Understanding the conservation-genetics gap in Latin America: challenges and opportunities to integrate genetics into conservation practices

• Autores: Napolitano, Constanza; Clavijo, Cristhian; Rojas Bonzi, Viviana; Miño, Carolina Isabel; González Maya, José F.; Bou, Nadia; Giraldo, Alan; Martino, Angela; Miyaki, Cristina Yumi; Aguirre, Luis F.; Cosacov Martinez, Andrea; Milián García, Yohamel; Prosdocimi, Laura; Ramírez Bravo, O. Eric; Tovar, Luis Antonio; Velez Zuazo, Ximena; Barrios, Mercedes; Herrera Fernández, Bernal; Montiel Villalobos, María G.; Oliveira Miranda, María A.; Pool, Monique; Santos Murgas, Alonso; Segovia Salcedo, Maria Claudia; Cecchi, Felipe; Dans, Armando J.; Lima, Sergio M. Q.; Pelz Serrano, Karla; Rodríguez, Iris; van der Meer, Liesbeth; Zapata Ríos, Galo
• Año de publicación: 2024
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PRACTICES; CONSERVATION MANAGERS; GENETIC RESEARCHERS; PARTNERSHIPS; LOCAL KNOWLEDGE; ENDANGERED SPECIES; IMPORTANT CONSERVATION AREAS
• Institución: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

Introduction: Integrating genetic data into conservation management decisions is a challenging task that requires strong partnerships between researchers and managers. Conservation in Latin America is of crucial relevance worldwide given the high biodiversity levels and the presence of hotspots in this region. Methods: We conducted a survey across Latin America to identify gaps and opportunities between genetic researchers and conservation managers. We aimed to better understand conservation managers’ points of view and how genetic research could help conservation practitioners to achieve their goals, by implementing genetic assessments that could effectively inform conservation practices. We distributed an online survey via four regional collaborating organizations and 32 focal points based in 20 Latin American countries. The target respondents were conservation managers of species or areas in Latin America. Results: We collected a total of 468 answered questionnaires from 21 Latin American countries. Most respondents (44%) were from an academic or research institution while non-academics were mainly from non-governmental institutions (30%) and government agencies (25%). Most respondents (65%) have performed or used genetic assessments in their managed area or species, either alone, in partnership, contracting someone else or using published results. For the majority of this group, the genetic results were relevant to their conservation management goals, helping to inform management decisions. Respondents that had not performed genetic assessments (35%) were mainly from the non-academic group, and their main barriers were limited access to funds, genetic lab facilities, and trained personnel to design studies and conduct lab work. Discussion: From the findings, we describe the current situation and provide a general diagnosis of the conservation-genetics gap in Latin America. We describe the gender gap, academic-practitioner co-development of conservation questions and projects, and the nationality and residency of Latin American conservation managers in relation to the countries where they work. We discuss opportunities to co-create research questions and co-develop studies based on conservation practitioners’ needs. We offer recommendations for overcoming barriers to integrate genetic information into conservation actions, and advance agendas that fit the needs and realities of the highly heterogeneous, biodiverse and challenging Latin American region.
Fil: Napolitano, Constanza. Universidad de Los Lagos; Chile
Fil: Clavijo, Cristhian. No especifíca;
Fil: Rojas Bonzi, Viviana. Instituto de Investigacion Biologica del Paraguay; . University of Florida. Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation; Estados Unidos
Fil: Miño, Carolina Isabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas; Argentina
Fil: González Maya, José F.. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana; México
Fil: Bou, Nadia. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas "Clemente Estable"; Uruguay
Fil: Giraldo, Alan. Universidad del Valle; Colombia
Fil: Martino, Angela. Universidad Nacional Experimental Francisco de Miranda; Venezuela
Fil: Miyaki, Cristina Yumi. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasil
Fil: Aguirre, Luis F.. Universidad Mayor de San Simón; Bolivia
Fil: Cosacov Martinez, Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina
Fil: Milián García, Yohamel. University Of Guelph. Department Of Integrative Biology.; Canadá
Fil: Prosdocimi, Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentina
Fil: Ramírez Bravo, O. Eric. Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla; México
Fil: Tovar, Luis Antonio. Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina; Perú
Fil: Velez Zuazo, Ximena. Smithsonian National Zoological Park and Conservation Biology Institute; Estados Unidos
Fil: Barrios, Mercedes. Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala;
Fil: Herrera Fernández, Bernal. Universidad de Costa Rica; Costa Rica
Fil: Montiel Villalobos, María G.. Red Latinoamericana de Genética para la Conservación; México
Fil: Oliveira Miranda, María A.. Red Latinoamericana de Genética para la Conservación; Venezuela
Fil: Pool, Monique. No especifíca;
Fil: Santos Murgas, Alonso. Universidad de Panamá; Panamá
Fil: Segovia Salcedo, Maria Claudia. Universidad de Las Fuerzas Armadas. Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida y la Agricultura.; Ecuador
Fil: Cecchi, Felipe. Universidad de Los Lagos; Chile
Fil: Dans, Armando J.. Universidad de las Regiones Autónomas de la Costa Caribe Nicaragüense; Nicaragua
Fil: Lima, Sergio M. Q.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte; Brasil
Fil: Pelz Serrano, Karla. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Lerma; Colombia
Fil: Rodríguez, Iris. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras; Honduras
Fil: van der Meer, Liesbeth. Oceana Chile; Chile
Fil: Zapata Ríos, Galo. Wildlife Conservation Society; Estados Unidos