Saving Himalayan Forests for the Red Panda

Winter 2015
Saving
Himalayan
Forests for the
Red Panda
Sierra del Divisor
National Park
Established
FINAL LINK IN MEGA
RAINFOREST CORRIDOR
11 Million Acres Protected
NEW MILESTONE FOR CONSERVATION
Field Notes
Recognition for Primate
Protection
The Orang Utan Republik Foundation’s 2015 Pongo Award w
as received this fall by
Rainforest Trust in honor of the organization’s progressive work toward Orangutan protection
in Borneo and Sumatra.
Rainforest Trust was chosen as a recipient of the award, which was originally created to honor
individuals for distinguished support of the Orang Republik Education Initiative. The award was
first presented in November 2006 at the Sumatran Orangutan Conference, Workshop and
Summit that was held in Indonesia.
In recent years, the purview of the award has expanded to recognize and honor organizations
and individuals that have contributed to improving conditions for Orangutans and other species
globally.
Rainforest Trust CEO, Dr. Paul Salaman, received the award on behalf of the organization.
Other recipients of this year’s award included Dr. Jane Goodall for her tireless dedication to
science, conservation and education as well as actor Ed Begley, Jr. for his years of activism
supporting environmental causes and sustainable living.
Exceptional Conservation in
an Exceptional Location
We purchase and protect threatened tropical
habitats to save endangered wildlife through local
partnerships and community engagement.
Rainforest Trust’s CEO, Dr. Paul Salaman, along with several board members
and supporters recently visited the new reserves that Rainforest Trust created in
July 2015 with local Malagasy partner Madagasikara Voakajy.
At the new Mangabe Reserve in Madagascar’s highly threatened eastern rainforest, the group of travelers was thrilled to see the world’s largest lemur, the critically
endangered Indri, and to hear its melancholic songs reverberate throughout the
forest. Amidst the extraordinary tropical forest ecosystems that were visited, over
200 species of birds were observed along with 17 species of lemurs.
Rainforest Trust’s partner Madagasikara Voakajy fights forest destruction with
the help and support of local communities, ensuring a future for endangered wildlife by protecting their habitats.
The Rainforest Trust visitors met with local communities committed to protecting these unique forests and discussed improving conservation efforts by developing Mangabe Reserve into a leading ecotourism operation that could offer
a sustainable income to help manage the surrounding reserves while providing
income to local residents.
Following their visit to eastern Madagascar, the Rainforest Trust delegation traveled west where the landscape radically differs. The area is characterized by dry,
deciduous forests including three species of threatened baobab trees.
A local tradition suggests that baobabs were the first trees planted by the gods.
But due to inexperience, the gods planted the trees upside down, giving them a
bizarre upended shape as if their roots are growing atop the trunks.
Madagasikara Voakajy initiated a clever plan to ensure healthy populations of
baobabs for generations to come. Through an adopt-a-tree program, students from
schools in the area plant their own baobab trees and compete to make them grow.
The student with the largest baobab tree at the end of the competition is awarded
with school supplies.
By incorporating the local community, this innovative program has shown a 90
percent success rate. Rainforest Trust’s support of community-led initiatives like
this one are vitally needed both to protect Madagascar’s imperiled wildlife and to
empower local people as stakeholders in conservation efforts.
Senior Staff
Dr. Robert Ridgely, President
Dr. Paul Salaman, CEO
Malissa Cadwallader, COO
Board of Directors
John Mitchell, Chair
Leslie Danoff, Vice Chair
Sally Davidson, Treasurer
Dr. Wayt Thomas, Secretary
Brett Byers, Member
Robert Giles, Member
Dr. Thomas Lovejoy, Member
Edith McBean, Member
Dr. Eric Veach, Member
Jeffrey Zack, Member
Sommer Chatwin, Member
Advisory Council
Dr. Bruce Beehler
Dr. Thomas Brooks
Dr. Nigel Collar
Ambassador Heather Hodges
Alan Martin
Dr. Russell Mittermeier
Ways to Give
Roger Pasquier
facebook.com/RainforestTrust
Online (Credit Card or PayPal)
RainforestTrust.org
twitter.com/RainforestTrust
Dr. Peter Raven
THE BAOBAB TREES OF MADAGSCAR store thousands of gallons of water in their trunks to endure droughts.
Dr. John Terborgh
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Dr. Gwen Brewer
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VISITORS ENJOYED SPECTACULAR VIEWS o
f the unique
Fossa - an extremely rare carnivore that is most closely
related to the Mongoose, but looks like a slim Cougar.
