La MICA Biological Station is the dream of Dr. Julie Ray and the people of central Panama. It is a
facility for research and education that focuses on conservation and preservation of the natural areas
within and surrounding Parque Nacional G.D. Omar Torrijos Herrera (Parque Omar) in El Copé,
Province of Coclé, Republic of Panama, while providing sustainable employment for the local people.
La MICA is staffed by persons residing in the nearby communities, and whenever possible, utilizes
local services to support the station. Visitors include researchers, students, general tourists, and local
school children.
The main research station is located near in El Copé on a private plot of land. Our elevation is 400m
and we are located just on the Pacific side of the Continental Divide. See more information on our
location below.
Construction plans include a main facility with laboratories, classrooms, and a library. A lodge
includes a cafeteria, dining hall, and store. A cabin and dormitory and a bathhouse will be located
near the laboratories. In the near future satellite laboratories will be located in communities within
Parque Omar to allow researchers the opportunity to travel and work in more remote locations.
All buildings are as ecologically "green" as possible; most materials used in construction are
recycled or readily renewable resources. Solar panels will generate power for the station, while
energy efficient appliances and power-saving lighting will reduce usage. Biodegradable soaps and
cleaning products will be utilized by cleaning crews and encouraged for all guests.
facility for research and education that focuses on conservation and preservation of the natural areas
within and surrounding Parque Nacional G.D. Omar Torrijos Herrera (Parque Omar) in El Copé,
Province of Coclé, Republic of Panama, while providing sustainable employment for the local people.
La MICA is staffed by persons residing in the nearby communities, and whenever possible, utilizes
local services to support the station. Visitors include researchers, students, general tourists, and local
school children.
The main research station is located near in El Copé on a private plot of land. Our elevation is 400m
and we are located just on the Pacific side of the Continental Divide. See more information on our
location below.
Construction plans include a main facility with laboratories, classrooms, and a library. A lodge
includes a cafeteria, dining hall, and store. A cabin and dormitory and a bathhouse will be located
near the laboratories. In the near future satellite laboratories will be located in communities within
Parque Omar to allow researchers the opportunity to travel and work in more remote locations.
All buildings are as ecologically "green" as possible; most materials used in construction are
recycled or readily renewable resources. Solar panels will generate power for the station, while
energy efficient appliances and power-saving lighting will reduce usage. Biodegradable soaps and
cleaning products will be utilized by cleaning crews and encouraged for all guests.
| About Us |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
 |  |  |
Andrew Hein
| La MICA Biological Station Fundación Centro de Investigación Biológica El Cope, S.A.● Amigos Support La MICA El Copé-La Pintada ● Provincia de Coclé ● Republica de Panama Amigos Support La MICA ● c/o Julie Ray ● 12458 132nd Street ● Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 www.lamica.org ● la.mica@yahoo.com ● t: (011.507)6707.8900 Amigos Support La MICA is a project of the International Humanities Center, a 501c3 nonprofit organization. |
| Location and Habitat La MICA Biological Station is located in El Copé of La Pintada in the province of Coclé in the Republic of Panama. Our location is on the Pacific side of the Continental Divide, but within meters of the Atlantic versant, thus exposing our visitors to the differences between the two habitats. We located at about 420 meters, with nearby mountains peaking at over 1400 meters. Much of the habitat is within the cloud forest, a type of forest that maintains a relatively high humidity even in the dry season because of the low hanging clouds. Our dry season is from mid-December until April, with a slight lull in the rains in July. Average temperatures range from the low 20s to mid 30s C. GPS coordinates are 8°37′12″N, 80°36′0″W and UTM is 17P 544011 952864. La MICA is 7.5 kilometers from Parque Nacional G. D. Omar Torrijos Herrera (also called Omar Torrijos National Park and previously called El Copé National Park). Click here to see an aerial view of the plot for La MICA (located in the center of the screen, just above the river in the treed area. Click here to see an aerial view of the southern limit of Parque Omar. Building to the to of the screen is the ranger station. Scroll around on the map to see other local communities and natural areas. |
| History of La MICA Biological Station La MICA Biological Station has a short, but rich history. The idea for the development of a research facility within or near Parque Omar was born soon after I arrived to conduct my dissertation research in the park in September 2006. I quickly noticed how amazing the cloud forest was and how desperately the local people sought sustainable work. Over the next couple of years I dreamed of the station and drew up rudimentary plans. Ideas came from my own research needs, suggestions from the local people, and input from other biologists and students. The name La MICA is an acronym for La Montaña para Investigación y Conservación Ambiental, or The Mountain for Research and Environmental Conservation. The park director suggested that I not name the Station after a snake as people may have fear to come. I used the full name for a while and then switched to the acronym; mica is the local name for the rat snake Spilotes pullatus. Our initial logo of a cloud and mountains represented the dream of the Station. Our current logo was designed by David Mizelle and was instituted when we became sure the Station could be developed. It wasn’t until October 2008 that things really began rolling. At this time Pablo Santana and I met with a lawyer in Panama City, thanks to Misa El, who put us in contact, and began to establish a foundation in Panama, which would help us develop La MICA Biological Station. The foundation, Centro de Investigación Biológica El Copé, S.A., was born in December 2008. I followed this with establishing a foundation in the United States called Amigos Support La MICA; it is a project of the International Humanities Center, a 501c3 nonprofit organization. IHCenter is our fiscal sponsor and allows for donations to be tax deductible. In early 2009 we began discussions of acquisition of land and Pablo mentioned that his father had a plot just outside of El Copé. We surveyed the area to find it on a steep slope, but along a beautiful river. We talked with his father and were given permission to use the land with the title to Pablo. The land was cleared of underbrush in April 2009. With the foundations established we began fundraising, a task that I have almost single-handedly untaken. In July 2009 we had secured enough funds to build the cabin and followed this with the latrines in September. The dormitory, named El Bosque Dormilon by Marc Milne, was built beginning in October, after a fundraising drive which was highlighted by raising $1289 on 30 September (no donation on that day was greater than $100 and most were just $1-$2!). Funds from payment of our first visitors in 2010 allowed us to finish the dormitory, build the showers and classroom, and furnish the Station with essentials. Our 2009 donations totaled less than $7000, ranged in size from $1 to $500, and averaged just $60.54. These donations came from family, friends, students, and people interested in conservation. We received just one donation from a business and have not secured any grants (but came in second on two). We have no institutional support. Everyone involved in the project has sacrificed greatly. We all have very meager backgrounds. My father works in a cardboard box factory and my mother helps on the neighbor’s farm in northern Wisconsin. Macedonio Pérez did not have steady work before the development of La MICA. Alexander (Ander) Santana drove oranges when in season and drove for me during the time of my research. Pablo worked on his music (stage name Loco Boay) and drove for me. At one point Pablo, Ander, the three children, and I had just $10 in dimes and nickels for 3 days. The adults ate nothing but rice and water for this time. Macedonio worked many hours for free on the construction of the dorm and classroom because there were no funds. Our dish washers still are volunteering their time. Much remains to be done. La MICA Biological Station is incredibly young and vulnerable. We continue to seek funding so our development can continue, but as you may imagine, it is a difficult time to ask for donations or secure grants. However, we have already proven that dedication and personal sacrifice in light of the larger goal can make a very small amount of money go very far. Almost everyone told us this dream was impossible to achieve, but I guess they were wrong! Thank you for being a part of our history. |