Maderas Rainforest Conservancy: A One Health approach to conservation

Abstract

Maderas Rainforest Conservancy (MRC) was incorporated as a conservation nonprofit organization in 2008, and manages two sites where biological field courses have been offered since the 1990s: La Suerte Biological Research Station in Costa Rica, and Ometepe Biological Research Station in Nicaragua. MRC employs a One Health approach to conservation education, and can serve as a model for other biological field sites. The Nicaraguan Molina family, who owns the sites, partnered with primatologist Paul Garber in 1994 to develop a primate field course aimed at introducing university students to field research. Through using their land to further conservation education and research, the Molina family has preserved the forest and engaged the local communities near their sites. Eight graduate theses and 46 refereed publications have been completed since 2010 based on research undertaken at MRC sites. While primate field courses have been offered at least once annually since 1994 and remain popular, a range of other ecological courses are now additionally offered. MRC operates from a One Health perspective, engaging in forest restoration and ecological monitoring projects, and has gradually expanded community outreach initiatives. MRC now conducts regular medical and veterinary missions in the communities surrounding the research stations which provide health care to local people and limit the population growth of domestic animals, thereby increasing the survival of wild animals. MRC is also active in ESL‐teaching and conservation education, and funds Proyecto Jade, which empowers local women to make and sell organic jewelry. Through these programs, MRC works to help the local communities live more sustainably with the environment around them. MRC's support of research, commitment to education, medical and veterinary missions, and outreach initiatives to the local community all work together for the well‐being of both the people and the environment, thus exemplifying the One Health perspective.

Student research collaboration as conservation education: A case study from the primate field school at Maderas Rainforest Conservancy

“…The family patriarch, Rene Molina (1933–2013), his wife Lillian Molina, and his son Alvaro Molina partnered with primatologist Dr. Paul Garber to offer the first primate field course at LSBRS in 1994 (Molina, 2015). Although many different types of field courses have been offered through the years, the primate field course was the first and has been the most consistently offered (Bolt, Brandt, et al, 2021; Garber et al, 2010). Courses are aimed at English‐speaking international university students, and while students from around the world do attend field courses at LSBRS and OBRS, the majority of students are American (Bolt, Brandt, et al, 2021; Garber et al, 2010).…”

“…Although many different types of field courses have been offered through the years, the primate field course was the first and has been the most consistently offered (Bolt, Brandt, et al, 2021; Garber et al, 2010). Courses are aimed at English‐speaking international university students, and while students from around the world do attend field courses at LSBRS and OBRS, the majority of students are American (Bolt, Brandt, et al, 2021; Garber et al, 2010). In 2008, LSBRS and OBRS were incorporated into MRC, a non‐profit organization registered in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and the USA, and led by Rene and Lillian's daughter Renee Molina.…”

“…MRC also has a strong involvement with the surrounding communities in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, as exemplified by their One Health and outreach programs (Bolt, Brandt, et al, 2021; Garber et al, 2010; Molina, 2015). To serve the surrounding communities, MRC has offered veterinary outreach programs since 2009 at OBRS and 2016 at LSBRS and began offering human medical outreach programs at OBRS in 2017 and LSBRS in 2018 (Bolt, Brandt, et al, 2021).…”

“…MRC also has a strong involvement with the surrounding communities in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, as exemplified by their One Health and outreach programs (Bolt, Brandt, et al, 2021; Garber et al, 2010; Molina, 2015). To serve the surrounding communities, MRC has offered veterinary outreach programs since 2009 at OBRS and 2016 at LSBRS and began offering human medical outreach programs at OBRS in 2017 and LSBRS in 2018 (Bolt, Brandt, et al, 2021). MRC provides veterinary care for domestic animals as a way of better protecting rainforest animals and offers medical care to better serve the health needs of children living near OBRS and LSBRS (Molina (personal communication, 2021); Molina, 2015).…”

River edge feeding: Howler monkey feeding ecology in a fragmented riparian forest

“…This study was undertaken at La Suerte Biological Research Station (LSBRS), a 3 km 2 tropical rainforest in northeastern Costa Rica that has been fragmented by anthropogenic disturbance, with agricultural fields, cattle pastures, and roads surrounding the site (Brandt and Singleton, 2018;Bolt et al, 2021c;Schreier et al, 2022). Barbed wire fences at the property line of the LSBRS forest fragment create marked boundaries between forested and adjacent deforested areas, and the La Suerte river runs northward through the site (Molina, 2015).…”