AFRICAM SAFARI | Vive tu espíritu aventurero

Africam Safari is proud to represent the IUCN’s Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) in México.

CBSG is a global network of conservation professionals dedicated to saving threatened species by increasing the effectiveness of conservation efforts worldwide. CBSG is part of the Species Survival Commission of the IUCN, the World Conservation Union, and was created by Dr. Ulysses Seal in 1979. CBSG’s mission is to save threatened species by increasing the effectiveness of conservation efforts worldwide through innovative interdisciplinary methodologies, culturally sensitive and respectful facilitation, and empowering global partnerships and collaborations.
To promote effective and comprehensive conservation action, CBSG emphasizes the exchange of information across diverse groups to reach agreement on the important challenges facing humans and wildlife. To this end, CBSG has developed workshops that provide an objective environment, expert knowledge, and thoughtful group facilitation designed to systematically analyze problems and develop focused solutions using sound scientific principles.

CBSG México was created in 1998, as an initiative of Amy Camacho, Director of Africam Safari, with the support of Dr. Seal, to respond to the needs of the Mexican conservation community in terms of developing valuable conservation focused assessments, and action and recovery plans for Mexican endangered species. Since then, CBSG has lead and facilitated more than twelve conservation workshops for Mexican endangered species.

CBSG México is composed of a talented group of people working for Africam Safari. Trained to facilitate and conduct CBSG workshops, this group has eight years of experience working together leading workshops, not only in México but in other parts of the world. CBSG México is led by Amy Camacho, Chairman (Africam Safari’s General Director); Juan Cornejo, Modeler (Africam Safari’s Bird Curator); Luis Carrillo, Facilitator (Africam Safari’s Amphibian and Reptile Curator) and Alberto Parás (Africam Safari’s Veterinary Advisor).

CBSG México for the last five years has been working with the Priority Species Office of the Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas to cope with the needs and requirements of the Mexican government as related to the conservation of Mexico´s endangered species.

Species Conservation Workshops

Peninsular Pronghorn - 1994 and 2004
México Mantled Howler Monkey – 1995 and 2006 - México
Scarlet Macaw – 2001- México
Horned Guan – 2002 - Guatemala
Harpy Eagle – 2003 - México
Whale Shark – 2004 - México
Mountain Tapir – 2004 - Colombia
Baird’s Tapir – 2005 - Belice
Jaguar – 2006 – México
Mexican primates – 1995 and 2006
Mexican felids – 1995
Mexican Lagomorphs - 1996
Tehuacan-Cuicatlán Valley cactus plants - 1997
Mexican pinnipeds – 1998
Conservation Planning Workshop for the Colombian Zoos and Aquariums Association, 2004
Mexican Zoos and Aquariums Association Board of Directors Strategic Plan Workshop, 2006.
Naturalia’s Strategic Plan Workshop, 2006
International Black-footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes) Recovery Workshop – Canadá, 2004
National Conservation and Management Plan for Felids of Colombia – Colombia, 2005
Mexican Wolf reintroduction site prioritization and release protocol – México, 2006
Tsushima Leopard Cat Conservation Planning Workshop - Japan, 2006
Greater-Sage Grouse Conservation Workshop – USA, 2006
Titicaca Flightless Grebe PVA – Perú, 2007

Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) Workshop

CBSG PHVA workshops are designed to bring together a wide range of groups with strong interests in conservation of species in their native habitats. This allows a shared understanding among the stakeholders of threats facing one or many species, and of the diversity of perspectives surrounding management of the species.

CBSG uses processes that promote sharing of information and ideas. Structured analysis of problems is used to develop creative and inclusive solutions. A key component of a CBSG PHVA workshop is a risk assessment of the population (or “population viability analysis”), typically using a simulation model such as Vortex.

The CBSG México team has also participated as invited facilitator or modeler in other countries in various PHVA workshops such as Malayan Tapir (Indonesia), Lowland Tapir (Brazil), Chiricahua Leopard Frog Recovery Plan and PHVA (USA), Colorado Prairie Dogs PHVA (USA).

México has designed and facilitated the following PHVA workshops:

Conservation Assessment and Management Plan (CAMP) Workshop

The CAMP workshop is a rapid, broad-based evaluation of a selected group of species that occupy a particular country or region. The diverse expertise among workshop participants is applied to the IUCN’s quantitative Red List system to categorize each species’ degree of endangerment, based on estimates of the threats to these populations and their habitat. Through this process, the CAMP helps to establish priorities for global and regional species conservation, emphasizing the wise use of limited conservation resources.

CBSG México has conducted the following CAMP workshops:

Organizational and Strategic Planning Workshop

The unique combination of CBSG's process design tools in concert with knowledge-based facilitation skills are applied to a wide variety of conservation planning needs. CBSG works with wildlife agencies, conservation organizations, zoological parks, and similar organizations to develop strategic conservation plans for individual species, protected areas, or conservation organizations. From strategic planning for national wildlife refuges to developing zoo conservation master plans, CBSG leads stakeholders through the exploration of issues and the development of goals to guide future actions.

The CBSG México team has participated in various strategic and organizational planning workshops, such as:

Related Conservation Workshops

CBSG México has also participated in diverse conservation workshops around the world. Some of these workshops are:

Training

The CBSG México team has broadened its commitment to conservation by sharing its knowledge and expertise, and training others. Some of the courses conducted:

Vortex training course – Universidad de las Américas, México, 2005
Vortex training course - Universidad Javeriana, Colombia, 2007
Vortex training course – Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, 2007

Other activities

CBSG México also has been actively involved in current amphibian crisis – 2008 Year of the Frog Campaign – throughout different activities such as:

Organization of the first Amphibian Biology and Management Course – La Crisis Mundial de los Anfibios, Coordinando Esfuerzos para su Conservación. May, 2006.
Facilitation of the Colombian Amphibian Prioritization Workshop. November, 2007.
Facilitation of the Venezuelan Amphibian Prioritization Workshop. November, 2007.
Facilitation of the Mexican Amphibian Prioritization Workshop. February, 2008.

CBSG México has also worked closely with the Mexican Zoos and Aquariums Association to cope with the amphibian crisis, creating an Amphibian Committee within the Association, participating along in presentations in Universities, Colleges, etc.