Ometepe and Biometepe RL
updated 3/3/22
You can follow the activities on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hashtag/biometepe (in Spanish). Use Google Translate if needed.
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The island was formed by two towering volcanoes that dominate the landscape. Volcan Maderas, the smaller of the two at 4500-plus feet, is now dormant, but the larger, Concepcion Volcano (5250+ feet), has erupted regularly since 1880. Ometepe is about 20 miles long and up to six miles wide, and has been inhabited since 2000 BC. As of 2010, the island of Ometepe has been declared a protected UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It’s highly regarded for its wetlands and tropical rainforests, which are rich in Spanish cedar and other evergreens.
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The island was formed by two towering volcanoes that dominate the landscape. Volcan Maderas, the smaller of the two at 4500-plus feet, is now dormant, but the larger, Concepcion Volcano (5250+ feet), has erupted regularly since 1880. Ometepe is about 20 miles long and up to six miles wide, and has been inhabited since 2000 BC. As of 2010, the island of Ometepe has been declared a protected UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It’s highly regarded for its wetlands and tropical rainforests, which are rich in Spanish cedar and other evergreens.
A research station on the island had previously operated between 2008 and 2014. The funds donated by COAC in 2021 were used to buy new supplies to get the station up and functioning again: nets, banding pliers, and other supplies and equipment arrived in late December. Earlier, in 2014, an organized community group of young people, was formed to work for the conservation of Ometepe’s natural resources. Their work was supported by Fauna and Flora International, and One Earth Conservation and they began monitoring the Yellow-naped Parrot and working with 75 agroecological farms, promoting environmental awareness and education.
A research station on the island had previously operated between 2008 and 2014. The funds donated by COAC in 2021 were used to buy new supplies to get the station up and functioning again: nets, banding pliers, and other supplies and equipment arrived in late December. Earlier, in 2014, an organized community group of young people, was formed to work for the conservation of Ometepe’s natural resources. Their work was supported by Fauna and Flora International, and One Earth Conservation and they began monitoring the Yellow-naped Parrot and working with 75 agroecological farms, promoting environmental awareness and education.
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By 2018, their range of conservation work expanded and the rural cooperative Biometepe R.L. was founded by ten young professionals with experience in the conservation of natural resources and conservation tourism. The scope of Biometepe includes establishing its operations throughout the country with the objective of contributing to the responsible economic development of the Island of Ometepe, through the design, promotion and marketing of products and services, especially in the areas of conservation eco-tourism, agroecological production, and the conservation of threatened species with an emphasis on the protection of the Yellow-naped Parrot.
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Biometepe currently has a research permit issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MARENA) for the conservation of species, specifically the Yellow-naped Parrot and Bell Bird and for carrying out MoSI monitoring. They work in alliance with several organizations and in close collaboration with communities to increase participation, knowledge and grassroots support for conservation, animal welfare and sustainable management of natural resources and the values of the Biosphere Reserve. They’ve provided training for local residents as community forest rangers, and guidance for promoting environmentally-friendly agricultural practices throughout the island of Ometepe. The MoSI stations are located in two protected areas of Ometepe Island: Peña Inculta Wildlife Refuge and Magdalena Farm in the community of Balgue, located in the Maderas Volcano National Park.
Updates
Much of the material that follows is written in Spanish followed by translations, courtesy of Steven Albert of IBP