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| Creating New Protected Areas in the Pacific Islands of Northwest Mexico |
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There are only ~ 200 adult Guadalupe Island pines left, all over 100 years old. These Mexican conservationists are raising seedlings inside an area fenced to exclude introduced species. © Island Conservation |
Just 20 islands off the Pacific coast of the Mexican states of Baja California and Baja California Sur hold more than sixty species that are found nowhere else in the world, as well as 11 threatened species and very important seabird, seal, and sealion colonies. Remarkably, the area even includes four sites recognized by the Alliance for Zero Extinction. Unfortunately, a small number of introduced species have already caused extinctions and continue to pose significant threats. An enormous opportunity exists to humanely eliminate the threat caused by these species.
Much of the similar habitat on the mainland is highly valued coastal real estate and threatened by agricultural and urban development on both sides of the US-Mexico border. However, with one exception, these islands have only small settlements, which are dependent on marine resources and hence have few impacts on the islands. A team headed by Island Conservation, with funding from the Global Conservation Fund at Conservation International, is now working with the Mexican National Protected Areas Commission to establish a carefully-zoned biosphere reserve and marine buffer across the 17 islands that are not yet protected.
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| Learn more about the California Floristic Province hotspot. |
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| New National Park in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest |
The newly created Serra do Itajaí National Park spans 57,000 hectares in the southern Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Green = forest cover (1995). | |
On June 7, 2004, the Brazilian government created the Serra do Itajaí National Park that covers 57,000 hectares in the state of Santa Catarina, making it the third largest reserve in the Atlantic Forest. First discussed as a potential protected area 25 years ago, the new park protects incredibly rich biodiversity thanks to the high quality forest cover and diverse hydrography, topography, and geology. The importance of the park is further evident in the fact that over 500,000 inhabitants of neighboring cities depend on waters that are gathered by the park’s forests. The elevation of the park ranges between 80 and 1039 meters comprising three zones of Dense Ombrofila Forest: sub-montane, montane, and high-montane.
Several threatened and endemic species occur in the park including the birds buffy-fronted seedeater Sporophila frontalis and vinaceous parrot Amazona vinacea, and the plants Nectandra megapotamica, Ocotea pretiosa and Dicksonia sellowiana. The park also provides refuge for the South American tapir Tapirus terrestris, bush dog Speothos venaticus, and shrewish short-tailed opossum Monodelphis sorex. The park should prove to be of great benefit to the regional economy through ecotourism and cultural tourism, as well as serving as a source of important scientific research.
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| Learn more about the Atlantic Forest Hotspot |
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| Award-winning Teams Protect Biodiversity in the Hotspots |
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A team working to conserve the Andean mountain cat received a prestigious follow-up grant from the BP Conservation Programme. © James Sanderson |
Twenty-nine young teams working on a range of globally threatened species and habitats from 23 countries across the world will be awarded a total of $600,000 this year by the BP Conservation Programme - the most awarded in the programme's 14-year history. Nineteen of these teams are carrying out work in 11 of the biodiversity hotspots. These annual awards aim to address global conservation priorities at a local level by assisting and encouraging student-led teams of young people who are undertaking important conservation projects globally. The BP Conservation Programme is a partnership between BP, BirdLife International, Fauna & Flora International, Conservation International, and the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Three top 'Consolidation' awards of $75,000 each are being given to the best continuing conservation projects that the Programme has helped to seed since its inception. The first of these builds on a series of successful short-term bat conservation projects in the Madagascar hotspot. The team aims to create an independent and self-sustaining national conservation organization called Bat Conservation Madagascar. The work will include bat-plant interactions, cave conservation, species ecology and the role of bats in maintaining biodiversity. Another of the Consolidation awards is being given to a team working towards protecting threatened birds of Bolivia. The project's goal is to help in the conservation of all 29 of Bolivia's globally threatened bird species and the habitats in which they live - primarily in the Tropical Andes hotspot. Along with a range of research and specific conservation measures for these species and habitats, this project aims to develop a national Ornithology Conservation Centre that will provide the infrastructure support needed to develop this work into projects that will permanently conserve the species.
The programme is unique in its combination of scientific and corporate expertise in order to support biodiversity conservation practitioners at a global level. The unparalleled commitment over the last 14 years has meant that, in total, the initiative has now supported more than 250 projects in 74 countries, involving over 2,500 participants globally. Many other corporations are providing support to conservation, but no other cross-sectoral partnership has had such an impact over time in terms of developing future capacity. The BP Conservation Programme is proud to say that through giving small amounts of money to young enthusiastic students, over 85% of those who are supported by the programme go on to work in the fields of conservation and development; and projects initiated by these students in an overwhelming number of cases continue and grow from this seed of support provided.
