Conservation of the El Oro Parakeet at Buenaventura
Reserve, Ecuador
Region: |
Ecuador,
near the town of Piñas, El Oro Province |
Partner: |
Fundación
Jocotoco |
Initiation: |
May 2005 |
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|
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| El Oro Parakeet. Photo: Fundación
Jocotoco |
Introduction: Within
the 1,500 hectare (3,700 acre) Buenaventura Reserve, elements
of the northern Choco forest and southern Tumbesian region mix
to form one of the ornithologically richest sites in Ecuador.
This area is threatened by deforestation for pasturelands and
habitat degradation and fragmentation for farming and lumber.
Buenaventura Reserve is home to the Endangered
El Oro Parakeet (Pyrrhura orcesi). It protects a
narrow zone of cloud forest habitat on the otherwise seasonally
dry west slope of the Andes, and provides habitat for 300
species of birds. Besides the parakeet, this area is home
to a host of unique and threatened birds, including the Endangered
Gray-backed Hawk (Leucopternis occidentalis), and
Vulnerable species such as the Rufous-headed Chachalaca (Ortalis
erythroptera), Ochre-bellied Dove (Leptotila ochraceiventris),
Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium nubicola), Little
Woodstar (Chaetocercus bombus), Pacific Royal Flycatcher
(Onychorhynchus occidentalis), Gray-breasted Flycatcher
(Lathrotriccus griseipectus), Ochraceous Attila (Attila
torridus), Long-wattled Umbrellabird (Cephalopterus
penduliger), and Rufous-necked Foliage-Gleaner (Syndactyla
ruficollis).
Objective: To
expand the Buenaventura Reserve to 5,000 ha (12,000 acres)
and to protect the critical nesting area of the El Oro Parakeet.
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| Photo: Fundación ProAves |
Actions:
1. Acquire land to protect the core breeding population and
habitat of the El Oro Parakeet around the Buenaventura Reserve.
2. Restore the reserve's forests.
3. Ensure there is a team of well-equipped and trained staff
to protect the reserve.
4. Build two ecolodges as to promote the necessary bird tourism
to generate income and protect the Reserve.
5. Convert old roads into ecological routes.
Accomplishments:
1. Purchased 436 ha (1,077 acres) of land for reserve.
2. Constructed a lodge for housing tourists who wish to visit
the site, with five bedrooms with private bathrooms.
3. Excellent road and trail access has been completed.
For more information about this project
or ABC’s work in Ecuador, contact
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Mission and Vision 
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