Monday 16 February 2009.
The eradication of non-native and invasive pines in and around the Reserva El Dorado is critical for saving endangered fauna of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, especially two species of Critically Endangered Harlequin frogs and the Endangered Santa Marta Parakeet.
Unfortunately, a large area of native vegetation on the Cuchilla de San Lorenzo ridge was cleared in the 1970’s and reforested by the National Parks authority by non-native pines. Unfortunately, the pines have matured and killed the majority of native flora. Furthermore they have seeded and expanding down the slope across 1-2 km of the ridge into areas of native forest.
Since establishing the El Dorado Bird Reserve on Cuchilla de San Lorenzo, ProAves has felled many thousands of pine seedlings that have invaded native forest. Also we are working with CorpoMag to clear mature pines on the Cuchilla de San Lorenzo ridge within and beside the El Dorado reserve.
Simultaneously ProAves is reforesting cleared pine plantation areas with thousands of seedlings of 14 native species important to the avifauna of the site. Restoring the native flora of the area is a key part of conservation initiatives to save the many endemic species to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
It is estimated that less than 19% of the original vegetation of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta still remains, due large in part to deforestation for crops and livestock, setting fires and non-native plantings. For this reason, ProAves conducts conservation efforts to restore habitats for native species of fauna and flora through the production of local native species and eradication of introduced pine trees and cypresses, and restoring native species.
This year 2009 ProAves will continue the intensive process of eradication of non-native and invasive pines, with the aim of complete the elimination of these plantations in the short term to benefit the endemic and native biodiversity of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
If you want to contribute to forests conservation in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and its biodiversity, please support us with a secure donation online or VOLUNTEER to cut down pines! Write to fundacion@proaves.org
With the support of:
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