ConocoPhillips and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)

ABC recently entered into a major funding partnership with NFWF and ConocoPhillips to protect bird habitat at a range of key sites for migrant and resident birds in Latin America. This initiative helped match a major grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and other donors, to ensure the conservation of key elements of the region’s avifauna and overall biodiversity.

Through their SPIRIT of Conservation Migratory Bird Program, managed by NFWF, ConocoPhillips has recently contributed more than $250,000 to purchase land for reserves to be managed by ABC partners. These include the now famous Abra Patricia Reserve in northern Peru, known in particular as the location of recent sightings of the extremely rare Long-whiskered Owlet, along with land to expand the Cerulean Warbler reserve in Colombia. ConocoPhillips’ support for these projects further underlines the company’s commitment to conserving migratory and rare resident bird species throughout the American continent where it operates.

"I have only the highest praise and confidence in the projects that ABC is supporting through their trusted friends in Latin America. ABC has a great track record in just-in-time successes in conserving seriously threatened biodiversity in cooperative ventures. I am happy that we at ConocoPhillips have been able to play a part in protecting these wonderful areas." said Steve Gast of ConocoPhillips.

Steve Gast of ConocoPhillips, and Tino Aucca, President of ECOAN, stand in front of the reserve sign at Abra Patricia (left). The company has been a significant supporter of land purchase for the reserve.

Thousands of acres of primary cloud forest have been conserved through this effort, protecting not just birds and other wildlife, but thousands of tons of carbon that would have otherwise been released into Earth’s atmosphere as greenhouse gases had these forests been cut and burned. Species benefiting include the owlet, Ochre-fronted Antpitta, Cerulean Warbler, and Gorgeted Wood-quail.

ConocoPhillips and NFWF have played a key role in helping to build and expand a network of reserves managed by ABC and its partners that now includes close to 50,000 acres, and spans eight countries from Mexico to Brazil. If you would like to join ConocoPhillips in support of this work please contact .