Autor: Admin Paul

Wednesday 26 August 2009.

Thanks to the efforts of the environmental teachers all over the country, each year in July, we organize the Parrot Festival with the aim to share knowledge, defense and protection to all endangered species of parrots in Colombia, among those endangered species we can find the Yellow-eared Parrot (Ognorhynchus icterotis), and the Indigo-winged Parrot (Hapalopsittaca fuertesi), found in the Andean forest of Tolima, Antioquia and Quindío.

The main objective is to adapt into the community an identity based in the pride generated by the presence of these unique and endangered birds in their land, spreading this activity alongside our country, allowing local and regional integration in the strengthening of the natural and cultural heritage.

Tolima

From 17 to 20 July 2009, it was celebrated in Roncesvalles, Tolima, the IV Yellow-eared Parrot and the Wax Palm tree Festival. Leaded by ProAves and with the kind support of the Municipal Mayoralty of Roncesvalles.

Wax Palm trees, Parrots, princesses, witches, old men, chicks, characters from Roncesvalles, folk dances, the municipal orchestra and procession cars, teachers, students, parents and the entire community worked hard in order to make this event a great success. Youngsters and kids enjoyed the most the event, dancing and parading at the beat of the music, sharing their energy and happiness with the entire public.

Comparsas, cultural presentations, games, drawing and short story contests, and a bird Yellow-eared Parrot watching expedition were some of the activities carried out, achieving participation of 90% of the educational institutions of the region, the linkage among the entities committed in the preservation of the Wax Palm tree and the Yellow-eared Parrot, the intervention of different cities and the recognition of the importance of this event in other areas of the national territory www.roncesvalles-tolima.gov.co

Antioquia

The festival was from 28 to 30 July, and its main objective was to celebrate 10 years of the “Yellow-eared Parrot Project”, sharing with the community the achievements of this project.

During three days educational, cultural and dynamic activities were carried out counting with the participation of the community. One of the main activities was the Launching Parade, were more than 500 people walked in the main streets of the city, reaching the Main Park were the opening of the festival was celebrated.

This event had the special collaboration of the students and the teachers of the 16 Friends of the Birds schools, the Ecological Group Friends of the Birds, Young researchers and the Social Service group. Kids of each school and their teachers participated in the activity wearing masks and disguises of the Yellow-eared Parrot exhibiting banners allusive to its conservation and with congratulations to ProAves for ten years of hard work. www.eljardin-antioquia.gov.co

Quindío

After five years of hard work on conservation of the Indigo-winged Parrot (Hapalopsittaca fuertesi), the First Indigo-winged Parrot Festival was organized.

The festival ended with a big cultural parade with the participation of the entire community, school groups, the Ecological Group Friends of the birds, Chicks, Picardia y Angelitos, Young Researchers, youngsters providing social service at ProAves and the youth group Little Giants of the ICBF. The closure activities of this festival were the contest for the best representation of the Indigo-winged Parrot, and a contest of short stories and poetry.

Presents and prizes for the participants of the event were given with the support of the Mayoralty and the Corporación Autónoma Regional del Quindío (CRQ) www.genova-quindio.gov.co

Parade at the Municipality of Genova, participating schools and the Ecological Group Friends of the Birds.

To see more pictures from all Festivals organized by ProAves, check Flickr

Wednesday 22 April 2009.

With birding journeys, lectures, radio interviews and a photo exhibition, ProAves is contributing to the VIII Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival on San Andrés Island, held by 20 organizations in the region and led by the Caribbean Society for the Study and Conservation of Birds. This year’s slogan is “Celebrating birds in culture.”

The festival takes place April 22, 2009 (Earth Day) to May 22 (International Biodiversity Day), it is part of the International Migratory Bird Day, and it will take advantage of the opportunity to explore birds and culture. In San Andrés, ProAves activities are mainly focused on the conservation of the endemic San Andrés Vireo.

