Conservation of the Bay-breasted Cuckoo and Neotropical Migrants in the Sierra de Bahoruco National Park, Dominican Republic

Region:	Sierra de Bahoruco National Park, southwestern Dominican Republic
Partner:	Grupo Jaragua
Initiation:	July 2006

Bay-breasted Cuckoo. Photo: Lance Woolaver

The Park and its avifauna face threats from degradation and fragmentation of habitat from logging and slash-and-burn agriculture, and from illegal hunting. Some of habitat loss is a result of incursions by illegal Haitian immigrants; the western boundary of the park is the international border with Haiti.

Objectives: Expand the park size toward the north to include critical areas for the Bay-breasted Cuckoo, and improve protection of the park and surrounding areas through community involvement.

Actions:
1. Safeguard Sierra de Bahoruco National Park from further incursions by improving park staff patrolling and protection of the southern boundary of the Park.
2. Extend the park boundary along the northwestern border to include critical habitat for endemic and migratory bird species.
3. Establish a monitoring program through training and building capacity of park staff to identify migratory and resident bird species.
4. Develop nature trails at two sites in the park to increase environmental awareness and assist with park sustainability.
5. Increase tourism, both domestic and international, that will benefit the local economy.

Accomplishments:
1. Two workshops have been held to train park guards in patrolling protocols and monitoring techniques.
2. Promotional materials have been produced for park visitors.
3. One signed ecological trail for environmental education of park visitors has been constructed.

More information on Demographics, breeding biology and conservation of Hispaniolan birds.

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