Wednesday 26 August 2009.
The main objective of a Conservation Corridor is to restore natural habitat connectivity – connecting channels of forest – to allow the movement of flora and fauna species and genetic exchange between two major forested areas.
The Cerulean Warbler Conservation Corridor is uniting the Cerulean Warbler Reserve and Serranía de los Yariguíes National Park with Cerro de la Paz and the Pauxi Pauxi Reserve across a diverse landscape of coffee and cacao plantations, silvopastures and forest fragments to help the survival of biodiversity and migratory birds.
In order to create a “connection”, ProAves has been reforesting over a wide area to create living fences (hedgerows) and silvo-pasture areas between forest patches. The reforestation program has planted native and threatened tree species, such as Guamo, Leucaena, Caracolí, Abarcos, Nacederos and Mahogany.
In the area covered by the corridor we can find coffee, cocoa plantations and cattle. This has determined the type of actions that have been taken and the achieved results. Community involvement has been crucial for the success of the project. The strong commitment of the local inhabitants has helped to not only improve the environment and the soil of the region but also to increase the profitability of its livestock and the productivity of its crops.
Reforestation and corridor planning efforts began in 2006 and the corridor implementation started in April 2009. Work started from both ends of the corridor, each team starting from one of the Nature Reserves. Currently 40% of the Project has already been covered and finalized. It is estimated that the 10 km long and 1 km wide corridor will be completed with 12-24 months.
This project has been possible thanks to the support of the American Bird Conservancy and the joint work carried out by the municipality of San Vicente de Chucurí www.sanvicentedechucuri-santander.gov.co and ProAves. As well, the commitment of five landowners has been crucial.