Sir Ghillean Prance
By Phone
1 (800) 456-4930
Crowdrise Campaign
Start your own fundraising campaign and
invite friends and family to support your
cause.
THE WORLD’S LARGEST LEMUR, THE INDRI, is Critically
Endangered and endemic to Madagascar. It was spotted in
trees by Rainforest Trust visitors during the trip.
AFRICA
SOUTH AMERICA
Saving the El Oro Parakeet
Critical Population Gains a Safe Home
Major Expansion of Buenaventura Reserve
FAST FACTS
LOCATION:
Breede River Valley, Western
Cape Province, South Africa
KEY SPECIES:
Geometric Tortoise (EN),
Angulate Tortoise,
Parrot-beaked Tortoise,
Lampranthus scaber (EN),
Athanasia crenata (EN)
HABITAT:
Lowland Fynbos shrubland
THREATS:
Agricultural expansion,
urbanization, overgrazing,
uncontrolled fire
LOCAL PARTNER:
South African Tortoise
Conservation Trust (SATCT)
and Turtle Conservancy
To improve protection for the Critically Endangered Geometric Tortoise, Rainforest Trust recently supported the creation of the first Geometric
Tortoise preserve in South Africa. Now, Rainforest
Trust is assisting in the additional purchase of an
adjacent 750-acre property to expand the reserve
even further.
Located in the Upper Breede Valley ecoregion
of western South Africa, the new reserve provides
habitat for an estimated 100-200 of the tortoises,
believed to be one of the last and largest viable populations of Geometric Tortoises in the world.
With 95 percent of its
original habitat destroyed by
agricultural encroachment,
the population of this rare
tortoise is now less than 1,000
individuals.
“Considering the plight of the Geometric
Tortoise, there was an obvious need to act swiftly
to purchase and protect the last remnants of its
natural habitat,” said Rainforest Trust CEO, Dr.
Paul Salaman. “Thanks to our collaboration with
Turtle Conservancy and the South African Tortoise
Conservation Trust, nearly a fifth of all living
Geometric Tortoises are now protected, and there
is good reason to believe the new preserve will help
set the stage for a comeback.”
Besides agricultural expansion, Geometric
Tortoise populations are threatened by road
construction and increasing traffic-related
mortalities. Making matters worse, overgrazing
and the introduction of invasive species have
altered the landscape, creating fragmented
habitat. Additionally, fires now occur with greater
frequency, destroying further habitat and killing
the tortoises.
“There have been some reserves created over the
past 50 years, but only recently has international
and local governmental attention risen to a new
level of concern,” said Dr. James Juvik, Director of
South Africa Programs at the Turtle Conservancy.
The newly established reserve will ensure a
stronghold for the tortoise by setting aside crucial
acres of its habitat. In addition to protecting
Geometric Tortoises, the reserve will provide a
much-needed haven for other imperiled species,
including the Angulate and Parrot-beaked Tortoises
and at least five endangered plant species.
LEFT: © TURTLE CONSERVANCY; RIGHT: © DOUG WECHSLER
Protection for South Africa’s Rarest Tortoises
Thanks to the generous support of its donors,
Rainforest Trust was able to expand protection for
Buenaventura Reserve this fall with the purchase of
an additional 944 acres of cloud forest.
With 95 percent of western Ecuador’s forests
already lost, Buenaventura Reserve holds
tremendous value for conservation. Located in
southwestern Ecuador, the reserve is home to the El
Oro Parakeet and El Oro Tapaculo, two endangered
and endemic bird species. They are so rare and
occupy such small ranges that their future survival
depends entirely upon the reserve and its ability to
provide sufficient habitat protection.
Discovered forty years ago by Rainforest Trust’s
president, Dr. Robert Ridgely, approximately half
the global population of El Oro Parakeets reside
within Buenaventura Reserve today.
Since the reserve was
established in 2000, the
El Oro Parakeet population
has rebounded by 33 percent.
Now, the reserve is home to a diversity of rare
and endemic species, even harboring the Critically
Endangered primate, the White-fronted Capuchin.
For the El Oro Parakeet and other endangered species in the Chocó cloud forests of southwest Ecua-
dor, Buenaventura Reserve represents their last safe
haven.
However, over the past several decades, the remaining patches of forest in the area have become
smaller and increasingly isolated from each other.
Simultaneously, the effects of climate change appear to be drying out the forest. Compared to where
they were located decades ago, El Oro Parakeets and
other birds are now being found only at higher elevations above the reserve as they search for their
preferred climatic zone.