The festival is important as it draws attention to the 67 critically endangered and endangered bird species of the Caribbean region. The event is supported by institutions such as Partners in Flight, National Wildlife Federation and Puerto Rican Ornithological Society, and in San Andrés, by Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Jardín Botánico and Coralina. Activities by ProAves are organized by our representative on the island, Andrea Pacheco. Please help support this work.

Monday 16 February 2009.

More than 8000 people of all ages welcomed migratory birds in 2008 in seven departments of Colombia and in the city of Bogotá through the V Migratory Bird Festival, of ProAves, participating in many activities such as parades, workshops, talks, walks and birding tours.

San Vicente de Chucurí.

The activities were carried out between August and November, particularly in the municipalities of El Tambo (Cauca), Ocaña (Norte de Santander), Jardín (Antioquia), Génova (Quindío), and San Vicente de Chucurí (Santander), based in our Natural Bird Reserves of Mirabilis Swarovski, Recurve-billed Bushbird, Yellow-eared Parrot, El Mirador, Fuertes’s Parrot, and Cerulean Warbler, and in Roncesvalles (Tolima), and Guasca, Cundinamarca.

Activities, which also included the distribution of over 6,159 educative materials, were led by the Environmental Education and Conservation areas of ProAves.

Génova.

We have the support of these institutions with which we are very grateful: NMBCA – USFWS, Cerulean Warbler Working Group, Grupo Cerúleo, International Migratory Bird Day, Bird Conservation Alliance, Major of Bogotá, World Land Trust – U.S., Cornell Lab of Ornithology, American Bird Conservancy, Alianza Alas Doradas, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Disney Wildlife Conservation Program, Loro Parque Fundación, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Conservation International, Environmental for the Americas, Cooperative of Coffee Growers in Andes COOPERA, Jardín Botánico José Celestino Mutis, Asociación Bogotana de Ornitología, Conoco Phillips, Instituto Alexander von Humboldt, Red de Humedales de la Sabana de Bogotá, Partner of Americas and Majors of Génova, Roncesvalles, Jardín, San Vicente de Chucurí and Ocaña, as well as principals and teachers of all the educational institutions participants and of community.

In future, other institutions and individuals can support the festival by writing to fundacion@ proaves.org or, in general, giving a secure donation.

with the support of:

Monday 31 August 2009.

“Colombia welcomes the extreme travellers:
6th Migratory Bird Festival”

 Every year as the winter approaches many migratory bird species from North America fly thousands of miles to reach Central and South America. This long journey called migration allows them to find more food in milder climates and to avoid this cold and hard season until they are ready to return to the North where they will start the breeding season.

This year 3000 visitors are expected to welcome the seasonal visit of these birds and you will be able to enjoy a wonderful and varied festive programmed in Bogotá and the municipalities of San Vicente de Chucuri in Santander, Jardín, Antioquia, Génova in the department of Quindío and Roncesvalles, Tolima. The aim of this celebration is to present the different protected areas for the preservation of migratory birds existing in the region and to secure the commitment of local communities to preserve these habitats.

It is very easy to participate and to be part of this welcome reception. You can register your school; receive samples of educational materials, examples of activities, and you can even volunteer!. To receive more information about the participation process please contact: dvega@proaves.org. If you would like to be a volunteer and you are over 18 years please contact: gcastillo@proaves.org.

For more information about this event please contact: Ph.: (571) 340 3261 – (571) 340 3229

Come along and help us to preserve the migratory birds in Colombia!

Friday 9 October 2009.

The launch will be on October, Friday the 16th at the premises of the Jardín Botánico wich will have a big party where children and adults will participate in different playful activities where they will get to know migratory birds and their habitat and the way to contribute to their conservation.

