HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2020

Citizen Scientists Certification Workshop Series

On August 7 2020, Estuario finished its series of online workshops for its citizen scientists certification program with Laws and Regulations that Protect our Biodiversity and its Habitats. This workshop was led by Estuario’s Education Coordinator Coral Avilés, Education Manager Eliezer Nieves and DNER’s (DRNA) Wildlife Biologist of the Terrestrial Ecology Division and Leader of the Technical Assistance Project for the Conservation of Habitat in Puerto Rico, Ramón L. Rivera. A total of 86 participants benefited from this workshop.

Water Quality Monitoring Day

This year’s Water Quality Monitoring Day of Puerto Rico activities started on August 15, when 110 water quality monitoring kits were distributed in Rincón, Arecibo, Salinas, Fajardo and San Juan in collaboration with other organizations. This year’s collaborators were: Fundación Surf Riders, DNER’s Cuerpo de Vigilantes de Arecibo, Corredor Ecológico del Noreste, Reserva Nacional de Investigación Estuarina Bahía de Jobos and Taller Comunidad La Goyco. This citizen science event provides the necessary tools to measure the following parameters: dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, nitrate, phosphate, E. coli and turbidity.

Because of physical distancing measures established due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Estuario obtained a dispensation from Puerto Rico’s Chief of Staff, Antonio Pabón, to celebrate this year’s event. Following the release of Executive Order No. 2020-062, Estuario published the Water Quality Monitoring Day of Puerto Rico Pandemic Protocol in August 28 2020, integrating physical distancing measures and safety procedures into the event. Read it HERE (sp). Procedures were modified to accommodate the new paradigm: giving participants several weeks (deadline September 20, 2020) to perform water quality monitoring procedures and submit data electronically.

Virtual Campaigns

Estuario continues educating its communities under the physical distancing measures due to the pandemic, using virtual platforms. This month, Estuario emphasized the importance of preserving natural spaces and reminded its communities of the importance of hurricane preparedness amidst the peak of the season.

Podcasts: Estuario Sonoro & Estuario Profundo

August 2020 saw the release of new episodes of Estuario Sonoro and Estuario Profundo.

Both podcasts are available in all major platforms, and can also be streamed through https://estuario.org/podcasts.

Estuario Sonoro’s fifth episode highlighted the importance of the conservation of the Condado Lagoon as an Estuarine Natural Reserve. The Condado Lagoon was declared a natural reserve in 2013. Fishing, capturing of species and use of motor boats are prohibited by law.

Estuario Sonoro's sixth episode explores global warming and the importance of taking action.

Estuario Profundo released its fourth, fifth and sixth episodes this month. The fourth episode features a discussion about urban planning issues and resource scarcity in Puerto Rico, with environmental journalist Gerardo Alvarado. The fifth episode features María Luis Cortijo and Juan Pablo Vizcaíno, mother and son, who discuss the history of El Ancón de Loíza (the site of green infrastructure project Vivero Estuario) and the importance of its preservation. Finally, the sixth episode features Estuario’s community resilience project and its role within watershed communities, in a conversation with Community Resilience Coordinator Rebecca González.