Grants Awarded 2005

The International Iguana Foundation Announces Grants for 2005

The International Iguana Foundation Board of Directors met on 9 - 10 November 2005 following the ISG meeting in South Andros, Bahamas.  The Board reviewed five proposals requesting a total of  $53,473.  Due to funding constraints the Board was able to award $31,864 to the following five projects or programs, four of which provide direct support to four iguana species ranked Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List:

Restoration of a second subpopulation of wild Grand Cayman Blue Iguanas, Phase 2, $5,864.  Fred Burton, Principal Investigator

This grant provides support for the December 2005 release of an additional 70 two-year old iguanas that will significantly expand the population established in the Salina Reserve in 2004-05.  This release will bring this new wild subpopulation half way to its target size of  200 individuals from 20 founder lines.  Funds will be used to purchase radio transmitters, pay for helicopter rental to transport artificial iguana burrows, and support volunteer field workers.   

IUCN Red List classification:  Critically Endangered

Jamaica Iguana Recovery Program, $9,000. Byron Wilson, PI.

Provides funding to continue this long-running field program and ensures that the primary field biologist, Rick Van Veen, remains on salary on working in Hellshire. Rick's ongoing conservation activities include predator control, protection of nesting sites, research on ecology and habitat requirement of the iguana, monitoring released iguanas (16 in 2005) and radio-tracking hatchling iguanas.

IUCN Red List classification:  Critically Endangered

Conservation of the Anegada iguana: public education, headstart optimization and nest protection, $8,000.  K. Bradley and G. Gerber, PIs.

Supports field research and monitoring of the third consecutive annual release of 24 radiotagged headstarted iguanas, and provides funding to assemble a team to search for iguana nests in July 2006 to ensure a large number of hatchlings are brought into the headstart facility in October. 

IUCN Red List classification:  Critically Endangered

Conservation of the Critically Endangered Fijian crested iguana, $3,000. J.S. Keogh, P. Harlow and S. Morrison, PIs.

Provides support to the ongoing natural history study of the Fijian crested iguana on Yadua Taba that will help answer questions regarding the ecological role they play in the their native forests.  Habitat use, reproductive ecology and juvenile recruitment will be studied. 

IUCN Red List classification:  Critically Endangered

Development of a cost -efficient and effective monitoring program for the Mona iguana population, $6,000. N. Perez-Buitrago, S.M. Funk, W.O. McMillan and M.
Garcia, PIs.

Funds a feasibility study for using non-invasively collected DNA samples (from feces) as a tool for acquiring accurate population estimates.  Using existing density estimates on the  Mona iguana population, workers will compare conventional field methods (mark recapture) with modern lab techniques using genetic markers.  This pilot project has long term implications for field assessments of other endangered iguanas.

IUCN Red List classification:  Endangered

Subsequent to the Board meeting a $3,000 emergency request was awarded to Ernst Rupp (Grupo Jaragua) for a Ricord's Iguana Population Survey on the south shore of Lake Enriquillo, Dominican Republic.

In response to mounting political pressure to convert this area to agriculture, there is an immediate need to document the actual extent of the iguana population and the estimated impact of the proposed habitat conversion.  The south shore of Lake Enriquillo supports a major population of Ricord's iguana but do not have legal protective status at present.  Imminent conservation measures need to be implemented to protect this area.

IUCN Red List classification:  Critically Endangered