The Festival is a national event, the activities also extend to the municipalities of San Vicente de Chucuri in Santander, Jardín, Antioquia; Génova in the department of Quindío, Los Córdobas in Cordoba, Roncesvalles, Tolima and other regions of the country where we expect the participation of more than 6000 people in parades, carnival, contests, birding hikes, workshops, lectures, exhibits and other activities more.

Fundación ProAves has held the Festival each year in order to disclose protected areas for the conservation of migratory bird habitat and create awareness and commitment of communities to preserve and ensure their return in each migratory journey.

Activities in the different regions:

• Workshops and presentations on migratory birds Escuelas Amigas de las Aves.

• Talks in educational institutions.

• Development of games with students

• ecological Hiking, outputs species identification, and observation runs calls Migratory Routes for youth and children.

• Radio Programs

• Parades.

• Visit to neighborhoods in the various sectors of the municipalities.

• Mural Painting

• Cinema Park

Programming in Bogota:

LAUNCH

Location: Bogotá Jardín Botánico (free admission)

Date: Friday October 16th

Time: 9am

WORKSHOP 1

Location: Bogotá Jardín Botánico (free admission)

Name of workshop: Migratory birds, True Extreme travelers

Date: Tuesday, October 20th

Time: 9am and 2pm

WORKSHOP 2

Location: Bogotá Jardín Botánico (free admission)

Name of workshop: Knowing the Migratory Bird

Date: Wednesday, October 21st

Time: 9am and 2pm

WORKSHOP 3

Location: Bogotá Jardín Botánico (free admission)

Name of workshop: Painting migratory birds

Date: Thursday October 22nd

Time: 9am and 2pm

WORKSHOP 4

Location: Bogotá Jardín Botánico (free admission)

Name of workshop: Knowing the golden wings Warbler

Date: Friday, October 23rd

Time: 9am and 2pm

You can participate in all activities and workshops where you will meet migratory birds and their habitat, you’ll know why they are traveling so extreme, so learn to appreciate and know how to contribute to their conservation.

Come and participate!

With the support of:

Wednesday 11 November 2009.

The festival was launched on 16 October on the premises of the Jardín Botanico de Bogotá José Celestino Mutis, where more than 200 people participated in the national opening of the Festival. The launch was attended by students from the Instituto Técnico Industrial Francisco José de Caldas and Distrital Eduardo Umana Mendoza Schools, as well as employees of the Jardín Botanico and other guests.

A play performed by the students of Colegio Distrital Eduardo Umaña Mendoza.

Students of the Instituto Técnico Industrial Francisco José de Caldas.

The Festival is a national event, including the participation of municipalities and cities from all over the country. San Vicente de Chucuri, Santander is one such city; here the Festival was held from the 1st to the 23rd of October, and included radio programs, ecological walks, talks, workshops, and a parade through the main streets of the city, culminating in a ceremonial performance at the municipal theater.

Parade in San Vicente de Chucuri, Santander.

Another city that celebrated the Festival was the Córdobas in the department of Córdoba. The city developed workshops and observational outings directed at students. There were also talks and dynamic events and teachings in Jardín and Urrao, Antioquia which culminated in a parade that included the participation of more than 400 children of the town of Jardín.

Outings for bird watching in los Córdobas and Canalete.

Parade of Migratory Birds Jardín, Antioquia.

Observation route Jardín, Antioquia.

In Génova, Quindío department, the festival closed with a parade accompanied by the city marching band, included the participation of local schools, and ended with an award for the migratory bird drawing contest. In Roncesvalles, Tolima, the Festival was celebrated with workshops in rural and urban schools of the town, rural outings to view birds, and parades with more than 200 people from the town participating.

It was similar in the village of Puerto Pinzón in the municipality of Puerto Boyacá, and in Bogotá also migratory bird workshops were held, directed at students from different schools.

Parade in Roncesvalles, Tolima.

In this way, Colombia celebrated and recognized the arrival of these extreme travellers, achieving the engagement of children, adults, educational and government institutions and communities in order to preserve and secure these birds’ return in each migratory journey. 

