Marina Rivero
- Project name: Conserving the endangered Baird´s tapir (Tapirus bairdii) in La Frailescana, Chiapas, Mexico
- Project site: Protected Area La Frailescana, Chiapas, Mexico
- EDGE species: Baird’s tapir Tapirus bairdii
- Active: 2018 - 2020
Biography
Marina is currently studying for a Masters degree at El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR). She has contributed to a number of research projects focusing on a variety of mammal species in Mexico. Her EDGE project will be part of the tapir recovery program in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas, and will be carried out in collaboration with the authorities of the Natural Protected Area La Frailescana of the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP).
Marina hopes that the EDGE Fellowship will allow her to gain experience in project implementation so she can contribute to the conservation of endangered Mexican species. She is keen to use the opportunity to learn more about conservation methods and strategies applied by conservation scientists across the world. Marina will be one of the first Nat Geo Photo Ark EDGE Fellows.
EDGE Project
Marina’s project aims to gather information about the conservation status of the tapir and characterise the main local threats within the Protected Area La Frailesca (PA-LF) in order to develop an effective tapir conservation strategy. Her objectives are to:
- Identify the landscape variables associated with tapir presence in order to identify areas likely to have high populations of tapir.
- Identify the major threats and conflicts between local inhabitants and tapirs in these areas.
- Estimate population density of tapir in PA-LF.
- Work with stakeholders to develop a tapir conservation strategy.
- Host community workshops to educate local people about tapir conservation.