For this reason, Rainforest Trust assisted
Ecuadorian partner, Fundación Jocotoco, to expand
Buenaventura Reserve this fall with the 944acre purchase and intends to acquire another two
properties totaling a further 672 acres.
This most recent expansion of the reserve is
critical for maintaining populations of the endemic
birds and other threatened montane species that
require higher altitude habitat for their long-term
survival.
FAST FACTS
LOCATION:
El Oro Province,
Southwestern Ecuador
KEY SPECIES:
El Oro Parakeet (EN),
El Oro Tapaculo (EN),
Ecuadorian White-fronted
Capuchin (CR)
HABITAT:
Cloud Forest
THREATS:
Imminent deforestation for
pastureland, climate change
LOCAL PARTNER:
Fundación Jocotoco
SIERRA DEL DIVISOR NATIONAL PARK
safeguards 3.3 million acres of Amazon
rainforest and is a global stronghold for Jaguar
populations.
THE WHITE-EARED JACAMARis one of over
365 bird species that call Sierra del Divisor
home, almost as many species as those that
breed in the United States.
Sierra del Divisor
After two decades of efforts, the establishment of Sierra del Divisor National Park in Peru secures the final link in
a 67-million-acre Andes-Amazon Conservation Corridor safeguarding wildlife and indigenous communities.
LEFT PAGE TOP: © DIEGO PÉREZ/CEDIA; UPPER LEFT: © STEVE WINTER; UPPER MIDDLE: © KEVIN O’CONNELL; UPPER RIGHT: © ALONSO QUEVADO
On November 8th, Peruvian President Ollanta Humala approved
the creation of the 3.3-million-acre Sierra del Divisor National Park,
Sierra del Divisor National Park
protecting an immense expanse of Amazon rainforest, an area larger
Other Protected Areas
than both Yosemite and Yellowstone National Parks combined. The
new park strategically secured the final link in a 67-million-acre Andes-Amazon Conservation Corridor – the culmination of over 20 years
of efforts by Rainforest Trust and Peruvian partner CEDIA.
Climbing from an immense plain of unbroken rainforest, the
mountains of Sierra del Divisor stretch more than 600 miles along
the Peru-Brazil border in the heart of the Amazon Basin. Complete
with plunging waterfalls, dormant volcanic cones, wild rivers, pristine
PERU
forests and uncontacted indigenous tribes, this largely unknown and
unexplored range is one of the Amazon’s last true wildernesses. The region has some of the highest levels of bioSierra del Divisor provides a
BRAZIL
diversity ever recorded on the planet and is thought to
critical connection between other
contain many species unknown to science.
protected areas in the region.
Rainforest Trust in collaboration with CEDIA (Center
for the Development of an Indigenous Amazon) worked
with local indigenous communities and Peru’s government to create the
new Sierra del Divisor National Park. Its establishment ends a decadelong push for protection that has involved numerous organizations
in Peru and abroad. The work of Rainforest Trust’s partner CEDIA
was instrumental in gaining the trust and support of surrounding
indigenous communities who then convinced the government to
formally declare the park.
“Sierra del Divisor National Park is the final link in an immense
protected area complex that extends for more than 1,100 miles from
the banks of the Amazon in Brazil to the snowy peaks of the Peruvian
Andes,” said Dr. Paul Salaman, CEO of Rainforest Trust. “After two
150 Miles
decades of collaborating with CEDIA to protect indigenous territo-
Andes-Amazon Corridor
A LARGE NUMBER OF PRIMATE SPECIES,
including this Red Uakari,live in the surrounding
area, with 16 primates located in Sierra del
Divisor itself.
ries and to establish nature reserves, parks and sanctuaries throughout
the Peruvian Amazon, we have finally completed the centerpiece with
the declaration of Sierra del Divisor National Park. This permanent
conservation corridor is one of the greatest refuges for biodiversity on
Earth.”
Considered one of Peru’s highest conservation priorities, the Sierra
del Divisor has long been recognized for its superlative biodiversity. A
brief expedition by the Chicago Field Museum found Sierra del Divisor to be home to the highest levels of primate diversity in the western
Amazon, as well as an estimated 300 species of fish and 3,500 plant
species.
In addition, over 365 bird species, 120 mammals, and nearly 80 amphibians have been documented so far within the borders of the park.
The region is a stronghold for large mammals like jaguars and tapirs
that are in decline throughout much of their range. Further, the area
provides sanctuary for the Iskonowa, an indigenous tribe that lives in
voluntary isolation within the new park.