Nationwide media coverage

During the days of the Festivals, there was wide coverage by national and international communications media who received and widely disseminated the importance of the Festival. More than 30 notices and interviews were published in some of the most important news sources of the country, such as El Tiempo, Revista Semana, Canal RCN, Canal CityTv, Canal Capital and Agencia EFE; similarly information was published in the web pages of Mexico, Spain, and Panama.

Newspaper El Tiempo and Magazine Semana.

 

Paula Romero and Fernando Laverde. Fundación Arte y Conservación.

October has come  and we welcome 183 species of migratory birds that arrive in our country to celebrate the VII Migratory Bird Festival which, this year, will be held in 7 municipalities of Colombia.

Until 29th October different games and educational activities will be held in San Vicente de Chucuri, Zapatoca and Betulia, Santander; in Jardín, Antioquia; in Roncesvalles, Tolima department; in Genova, Quindio; Puerto Pinzón, village of Puerto Boyacá and Bogotá.

This Festival celebrates the incredible journey back and forth these birds make each year flying thousands of miles over glaciers, forests, mountains, beaches, islands and oceans. During their journey they face extreme weather conditions including storms, high winds and extreme temperature changes. In the same way they must overcome their own physical limits to combat fatigue caused by the strenuous exercise that comes from such an enormous displacement.

On reaching our countries these birds seek favorable habitats to spend two thirds of the year but unfortunately on each trip they find a landscape more more transformed which increasingly threatens their survival.

Aware of this threat ProAves has been developing since 2004 the Migratory Bird Festival and this year, our seventh version, we want to emphasize the importance of the conservation of migratory bird habitat and create awareness and community engagement to preserve and ensure their return on every migration trip.

The migration occurs thanks to physiological adaptations that allow birds to fly long distances to exploit food resources depending on the season and increase their reproductive success. Variations in patterns of migration are as many as the numerous types of birds that migrate. Tanagers, warblers, raptors, vultures, finches, herons, ducks, among others.

Of the 183 species of migratory birds that are registered in Colombia, neotropical migrants, i.e. those species that breed in Canada and the United States from April to June, are the most abundant. These birds spend two thirds of the year in the tropics and can be seen from July to March, with October, the highest peak of abundance.

Colombia’s strategic position in northern South America is the gateway for millions of these individuals, year after year, some stay in our country and others continue their way further south. Most birds that migrate over long distances travel at night when temperatures are cooler, the air is calm and their predators, birds of prey, are not active.

[slickr-flickr search=”sets” set=”72157625169690272″ items=”20″ type=”gallery”]

Environmental education activities performed in the Festival.

Although birds accumulate fat reserves of up to 50% of their body weight before leaving the rigors of long distance flights require that most of the birds stop, rest and refuel several times before reaching their final destination. Without suitable places along the route that provide a fast and adequate supply of fat reserves, shelter from predators and water for rehydration it is difficult for them to continue their journey.

As part of its activities, Fundación ProAves has developed the National Monitoring and Migratory Bird Conservation Program which has, as one of its purposes, to implement a monitoring network of migratory birds along the Colombian territory to assess their distribution, movements and the threats they face to ensure their survival through effective conservation action in key areas, raising awareness in communities, strengthening local capacity in monitoring techniques and creating strategic alliances for conservation.

The fact that biodiversity is at risk is a reflection of the health of the environment that supports it. Human beings need a healthy environment to survive, with availability of fresh water, fertile soils and clean air. To that extent conserving migratory birds is conserving ourselves, it is to begin to rebuild a better environment, to ensure a better future for coming generations.

With support from the following organizations:

Tuesday 8 September 2009.

The 5th Blue-billed Curassow Festival gets underway between the 1st-25th of September and involves communities around the Paujil Bird Reserve. This annual event raises awareness for this endangered species which is a conservation flagship for the highly threatened tropical rainforests in the Magdalena valley of Colombia.

