CATIE Graduate Begins Doctoral Research on Harpy Eagles in Darién

• The institution takes pride in its graduates who continue to excel internationally, reflecting CATIE's commitment to training professionals capable of leading high-impact conservation projects.

Fabio Díaz-Santos, a Nicaraguan national and a 2017 graduate of CATIE's Master's in Management and Conservation of Tropical Forests and Biodiversity, has begun his Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior at Boise State University, Idaho. His research focuses on the conservation of the harpy eagle in the Darién forest, Panama. This project is supported by The Peregrine Fund and involves collaboration with indigenous communities.

During his time at CATIE, Díaz-Santos was mentored by Dr. Bryan Finegan and Dr. Sergio Vílchez. Since graduating, he has worked as a field biologist and data analyst on conservation projects across Central America’s five great forests. His experience includes studies on jaguars and their prey, avifauna, vegetation, ecological restoration, carbon storage, and socioeconomic projects, collaborating with organizations such as Wildlife Conservation Society and Fauna & Flora.

As a doctoral student, Díaz-Santos will work in Dr. Jen Cruz's Quantitative Conservation Lab and Dr. Trevor Caughlin's Quantitative Lab, both within Boise State University’s Department of Biological Sciences.

For his doctoral research, Díaz-Santos will analyze satellite imagery to quantify forest loss in Darién over the past three decades and its impact on harpy eagle territorial occupation. Additionally, he will assess the benefits of ecological restoration efforts led by indigenous communities and their connection to the recovery of this iconic species.

This project is financially supported with nearly $250,000 from The Peregrine Fund, an organization that collaborates with Emberá and Wounaan indigenous communities in conserving the harpy eagle and associated biodiversity.

The Darién forest is a key area for biodiversity and a vital territory for the communities that inhabit it, who have played a crucial role in protecting these ecosystems. Integrating their traditional knowledge with scientific tools represents an innovative model for biodiversity conservation.

CATIE celebrates the international impact of its graduates and highlights Fabio Díaz-Santos' work as an example of the institution’s commitment to training professionals who lead high-impact conservation projects. His work at Boise State University and in Darién reinforces the importance of applied scientific research in the sustainable management of natural resources.

We congratulate Fabio Díaz-Santos on this new achievement and wish him success in his research, which will undoubtedly provide valuable knowledge for the conservation of tropical forests and their emblematic species.

Interview:

1. ¿What key learnings from your time at CATIE have been crucial for your professional development and current research?

professional development and current research? During my time at CATIE, learning statistical tools and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) sparked my interest in ecological data analysis. These skills were fundamental in advancing my professional development in natural forest conservation, wildlife studies, landscape restoration, and social projects with NGOs in Central America.

This accumulated experience was instrumental in my selection by a high-level team at Boise State University and The Peregrine Fund, who have extensive expertise in raptor conservation. For my Ph.D. program, I will analyze data collected from the Conservation Program led by The Peregrine Fund and indigenous communities in Darién for over two decades. My goal is to assess how forest loss over the past 30 years has affected harpy eagle breeding territories in the province. Additionally, I will study how landscape restoration efforts led by Emberá and Wounaan indigenous communities in Darién are benefiting the harpy eagle in this Latin American region. 

2. What are the biggest challenges in harpy eagle conservation in Darién, and how does your research aim to address them?

 Harpy eagle conservation in Darién faces major challenges due to habitat degradation. The lack of proper management measures has allowed for the expansion of logging activities and road construction, which not only fragment the forest but also facilitate illegal hunting. These factors accelerate vegetation loss, convert forests into pastures, and reduce landscape connectivity, creating an unsuitable environment for the species. The decline in suitable nesting trees threatens harpy eagle reproductive success, while ecosystem disruption affects prey availability, increasing pressure on eagle populations.

Our research aims to address these challenges by analyzing forest loss in Darién over the last 30 years and its impact on harpy eagle breeding territories. These data will help improve or incorporate new elements into existing conservation strategies in Panama, ensuring more effective habitat management for the species.

By doing so, our research will not only contribute to the understanding of the species but also inform conservation policies and habitat management strategies that actively involve local communities, promoting the sustainability of the ecosystem in which this raptor, currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, resides.

3. How can collaboration with indigenous communities strengthen the conservation of this species and its habitats?

Indigenous communities are the rightful owners of the territories where the harpy eagle lives and play a fundamental role in its conservation. They coexist directly with these ecosystems and depend on the natural resources provided by the forests for their livelihood and culture. Their involvement in any initiative ensures the sustainability of conservation actions because they have inhabited these lands for generations and will continue to do so, preserving the forests as a legacy for the future.

Moreover, forest conservation benefits both the harpy eagle and the communities, as both rely on the same ecosystem services, such as water regulation, food provision, protection from extreme climate events, and maintaining a functional ecosystem. Keeping these forests healthy is essential for the species' survival and for the well-being of the communities protecting them.

For over two decades, local indigenous communities have been active partners in the Harpy Eagle Conservation Project in collaboration with The Peregrine Fund. They participate in nest monitoring, environmental education, and habitat protection. Their traditional knowledge, combined with scientific tools, strengthens conservation strategies and reinforces the connection between people and the forest, ensuring sustainable management that benefits biodiversity and future generations.

4. How do you hope your research findings will contribute to future conservation strategies in other regions with threatened species?

Our research findings have great potential to contribute to the design of effective conservation strategies, not only for the harpy eagle but also for other threatened species in different regions. The methodology we are developing is flexible and replicable, allowing its adaptation and application in other ecological contexts, whether for raptor conservation or other species dependent on the preservation of intact habitats.

The data generated during this research will serve as a strong foundation for future comparative studies, providing valuable insights into ecosystem dynamics, the impacts of habitat loss, and common threats faced by species in similar situations. This information can be used to develop adaptive approaches and replicable management strategies in other regions of Central and South America, where harpy eagle populations and other threatened species face similar ecological challenges, such as habitat fragmentation, the need for ecological restoration, and conservation landscape strategies through the creation of biological corridors.

Thus, our research will not only strengthen harpy eagle conservation in Panama but also contribute to the development of new conservation strategies benefiting other threatened species worldwide.