The Big Toucan Week started in Plaza Belgrano, marking the beginning of a joint initiative between the Municipality of San Salvador de Jujuy, the National University of Jujuy (UNJu) and CONICET to protect and study this emblematic species. They also invited the activities that will continue in the afternoon in the XIbi Xibi Park and will be replicated during the week in various parts of the city.
In this regard, the Secretary of Planning and Environment, Adriana Díaz, highlighted the joint commitment between the Municipality, the National University of Jujuy (UNJu) and CONICET in the protection and study of the emblematic Great Toucan, “we began to work on the issue of Tucán already based on ordinance No. 7337 of 2019, and from there we began to do joint work with the UNJu and CONICET, trying to cover everything that would be the participation of the neighbor in data collection, assembly and identification of the places where the Toucans move, how they eat and so on.”
On the other hand, he highlighted the importance of this species for the city by stating that, “it identifies us as a city, and by having data on this species, other species are cared for and protected. In addition, different activities were carried out in the Municipal Botanical Park, and in different parks in our city, we even have activities on Sunday in the San Martín park with the closing and with the delivery of some certificates.”
The secretary highlighted that around 2,600 pieces of information have already been taken that have been provided by citizens, “that for someone who does research is very important since it is a very large volume of information that is received from different parts of the city.”
For his part, Román Ruggera, researcher at the Institute of Andean Ecoregions, joined the event, highlighting the importance of citizen science in the project, “Citizen Science is a strategy that is becoming more and more common in which not only scientists from career, but citizen scientists, we can all be scientists in some way.”
In addition, Ruggera announced the launch of the project’s website, where citizens can download an application to send their Toucan sighting reports quickly and easily, “the idea is that they can print the photos, and then we will display them on this closing event on Sunday afternoon in Parque San Martín,” added Ruggera, referring to the photography, poetry and reel contests organized for Big Toucan Week.
Agenda of the Week
- On Tuesday the 7ththe team will move to Libertador General San Martín under an agreement established with the Bird Observers Club and schools, who have organized activities of great interest.
- On Wednesday the 8th, Activities will be carried out in the General Belgrano Park of Alto Comedero, in collaboration with NIDO, focused on the participation of primary and secondary schools.
- For Thursday the 9tha series of talks has been scheduled at the Faculty of Agrarian Sciences, aimed mainly at an academic and adult audience.
- Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11thcycles of talks will be held at the Barón Schuell Botanical Park in the Los Perales neighborhood, in collaboration with the park staff.
- On Sunday the 12th, starting at 4 p.m., the grand closing will take place in Parque San Martín. During this event, poetry, photography and reel contests will be held. In addition, there will be live music, raffles and the launch of its own digital application and website, thus facilitating public participation in the collection of toucan sighting data in a simpler and more attractive way.
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