“Protecting the Sierra del Divisor Mountain Range from illegal logging and mining is crucial for endangered wildlife, for indigenous peoples and for the world,” explained Salaman.
“We are thrilled to join CEDIA on this momentous victory for the
planet by announcing the final creation of Sierra del Divisor National
Park. Rainforest Trust continues to support CEDIA’s efforts to expand
the protected area. In the coming years, we plan to safeguard an additional 2.3 million acres of threatened forest habitat surrounding the
park to further strengthen the Andes-Amazon Corridor.”
Leaders representing three indigenous communities traveled to Lima
the first week of May to draw attention to the importance of preserving
Sierra del Divisor. They presented their designation demand to government officials from the Environmental and Cultural Ministries, as well
as to the High Commissioner on Dialogue and Sustainability.
“Our project in the Sierra del Divisor builds on more than 30 years
of experience working with native communities and protected areas,”
said Lelis Rivera, Director of CEDIA. “The creation of this park
would not have been possible without their strong support because
communities know that their future depends on the local ecosystem’s
health. The next step is to help provide them with the technical and
legal tools necessary to meet challenges on their native lands from
extractive industries.”
Sierra del Divisor National Park is the final link in a 67-millionacre Andes-Amazon Conservation corridor, an expanse larger than the
entire state of Colorado. Rainforest Trust and CEDIA have protected
collectively almost 30 million acres of rainforest by establishing land
rights for hundreds of indigenous communities and by creating new
protected areas and wildlife sanctuaries.
“The creation of Sierra del Divisor National Park demonstrates the
power of community support to effect real and lasting change and
marks a major landmark achievement in Rainforest Trust’s 27-year history,” said Salaman. “This is a huge gift for the planet.”
To learn more about the designation of Sierra del Divisor National
Park, visit RainforestTrust.org.
ACRES AND COUNTING
AND WE’RE JUST GETTING STARTED...
Just this year, Rainforest Trust has protected 3.5 million acres of tropical habitat
across the globe with the establishment of Sierra del Divisor National Park in Peru,
the acquisition of two logging concessions in Sumatra, and the creation of eight new
nature reserves in Madagascar. These new protected areas will save immense swaths
of rainforest while ensuring the survival of many critically endangered species, from the
Sumatran Tiger to the world’s largest lemur, the Indri.
Rainforest Trust Projects
Urgent Projects in Need of Support
Areas Protected or In Progress
REFUGE FOR THE RED PANDA IN THE HIMALAYAS
11,510 ACRES IN INDIA
CRITICAL PROTECTION FOR THE SNUB-NOSED MONKEY
380,056 ACRES IN MYANMAR
PROTECTING CÔTE D’IVOIRE’S PRIMATES
29,652 ACRES IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE
SAVING THE SANTA MARTA PARAKEET
2,200 ACRES IN COLOMBIA
SAVING THE EL ORO PARAKEET
1,616 ACRES IN ECUADOR
PROTECTION FOR FOREST ELEPHANTS
219,609 ACRES IN LIBERIA
NEW HOPE FOR CONGOLESE WILDLIFE
2,193,948 ACRES IN DEM. REP. OF CONGO
PROTECTING THE SAN MARTIN TITI MONKEY
10,944 ACRES IN PERU
SAVING SUMATRA’S RAREST WILDLIFE
200,396 ACRES IN INDONESIA
LAST CHANCE TO SAVE THE TAITA APALIS
35 ACRES IN KENYA
SAVING THE MALEO IN SULAWESI
47,328 ACRES IN INDONESIA
SAVING MATSCHIE’S TREE-KANGAROO
300,000 ACRES IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA
PROTECTING THE ATLANTIC RAINFOREST
455 ACRES IN BRAZIL
Since 1988, we have protected over 100 areas in 20 countries throughout the world.
Donor Spotlight
Successes like the establishment of Sierra del Divisor National Park
would not be possible without the dedication and generosity of devoted Rainforest Trust supporters like GreaterGood.org. Committed to
protecting people and the planet, the organization connects millions of
people to worthy causes and has contributed more than $35 million to
charities around the world.
Since 2008, GreaterGood.org has supported many of Rainforest
Trust’s projects, donating over $400,000 to protect more than 360,000
acres of rainforests and tropical habitat for endangered species.
