For over 25 years, ProAves has spearheaded multiple conservation actions to save the Yellow-eared Parrot from extinction, including the “Reconcile with Nature” campaign, an environmental education strategy preceding Holy Week. Through this campaign, we continue to raise awareness among communities about the importance of conserving two biodiversity symbol species in our country: the Wax Palm of Quindío (Ceroxylon quindiuense) and the Yellow-eared Parrot (Ognorhynchus icterotis).
This year, the campaign took place in Jardín, Antioquia; Cajamarca, and Roncesvalles, Tolima, where various activities were carried out with the communities during Palm Sunday, aiming to raise awareness among the people of these municipalities, which are characterized by having the largest populations of the Yellow-eared Parrot.
The Wax Palm of Quindío (Ceroxylon quindiuense) is the national tree of Colombia and an endangered species due to deforestation and the extraction of its leaves for use during Holy Week. The Yellow-eared Parrot (Ognorhynchus icterotis) is an endemic species of the Colombian Andean region and is vulnerable to extinction due to the loss of its natural habitat and the disappearance of the plant species it depends on.
Jardín, a municipality located in the Southwest of Antioquia, opened its doors for children to raise environmental awareness through playful activities and join the movement for the preservation of this species. Additionally, the adult population received the conservation message about this important endangered parrot that was on the brink of extinction years ago.
Furthermore, during the event, wax palm seedlings were distributed to interested individuals with suitable spaces on their premises for planting these species, as a way to contribute to the recovery of the palm and to improve the habitat of the Yellow-eared Parrot in the future.
On the other hand, in Cajamarca and Roncesvalles in the department of Tolima, we partnered with the Andean Life Corporation, the San José de Anaime parish, and the municipal governments of these municipalities to remind communities of the importance of conserving the Wax Palm and other species associated with it. This was done through discussions in commercial establishments, in the main square, and at the starting point of the Palm Sunday procession.
The ProAves Foundation has three Natural Reserves dedicated to protecting the Yellow-eared Parrot and the Wax Palm, as well as a great diversity of species from the Andes of Colombia. These are the ProAves Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve in the municipality of Jardín; the ProAves Fuertesi Parrot Reserve in the municipality of Cajamarca, and the ProAves Andean Parrots Reserve in the municipality of Roncesvalles, recently declared as a Regional Natural Park by CORTOLIMA. We invite you to visit these Reserves, which also boast landscapes of great beauty. For more information, you can visit the website www.proaves.org.
The “Reconcile with Nature” campaign for the protection of the Wax Palm and the Yellow-eared Parrot represents an example of how environmental education and community participation can make a difference in the conservation of threatened species and their ecosystems. We extend special thanks to Jardin Exotics company for their great support in the development of this campaign in the municipality of Jardín.
Join our conservation efforts: Reconcile with Nature.
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