El Dorado Reserve, Colombia

Conservation

• Africa

  • Kihansi Spray Toad
  • Kinangop Grassland, Kenya
  • Ankaratra Massif, Madagascar
  • Lake Bisina-Opeta and Lake Nakivale-Mburo Wetland System, Uganda
  • Bakossi Mountains, Cameroon
  • Mount Oku, Cameroon
  • Mount Nganha, Cameroon
  • Mount Manengouba, Cameroon
  • Atewa Plateau, Ghana
  • KwaZulu Natal Coast, South Africa
  • Amatola Mountains, South Africa

• Asia

  • Morningside and Knuckles Mountains, Sri Lanka
  • Me Linh Station for Biodiversity, Vietnam

• Australasia

  • Manus Island, Papua New Guinea

• Central America

  • Sierra Caral, Guatemala
  • Massif de La Hotte, Haiti
  • Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, Mexico
  • Caribbean Marine Reserve, Guatemala
  • Cerro San Gil, Guatemala
  • Laguna Brava, Guatemala
  • Laguna Grande, Guatemala

• South America

  • Uraba Rainforest, Colombia
  • Chocó Conservation Corridor, Colombia
  • El Dorado Reserve, Colombia
  • Beni Savannas, Bolivia

Exploration

• Africa

  • Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

• Australasia

  • Hindenburg Wall, Papua New Guinea

• South America

  • Grensgebergte and Kasikasima, Suriname

• Southeast Asia

  • Xe Sap National Protected Area, Lao PDR

Research

• Southeast Asia

  • Kouprey

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is an ancient and isolated massif that is separated from and pre-dates the Andes. Although smaller than U.S. the state of Connecticut, these mountains contain the single highest concentration of endemic birds found on the planet and more resident bird species than the continental USA. It is home to 19 bird species endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, of which nine are endangered, and seven endangered species of amphibians including two Critically Endangered species, the Stubfoot Toad (Atelopus nahumae) and a species of harlequin frog (Atelopus laetissimus). Preliminary surveys recorded an extraordinarily 415 bird species in the reserve. The reserve is important for stopover and wintering Neotropical migratory birds, such as the Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea) (VU) and Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) (NT).

Fundación ProAves and American Bird Conservancy. Fundación ProAves is the leading organization for the protection of birds and their habitats in Colombia. ProAves works to prevent the extinction of birds through the protection of key habitats, working in close partnership with institutions, communities, and government agencies. ProAves promotes activities that work to improve conservation and to protect natural ecosystems. ProAves’ conservation programs have resulted in the creation of the largest private nature reserve system in Colombia, the establishment of the first Colombian conservation easement, and the establishment of three national, annual environmental campaigns.

ABC, ProAves, and GWC will conduct the following activities over one year:
• Expand El Dorado Reserve by purchasing the 161 acre La Cumbre II property.
• Reforest 146 acres with native trees.

The addition of the La Cumbre II property will improve connectivity between two sections of the reserve that are not currently adjoining and allow access to an area of the reserve with the most important nesting site for the Santa Marta Parakeet. Reforestation will expand available habitat for key bird and amphibian species.