Frontal view of the Wishiwilly Centre.

The Iguana Research & Breeding Station (IRBS) is a project of the Bay Islands Foundation, a non profit organization that focus it’s efforts in the protection and conservation of nature. The IRBS started to work in 1997 with the primary objective of protecting the black iguana Ctenosaura bakeri, this species is in the Red list of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and is endemic to Utila Island, the smallest of the Bay Islands.

C. bakeri. © Fernando Alonso.

Within the project “Environmental Education with the Children of the Local Schools to Promote the Awareness and the Importance of the Conservation of Nature in Utila Island” the IRBS will be able to build an Environmental Education Classroom (EEC) to strengthen the already existing environmental education program, giving the children an opportunity to have a better atmosphere to receive talks, participate in environmental activities and have the basic educational tools and facilities in order to be in a comfortable and proper area to develop planned activities. The EEC will also function as a junior study and research centre, laboratory, and an audio-visual projection room to promote an environmental culture through documentaries, films, lectures, and presentations. It will also serve as a centre where the kids can get support to discover and learn important technological tools completely free of charge under the permanent supervision of the volunteers and staff members of the IRBS.

The project has as main goal to increase the awareness in the children and encourage the protection and respect of nature, through a systematic program of environmental education. It will also promote positive thoughts in the children’s mind changing their attitude towards nature and unique natural resources that Utila offers to them and the future generations. As a main outcome the kids should engage actively in the conservation of their resources and thus have a multiplying effect in their homes.