10 Years of Saving the Yellow-eared Parrot
Milestones achieved by Fundación ProAves during 2009
Endangered Parrot Corridor established – 16,700 acres savedDuring 2009, ProAves, with the support of American Bird Conservancy, the IUCN in the Netherlands and World Land Trust US, has acquired and protected a vast area of montane cloud forest in the Central Cordillera, from the eastern slope in Tolima to the western slope in Quindio. The corridor stretches 12 miles and encompasses key foraging and breeding areas for the Critically Endangered Fuertes’s Parrot and Yellow-eared Parrot. The Conservation Corridor for Threatened Parrots of the Andean Cordillera Central is located between the municipalities of Roncesvalles, Tolima and Genova, Quindio. It is composed of the Loro Coroniazul (657 hectares), El Mirador (2.035 hectares) and Loros Andinos (4.072 hectares), Reserves – a total of more than 6,700 hectares of Andean forest, high Andean and protected wilderness corridor. With the establishment of this corridor, five endangered species of parrots can be saved, including three which are endemic to Colombia – the Yellow-eared Parrot (Ognorhynchus Icterotis) (CR), the Indigo-Winged Parrot (Hapalopsittaca fuertesi) (CR) and the Rufous- fronted Parakeet (Bolborhynchus ferrugineifrons) (VU). The other two endangered species which can be conserved are the Golden-plumed Parakeet (Leptosittaca branickii) (VU), and the Rusty-faced Parrot (Hapalopsittaca amazonina) (VU).
March 2009 – “Reconcile with Nature”Together with more than 500 people, Fundación ProAves and its partners launched the 8th “Reconcile with Nature” campaign in the municipality of San Francisco, Cundinamarca, Colombia, to generate awareness of the need to protect the Critically Endangered Yellow-eared Parrot and its natural habitat, the Quindío Wax Palm, which takes centuries to mature. Since the year 2000, when ProAves highlighted the plight of the Yellow-eared Parrot and Colombia’s national tree, the campaign has been growing in strength, thanks to ProAves’ many partners, particularly the Catholic Church, Conservación Internacional-Colombia and the Ministry of the Environment. The Campaign was launched by the municipality of San Francisco because it has helped support the conservation of the Critically Endangered Sasaima Wax Palm (Ceroxylom sasaimae).
April 2009 – Palm SundayAt sites across the Andes of Colombia, the Palm Sunday celebration held on April 5, 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 palm and the parrots occur. These wonderful results are largely the product of efforts by ProAves staff over the past 10 years, and the constant support of Fundación Loro Parque. |
ProAves owns a 320 acre reserve for the Parrots International is proud to have A YouTube presentation on the eco reserve
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July 2009 – Parrot Festival
Thanks to the efforts of environmental teachers all over Colombia, each year in July, ProAves organizes the Parrot Festival, during which it aims to share knowledge, defense and protection to all endangered species of parrots in Colombia. Among those endangered species are 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 of the Festival is to adapt into the community an identity based on the pride generated by the presence of these unique and endangered birds in their land, spreading this activity throughout the country, and allowing local and regional integration in the strengthening of the natural and cultural heritage.
Tolima: From 17 to 20 July 2009, the IV Yellow-eared Parrot and the Wax Palm Tree Festival was celebrated in Roncesvalles, Tolima. It was led by ProAves, with the support of the Municipal Mayoralty of Roncesvalles.
The procession featured Wax Palm trees, parrots, princesses, witches, old men, chicks, characters from Roncesvalles, folk dances and the municipal orchestra. Teachers, students, parents and the entire community worked hard to make this event a great success. Youngsters and children had a wonderful time, dancing and parading to the beat of the music, sharing their energy and happiness with the entire public.
At an educational level, some of the activities included a Yellow-eared Parrot watching expedition, cultural presentations, games, drawing and short story contests, and 90% of the educational institutions of the region participated. The Yellow-eared Parrot Project worked to create an identifiable and responsible link between the communities and the preservation of the Wax Palm tree and the Yellow-eared Parrot, as well as the recognition of the importance of this the project in other areas of the national territory.
http://www.roncesvalles-tolima.gov.co/index.shtml
Antioquia: A festival was held from 28 to 30 July in Antioquia – its main objective being to celebrate 10 years of the “Yellow-eared Parrot Project”, and to share its achievements with the community.
Over three days, educational, cultural and dynamic activities were carried out, with the participation of the community. One of the main activities was the Launching Parade, in which more than 500 people walked through the main streets of the city to the Main Park, where the opening of the festival was celebrated.
This event enjoyed 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. Children and their teachers from each school participated in the activity, wearing masks and disguises of the Yellow-eared Parrot. They carried banners celebrating its conservation, and messages of congratulations to ProAves for 10 years of hard work.
http://www.eljardin-antioquia.gov.co
November 2009 – Yellow-eared Parrot added to municipality shield of Jardin
Over the last 10 years, ProAves has achieved great successes in conservation, research and environmental education, thanks to collaborative efforts with local communities. The organisation’s efforts are increasingly reflected in the changing attitudes within rural communities, as the importance of protecting birds and wildlife are being recognized – especially the Yellow-eared Parrot and its habitat, the Quindio Wax Palm tree. Local people have a stronger connection to their biodiversity and are proud of it.
One recent great achievement was the creation of the Yellow-eared Parrot as the official bird of the Municipality of Jardin, Department of Antioquia, and having it included on the town’s shield, to acknowledge its importance in the community.
