ORANJESTAD, Aruba — Aruba Shoco Conference 2026 will bring local and international owl and conservation experts together at JOIA Aruba by Iberostar in September to strengthen efforts to protect the island’s endemic Shoco.
Aruba Birdlife Conservation is helping organize the international gathering, which will focus on scientific research, habitat protection, rehabilitation, education and cooperation among conservation organizations, government, communities and the tourism industry.
The Shoco, Aruba’s distinctive burrowing owl, is found naturally only on the island and has become one of the country’s most recognizable symbols.
Aruba Shoco Conference 2026 Focuses on Conservation
The conference is expected to take place at JOIA Aruba by Iberostar from September 7 through September 10, according to the latest local announcement.
Earlier announcements connected with the World Owl Conference listed activities from September 6 through 10, so September 6 may involve additional conference programming, registration or arrival activities.
The gathering will give specialists an opportunity to exchange knowledge about owl conservation while placing particular attention on challenges facing island populations.
Aruba’s Shoco will play a central role in those discussions.
Aruba Birdlife Conservation President Greg Peterson said the objective is to turn scientific knowledge into practical protection for the species.
Habitat Loss Among Major Shoco Threats
The Shoco faces several pressures across Aruba.
Habitat loss caused by construction and development remains one of the most serious concerns, particularly when nesting areas disappear or become disturbed.
Traffic can also create dangers when Shocos establish burrows close to roads.
Free-roaming dogs and cats can threaten the birds, while human activity around nesting areas can cause additional disturbance.
Conservation organizations have responded by protecting natural nests, creating artificial burrows and educating communities about how to recognize and safeguard Shoco habitat.
Experts to Discuss Research and Rehabilitation
The Aruba Shoco Conference 2026 will bring together professionals working in several areas of owl conservation.
Topics are expected to include scientific research, habitat management, rehabilitation of injured birds and methods for monitoring populations.
Education will also form an important part of the program.
Aruba has already introduced community-based programs aimed at increasing awareness of the Shoco, including artificial nesting projects, Shoco Ambassador training and conservation initiatives involving schools and hotels.
The conference is expected to explore how these programs can be strengthened and how international experience can be applied locally.
Tourism Sector Joins Conservation Efforts
JOIA Aruba by Iberostar has become involved in several Shoco conservation initiatives in cooperation with Aruba Birdlife Conservation.
The resort has developed Shoco Boulevard, an educational wildlife corridor incorporating native vegetation and artificial burrows.
Iberostar also participates in a conservation partnership with other Aruba hotels aimed at supporting Shoco protection.
Hosting international conservation experts gives Aruba’s tourism sector another opportunity to demonstrate how hotels and other businesses can contribute to protecting biodiversity.
Conference Honors David H. Johnson
The gathering will also recognize the contribution of international owl expert David H. Johnson, who has played an important role in the development of Shoco conservation efforts in Aruba.
Johnson, associated with the Global Owl Project, has worked with Aruba Birdlife Conservation and local conservation professionals on Shoco research, artificial nesting and relocation techniques.
Aruba Conservation Foundation says its Shoco conservation program, established in 2017 with Aruba Birdlife Conservation, has benefited from Johnson’s expert guidance.
His work has helped provide technical knowledge for protecting nests and improving conservation strategies on the island.
Better Population Data Still Needed
Although previous estimates have suggested roughly 200 breeding pairs of Shoco on Aruba, conservation authorities indicate that updated population research is still necessary.
Recent government information refers to approximately 200 registered nests, but a registered nest does not automatically represent a current breeding pair.
Aruba Conservation Foundation’s long-term conservation framework calls for a new population baseline and monitoring program to establish a clearer picture of the species’ status.
That research need is one reason international scientific cooperation remains important.
Protecting an Aruba National Symbol
The Aruba Shoco Conference 2026 aims to strengthen cooperation between scientists, conservationists, government agencies, communities and tourism businesses.
Organizers hope the discussions will result in practical measures that protect habitat, improve research and encourage residents and businesses to participate in conservation.
For Aruba, protecting the Shoco is not only about preserving a bird species.
It also means protecting a unique part of the island’s biodiversity and national identity for future generations.
Update: Genetic work finds a highly distinct population
Cynthia Steiner of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said genetic material from Aruba’s Shoco differs strongly from owl populations studied elsewhere, including nearby Venezuela. She also cited differences in vocalizations, morphology, size and color.
Scientists plan conservation-status review
The research team plans to publish its findings, present them to the scientific community and make a case to the International Union for Conservation of Nature for the population to be recognized as a distinct conservation unit. The final scientific classification and any status change remain pending.
Update source: Diario.
