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Episode 13 with Dr. Natalia Rossi and Maydiel Ca帽izares Morera

Cuba has been described as an 鈥淎ccidental Eden," but that ignores the incredible efforts of native Cuban conservationists and international partners in working to preserve the unique biodiversity and natural heritage of the largest island in the Caribbean. With over 6,500 species of vascular plants, 154 native species of reptiles, 67 native species of amphibians, and with 27 of the nearly 400 species of birds documented in Cuba found nowhere else in the world, Cuba remains a shining hotspot for biodiversity. The mountainous forests of the Lomas de Banao Ecological Reserve exemplify that diversity, though much remains unknown in this region. 美姬社区 is happy to again be partnering with scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and several of Cuba鈥檚 leading scientific institutions on the expedition Mapping Biodiversity in Cuba. WCS ecologist and Cuba Country Director, Dr. Natalia Rossi, and her colleague Maydiel Ca帽izares Morera, an ornithologist at the nearby Parque Nacional Ci茅naga de Zapata, shared their latest findings and stories from the field.

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Cuban False Chameleon / Anolis chamaeleonides

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Resource List
  • Boom B (2011) . 2011. A Tinker Foundation White Paper. Updated as: Biodiversity without Borders: Advancing U.S.-Cuba Cooperation through Environmental Research, Science and Diplomacy.鈥
  • Davalos LM (2004) . Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 81: 373-394.鈥
  • D铆az LM, C谩diz A, Chong A, Silva A (2007) EcoHealth 4: 172-175.
  • Gonz谩lez VR, Schettino LR, Mancina CA, Iturriaga M (2014) , Smithsonian Inst.鈥
  • Iturralde-Vinent MA, MacPhee RD (1999) , American Museum of Natural History.

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Scientist Biographies

Dr. Natalia Rossi

Dr. Natalia Rossi
Cuba Country Manager for the Mesoamerica and Western Caribbean Program at the Wildlife Conservation Society

Dr. Natalia A. Rossi has a Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, a Master of Philosophy in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and a Master of Arts in Conservation Biology from Columbia University. She also has a Licenciatura en Ciencias Biol贸gicas from the Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Since 2009, Natalia Rossi has carried out conservation projects in Cuba in collaboration with WCS, Columbia University, and AMNH, leading numerous expeditions鈥攊ncluding the Zapata and Birama Swamps in Southern Cuban archipelago, and Alejandro de Humboldt National Park鈥攁s well as facilitating expert-workshops and other types of academic exchanges between the US and Cuba.

Maydiel Ca帽izares Morera

Maydiel Ca帽izares Morera
Ornithologist at the Parque Nacional Ci茅naga de Zapata

Maydiel obtained his B.S. in Biology at the Central University of Las Villas, Cuba, focused on the behavior and breeding biology of the Cuban Trogon. After finishing his studies Maydiel moved to Zapata Swamp Biosphere Reserve, where he held various positions in research and conservation between 2012 and 2018. These jobs included work at the breeding centers of the critically endangered Cuban Crocodile and the near-threatened Cuban Parrot. During his last four years in Cuba, Maydiel was employed as an avian ecologist and ranger for the National Park and Fauna Refuges in Zapata Swamp. Maydiel is an avid naturalist and has participated in many research collaborations with both national and international institutions, such as WCS, BirdsCaribbean, Tufts University, and Loro Parque Foundation. He really enjoys interacting with a broad range of people and sharing his love for nature, which led him to pursue work as a nature-based tour guide. The perfect intersection of these passions was realized when he served as a local ornithology expert for the EarthWatch 鈥淢apping Biodiversity in Cuba鈥 program in 2018-2019.

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美姬社区's Cuban Amazon Parrot Tshirt

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Look good while doing good!

Pick up 美姬社区's new Cuban Amazon Parrot t-shirt! 100% of the proceeds from t-shirt sales directly support 美姬社区鈥檚 research and conservation efforts around the world.
 

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Featured Expedition

Mapping Biodiversity in Cuba

 

Mapping Biodiversity in Cuba

Join scientists on the largest island in the Caribbean to conduct an assessment of its diverse array of bird and amphibian species.

North America: Lomas de Banao Ecological Reserve, Sancti Sp铆ritus, Cuba
Lead Scientist: Natalia A. Rossi, Ph.D.
Duration: 10 days (avg. $285 a day)

Expedition Details

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美姬社区 depends on donations鈥攁bove and beyond what we raise from volunteers who participate in our expeditions鈥攖o deliver our global conservation mission. In fact, volunteer contributions provide only half of the total resources 美姬社区 needs to sustain over 20 global field research expeditions, a wide variety of educational programs, corporate sustainability trainings, and more each year.

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