$2million grant to save Andes' precious forests

Polylepis woodlands are unique

July 2011: Conservation efforts targeting threatened high-altitude forests in the Andes Mountains near the sacred, ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu, Peru, will benefit from a new $2million endowment fund.

Established by Fondo de las Américasú (FONDAM), Conservation International's Global Conservation Fund (GCF), Conservation International - Perú, and American Bird Conservancy (ABC), the money will fund projects to conserve Polylepis woodlands as of next year.

Polylepis is a genus of trees and shrubs unique to the Andes of South America. Conserving Polylepis forests is crucial for protecting biodiversity and water sources for nearby communities. These forests support threatened bird species, including the royal cinclodes, white-browed tit-spinetail, and ash-breasted tit-tyrant.

Home to rare and threatened birds
ABC's Peruvian partner Asociación Ecosistemas Andinos (ECOAN) estimates 127 Royal cinclodes occur in the Vilcanota area out of a global population that may number fewer than 250 individuals.

‘The establishment of the first endowment for Private Conservation Areas is great news for Peru.

'This support will ensure not only the sustainability of these areas, but also the conservation of the biodiversity of such an important ecosystem as Vilcanota, in a collaborative work with local communities,' said Luis Espinel, executive director for Conservation International in Peru.

To date, participating communities have protected over 15,000 acres in seven Private Conservation Areas recognised by the Peruvian national government, with more reserves currently being created.

This includes the new 1,897-acre Pampacorral Private Conservation Area at Pampacorral, and the 4,515 acre Qosqoccahuarina Private Conservation Area at Rumira Sondormayo, both of which were approved by the Peruvian government in April this year.


Over half-a-million Polylepis saplings and other native species have been planted to restore forests, and many areas have been fenced to protect saplings from grazing animals and promote habitat regeneration.

Planting 150,000 trees for sustainable fuel
‘The project has benefitted more than 8,000 people in more than 20 communities by planting 150,000 trees that provide a sustainable fuel wood supply so they do not need to cut down Polylepis forests to cook,' said Constantino Aucca, President of ECOAN.

Aucca added that the project has also provided nearly 6,000 fuel-efficient clay ovens to reduce fuel wood needs, erected solar panels to provide electricity and hot water for washing, aided in the construction of greenhouses to provide healthy food to communities, and funded health and educational services.

ABC and ECOAN have also provided communities with technical assistance to improve pasture management, wool production, textile marketing, and to develop sustainable nature tourism at the Private Conservation Areas. A new visitor centre opened in February at Abra Málaga Thastayoc - Royal Cinclodes Private Conservation Area.

‘The Vilcanota Reserve Network is an encouraging example of how we can work with local communities to successfully raise living standards while simultaneously benefiting habitat for endangered species,' said ABC conservation biologist, Dr Daniel Lebbin.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/polylepis-andes.html