Reforestation of Critical Wintering Habitat for Neotropical Migrants, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru

Region:	The northern Andes in Colombia (Pauxi pauxi Reserve, Fuertes’s Parrot Reserve, Cerulean Warbler Reserve); Ecuador (Buenaventura Reserve, Tapichalaca Reserve, Jorupe Reserve, Yanacocha Reserve); and northern Peru (Abra Patricia Private Conservation Area and its buffer areas, and Alto Mayo Protected Forest)
Partner:	Fundación ProAves, Fundación Jocotoco, and Asociación Ecosistemas Andinos (ECOAN)
Initiation:	April 2008

Photo: David Wiedenfeld

The value of the reserves and their buffer zones is significant. Some of these are Alliance for Zero Extinction sites in the northern Andes with such species as the Gorgeted Wood-Quail (Odontophorus strophium); Fuertes's Parrot (Hapalopsittaca fuertesi), Black-breasted Puffleg (Eriocnemis nigrivestis), Jocotoco Antpitta (Grallaria ridgelyi) and Ochre-fronted Antpitta (Grallaricula ochraceifrons), as well as numerous other Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable species, not only of birds but mammals and reptiles as well. In addition these areas are home to WatchList species such as Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni), Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus), Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus borealis), Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea), Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera), and Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis).

This project also complements, and is a vital component of, Nearctic-Neotropical migratory bird conservation work ABC and its partners are engaged in the United States. For instance, ABC is working with a variety of partners to protect the Cerulean Warbler throughout its breeding range and migratory routes by improving the protection and management of public and private lands where Cerulean Warblers breed, by reforesting abandoned mine lands in the heart of Cerulean Warbler breeding habitat, and by reducing threats from collisions with communication towers and wind turbines.

Objective: This project will provide direct, measurable benefits on the known wintering grounds of declining Nearctic-Neotropical migrants by protecting lands acquisition, by reforestation and restoration of grazing lands, and through technical workshops and outreach to coffee growers and cattle ranchers in the region to engage them in improving the productivity of their lands for birds.

Photo: David Wiedenfeld

Actions:
1. Protect more than 1,890 hectares (4,670 acres) of habitat through acquisition.
2. Restore more than 904 hectares (2,233 acres) through reforestation.
3. Provide technical workshops and outreach to coffee growers and cattle ranchers in the region to engage them in improving the productivity of their lands for birds.

Accomplishments:
1. April 2008—Proposal accepted.
2. April 2008—Work begun on reforestation in Ecuador and Peru.
3. February 2009—Over 290,000 trees have been planted during this project, the majority in Ecuador. The trees represent about 30 different species.
4. February 2009—Nurseries have been expanded at Shipasbamba, Pomacochas, La Unión, and El Progreso, Peru, and new nurseries established at the Cerulean Warbler Bird Reserve and Fuertes’s Parrot Reserve, in Colombia.
5. March 2009—An international meeting of partners from all three countries was held in Ecuador, to allow partners to share techniques and best practices.

For more information about this project or ABC’s work with Neotropical migrant birds on their wintering grounds, contact