EXPANDING "LAS MELLIZAS" PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE FOR THE CONSERVATION OF THE FUERTE'S PARROT IN THE CENTRAL ANDES OF COLOMBIA

INSTITUTIONAL PROFILE

Las Mellizas Ecological Foundation is a non-profit NGO established in 1989 as an initiative stemming from a group of young Colombian professionals living in the Province of Quindío. Its broad social objective is to develop environmental education and concrete actions for the conservation of nature. Members are graduated professionals from diverse fields such as: Agronomy, Environmental Administration, Rural Business Administration, Biology, Environmental Education, Biochemistry, Environmental Engineering, Forestry and Accounting.

Through institutional and community work, Las Mellizas has been effective in land planning and zoning of mountain ecosystems at a local, state and regional levels. It has contributed in the establishment of new private & public nature reserves, such as the recently declared Regional Nature Park for the Protection of High-Andean Forests and Paramo Ecosystems of the Municipality of Génova (Quindío Province, Central Andes).

Las Mellizas has gathered useful biophysical and socio-economic information of natural areas, and has strengthened local communities and institutions in their capacities to identify potential nature reserves, conceive nature management plans, improve rural productive systems and modify local policies for the conservation of nature.

Legal representative: Ms. Marina Aristizábal-Vanegas, Telefax: (57) (6) 7 41 48 93, E-mail: feremellizas@gmail.com, george896@hotmail.com
Street Address: Carrera 18 No. 21-44, Apto 304, Armenia, Quindío, Colombia.

BACKGROUND

Las Mellizas Ecological Foundation begun working in the protection of high-Andean ecosystems in the municipality of Génova in 1991, purchasing the Agua Clara - Valle Lindo Nature Reserve, an affiliate since 2002 of the Colombian Network of Private nature Reserves – RESNATUR. This reserve protects 194 hectares of native forest and 327 hectares of Paramo ecosystems, providing shelter and refuge for endemic and threatened species of fauna and flora.

Through its clear commitment and advocacy for community work, the Foundation has established long-enduring friendships and collaborative agreements with local farmers and the community. In 2003, 2004 and 2005, the Foundation supported the participatory process and community decision-making approach that designed and conceived the Environmental Management Plan for the High Andean Ecosystems of the municipality of Génova.

With these results, BirdLife International and the Colombian Research Institute for Biological Resources "Alexander von Humboldt" approved the conformation of an Important Bird Area (IBA) encompassing the high-Andean ecosystems of Génova. These same ecosystems were zoned as a Regional Natural Park by the local environmental authority – the Regional Autonomous Corporation of Quindío (CRQ), a governmental agency.

In spite of their high importance, few decisive and effective conservation actions have been taken locally for the protection of the outstanding ecosystems. Fortunately, there is a high mutual understanding among farmers, community leaders, local government and environmental organizations, all agreeing on the necessity of conserving the very important and unique ecosystems in the area. Fundación Las Mellizas is the official coordination entity for actions taken by the Colombian Network of Private Nature Reserves (Resnatur) in the Central Coffee Region of Colombia. Having into account all the above actions, the owner of the Guayabal Farm (encompassing 470,89 Ha of pastures and forests) has generously offered his land in donation to the Foundation, with the understanding that it will be preserved and protected as a private nature reserve. This donation has not been formalized due to the lack of much needed resources to cover donation costs, mainly, land taxes and Notary expenses of new scriptures.

JUSTIFICATION.

The diversity and uniqueness of the bird and plant species in the high Andean forests at the municipality of Génova represents an important alternative for local development and the conservation of Andean forests. More than 156 bird species have been identified in these high-Andean forests (Fundación Las Mellizas, 2010), 12 of them with some risk of extinction (Renjifo, et al, 2002) and 10 species with high level of endemism (BirdLife et al. 2005). This bird assembly has some of the desirable qualities much sought by birders: rare and unique species, high endemism, special behavior and attractive species. Perhaps the most attractive species for birders is the Fuerte's Parrot (Hapalopsittaca fuertesi), a Critically Endangered (CR) and Endemic (E) species, restricted to the western slope of the Central Andes in Colombia.

In order to develop nature tourism (ecotourism through birding) for the conservation of this high-andean ecosystems and the Fuerte's Parrot, the donation of Guayabal Farm with exclusive destination for conservation needs to be formalized. Fuerte's Parrot nests within forests of this farm. Also, a relatively small but highly significant amount of money is required to establish basic lodging facilities within the reserve, in order to provide quality service to visitors. Also, complementary actions aimed at strengthening community awareness towards the protection of birds and forests and obtaining local support for conservation initiatives.

OBJECTIVES

General

Specifics

PROJECT SITE.

Guayabal farm and Agua Clara – Valle Lindo Nature Reserve are located in the Central Andes of Colombia, at the southern tip of the Quindío Province, between 2500 and 3800 meters above sea level. The area of biological interest encompasses approximately 8.367,88 Ha (Map 1).

This area lies between Los Nevados National Park in the North and Las Hermosas National Park in the South. This range has been considered of the outmost importance for biological conservation within the Coffee Region of Colombia. It is the water shed for five heavily populated Provinces - Valle del Cauca, Tolima, Quindío, Risaralda and Caldas.

Map 1. Location of project site in the high mountains of the municipality of Génova, Quindío Province in the Central Andes of Colombia.
location map of Las Mallizas Private Nature Reserve

Two main types of ecosystems are to be found within the high-Andean forests: the high Andean forests and the paramos. Forests covers approximately 4052 Ha, between 3000 and 3450 meters, with steep terrain of up to 80% slope. Some of the main tree species are: Weinmannia pubescens, W. rollotii, W. mariquitae, Ocotea spp., Hedyosmum goudotianum, Brunellia goudoti, Drimys granadensis, Clethra fimbriata and Myrcianthes sp. Paramo ecosystems are found between 3300 and 3640 meters above sea level.

The area of interest is settled into 19 properties, three of which are private nature reserves and five are governmental properties. Eleven properties are private land, established as cattle farms, among which is the Guayabal farm (470,89 Ha), whose owner wants to donate to Las Mellizas Ecological Foundation, to transform it into a private nature reserve, expanding current area owned and preserved by the Foundation.

Budget
Item/ActivitiesValor inversión
Legal transfer of Guayabal farm from current owner to Las Mellizas Ecological Foundation. US $5,405 (COL $10.000.000,oo pesos)
1 US Dollar = $1850 COL pesos
Improved lodging for visitors and birders.US $10,810 (COL $20.000.000,oo pesos)
Strengthening of ecotourism services provided by the local community. US $10,810 (COL $20.000.000,oo pesos)
Total cost US $27,025 (COL $50.000.000,oo pesos)

To make an online donation to this project, follow the link below. All donations will show as going to Adventure Aid, who will issue you a receipt that may be used by U.S. taxpayers for tex purposes and 100% of the donated amount will be forwarded to Las Mellizas Ecological Foundation (FELN).