Contributions from GreaterGood.org were crucial to saving the
mighty Amazon rainforest at Sierra del Divisor. “At Rainforest Trust,
we are so thankful to GreaterGood.org for providing the support we
need to make our work possible,” said Malissa Cadwallader, Chief Operating Officer at Rainforest Trust.
“If we want to protect and preserve animal species, then we need
to protect and preserve wild habitats,” said Tim Kunin, Co-Founder
of GreaterGood.org. “We are very proud of our supporters, who have
made such an impact through their clicks on The Rainforest Site and
with their direct gifts of acreage through our ‘Gifts that Give More’
program, of which 100% goes directly to Rainforest Trust. Our clickers, donors, and staff are all proud to be supporters.”
This year alone, GreaterGood.org has helped Rainforest Trust save
tropical habitat from the Amazon of Peru to the rainforests of Sumatra
and Madagascar.
AFRICA
SOUTH AMERICA
Saving the Santa Marta Parakeet
Upgrading Eco-tourism and Connecting Vital Areas
This year, Lindsey Gael used her 30th birthday to save 894
acres of critical habitat for endangered species in Sumatra
through Rainforest Trust.
Before her birthday, she asked friends and family to
support this cause, so incredibly close to her heart. As
a child, Lindsey lived on the remote Indonesian island of
Sumatra, so she was passionate about raising money to
safeguard charismatic wildlife found nowhere else on the
planet including the island’s Sumatran Tigers, Sumatran
Elephants, and Sumatran Orangutans.
“The Sumatran jungle is a truly wild area, home to incredible animals and plants, and a source of life for many communities,” Lindsey noted. “Places like this are irreplaceable and
also, sadly, somewhat voiceless.”
After researching conservation nonprofits working in Sumatra, Lindsey chose to support Rainforest Trust through
Crowdrise, an online crowdfunding site. By reaching out to
her network of friends and family, Lindsey raised $3,050 for
Rainforest Trust, protecting hundreds of acres of prime rainforest in Central Sumatra.
This year, with the help of supporters like Lindsey, Rainforest Trust and a local Indonesian partner purchased 110,011
acres of Sumatran rainforest to protect habitat for endangered species. On an island where a forested area the size of
five football fields disappears every minute to make way for
oil palm plantations, this was a big win for conservation. Rainforest Trust is still working to protect an additional 90,385
acres in Central Sumatra, which will ensure a lasting future
for the island’s unique wildlife.
LEFT: © LINDSAY GAEL; RIGHT: © RAINFOREST TRUST
A Birthday Gift that Keeps on Giving
Over the past decade, Rainforest Trust’s Colombian partner Fundación ProAves has acquired properties around its flagship El Dorado Nature Reserve
in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The journal
Science named the area the “Most Irreplaceable Site
on Earth” of all protected areas worldwide, owing
to an extraordinary diversity of plants and animals
found nowhere else on the planet.
With the help of its supporters, Rainforest Trust
recently supplied crucially needed funds to purchase
properties that provide a vital connection between
two separate areas of the reserve, consolidating El
Dorado Reserve to 2,972 acres. Boasting the highest
concentration of endemic birds in the world, this
reserve protects the world’s breeding stronghold of
the Santa Marta Parakeet along with a host of other
endemic plants, amphibians and birds.
To ensure a long-term revenue stream as a
sustainable source of income to manage ProAves’
network of nature reserves, Rainforest Trust also
supported the construction of five traditional
thatched cabins called “Kogui Habs” that now sit
atop one of El Dorado’s ridges, providing incredible
contrasting views of the snow-capped peaks of the
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Range and tropical
Caribbean beaches below.
The completion of these beautiful new cabins is a
welcome addition to El Dorado Reserve’s ecotour-
ism facilities, giving wildlife enthusiasts and birders
from around the world even more reason to visit
what has been called one of the Holy Grails of birding in the Americas.
You can make online reservations at this fabulous
reserve by visiting www.conservation.co.
FAST FACTS
LOCATION:
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta,
Northeastern Colombia
KEY SPECIES:
Santa Marta Parakeet (EN),
Santa Marta Toro (CR),
San Lorenzo Harlequin Frog (CR)
HABITAT:
Cloud Forest
THREATS:
Deforestation for agriculture
LOCAL PARTNER
Fundación ProAves
FIVE NEW THATCHED-ROOF CABINSor “Kogui
Habs” have been constructed at El Dorado Reserve.
