Interview with Francinie
On 11 November 2021, an interview with Greentalist alumni Francinie Guido was published, highlighting her passion for bat conservation and the creation of Jardines Faunamigables (Wildlife-friendly Gardens). This initiative inspires people to transform their own backyards into spaces that support biodiversity and urban wildlife.
An idea was born
As a young biologist involved in conservation, I noticed a shift in people’s perception of their backyards right after the 2020 quarantines. Suddenly, they realized their yards were more alive than they had imagined. They began listening to different bird songs, while previously unseen bugs appeared in their potted plants. At night, frogs jumped across lawns, and bats flew overhead. Consequently, my colleagues from the Bat Conservation Program of Costa Rica (PCMCR) and I received many emails and DMs. People asked how they could make their yards safe for animals. They inquired which plants were suitable and how to help native bees. These moments inspired the idea of turning these spaces into wildlife-friendly gardens.
When I had the chance to participate in a conference organized by Natural Resource Management students at a local university, I shared practical tips for creating wildlife-friendly gardens. However, I wanted to reach beyond students already involved in wildlife conservation. Therefore, I aimed to engage neighbors and followers who asked for advice through Instagram. This approach allowed me to connect with people directly interested in transforming their backyards into wildlife-friendly gardens.
I wanted to launch a project promoting wildlife-friendly gardens as safe spaces for urban wildlife. Importantly, urban wildlife plays a crucial role in keeping green patches alive. They help these areas grow through pollination and seed dispersal. Additionally, green patches provide nourishment and refuge for animals. Moreover, gardens and yards act as stepping stones, allowing wildlife to safely reach nearby forest fragments.
Jardines Faunamigables came to life thanks to Greentalist
Finally, in 2021, I launched wildlife-friendly gardens through Jardines Faunamigables after receiving seed funding as a first-generation Greentalist Nacional member. With this support, I started a nursery of native plant species. Then, with my colleagues from the Bat Conservation Program, we organized an online campaign to encourage people to use their gardens for small wildlife conservation efforts. Additionally, we launched a citizen science project on iNaturalist, allowing participants to document wildlife in their gardens through photographs. Furthermore, we conducted two online workshops with participants from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, and Colombia. In these sessions, over 50 participants learned garden design foundations, safe wildlife-friendly practices, and how to use mobile apps for citizen science and conservation. Finally, Costa Rican attendees received plant kits and gardening booklets to enhance their yards.
This is only the beginning
Recently, the Jardines Faunamigables project received a donation of native plants. In collaboration with The School for Field Studies (SFS), we will place these plants in an experimental pollinator garden. Moreover, this is just the beginning! My fellow conservationists and I, from the Bat Conservation Program, are maintaining the nursery to share native plants with other conservation and restoration initiatives. Additionally, we will continue our online campaign and interactive workshops. I strongly believe that small environmental efforts accumulate into significant changes over time. Being a Greentalist member motivated and supported me to launch wildlife-friendly gardens, and I feel thrilled seeing people transform their yards into small wildlife oases. If you want to get involved or learn more about Jardines Faunamigables, please contact Francinie at fran.105.gs@gmail.com.
