Iguana Island Wildlife Refuge

Voices of Isla Iguana: the participants of the 2nd Management Workshop of the Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge give their testimony. Dictated by Marco L. Díaz V. at the CEFATI of Pedasí and Isla Iguana, from September 19-21, 2003, assisted by a group of young divers, rescuers from SINAPROC and the RED CROSS. Workshop coordinator: Eduardo Moscoso. Sponsored by the Environmental Investment Fund (FOIAMBI) and the Iguana Island Project of Fundación PANAMA. Between August and December 2003, 6 workshops were held. They began with the Friday dinner, where the participants got to know each other and expressed their expectations; Saturday was devoted to theory through lectures and educational games; and on Sunday the island was explored. The participants learned to interpret the path and through snorkeling they submerged themselves in the reef. 158 people were trained, including teachers, tourism students, fishermen, tour guides, entrepreneurs, ANAM, IPAT, local authorities, from Pedasí, Pocrí, Tonosí, Las Tablas, Guararé, La Villa, Chitré, Penonomé and Ciudad de Panama; 24 participants did not know how to swim and 8 were boarding a boat for the first time.