AFRICA
SOUTH AMERICA
AFRICA
A New Refuge for Isolated Jaguars
A Sanctuary for Ankaratra’s Amphibians
Reserve Increases Size by 5,421 Acres
New Safe Haven Established for Imperiled Frogs
LOCATION:
Meta Department,
Central Colombia
KEY SPECIES:
Jaguar (VU),
Amazon River Dolphin (DD),
Lowland Tapir (VU),
Brown Woolly Monkey (VU)
HABITAT:
Lowland tropical rainforest
THREATS:
Logging, oil palm plantations,
ranching
LOCAL PARTNER
Fundación ProAves
This year, Rainforest Trust supported longstanding Colombian partner, Fundación ProAves,
in the strategic purchase of multiple properties,
expanding El Jaguar Reserve by 5,421 acres. The
new expansion enlarges the protected area to a total
of 10,326 acres of Amazon rainforests that were at
grave risk of deforestation for oil palm plantations.
throughout Central Colombia. The expansion of El
Jaguar Reserve is a major step forward in ensuring
protection for this important wildlife refuge and its
diverse inhabitants.
El Jaguar Reserve is home to
an exceptional diversity and
abundance of large mammals.
The reserve’s lakes, rivers and marshes provide
habitat for Amazon River Dolphins and Giant
River Otters, while its forests are home to Giant
Anteaters, Capybaras, South American Tapirs and
Brown Woolly Monkeys. The reserve also protects
a stronghold population of Jaguars, providing them
with renewed opportunities to rebound and reclaim
territory.
The forests and waterways of El Jaguar Reserve
offer refuge to more than 300 bird species, including
the Rose-breasted Chat, Velvet-fronted Grackle,
Dot-backed Antbird, Black Curassow, Horned
Screamer and Blue-throated Piping Guan.
Increasing growth of oil palm plantations pose
serious challenges to the remarkable assortment of
Amazonian wildlife found around the reserve and
THE LOWLAND TAPIRhas lost much of its habitat
and continues to be threatened by hunting.
LEFT TOP: © ERIC KILBY, LEFT BOTTOM: © ROGER SMITH ; RIGHT: © JONATHAN KOLBY
FAST FACTS
In collaboration with a local Malagasy partner
and Amphibian Survival Alliance, Rainforest Trust
recently supported the creation of the 20,558-acre
Ankaratra Massif Reserve in Madagascar. The new
reserve is roughly half the size of Washington, D.C.
Located 45 miles south of Madagascar’s capital,
the Protected Area established this summer encompasses a mixture of heathland, savanna and cloud
forest environments. Its streams and forests are
home to two Critically Endangered amphibians, the
Williams’ Bright-eyed Frog and Mantidactylus pauliani, in addition to several other threatened species.
“This is an exciting time for amphibian conservation in Madagascar,” said James P. Lewis, Director of Operations for Amphibian Survival Alliance.
“The expansion of Ankaratra Massif Reserve shows
that through broad collaborative approaches, we
can make a real difference for the survival of some
of the world’s most threatened and unique species.”
Due to highly specialized habitat requirements,
these species—known as micro-endemics—inhabit
tiny ranges such as a single stream. Agricultural expansion, overgrazing, and uncontrolled fires, however, have led to dramatic habitat loss, pushing these
species toward extinction.
Localized threats in Ankaratra Massif reflect a
larger, more destructive pattern that has transformed
much of Madagascar’s natural landscape.
Between 1950 and 2000,
the island lost more than 40
percent of its forest.
For Madagascar’s 300 described frog species, of
which 99.8 percent are endemic, this translates into
ever-increasing challenges. Twenty percent are now
considered threatened, and nine are listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List.
“Madagascar is home to one of the world’s most
important and diverse frog populations,” said Dr.
Paul Salaman, CEO of Rainforest Trust. “As threats
to these species grow, it is critical that we work
together to create and implement effective solutions.
Our project with VIF is an excellent example of
the progress that can be made when international
conservation groups partner effectively with local
conservationists.”
The new 20,558-acre Ankaratra Massif Reserve
will provide critical protection for Madagascar’s endemic frogs and other threatened wildlife.
FAST FACTS
LOCATION:
Ankaratra Massif,
Madagascar
KEY SPECIES:
Williams Bright-eyed Frog (CR),
Madagascar Frog (EN),
Marvelous Gecko (CR)
HABITAT:
Cloud forest, savanna
THREATS:
Illegal logging, uncontrolled
fires, overgrazing
LOCAL PARTNER:
Vondrona Ivon’ny Fampandrosoana (VIF)
INDIA
REFUGE FOR THE RED PANDA IN THE HIMALAYAS
FINANCIAL NEED: $95,700
PRICE PER ACRE: $16.63
have lived in the region’s mountains for thousands of years, most habitat destruction in the eastern Himalayas has taken place during the last
century. Forests are increasingly strained as demand for timber and agriculture grows, while poaching for the illegal wildlife trade decimates
rare species.