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| Learn more about the BP Conservation Programme and the 2004 awards. |
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| Rediscovery of the Critically Endangered Cozumel Thrasher |
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The Cozumel thrasher Toxostoma guttatum, a bird not seen or recorded by scientists for close to a decade and thought by some to have gone extinct, has recently been sighted by a team of field biologists. A medium-sized bird, similar to a mockingbird, the Cozumel thrasher is found only on the island of Cozumel off the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. The species experienced a precipitous decline in 1988 after Hurricane Gilbert tore through the island. It immediately became rare, but small numbers of the bird were known to exist until it was last sighted in 1995. That same year, Hurricane Roxanne was thought to have eliminated the remaining individuals.
Previous recent expeditions to find the Cozumel thrasher proved futile. In June of 2004, a team of field biologists working in conjunction with Villanova University and the Mexican counterpart of the Island Endemics Institute spotted a single individual, confirming that the species was not yet extinct. The field biologists were on a rediscovery mission sponsored by Conservation International and the American Bird Conservancy.
"This is terrific news for the species," said Dr. George Wallace, vice president for
International Programs at American Bird Conservancy. "It opens a door to a range of possibilities that we hope will lead to the establishment of a protected area if more birds are found." Dr. Russell Mittermeier, president of Conservation International, echoed these sentiments remarking that “the rediscovery of the Cozumel thrasher is a reminder of two key things: the importance of tropical islands for biodiversity conservation, and the importance of never giving up on a species - no matter how rare.”
Although the hurricanes are believed to have had a major negative impact on the birds, scientists believe that other factors must have contributed to the decline, with predatory boa constrictors, which were introduced to the island in 1971 and are now abundant, the likely lead cause. Fortunately, large tracts of suitable habitat remain, and the birds are not hunted or trapped for the pet trade. Formal protection of Cozumel’s habitat would also benefit other species on the island, including at least three endemic and threatened mammal species.
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| Learn more about the Mesoamerica hotspot |
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| CEPF Begins Grant-making in Two Additional Hotspots |
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The rare Caucasian black grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi is endemic to the Caucasus hotspot. © Chris Catton |
The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) recently announced the launch of its 5-year investment strategies for the Caucasus and Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forest hotspots, bringing the total number of hotspots where CEPF is currently awarding grants to thirteen.
In the Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests of Tanzania and Kenya, CEPF's $7 million investment strategy will be awarded as grants to civil society groups to help safeguard the biodiversity hotspot. The Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests are home to over 300 globally threatened species, including many amphibian species found nowhere else in the world and several primate species such as the Endangered Zanzibar red colobus monkey.
CEPF's $8.5 million investment strategy in the Caucasus will focus on engaging civil society in biodiversity conservation in five target areas: Greater Caucasus, Caspian, West Lesser Caucasus, East Lesser Caucasus and Hyrcan. A number of unique and highly threatened species occur in the Caucasus hotspot, such as the Caucasian black grouse and two species of tur, an endemic goat found in the high mountains. The Caucasus includes the countries of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and parts of Russia, Turkey and Iran.
CEPF is a joint initiative of Conservation International, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the World Bank.
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| Learn more about the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund |
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| New Hope for the Taita Hills in East Africa |
The Taita thrush, a Critically Endangered species, is restricted to a tiny area in the Taita Hills. © Luc Lens | |
The remaining forest on the Taita Hills in Kenya is home to three endemic birds and 32 globally threatened species. Among them is the elusive and Critically Endangered Taita thrush Turdus helleri. This ground-dwelling forest bird is now restricted to only four forest fragments, Mbololo, Ngangao, Chawia and Yale. Its estimated global range is only about 3.5 square kilometers. These four, tiny forest fragments are heavily disturbed and extremely vulnerable because of the dense human population surrounding them.
These sites have the very high potential to be targeted for ecotourism given that they are conveniently located near a major highway, they offer spectacular views and the unique biodiversity of the forest will attract any naturalist, particularly bird watchers. Conservation of this unique forest requires integrated planning and action. Fortunately, the Kenya Forests Working Group, with input from Nature Kenya and the local community recently finalized a draft management plan for the Ngangao Forest that aims to prevent further biodiversity and habitat loss at this critical site in East Africa. With this management plan now drafted, there now appears to be renewed hope for the Taita thrush and the other remaining species at the Taita Hills.
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| Learn more about the Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests hotspot |
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