Working with Youth for the Conservation of the Yellow-Naped Amazon
Location:
Ometepe Island, Nicaragua
Art Medium:
Travelling Mural
Partner:
Fauna & Flora-Biometepe
Artist:
None
The Challenge
The yellow-naped parrot is classified as critically endangered (IUCN, 2021) and is in rapid decline due to habitat loss and unsustainable exploitation for wildlife trade. However, as important seed dispersers, these birds are crucial to the health of the tropical forests in which they live. One of the places they call home is Ometepe Island, in Nicaragua. To protect the yellow-naped parrot, it is critical to ensure communities understand and advocate for protection of their rich biodiversity.
The Action
Creative Action Institute and Fauna & Flora worked with 22 young leaders from four Ometepe Island communities to explore the vital role of the yellow-naped parrot in forest health. Through creative workshops, participants built leadership skills and applied them towards advocacy efforts—including community talks, a parrot population census, and a portable mural promoting biodiversity conservation, with emphasis on the yellow-naped parrot.
The Impact
• The traveling mural designed in this CAP continues to be utilized as an educational tool. Its imagery makes complex ideas about conservation more accessible, especially for individuals with limited literacy, helping to engage a wider audience in meaningful conversations about environmental protection.
• The youth leaders showcased the mural at the Expo Ometepe 2024, reaching an audience of 200 people.
• Now housed with our partners at Fauna & Flora, it’s used as a tool to teach local communities about the importance of protecting Ometepe’s biodiversity, in particular, the yellow-naped parrot.
• Young participants developed an increased awareness of the importance of protecting Ometepe Island’s biodiversity, particularly the yellow-naped parrot, and committed to leading conservation and awareness initiatives within their communities. Since the CAP, youth have taken part in conservation efforts including:
• Reforestation projects
• Bird population monitoring and censuses
• Clean-up campaigns
• Environmental awareness talks in primary schools
• Competitions focused on conservation awareness
• Environmental festivals and participation in local and municipal fairs.
"The feeling that this experience left me was one of love and commitment to protecting and conserving the Biodiversity of our Ometepe. I have learned a lot, and I am grateful for this great opportunity because I feel more creative, decisive, and a better leader."