Rainforest Trust is collaborating with local partners in both India and
Myanmar to ensure a future for the Red Panda and other endangered
Himalayan wildlife by establishing two new major protected areas that
will safeguard their vanishing habitat.
“The elevation gradients in the eastern Himalayas host incredible
species diversity, including lots of threatened wildlife and plants,” said
Dr. Bert Harris, Rainforest Trust’s Chief Biodiversity Officer. “By saving this forest, we are saving a lot of species.”
In Myanmar, Rainforest Trust has efforts underway to establish
Imawbum National Park, which will protect 380,056 acres of forest
habitat for the Red Panda as well as the Critically Endangered Myanmar Snub-nosed Monkey and countless other species.
The Myanmar Snub-nosed Monkey, a rare mountain-adapted primate, was discovered recently in 2010 by scientists with local partner
Fauna and Flora International (FFI). These unusual looking monkeys
have prominent red lips and a nose that faces upwards. Their facial
structure causes them to sneeze in the rain, and they are known to locals as the “sneezing monkey.” Unfortunately, this unique trait can be a
disadvantage for them when humans hunt during rainstorms.
The primate’s total population is estimated to number between only
260 – 330 individuals, distributed over just 160,000 acres. Occurring
exclusively in Northeastern Myanmar, they are restricted to the high altitude forests of the Imawbum mountain range. These temperate cloud
forests support some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the eastern
Himalayas.
Other threatened species found in the region include the Takin,
Shortridge’s Langur, and the Chinese and Sunda Pangolins. Additionally, the Imawbum Mountains are the only area where the Yunnan and
Eastern Himalayan Endemic Bird Areas overlap, making it the richest
place for birds in Asia.
Despite the incredible conservation value of these forests, they remain unprotected. Rainforest Trust is working with FFI to establish
the new Imawbum National Park with the involvement of indigenous
communities and local authorities. The new park will protect 380,056
acres of Himalayan forests, providing the first ever protection for the
Myanmar Snub-nosed Monkey.
MYANMAR
CRITICAL PROTECTION FOR THE SNUB-NOSED MONKEY
FINANCIAL NEED: $150,387
PRICE PER ACRE: $0.79
Saving
Himalayan
Forests for
the Red
Panda
Rainforest Trust’s commitment to
conservation in India and Myanmar
protects a myriad of threatened
species, including the Red Panda.
Often hunted for its unique fur and highly valued bushy tail, the endangered Red Panda sports a bandit-like mask amid a blend of russet and
cream colored fur. Slightly larger than a housecat, the species is becoming
increasingly rare – particularly as its amazing Himalayan forest habitat
continues to disappear.
Feeding mostly on bamboo, these shy animals are usually active after
dusk. During the day, they sleep on tree branches with their bushy tails
covering their faces to protect them from the cold.
Restricted to a narrow belt of montane forests along the eastern slopes
of the Himalayas, today the global Red Panda population is estimated to
be less than 10,000 adults.
The eastern Himalayas are recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot,
containing an astounding range of ecosystems from rich alluvial grasslands and temperate broadleaf forests to subtropical jungle and rhododendron groves.
Rising to more than 25,000 feet over only a few hundred miles, the
dynamic landscape of the eastern Himalayas creates habitat for a remarkable assemblage of plants and animals, enabling iconic Asian species like
elephants and tigers to share territory with rare Himalayan species like
the Myanmar Snub-nosed Monkey and Red Panda. Nowhere else in Asia
features such an extraordinary diversity of wildlife, and nowhere else in
the world is in more critical need of protection.
Refuge for these animals is increasingly under threat. Though people
LEFT: © MATHIAS APPEL/PUBLIC DOMAIN; RIGHT: © JAMES EATON
The IUCN Red List recently changed the status of Red Pandas from Vulnerable (VU) to Endangered (EN) due to evidence of a decrease in
population in recent years.
THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED BUGUN LIOCICHLA was discovered
in 2006 and has only been seen by a handful of individuals.
Concurrently, Rainforest Trust is working to preserve further Red
Panda habitat nearby in northeastern India at Arunchal Pradesh. By
creating an 11,510-acre Community Conservation Reserve adjacent
to the spectacular Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, the reserves become a
centerpiece for a globally important bird area.
