MLR’s “night cameras” and the new species to be discovered in its forest plantations

The nights and the early mornings, when these species are captured on camera, always present realities that we cannot observe during the day. That is why MLR Forestal has invested in two cameras that have waterproof material, motion sensor and infrared vision that allows them to photograph and videotape mainly large mammals that are species that are in a vulnerable situation due to the destruction of the forests.

The location of these night cameras has been possible thanks to the fact that MLR Forestal has 1,715 hectares destined exclusively as conservation areas. Abiécer Soza, responsible for biodiversity of the company, explains that it has been in the forest plantations of the Matis, El Chingo, Danlí, Santa Fe and La Bú farms where more species of animals have been spotted since these lands have larger conservation areas .

The “tigrillo indicator”

Through the lens of this equipment that also works in poor visibility conditions and that remain between three and four days on each farm, “quite a few guatusas, complete herds of coatis, opossums, a tigrillo, squirrels and many species of pigeons that inhabit the undergrowth, ”adds Soza.

For the biologist, the tigrillo captured in the Matis farm has been the most important discovery for what he calls “the indicator tigrillo”, which demonstrates the good quality and conservation of the habitats: “The indicator that I like to use with mammals It is that of the tigrillo because he needs a much larger habitat to hunt his food and if he walks in a place it is because he has the conditions ”.

Future plans with the material obtained

With the audiovisual information that is being obtained, Soza is writing articles on the estimation of biodiversity, but there is also a project to edit the videos to be able to present them to students from the communities near the company as part of the Aula Verde initiative.

MLR Forestal’s farms and plantations are also home to 250 species of birds that have been identified and classified in a catalog that the agroforestry company has made available to the public. Directories of reptiles, amphibians and mammals will also be presented soon.