The El Paujil Bird reserve was created in 2004 to save and protect the Critically Endangered Blue-billed Curassow (Crax alberti), endemic to Colombia and a conservation flagship for the highly threatened tropical rainforests of the Magdalena valley – one of the most vulnerable ecosystems in Colombia. The reserve is the Blue-billed Curassows most important refuge, together with many other endangered species and over 330 species of birds.

As part of the festival, we have published 500 posters, thanks to the artists and illustrators Paula Laverde and Fernando Romero of the Conservation and Arts Foundation.

During the month-long celebration will be workshops, field trips in the reserve, wall paintings in schools, story competitions, painting and theater events. These activities will generate awareness of the importance of the natural resources and biodiversity of the region and strengthen the sense of belonging and commitment of communities to the conservation of the Blue-billed Curassow and its habitat.

If you want to volunteer and help this festival, please contact gcastillo@proaves.org or call +57 1.340 3261 57 1.340.3229.

Come and help us save the biodiversity of Colombia!

Friday 9 October 2009.

“Understanding and protecting the Blue-billed Curassow”

The Festival is a dynamic and educational event where different activities like workshops, talks, tree planting days, dances, plays and painting designed to awaken the interest of the community about the understanding and the importance of the conservation of the Blue-billed Curassow, locally called the “Paujil de Pico Azul”.

Within the activities workshops on the making of masks & talks about the Paujil took place in which 303 people took part mainly boys and girls, they also made bracelets and cards in 3 workshops and a wall painting painted by the students from the Educational Institution Puerto Pinzón where the school children wanted to put over a message alluding to the conservation of the Paujil, for this reason they divided the wall painting in two, on one side they drew the positive aspects of the species environment and on the other they drew the species environment when it’s changed by man.

Wall painting done by the school children from the Educational Institution Puerto Pinzón.

With the holding of the Festival ProAves seeks to join the community of the area of influence of the RNA El Paujil directly in the conservation efforts of this species, to this end they made 4 visits of school children and teachers and they held an observation race, where the participants, by means of clues had to find an egg that Albertis (a Paujil de Pico Azul) had lost and give it in at the end of the race.

Closing of the Festival.

Finally the activities of the Festival ended with a parade in the municipality of Puerto Pinzón, in which all the participants and all the community mostly children and young people joined in.

With the support of:

The 7th edition of Conservation Colombiana journal is dedicated to a Management and Conservation Plan for Fuertes’s Parrot , a Critically Endangered species endemic to montane forest in the Central Cordillera of Quindío and Tolima. Thanks to the support of Loro Parque Fundación, American Bird Conservancy and the Corporación Autónoma del Quindío, ProAves researchers Esteban Carrillo and Carlos Andres Páez compiled years of research and conservation on the parrot since its rediscovery by ProAves President Alonso Quevedo in 2002. The conservation plan aims to guide future actions to save the species.

Fuertes’s Parrot is an endemic species to Colombia, currently restricted to a narrow altitudinal range between 2600 and 3500 m on the western side of the Central Cordillera, covering the southern department of Caldas, eastern Risaralda, north-eastern Quindío and western Tolima. The species is known from just three breeding populations and has a global population of approximately 200 individuals.

Fuertes’s Parrot is Critically Endangered due to rapid and continuing deterioration of its natural habitat, because the Andean forest, have been subjected to intensive agriculture practices for many centuries, which has led to 22 species of montane parrots being threatened with extinction.

Extremely range restricted species, such as Fuertes’s Parrot, are highly susceptible to extinction if we fail to preserve its natural habitat. Therefore, the preservation of montane forests is critically in maintaining healthy populations.

To create the Management and Conservation Plan for Fuertes’s Parrot in the Cordillera Central, it was necessary to take into account the different political, legal and environmental aspects of the region and country, in order to strengthen conservation for the species and reduce threats. We hope the strategy will serve as a guide for the prioritization of activities to ensure the conservation of the species.