In addition to safeguarding habitat for the Red Panda, the new reserve in India will provide crucial protection for the Critically Endangered Bugun Liocichla, a bird species discovered in 2006 and only seen
by a handful of individuals. These jewel-like birds are beautifully decorated with olive plumage highlighted by yellow streaks, striking red
tail feathers, and a black head crest. They are some of the most elusive
birds in the world, estimated at just 14-20 remaining individuals, most
of which occur within roughly a one-square-mile area of traditional
Bugun tribal lands.
Other rare bird species at Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary include
Blyth’s Tragopan and Ward’s Trogon. The region is considered second
only to the eastern slope of the Andes for bird species richness and is
extremely rich in flora, containing a number of rare orchids.
Additionally, these forests are an important refuge for many threatened mammals including Asian Elephants, Clouded Leopards, and
Asiatic Black Bears in addition to the Red Panda. The reserve’s elevations encompass a number of different habitats, giving wildlife a range
to migrate and adapt to climate change.
Rainforest Trust is working with the local Bugun Tribe and partner conservation organization The Bugun Welfare Society to establish
the 11,510-acre Community Conservation Area that will be managed
jointly by the village council and state forest department. This new
conservation area will effectively expand Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary
and provide the first-ever protection for the Critically Endangered Bugun Liocichla.
“Both of these projects have tremendous conservation merit for being located in the eastern Himalayas biodiversity hotspot and for containing the Red Panda, as well as the Myanmar Snub-nosed Monkey
and Bugun Liocichla, both critically endangered species not found in
any protected areas,” said Dr. Bert Harris. “We’re proud to have the
opportunity to protect them.”
Rainforest Trust’s commitment to conservation in the eastern Himalayas provides protection for a myriad of species in the region. Without
securing habitat for these animals, their future is uncertain.
For more information on supporting our eastern Himalayan projects
in India and Myanmar, visit www.RainforestTrust.org.
Urgent Protection
Support the conservation work of Rainforest
Trust and its partners around the world.
New Hope for Sumatra’s Rarest Wildlife in Indonesia
Fewer than 400 Sumatran Tigers survive today. More than
30 of these critically endangered big cats live in the Bukit
Tigapuluh ecosystem, which makes protecting the population
critical to save the species. Due to its importance for tigers,
the landscape has been declared a ‘Global Priority Tiger
Conservation Landscape’ - one of just 20 in the world.
Rainforest Trust is working with a local partner to create three
protected areas within the forest ecosystem to conserve
200,396 acres. These reserves will protect lowland areas
in the Bukit Tigapuluh ecosystem, securing protection for
critically endangered Sumatran Orangutans, Sumatran
Elephants and Sumatran Tigers, among many other species.
At $6.82 per acre and with all gifts matched 1:1,
Rainforest Trust seeks $310,500 to complete project funding.
Urgent Protection for Forest Elephants in Liberia
Considered one of Africa’s most biodiverse and threatened
ecosystems, the Upper Guinean forests of Liberia support
astonishing levels of endemic plant and animal life including
key populations of Western Chimpanzees, Western Red
Colobuses and Diana Monkeys. It also provides invaluable
refuge for African Forest Elephants, which have experienced
steep population declines due to poaching and habitat loss.
Rainforest Trust is working with a local partner, Society for
the Conservation of Nature in Liberia, to conserve this area by
creating a new national park that will protect 219,609 acres
from destruction.
At $1.56 per acre and with all gifts matched 3:1,
Rainforest Trust seeks $56,590 to complete project funding.
Saving Matschie’s Tree Kangaroo in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea’s wild and isolated Huon Peninsula
contains some of the most extensive montane forests in
the country. Many of its species exist nowhere else, such
as Matschie’s Tree Kanagaroo. In addition to a profusion of
endemics, the area holds astonishing levels of biodiversity and
serves as a refuge for Eastern Long-beaked Echidnas, New
Guinea Quolls, and two Near Threatened Birds of Paradise.
Rainforest Trust is working with a local partner, Tree Kangaroo
Conservation Program–Papua New Guinea, to support the
creation and local management of Papua New Guinea’s first
landscape-level protected area in the Yopno-Uruwa-Som
watershed. This new reserve will protect 195,759 acres of the
Huon Peninsula’s spectacular forests.
At $1.25 per acre and with all gifts matched 1:1,
Rainforest Trust seeks $244,915 to complete project funding.
Please use the enclosed envelope or visit RainforestTrust.org to make a donation.