Conservation Project News

Conservation projects news from the World Land Trust, an international wildlife conservation charity working to protect threatened wildlife habitats worldwide.

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Tuesday, 30 March 2010:

Bird Surveys at Kites Hill, Gloucestershire, UK 

A survey carried out on the use of the bird boxes on the WLT's Kites Hill Reserve confirmed that in the last season two thirds of the tit boxes had been used, with half of them showing evidence that the birds had fledged. It was thought that most had been inhabited by Great Tits and Blue Tits.

WLT's Kites Hill Reserve; a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The Barn Owl boxes have also been occupied although, unfortunately, as yet, not by Barn Owls. Instead Stock Doves and Jackdaws had taken up residence. This is not unusual as owls can take a few years to nest in boxes and frequently use them as roost sites before making a nest. Tawny Owl boxes will also be installed later in the year.

The ongoing work by British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) continues to be an important element on the ancient Beech woodland reserve at Kites Hill. The woodland is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is managed in line with Natural England's prescriptions for this habitat type. The BTCV group have recently removed non-native sycamore trees, carried out coppicing and felled a 30m ash tree that had become uprooted during the winter's heavy snows.

How you can help

During a trip to Kites Hill in July 2009 WLT staff saw a Red Kite flying approximately 2 miles from the reserve. If you have seen a Red Kite on, or near, Kites Hill we would love to hear about it. Please email Mary Tibbett at mtibbett*AT*worldlandtrust.org. (Please replace *AT* with @ in your email To field.)

Labels: UK

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Thursday, 25 March 2010:

Project Partner from Paraguay visits WLT 

In February, Cristina de Penayo from Guyra Paraguay spent three weeks working in the World Land Trust (WLT) office in Halesworth, Suffolk. As an Administrative Manager with Guyra Paraguay, it was particularly useful for her to be able to work alongside the WLT's Accounts team, and the shared experiences will improve communications between our two organisations.

Guyra Paraguay's Administrative Manager Cristina de Penayo in RSPB's reserve at Minsmere in Suffolk.

The WLT encourages exchange visits with our partners; while it is important for WLT staff to know what is happening in the field, it is also important for our partners to see how fundraising is carried out in the UK, and how their reports to the WLT are used.

An important aspect for Cristina, as with many of our partners, was having English lessons with a local teacher, as English is increasingly used within the conservation field. The WLT also organised visits to RSPB, BirdLife International, as well as to local nature reserves, where Cristina was lucky enough to get a glimpse of the elusive Bittern.

Learn more about WLT's Paraguay project

Guyra Paraguay and the WLT are taking vital action to save the Paraguay Chaco-Pantanal, Dry Chaco and Atlantic Forest.

Labels: Paraguay

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Friday, 12 March 2010:

180,000 trees planted at Cerro Blanco, Ecuador 

World Land Trust's Ecuadorian partners Fundación Pro-Bosque have been busy with their reforestation programme in the Cerro Blanco Protected Forest.

Top: Volunteers helping to plant trees in Cerro Blanco. Photo © Fundación Pro-Bosque. Above: The critically-endangered Great Green Macaw. Photo © Juna Diego Perez (TNC/Fundación Natura).

At the start of the year, Pro-Bosque organised a day of tree-planting, enlisting the help of over 60 volunteers including students and local professionals. More than 2,000 trees were planted; a significant contribution to their goal of planting 90,000 trees in a 90ha area by the end of the year. Since tree-planting started in 1993, about 180,000 trees have been planted and World Land Trust (WLT) have significantly strengthened their reforestation programme.

All tree species planted are native to the reserve, with particular emphasis on species important for the critically-endangered Great Green Macaw. There are early signs of success. In October 2009, a Great Green Macaw nest was discovered near the reserve from which two chicks successfully fledged. It is estimated that the population of Great Green Macaws in the Chongón Colonche mountain range consist of as few as 20 individuals, so news of these new chicks offers hope for the future of the population.

The next stage of this project involves the purchase of more degraded habitat with support from IUCN-NL and current fundraising efforts by WLT-US. The newly purchased land will then be restored with funds from WLT.

Learn more about WLT's reforestation project on Carbonbalanced.org »

Labels: Ecuador

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Tuesday, 9 March 2010:

WLT-US protect 158,000 acres in Peru 

WLT-US and their partners, the Peruvian Association for the Conservation of Nature (APECO), have formalised protection for 158,000 acres (63,900 ha) of Andean forest on the Amazonian slope of the Andes. In December last year the Cordillera de Colán National Sanctuary and the Chayu Nain Community Reserve were officially declared after a 7 year process beginning with their designation as protected Reserve Zones in 2003. Saving this pristine landscape represents a significant success for global conservation.

158,000 acres of Andean forest in the Amazon has been protected in Peru.

Climbing over 10,000 feet in elevation - from the lush rainforest of the Amazon to the stunted cloud forests of the high Andes, these reserves now protect incredibly diverse forest sheltering an extraordinary diversity and richness of endemic flora and fauna. The zone is also important to 11 neighbouring Awajún indigenous communities - who will be responsible for managing the Communal Reserve.

These reserves span many ecosystems that safeguard an array of wildlife including many critically endangered and endemic species such as the Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey, the Long-whiskered Owlet, two unique species of Anteater, and the Colán Water Frog, which is found nowhere else in the world.

Learn more about the new reserves on the WLT-US website »

Labels: Peru

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Friday, 5 March 2010:

Shade-grown coffee, cabin construction and giant earthworms at Candelaria Reserve (Ecuador) 

World Land Trust (WLT) Ecuadorian partners Fundación EcoMinga have been working hard on the Candelaria Reserve, where they have been initiating new projects and discovering new species behaviour.

Image of a caecilian attempting to eat a giant earthworm, taken by Luis Recalde, one of EcoMinga's park guards. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Publicity for animal behaviour new to science

EcoMinga park guard, Luis Recalde, has had this image of a caecilian (a type of amphibian with no legs) attempting to eat a 1 metre long earthworm published in BBC Wildlife Magazine. The picture was taken on the Candelaria Reserve, which protects forests in the Eastern Andes. The park guards have been given digital cameras, a valuable tool in their work, as it allows them to capture images of rarely seen species and to document behaviour new to science, such as shown in this picture.

Lou Jost of Fundación EcoMinga tells of the excitement that the story was published in BBC Wildlife: "Luis will be thrilled, and it will motivate all our guards to do more". World Land Trust will be sending the guards some copies of magazine featuring the story.

Organic Shade-Grown Coffee Project

EcoMinga aim to manage their forest sustainably and are making progress on the project to grow organic shade-grown coffee. They are currently developing a seed nursery to grow selected coffee strains, which they will plant themselves and also sell to other growers. The coffee strains used are able to grow within the forest making this an ideal crop for this area. Their first buyer will purchase 1,000 seedlings which will cover their expenses on the nursery.

Cabins for guards and visitors

Further developments are planned for the reserve with the addition of cabins. These will be situated deep within the reserve and will give the guards a more prominent presence to ensure efficient protection. They may also be used for visitors and researchers.

Valuable work recognised

Reserve Manager Juan Pablo Reyes has been recognised for his scientific achievements and has been awarded a medal by the local town of Baños.

EcoMinga urgently require funds for the management of this reserve to allow the guards to continue their work in protecting this valuable habitat forever.

Learn more about the Ecuador Rainforest Project and how you can help »

Labels: Ecuador

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