We are grateful to the tremendous support of Loro Parque Fundación, American Bird Conservancy and NMBCA to continue saving the Fuertes’s parrot and critical montane forest habitat in the Central Cordillera.

Click to download the PDF.

With the support of:

 

Monday 9 March 2009.

With more than 500 people, Fundación ProAves and its partners launched the 8th “Reconcile with Nature” campaign on 7 March, 2009, in the municipality of San Francisco, Cundinamarca, Colombia, to generate awareness for the protection of the Quindío Wax Palm and Yellow-eared Parrot.

The event was launched by Alonso Quevedo, President of ProAves; Claudia Luz Rodríguez, Director of Ecosystems of the Environmental Ministry, Andrés Barreto Rozo, Secretary of Environment of Cundinamarca; Mauricio Martínez, Major of San Francisco; Fabio Arjona, Executive Director of Conservación Internacional-Colombia. Other special guests were majors of other municipalities of the department, directors of schools, regional authorities, etc.

Max Enríquez, José Vicente Rodríguez, Andrés Barreto Rozo, Amanda Fúquene, Arnulfo Urquijo, Alonso Quevedo, Fabio Arjona and Mauricio Martínez.

Since the year 2000, when ProAves highlighted the plight of the Yellow-eared Parrot and Colombia’s national tree, the Quindío Wax Palm, the campaign has been growing in strengthen thanks to the many partners, particularly the Catholic Church, Conservación Internacional-Colombia and the Ministry of the Environment. The Critically Endangered Wax Palm is cut down to adorn churches and processions on Palm Sunday. Sadly, the palm takes centuries to mature and is the sole habitat for the Yellow-eared Parrot.

The Campaign was launched the municipality of San Francisco because they have helped support the conservation of the Critically Endangered Sasaima Wax Palm (Ceroxylom sasaimae).

Wednesday 15 April 2009.

Despite a rainy day, the community of Jardín, Antioquia, hit the streets on March 17, 2009, celebrating the beginning of the eighth campaign, led by Fundación ProAves and supported by Loro Parque Fundación, to promote Yellow-eared Parrot and Wax Palm conservation awareness in Colombia.

With banners inviting to conserve the parrot and the palm, Jardín’s community paraded along the town’s main streets, and reached the principal park where a closing session was performed. It involved Ana Cristina Velásquez, ProAves’ environmental educator in the town, and the municipality, Immaculate Conception parish, Empresas Públicas de Jardín, Fire Department, National and Environmental Police, and trade representatives of the town.

The parade was lead by students from ten Bird Friendly Schools, and the Bird Friendly, Social Service and Young Researchers groups, all from ProAves, as well as students and teachers from the other municipality schools and the community in general. Participants came from all parts, even distant parts of the countryside – showing their willingness to campaign for conservation.

Thanks to ProAves leadership, this town has become a symbol of the two species conservation and has contributed significantly to the recovery of the Parrot population. Throughout March, the campaign continued with television and radio broadcasted programs, ecological workshops and activities for the entire community. One of these was the campaign to collect litter along the roads close to the population and their subsequent separation and recycling. The campaign coincided with the inauguration of the new regional headquarters of ProAves in Jardín.

ProAves wishes to thank many who supported the parade: Papelería y Confitería Eddy, Zapatería Don Chepe, Servicios.com, Panadería La Monera, Café Internet Jerry.net, Panadería Tortas Pan, Restaurante Las Margaritas, Cooperativa Integral de Jardín, Almacén El Bebé, Miscelánea Mil Colores, Supermercado J. J., Bar Lunática and Restaurante Zodíaco. ProAves also acknowledges the continue support of Radio Jardín, Fundación Loro Parque, and municipality of Jardín.

