By engaging directly with community members and embracing indigenous knowledge in the Bocas del Toro archipelago, a NatGeo project led by a Smithsonian scientist highlights the necessity of inclusive approaches to safeguard critical marine ecosystems and culture for future generations.

During a week in mid-February, Ana Spalding, Cinda Scott and Felipe Baker visited four island communities in the buffer zone of the Isla Bastimentos National Park in the Bocas del Toro archipelago, as part of a NatGeo project aiming to understand the relationship of its indigenous residents to the natural resources of the environment. 

Click on this link to read the article in Smithsonian Magazine.