Wounaan Bird Count

Native Future's Wounaan Bird Count  is strengthening Wounaan community-based conservation and ecotourism by training community members in bird identification and monitoring and to become bird guides. It is helping Wounaan protect and restore their tropical forests, which are critically threatened bird habitat and supports Wounaan to document their birdlife in their native language and teach its cultural importance to their youth. However, COVID-19 has greatly hindered progress.

To better achieve these goals during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Wounaan Bird Count is working to strengthen telecommunications and internet access in these communities. Telephone and internet service in most Wounaan communities is weak and costly; in other communities, there is no access. A stronger signal, or a closer one, will improve Wounaan capacity to continue their training, report their sightings and counts and safely and quickly report deforestation to the authorities.

This year, donations to the Wounaan Bird Count will be matched up to $6,000, thanks to the support of a generous donor. Please consider donating so that Wounaan can continue their training and protect their tropical forests and birdlife while we all await a return to more normal times.

Thank you for your support!

"A Wounaan bird count will show the world the biodiversity conservation the Wounaan people have practiced for generations."    

- Cacique Rito Ismare

Native Future, 34 Taylor Street, Portland ME  04102