 If you want to support our environmental educational activities please donate on line or write to fundacion@proaves.org

Wednesday 15 April 2009.

At sites across the Andes of Colombia, the Palm Sunday celebration held on April 5, 2009, was wax palm free! This is conclusive evidence of the overall success of the 8th campaign to protect the Wax Palm and Yellow-eared Parrot. Environmental authorities, including the police, reported no use of Wax Palm during the procession at important sites where both the wax palm and parrots occur. These wonderful results are largely the product of years of efforts by ProAves staff over ten years, plus the constant support of Fundación Loro Parque.

Wednesday 17 March 2010.

From 24 to 26 March the Campaign has as its motto: “Your future depends on what you do in the present, Reconcile with Nature” will be held across Colombia, in this, our 9th campaign with the aim that this Holy Week Colombians refrain from using palm fronds of the Wax Palm, and instead use live plants or maize leaves. (See the step-by-step guide to maize leaves)

Launch

On March 24 at 9 am the official launch of the campaign Reconcile with Nature will be held in the Ecological mountain Park Entre Nubes, where we will count on the participation of governmental and nongovernmental organizations, media, community members church and college studentsfriends of birds with whom we have been developing, educational lectures and recreational activities around the theme.

During the launch we will have a sample of the work which the Foundation has been developing during the last 9 years of campaigning, we will also have presentations from acting and music groups from Francisco José de Caldas College.

The campaign Reconcile with Nature is a nationwide activity which also extends to the municipalities of Jardín, Antioquia; Genova in the department of Quindío and Roncesvalles, Tolima, where the participation of more than 6,000 people in parades, processions, competitions, workshops, lectures, exhibits and other activities is expected.

Poster

The poster, that is part of the disclosure, is a work of art made by plastic artists and illustrators of the Paula Romero Fernando Laverde and Art Foundation and Conservation.

Invitation to Event

Download your invitation here

Endangered Species

The yellow-eared parrot is an Andean parrot that depends on the Quindío Wax Palm tree from which it feeds and nests and roosts. Today it is the most endangered species of parrots threatened with extinction in Colombia, it is categorized as critically endangered (CR) by the IUCN as it has a restricted distribution and this makes it more vulnerable to the threats it faces. The Quindío Wax Palm, critically endangered, is cut down to adorn the churches and be carried as branches on Palm Sunday.

Results of the campaign and direct conservation activities

Throughout the eight versions made of the campaign interagency partnerships have been successfully established which has tended to concentrate efforts and strengthen the work of awareness in different regions of the country, with successful results that are reflected in the protection and conservation of two endangered species that are the centerpiece of this campaign. Moreover, it has achieved a gradual replacement of traditional Wax Palm branch by branches of maize husks or amero or alternative species like Iraca, Areca palm or live plants.

Whit the support of:

Jardín, Antioquia

Roncesvalles, Tolima

Génova, Quindío

Wednesday 14 April 2010.

The campaign launch was held in Bogotá on Wednesday 24th March at the ecological park Entre Nubes, we had the company of Father Alejandro Londoño who opened the event blessing one of the Areca palms donated by Jardineros S.A and the District Department of Environment which were later presented to those attending the event.

The launch was attended by students of the Industrial Technical College Francisco José de Caldas who made a presentation of the work done during the lectures given in March, residents of the town of San Cristobal and staff of the District Department of Environment among other guests also attended.

Released in Bogotá.

The campaign was conducted nationwide with the participation of municipalities and cities throughout the country; Roncesvalles in Tolima was one of them, during the campaign workshops, lectures in educational institutions were held, posters and radio programs on local radio with the participation of Father Luis Fernando as special guest. The campaign was widely echoed in the town of Roncesvalles and Wax Palms were not used during Palm Sunday. The town community showed its willingness to preserve the symbol of an ecologically fragile ecosystem.

Activities and Palm Sunday in Roncesvalles, Tolima.

