In August 2016, Mike Brook and Korie Hickel of ANTHC led a two-day workshop at the GECI offices (Grupo de Ecología y Conservación de Islas) in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. Also in attendance were representatives from the CEC.
The first day of the workshop was dedicated to the role of observers, while the second day focused on hub operations.
GECI is a unique organization with a tremendous amount of scientific expertise in-house. As an organization, it is dedicated to the preservation of Mexico's hundreds of coastal islands. Through their work on those islands, GECI personnel frequently interface with the communities that live there, as well as with fishermen and divers that operate nearby. GECI's vision for LEO is to introduce it to those communities as a way of gathering real-world information from local observers and traditional knowledge-holders. GECI personnel will serve as both LEO hub administrators and subject-matter consultants.
Since the workshop in August, 2016, LEO membership in Mexico has steadily risen (note that the chart below only reflects LEO members that have volunteered their home community when enrolling).
Last Updated Jul 5, 2017
Observations From Members