The DarwinNet Peru – Ecuador dry forest ecoregion-based CHM will be conducting the following activities through its partner institutions for celebrations related to the 22 of May – International Biodiversity Day and the International Year of Deserts and Desertification.

Posters:

As part of the celebrations DarwinNet has produced a poster highlighting the perils of forest lost, focusing on examples of the dry forests of north-west Peru.  The poster was designed and produced by partner organization Nature & Culture International in Sullana, Peru, and was sponsored by the British Embassy in Lima.  2000 posters were printed and have been distributed throughout the region and to CBD national focal points in Quito and Lima.

An additional poster was designed for printing via plotters and use in public displays, such as launch events of national focal point CONAM in Lima Peru and Sullana.  Poster highlights the diversity of arid zones in terms of biological and cultural diversity.  Poster designed by partner Nature & Culture International in Sullana.

Events and presentations:

Piura - Peru

Local experiences in the protection of biodiversity of arid zones
22 of May 2006 – Auditorium IME, University of Piura (Peru)
Organized by Nature & Culture International, University of Piura and AIDER

9:00 - 9:10 a.m.	Welcoming speech	Mr. Gastón Cruz. University of Piura Piura
9:10 – 9:30 a.m.	Introduction: “Biodiversity of Arid Zones”	Mr. Jeremy Flanagan, DarwinNet Coordinator, Nature & Culture International
9:30 – 9.50 a.m.	Conservation of the White-winged Guan in Limón parish-community, Huarmaca District	Mr. Lino Rico, Limón parish
Conservation of species and genetic resources of the Region
9:50 – 10:05 a.m.	Advances in the conservation of the biodiversity of the Peru North-west Biosphere Reserve	Mr. Aldo Aguirre, Instituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales INRENA
10:05 - 10:20 a.m.	Conservation of the Bearded Guan in Cuyas forest, Ayavaca, Piura	Mr. Esteban Aguilera, Cuyas-Cuchayo Farming Community
10:20 - 10:35 a.m.	Conservation of forest genetic resources, Dotor and Mangamanguilla parish-community	Mr. Gualberto Espinoza Cruz Dotor and Mangamanguilla parish
Conservation of ecosystems through community organizations in the Region
10:45 - 11:00 a.m.	Community experiences in the conservation of dry forests	Mr. Luis Espinoza Ignacio Távara Farming Community
11:00 - 11:15 a.m.	Conservation of dry forests through community organization	Ms. Gisella Parría, Pilares parish, Lancones District.
11:15 - 11:30 a.m.	Biocommerce: experience of eco-business Ecobosque	Mrs. Estela Arroyo General Manager - Ecobosque
11:30 - 11:45 a.m.	Eco-business Santa María de Locuto (SML)	Mr. José Córdova, General Manager, SML
12:10 – 12:30 a.m.	DarwinNet the CHM for the conservation of the dry forests of the Region	Mr. Alex More, Darwinnet, Nature & Culture International
12:30 – 12:50 a.m.	Final reflections	Mr. Juan Otivo, Regional Coordinator INRENA & Mr. Augusto Zegarra Peralta, Director of Natural Resources, Piura Regional Govt.
12:50 a.m.	Closing speech	Mr. Luis Albán, Executive Director, Nature & Culture International-Peru

Sullana – Piura

An activity sheet for primary school children was designed and distributed.

Children at Colegio del Norte school, Sullana - Peru, with IBD worksheets.

Tumbes - Peru

23 of May 2006 – Auditorium, Regional Government of Tumbes
Organized by Instituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales INRENA-Tumbes and
Nature & Culture International

4:00 - 4:05 p.m.	Welcoming speech	Mr. Wilder García, Assistant Manager, Dept. of Natural Resources, Tumbes Regional Government.
4:05 - 4:25 p.m.	Conservation of biodiversity in Arid Zones	Mr. Jeremy Flanagan, DarwinNet Coordinator, Nature & Culture International
4:25 - 4:45 p.m.	Advances in the conservation of the biodiversity of the Peru North-west Biosphere Reserve	Mr. Oscar García Tello, Director, Peru North-west Biosphere Reserve - INRENA
4:55 -5:15 p.m.	Population of the Southern Mantled Howler Monkey (Alouatta palliataaequatorialis) in the Tumbes Reserved Zone	Ms. Mónica Alzamora, biologist, Nature & Culture International.
5:15 - 5:35 p.m.	Sustainable use of Non-Timber Forest Products	Mr. José Vilela Pingo, Forest & Fuana Technical Administrator, INRENA - Tumbes
5.35 - 5:55 p.m.	Threatened species of Tumbes	Mr. Hugo Noblecilla, Environment Specialist, Regional Office Ministry of Educación - Tumbes
6:05 - 6:15 p.m.	Final reflections	Oscar García Tello & Jeremy Flanagan

Public displays:

A photo exhibition of projects conducted by Nature & Culture International and posters for IBD was held in the entrance lobby of Sullana Municipal Library from the 22 to 26 of May.

Press articles:

Various articles in regional press were published to highlight IBD and activities conducted by partner organizations.

Loja – Ecuador

22 May
Presentations for Environmental students at the National University of Loja

Program:

1.	DarwinNet CHM – Felipe Sánchez (NCI – DarwinNet)

2.	Birds of the Dry Forests – Fabián Rodas (NCI – DarwinNet)

3.	Ethnobotany of the dry forests – Orlando Sánchez, Herbarium UNL

4.	Experiences of Fundación Ecológica Arcoiris in the dry forests – Wilson Guzmán, FEA

5.	Community development experiences in dry forests – Bruno Paladines (NCI)

Attendance: 120 students

Presentations in Macará y Zapotillo

Program:

6.	DarwinNet CHM – Felipe Sánchez (NCI – DarwinNet)

7.	Birds of the Dry Forests – Fabián Rodas (NCI – DarwinNet)

8.	Flora of the dry forests – Eduardo Cueva (NCI)

9.	Community development experiences in dry forests – Bolívar Tello (NCI)

Attendance: 120 students

Colegio Técnico Agropecuario de Macará: 70 students.
Colegio Nacional Zapotillo: 50 students.
Below: Stand at the first regional Eco-Fair in Loja, more than 1500 visitors
		Certificate from drawing competition - ´Life in the Jatumpamba Jorupe Dry Forest´ for National Tree Day (Ecuador) and IBD, involving 20 schools in the area.

Acknowledgments:

DarwinNet is an initiative of BirdLife International implemented by in-country partner organizations; Nature & Culture International-Peru, Nature & Culture International-Ecuador, and ProBosque Foundation (Guayaquil Ecuador).  It is financed by the Darwin Initiative of the British Government.

Dissemination products:

2,000  45x70cm posters printed and distributed in Peru and Ecuador, printing of poster was sponsored by the British Embassy in Lima.

Large 90x60cm poster designed for printing off on plotters, used during presentations.

Copy of activity sheet for schoolchildren in the region.