Another municipality that joined the campaign was Jardin in the department of Antioquia, a stand was installed where information was given to the community by passing out flyers and promoting the use of Iraca Palm on Palm Sunday and different activities were carried out such as neighbourhood games, painting in the park, posters, lectures and workshops, we shared in the television show “Friends of Nature” on channel Antena 4 to which Father José Angel Pareja of the Basílica Menor la Inmaculada Concepción de Jardín was invited.

Activities & Palm Sunday in Jardín, Antioquia.

In Genoa, department of Quindio, the campaign was well received in the community and during the Palm Sunday procession no Wax Palm plant was seen demonstrating the change in attitude towards conservation and natural resources. The procession attendees were given pine branches, brooches in the form of the Wax Palm and posters of the campaign.

Activities and Palm Sunday in Génova, Quindío.

With the support of:

Jardín, Antioquia

Roncesvalles, Tolima

Génova, Quindío

Thursday 20 September 2007.

After many trips conducted by the Parrot Bus in different regions of Colombia, ProAves have launched a new amnesty campaign to request children to hand in their slingshot and other objects use to attempt against birds. The initiative began in August 2007, in 13 municipalities of the department of Caldas by means of an agreement established between ProAves and the regional environmental corporation, Corpocaldas.

Children handed their slingshot in exchange for books.

In the first days of the amnesty 12 slingshots and 3 guns were handed in by 15 children of the municipalities of Victoria, Pácora and La Merced; in return, they received mini-field guides donated by Conservation International and ProAves, which will allow them to learn about the importance of conserving Colombia’s rich fauna.

A new conservationist who handed his gun in La Merced municipality.

The campaign will continue in the municipalities of Salento, Pijao, Córdoba, and Génova from September 17 to October 4, in agreement with the Regional Environmental Corporation of Quindío (CRQ), and will be followed in the departments of Santander and Córdoba.

With the support of:

Para el 22 de abril, Día Internacional de la Tierra, ProAves realizará una programación especial de actividades educativas en tres reservas naturales de la Fundación y en Roncesvalles, Tolima. El 23 y el 24 se harán actividades en Bogotá con el {{[Aula Ambiental Móvil Loro Bus->https://www.proaves.org/amigosdelasaves/lorobus.php]}}

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Para el 22 de abril, Día Internacional de la Tierra, ProAves realizará una programación especial de actividades educativas en cinco regiones de Colombia, teniendo como centro de trabajo tres reservas naturales de la Fundación y nuestra sede del municipio de Roncesvalles, departamento del Tolima. El 23 y el 24 se harán actividades en Bogotá con el {{Loro Bus}}.

En las reservas {{[Loro Orejiamarillo->https://www.proaves.org/rubrique.php?id_rubrique=281]}} en el municipio de Jardín, Antioquia, {{[El Mirador->https://www.proaves.org/rubrique.php?id_rubrique=41]}} en Génova, Quindío, y {{[Hormiguero de Torcoroma->https://www.proaves.org/rubrique.php?id_rubrique=278]}} en Ocaña, Norte de Santander, así como en nuestra sede del municipio de Roncesvalles, Tolima, se realizarán conferencias y sesiones de “pintura al parque”. También se pintarán nuevos murales en varias escuelas rurales y se restaurarán otros. El día terminará con cine y música al parque. A estas actividades se invitará a vincularse a toda la comunidad, en especial niños, niñas y jóvenes.

En Bogotá, el {{[Aula Ambiental Móvil Loro Bus->https://www.proaves.org/amigosdelasaves/lorobus.php]}} visitará las instituciones educativas Eduardo Umaña Mendoza (en la localidad de Usme), el 23, y Cardenal Sancha (en la localidad de Usaquén), el 24, llevando actividades lúdico-pedagógicas por medio de la cuales niños y niñas se acercarán al conocimiento de la Tierra y de los seres con los que la compartimos.

Con el apoyo de: