with the health of the communities that surround it. The goal of this project is to create livelihood opportunities for stakeholders of the Moho River Watershed through skills training and environmental education. This will be accomplished by establishing a demonstration project for the rearing of gibnuts. The objectives of this project will be: 1. To improve knowledge of participants in Laguna Village in gibnut rearing; 2. To establish rearing facilities; 3. To increase environmental awareness of issues facing AWS among residents of the ten stakeholder communities of AMT; 4. To increase knowledge of Biodiversity in AWS and 5. To improve capacity of the Moho River Watershed Alliance.

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