The Future of Bocas
An essential part of Bocas Biodiversity to me is the future of guiding in the stunning archipelago of Bocas del Toro. My dream is that I can help young Bocatoreños become “EcoGuides” as they are the people of this land and know it better than any gringo. Read my post about what my plans are to raise awareness of the often overlooked cultures that paints Bocas in its unique, colorful, Caribbean vibe. It’s time for them to come out of the shadows that tourism has pushed many of them into and for the years that I’ve had the honor of living and working side by side with indigenous Ngäbe, I feel the need to give back to the locals. If you want to help the cause, visit my GoFundMe as we are always in need of funding for transportation of students, bird books, binoculars, school supplies for English workshops.
Bocas del Toro is a hotspot of biodiversity and many folks come to snorkel the reefs, surf the waves and enjoy this island paradise with a piña colada in hand, but many guests to the archipelago leave without getting the true, down to earth experience of all that Bocas has to offer, such as the vast biodiversity that paints this archipelago with the fascinating fauna and flora that exists here.
If I can share what I’ve learned over my five years of guiding in the archipelago I hope these efforts will lead to a new generation of eco-aware guides that can not just find wildlife but present it to visitors in a non-invasive, sustainable manner while educating about these unique, sensitive ecosystems, many at risk due to detrimental human impact, i.e. lack of awareness.
Contact me at stacebird@gmail.com or DM @stacebird on Instagram for information on the ecotours I offer, including birding and wildlife ecotours. I’ll always be joined by a young Bocatoreño ecoguide-in-training who will invariably find the hardest to see species with their hawk-like eyes. I can’t wait to see how they grow a feeling of value in themselves and grow their confidence. If I can do that with even just one or two students, I’ll feel Bocas Biodiversity is a success.
