By Antonio Maldonado | Secretary, Board of Directors
Since our last report, at the end of June, we completed the Spanish and English versions of an illustrated, 50-page draft script that introduces and describes this rare ecosystem that is the Pterocarpus Forest. The draft consists of interpretative, educational material on a variety of themes organized around 25 “stops”. These stops start at the Forest entrance, continue along the ¾-mile elevated interior walkway and end at the Observation Tower and Visitors’ Gazebo.
The draft includes or suggests photographs, illustrations, videos and sounds appropriate to each stop or theme (which include topics like recycling in nature, the various methods of seed dispersal in the forest, and the impact of invasive species). The script has been shared for review and editing with Dr. Teresa Lipsett-Ruiz, Dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Technology at the Turabo campus of the Ana G. Mendez University, and members of the faculty. The School, its faculty and its undergraduate and graduate students have conducted research projects within the Forest over the past several years. A meeting to discuss the script has been scheduled for September 11.
The script will eventually be stored, in its entirety, on our website for virtual visits. However, our main focus is on an edited version that will be narrated (available in iPhone and Android versions) while people are within the Forest.
On the technological side of the project, we moved beyond the preliminary design stage with the local tech firm engaged to create the local application, Virtualize.Net. We participated jointly in two, intense 1 ½ hour-long walking tours of the Forest with the Forest’s tour guide, during which we listened to his guided tour presentation, discussed major themes, and flora and fauna of interest, and began to take photographs and videos to guide us in the development of the app. After our last meeting with Virtualize.net, at which we discussed the final draft script, the firm made changes in the application design, including the inclusion of a test audio component. We will be meeting soon to discuss these changes and to initiate the next steps in the technological parts of the process.
The project should be sufficiently advanced for a “dry run” by the end of October. Thank you for your faith in us. We look forward to your support in the future.
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