Masatierra Petrel by Peter Hodum
Guest speaker: Peter Hodum
The Juan Fernandez Islands are a remote oceanic archipelago located about 400 miles off the central coast of Chile. The islands are globally recognized for their unique biodiversity, having been designated a UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve and a Chilean National Park. Included in the rich biodiversity of the islands is a seabird community comprised of 6 breeding species, 4 of which are endemic to Chile, including 2 endemic to a single island, Isla Alejandro Selkirk. All four of the species endemic to Chile are also listed globally as Vulnerable. In this talk, Peter will share an overview of the islands and the long-term conservation efforts that he and his colleagues have taken alongside the local community to improve the conservation status of these globally threatened seabirds.
Dr. Hodum is a professor in the Biology Department and the Environmental Policy and Decision-Making Program at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington and the Chile Program Director for Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge, a conservation nonprofit organization. His research focuses primarily on the conservation and ecology of threatened seabirds and island ecosystems in Chile and Washington State. His work also has a strong focus on community-based conservation, including how communities can be more effectively and authentically involved in conservation.