CFVI awarded a grant to Ailen Anido Escalona, with funding from the Judith A. Towle Environmental Studies Fund, to support a comprehensive strategy to address bird trapping and illegal trade in Gibara, Cuba, which severely threaten biodiversity. The project incorporated data monitoring using eBird tools that tracked bird populations and trapping patterns, along with an educational awareness component that provided workshops for educators, and implemented the integration of bird conservation into school curriculum. This initiative reached 1,079 students across urban and rural schools with a strong objective in promoting community engagement through various activities including birdwatching club.
This project received recognition at the local and international level by supporting broader conservation initiatives across Cuba. The project’s holistic approach promoted environmental education, biodiversity enforcement, and community involvement while effectively raising awareness and fostering collaboration. The impact marked progress in protecting Gibara’s avian biodiversity while emphasizing the need for enhanced regulatory measures.