Saving the Blue-billed Curassow: El Paujil Reserve, Colombia

In the heart of the 700 mile-long Magdalena valley, a humid forest refugia called the Serran�a de las Quinchas is sandwiched between the Magdalena River and the Eastern Cordilleras of Colombia. Las Quinchas contains one of the richest lowland biotas outside of the Amazon, with exceptional levels of species richness and endemism.  Six global and/or National Critically Endangered species, 4 Endangered species, and 9 Vulnerable species, including the Blue-billed Curassow, Variegated Spider-Monkey, Magdalena Tapir, and the Magdalena Bocadito fish all reside here.  Overall, an astounding 339 bird species have been documented at the site, including 23 species of Nearctic-Neotropical migrants that winter here.

Unfortunately, this crucial habitat is threatened. The river�s wide forested flood-plains and slopes have been converted to agricultural land, largely fueled by glowing (and unrealistic) reports of the region�s natural wealth. Since the 1960s a massive internationally financed colonization and infrastructure program, resulted in the elimination of nearly four million hectares of humid lowland forest in a little over a decade.

Today, infrastructure development and colonization continues unabated in the Magdalena Valley which is now almost completely deforested with only a few fragments remaining. The largest of which is around Serran�a de las Quinchas where roads have only recently penetrated. With international support from the American Bird Conservancy and Conservation International, Fundaci�n ProAves was able to acquire ~3000 acres of humid lowland forest in the Magdalena Valley to establish the El Paujil Reserve and a community outreach program. While the community fully supports the reserve and the closure of hunting in the protected areas, timber exploitation remains a serious threat.

Fundaci�n ProAves has established a conservation plan that includes acquiring and protecting ten strategic properties totaling 9,480 acres. This includes just over 5,070 acres of pristine lowland forests that are unclaimed and will be protected by the expansion. This is a challenging but attainable goal requiring many conservation partners. GCBO is proud to assist in this exciting and important protection plan.