Manchester to the World: Panama Wildlife Conservation

Manchester to the World: Panama Wildlife Conservation

Join Dr. Luis Ureña from Panama Wildlife Conservation Charity (PWCC) for an engaging talk showcasing four of their flagship projects that are helping to secure Panama’s ecological legacy.

Learn about the Harlequin Toad Initiative, a partnership project with PWCC, Manchester Museum and the University of Manchester, protecting one of the most iconic and endangered amphibians in Central America.

Explore the Ara Panama Project, where science and community converge to protect the critically endangered Great Green Macaw. Delve into the Jaguars of Azuero programme, which empowers local communities and biologists to monitor and protect Panama’s apex predators.

And, finally, discover LEAF Wildlife, our innovative reforestation e-platform that links tree planting to PWC’s wildlife conservation, allowing supporters to take part in restoring native habitats and supporting PWC’s projects. Each of these projects exemplifies how science, community engagement, and sustainable practices can transform conservation from concept into action.

Talk Format

• Chaired by Matthew O’Donnell, Curator of Herpetology at Manchester Museum.
• 45-minute talk with 15-minute Q&A.
• Talks will be filmed, and videos will be made available shortly afterwards on Manchester Museum and University of Manchester websites.

Part of our Manchester to the World talk series looking at the work Manchester Museum does to connect communities locally and globally to forge a more inclusive, hopeful future. This public lecture hosted by Manchester Museum, in collaboration with the University of Manchester, will delve even deeper into some of the issues raised by our partnership work with our international partners.

This series is part of the University’s support for lifelong, flexible learning, aimed at supporting people’s aspirations and learning needs at every stage of their lives. Through public lectures, we aim to provide access to a Manchester education for all.

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Dr. Luis Ureña

Dr. Luis Ureña (Ph.D., Molecular Biology) is a Panamanian conservationist, scientist, and professional photographer. He founded PWC in 2016 to support conservation in key biodiversity areas in Panama and he works tirelessly to connect global audiences with local conservation initiatives. Based in London, Luis has spent over a decade leading projects that protect endangered species and support rural communities in Panama.

Matthew O’Donnell

Matthew is an experienced herpetologist, conservationist and molecular ecologist who has been a part of the Museum’s Vivarium for 10 years. Driven by a passion for the natural world, he strives to combine science communication and cutting-edge research to help conserve some of the rarest species in the world. As curator of herpetology, his goal is to develop partnerships with NGOs, local/international communities and researchers through the lens of amphibian conservation, as a route to deliver on our mission to build understanding between cultures and a more sustainable world. In addition to his primary job functions, Matthew is also completing a PhD in molecular ecology – ‘Environmental DNA metabarcoding as a conservation tool for monitoring endangered herpetofauna’.

More information about the Harlequin Toad Initiative

The Harlequin Toad Initiative is an inspiring partnership project between the museum, Panama Wildlife Conservation charity (PWCC) and the Faculty of Medicine, Biology and Health at the University of Manchester. Collectively, we are working with local communities to help protect the remaining habitat and populations of this endangered species, as well as creating a captive bred assurance population in the Vivarium. The Vivarium’s amphibians are small in size but huge in significance. They are living ambassadors for sustainability, conservation and collaboration across continents.