In Panama’s critically important Mamoní Valley Preserve, Geoversity is pioneering biocultural leadership by combining Indigenous knowledge with scientific research to protect a key tropical rainforest corridor home to diverse wildlife and threatened species.
- Mamoní Valley Preserve links vital wildlife habitats across continents.
- Programs combine Indigenous wisdom with modern conservation science.
- Collaborations include Smithsonian, Harvard, and Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots.
What happened
Geoversity transformed a degraded cattle ranch in Panama’s Mamoní Valley into a thriving preserve spanning over 2,000 hectares within one of the world’s richest biodiversity hotspots. This area forms a critical rainforest corridor that supports species like tapirs, jaguars, and five primate species, as well as millions of migratory birds.
Since 2000, Geoversity has developed immersive leadership programs at its off-grid Centro Mamoní research station. These programs integrate scientific research, natural building techniques, and Indigenous ecological knowledge, engaging students actively in watershed restoration, species monitoring, and conservation projects.
Why it feels good
Geoversity’s initiative showcases harmony between human culture and nature through authentic collaboration with Indigenous peoples, treating them as co-creators rather than subjects of conservation. This inclusive approach fosters respect for cultural diversity alongside biological diversity.
The preserve demonstrates sustainable living with eco-friendly infrastructure powered by solar and hydroelectric energy, spotlighting a promising model where environmental stewardship and human habitation coexist peacefully. Partnerships with leading institutions bolster efforts to protect endangered species and preserve vital tropical ecosystems.
What to enjoy or watch next
Follow Geoversity’s ongoing projects, which include endangered frog reintroductions led by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and jaguar population studies through local research groups. The School of Biocultural Leadership welcomes students eager to explore Panama’s ecosystems by sailboat, bike, and foot to gain hands-on conservation experience.
Stay tuned for future collaborative expeditions, leadership conferences like those organized by Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots, and pilot programs promoting non-carbon benefits within Indigenous territories—all contributing to a global movement that honors the inseparability of culture and nature in conservation.