Preparing a Regional Strategy to Conserve the Manatee of Southern Mesoamerica
Forge an alliance of local and U.S.-based scientists dedicated to the manatee conservation in order to develop a regional strategy to conserve this species. The grant will fund the establishment of a tri-national commission for manatee conservation, field work, stakeholder consultations, and development of a regional strategy.

Monitoring and Dissemination of Data on Threatened and Flagship Species in La Amistad International Park, Panama
Gather population data on Endangered and flagship species in La Amistad with a view toward improving park management, conducting outreach to local Latino and indigenous communities, and increasing local capacity for conserving species.

Small Grants for Global Conservation of Amphibian Diversity Within Hotspots
Develop and implement the Amphibian Action Fund aimed at the long-term conservation of amphibian species, and their habitats, within biodiversity hotspots around the globe.  This fund will make available small grants of up to $10,000 to be awarded to individuals and groups working within the hotspots on targeted amphibian conservation activities.

Baird’s Tapir Conservation Workshop
Support the development of Mesoamerica’s first conservation strategy for the Endangered Baird’s tapir by funding a workshop of experts and the printing and dissemination of the strategy.

Sharing Experiences and Lessons Learned in Mesoamerica via the Eco-Index
Provide detailed information in English and Spanish on conservation projects and issues throughout Mesoamerica as the second phase of support to this online database. Activities include the entry and annual updating on the site of all CEPF-supported projects in Mesoamerica, creation of Web sites for partner organizations without existing sites, and organizing a stakeholder workshop in Southern Mesoamerica.

Raising Awareness of Conservation of the Natural Ecosystems of Manatees (Trichechus manatus) through Environmental Monitoring in Local Communities
Launch a conservation project in the San San River and wetland to protect one of the largest populations of manatees in Panama. The grant will fund water quality analysis to identify pollutants and their sources, placement of signs in priority sites, and a public education campaign to increase awareness of manatee protection.

Environmental Education to Conserve the Flagship Species of the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
Increase awareness of the importance of conserving the Osa Peninsula’s flagship species through the development and implementation of an action plan and training modules geared toward environmental education in local institutions.

Rapid Ecological Evaluation and Inventory of Flora and Fauna in the Ngobe-Buglé Indigenous Reservation of Bocas del Toro, Panamá
Generate baseline ecological information, provide local training in inventorying, and present management recommendations with community participation of the Ngobe-Buglé Indigenous Reserve to conserve the Damani wetlands, Guariviara y Bisiria mangroves, la Valiente Península, and Veraguas Shield in Panama.

Promoting Environmental Education in Selected Ngobe-Buglé Communities of the Palo Seco Forest Reserve, La Amistad International Park
Increase environmental awareness in indigenous and Mestizo communities located in the Palo Seco Forest Reserve as a pilot effort by developing the first environmental education program for Ngobe Bugle communities, training local communities and local park staff in environment education and improving local infrastructure for training.

Conserving the West Indian Manatee as a Forest and Wetland Conservation Tool of the Tortuguero and Rio San Juan Binational Region (Costa Rica-Nicaragua)
Establish a binational vision for protecting the globally endangered manatee of Costa Rica and Nicaragua. The grant supports satellite tracking of manatees to identify key habitat for protection, environmental education to improve local understanding and appreciation of the species, integration of manatee protection in local conservation strategies and improved coordination between conservation organizations and agencies for manatee protection.

Conservation Research of the Central American Tapir (Tapirus bairdii) in the La Amistad International Park, Costa Rica
Strengthen the protection of the globally endangered Baird tapir in La Amistad International Park, Costa Rica through research into its distribution, habitat and nutrition; preparation of a map delineating its critical habitat; and dissemination of the results for its management.

Campaign to Increase Awareness about the Biological Importance of Baru Volcano National Park
Conduct an awareness-building campaign to heighten attention on the importance of conserving the Baru Volcano National Park, which is under threat from road construction. This grant will fund a series of meetings, outreach to media and production of literature.

Promoting Environmental Education in the Schools of Bocas del Toro
Teaches basic ecological and conservation principles to school children in the Bocas del Toro area. During the duration of the grant, ITEC will spend five days at 21 schools conducting various environmental education activities.

Building a Global Constituency for Biodiversity Conservation
Implement a series of targeted public awareness and education campaigns in nine hotspots in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Campaign leaders participate in an intensive training course at the UK's Kent University or Mexico's Guadalajara University, prepare detailed plans to implement campaigns, link with a local organization in their region and commit to a minimum two years with that organization.

Using the Eco-Index to Allow Organizations Working in Neotropical Hotspots to Share Experiences and Glean Lessons from Colleagues
Facilitate the exchange of information about experiences, challenges and best practices developed through various conservation projects throughout Central and South America, including CEPF-funded projects in the Atlantic Forest, Chocó-Darién-Western Ecuador, Mesoamerica, and Tropical Andes hotspots. Project goals, experiences and information will be disseminated through the Eco-Index in English, Spanish, and where relevant, Portuguese.