We reviewed 4 trees yesterday, including one Javillo (Hura crepitans) that was impossible to climb.  The wind made it risky to scale, so we’ll leave for when the winds subside. The other trees did not have nests. A Panamá tree (Sterculia apetala) had sealed the entrance with the its resin, another (sangregrado tree,  Pterocarpus spp.) had a swarm of Africanized bees (jicote bravo) near the cavity and a nest in a Panamá tree in Manzanillo does not seem to have received the pair, it had only the remains of egg shells last year. Nevertheless, we have a first beneficiary of the incentive program; a young man from San Antonio who has committed to caring for two nests, we will still need to validate the status of these nests next week before we make the first payment.

I would say we are beginning to understand and manage this aspect of the incentives, I think we must assess each of the different strategies. For example, few large farms can ensure effective care of their properties. In these cases the incentive work is essential because robberies are the common denominator. The landowners do not have the capital to cover costs of security. This is particularly a problem in communities with the phenomenon of disrespect for private property, especially by young people who are poor and without many options for employment.

Given this scenario, using incentives to convince loreros to “not poach parrots” is the perfect alternative for the landowners who otherwise have no way of stopping the poaching. Yesterday, I spoke with a young lorero from Ostional, who commented that he “has” three nests for our review, the next week we will check validate them with him.

In Escamequita there are three infamous “loreros” (Tripa, Santos and Santos Nikacom). These three have not yet agreed to receive any bonus, though it seems less relevant to our program. I think several things come together here, a personality of each person, the education that these young people have, and the quick cash benefit they can get for stealing chickens on private property. I believe that with these young people we should go talking, little by little, without being to pushy or harassing them. Family environments should shape their behavior, whether it is with parrots, turtle eggs, etc.. Things that are not resolved in the short term, one way or another.

We’re going to work these issues every day in the field.

Saludes.

Martin