Free access material available online
On Sept 22 we celebrated the Fauna Protection Day. Established by the Brazilian Federal Senate in 1980, it is intended to raise awareness of the population to the importance of protecting the Brazilian fauna. To celebrate the date, the Institute for the Environment of PUCRS (IMA) is releasing the Reference Guide for Pró-Mata Mammal Footprints.
The purpose of the Guide is to assist teachers, students and researchers carrying out fieldwork and teaching activities inthe Pró-Mata Center for Environmental Research and Conservation, PUCRS’ environmental conservation area located in the city of São Francisco de Paula, in Serra Gaúcha. According to the Center’s science coordinator, Dr Pedro Maria Abreu Ferreira, “the Footprint Guide serves as a simple reference for Pró-Mata’s visitors, regardless of their area of study, as they will have the chance to learn more about the fauna of the region”.
The publication was developed jointly with the Pro-Mata Biodiversity Monitoring Program, which currently conducts monitors with camera traps. There are eight camera traps in trails, in the middle of the forest and other Pró-Mata environments. They are constantly capturing footage of organisms within their radar.
Pró-Mata receives as many as 400 visitors from various institutions every year. The Guide is a way to keep a record of and share insights about the species that can be found in the Center. As Pró-Mata visitors have their backgrounds in different areas, it will be of benefit to everyone. “It can also increase the number of visits to the trails, as visitors will be more attentive to footprints. They probably wouldn’t if they didn’t have a chance to check the Guide,” Ferreira says.
The material is designed in two versions: one for desktop computers and another for smartphones or tablets. Both files are available on the website of IMA for free download (in Portuguese).
