Palkachupa Cotinga ( Phibalura boliviana ) habitat restoration and population monitoring.

Project Personnel

Supervisor: A. Bennett Hennessey
Coordinator: Carolina Orosco Ortiz

Project goal

Protect the endemic threatened population of the Palkachupa Cotinga by working with local communities and Madidi National Park guards on controlling habitat burning and population monitoring.

Project period

10 months during the breeding and burning periods, July 2006 to May 2007.

Project area

The Savannas and Semi-humid forest (mostly fragments) of the Apolo area, La Paz , Bolivia (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. Distribution of the Bolivian Swallow-tailed Cotinga in the Apolo area, compared with its possible historical range (derived from potential habitat and its destruction in the last 100 years).

Project background

The Near Threatened, high research priority Swallow-tailed Cotinga Phibalura flavirostris is represented by two subspecies, flavirostris of eastern Brazil and, separated by c.2,500 km of lowland forest and pantanal, P. f. boliviana consisting of an isolated population of unknown size living in an Andean area of disturbed open forest surrounded by moist yungas and intermontane dry forest. Two specimens collected from a single locality in 190 and a mounted bird with no locality other than Bolivia were, for 98 years, the only evidence of boliviana until it was rediscovered in 2000. Recent research in the Apolo area, and in Parque estatal Intervales, Sao Paolo , Brazil , has conclusively shown that the two taxa should be considered separate species, and that the Bolivian Palkachupa Cotinga is Critically Endangered (soon to be published).

In 2005, Sandro Va ldez with Ruth Alipaz completed a population survey of the species. In November 2005, Ruth Alipaz visited the local communities with conservation education pamphlets and posters, to present information to each community in the range of the species and to evaluate potential conservation actions. Her research left the base for this present proposal.

Through the research it has become clear the key problem for the species is the destruction of habitat, including the few moist forest fragments that exist in the valleys. The communities of Pata and Aten have shown interest and stopping this excessive destruction, and would appear to be the best areas to begin conservation efforts.

Project Activity

Given the priorities of the project and the political challenges in the area, a project has been designed to work with the two communities of Aten and Pata- both covering areas with high population records of Palkachupa, and demonstrating interest in helping the project. The Madidi Park Guard Wi lliam Ferrufino has shown great interest in the project, and has permission from the Park Guard director to be responsible for this species within the Parks range. In both the town of P a t a and Aten certain people have shown great interest in being responsible for the monitoring and habitat restoration for the species.

Several activities have become apparent as priority beginning actions.

• Develop a Palkachupa conservation network
• Habitat restoration and monitoring
• Palkachupa survey and population monitoring plan
• Community conservation workshops
• Community tourism preparation and promotion
• Publish survey and project results

Develop a Palkachupa Conservation Network

This conservation program will need to directly involve the local communities, because the bird lives on their land, even the community of Pata which is in Madidi National Park . The communities of Pata and Aten have shown great concern for the changing habitat and have agreed that they would like to be involved in the conservation of the species. Both communities have representatives who would be willing to carry out the conservation work in the area. As a consiquance, we need to design a network, between Armonia, the degreed biologist Carolina Orosco Ortiz, the local park guard Wi lliam Ferrufino, and community members in Pata and Aten who can all work together on the project. Carolina has the technical training to teach the other members how to conduct habitat restoration and monitoring, and Palkachupa monitoring.

Habitat restoration and monitoring

The main threat to the Palkachupa is the destruction of habitat caused by fires. The local communities are aware of this, and admit that many burnt areas are unnecessary and a result of uncontrolled burning. Carolina with the William the park guard will need to work with the communitiy to create a fire management plan. In order to involve the local community and measure our conservation success, Carolina will also develop a habitat restoration monitoring plan that can simple demonstrate areas that have been protected.

Palkachupa survey and population monitoring plan

The population survey conducted in 2005 will serve as the base for review survey and search for new sites using local information. With this data, Carolina will then create a monitoring plan involving the communities of Atan and Pata. This program will be very important to evaluate our conservation efforts and to keep an eye on any changes in the population.

Community conservation workshops

During this work, it will be important to present our information to the communities, and to repeat the conservation message and the importance of the Palkachupa in the area.

Prepare communties and promote tourisim

Though high tourism in the area is not a possibility, the income to the communities of just a few tourists each year would be greatly appreciated and would enforce the value of the local habitat to the communities. It is important to train the local communities in taking advantage of tourism and how people should be received. They can charge tourists an entrance fee into their forest and trails, offer lodging and food, guiding services and washing all for a fee. Many of these communities have the custom of offering such things free, and eventually this builds resentment as tourists take advantage of their generosity.

Publish survey and project results

It is important that the program will bring together the past research results and publish them in a journal internationally accessible, to aid the conservation community and the promotion of the project.

Project Outcome

We can develop the protection of the species and habitat in the two key areas of its range. With a monitoring plan and data sharing program in place, we can present to the communities the extent of the habitat damage and shown them they can make a change, and how to quantify that difference.

These actions will lead to the expansion of the program as once these programs and methods are in place, and managed by William the park guard, the project can look into working in other areas.

Promoting tourism could be an added benefit to the communities that will help support their conservation efforts.

Project Budget (US$)

*Armonía Conservation centre support includes free usage of office space and equipment (computers, GIS system, photocopier, printers); office supplies; scientific and administrative advisory support; field equipment (field vehicles, sound recorders, binoculars, telescopes, tents, sleeping bags etc.); Bolivian Bird data base; Bird library; Sound library; telephone; and fax.

Contact

A. Bennett Hennessey/ Director
Armonía/ BirdLife International
Lomas de Arena 400
Casilla 3566
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Bolivia

Telf: 591-3-3568808/ birdbolivia@birdbolivia.com