Reserve Reforestation Projects Take Root

ECOAN staffer showing alder sapling planted recently planted in reforestation project at El Progreso, Amazonas, Peru, Photo: David Wiedenfeld, ABC

In many places throughout Latin America, birds are suffering from a decline in suitable forest habitat. American Bird Conservancy and several of our partner organizations are working from Honduras to Bolivia to reverse this situation at or near some of the bird reserves that American Bird Conservancy has helped establish, benefitting many threatened species.

Recreating forested habitat can take several forms, including reforestation of areas where all of the original trees have been cut, planting trees in areas with commercial crops, or creating tree stands and borders in and around grazing lands (known as silvipasture). For example, some varieties of coffee plants produce better quality coffee and produce for longer if they are shaded by a tree canopy, which also provides habitat for migrant songbirds such as the declining Cerulean Warbler. Living “fencerows” made of trees provide habitat for some birds, while fulfilling a practical function of helping keep cattle in fields.

Re-growing a forest is an intensive process, requiring up to 50,000 seedlings to reforest just 100 acres. The seedlings need to represent a wide variety of native species, so as to as closely replicate the original forest as possible. Harvesting seeds, and growing them in a nursery to the point where they can be transplanted into the field takes space, time, and money.

Ecuador has the most established reforestation program, with about 142,000 broad-leaved trees of 14 species already planted to reforest about 360 acres at four reserves. The program will benefit such endemic species as the endangered El Oro Parakeet and Jocotoco Antpitta, and the critically endangered Black-breasted Puffleg. In Peru, ABC and its partner ECOAN have been reforesting high-altitude Polylepis woodlands for several years for species such as the endangered Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant and the critically endangered Royal Cinclodes.

Transplanting tree seedlings from germination trays to growing bags at ECOAN nursery in Pomacochas, Peru. Photo: David Wiedenfeld, ABC

Also in Peru and in Colombia, other broad-leaved trees are being grown for mid-elevation reforestation efforts. In Peru 21,000 seedlings of 13 species are destined for three sites in the area around Abra Patricia (Bird Calls Vol. 9, No. 2) to benefit the Long-whiskered Owlet, Marvelous Spatuletail, and other endemic birds. In Colombia, nurseries have been established at two reserves, and 10,000 seedlings of 21 species have sprouted, awaiting transplantation for reforestation efforts that will help the critically endangered Gorgeted Wood-Quail and Neotropical migrant birds such as the Cerulean Warbler.

It will take a number of years before a forest planted today resembles the original forest, but it is an investment that will reward future generations of birds with much needed habitat.