El Zorzal Migratorio - Consorcio Ambiental Dominicano
Transcription
El Zorzal Migratorio - Consorcio Ambiental Dominicano
El Zorzal Migratorio Contenido Composición Florística y Estructura de la Vegetación de la Reserva Científica El Zorzal. Provincia Duarte, República Dominicana. Preparado por: Teodoro Clase, Wilvin Agramonte & Brígido Peguero Santo Domingo, D. N., República Dominicana, Febrero del 2014. Finca Ortega: un nuevo paradigma para la Conservación en la República Dominicana Chris Rimmer Finca Ortega, República Dominicana, Marzo, 2012 Dos Mundos un Ave: Conservación del Zorzal Migratorio / Hoja promocional CEPF-GEF-NMBCA República Dominicana, Diciembre 2014 Two Worlds – One Bird (2W1B): Sustainable Financing of Habitat and Biodiversity Conservation in the Dominican Republic and United States Charles Kerchner, Ph.D. & Sesar Rodriguez Dominican Republic, February 1, 2014 News letter Issue1 CANARI-CEPF June 2012 Composición Florística y Estructura de la Vegetación de la Reserva Científica El Zorzal. Provincia Duarte, República Dominicana. Preparado por: . Teodoro Clase, Wilvin Agramonte & Brígido Peguero Santo Domingo, D. N., República Dominicana, Febrero del 2014. Metodología: Esta investigación fue realizada en la Reserva científica privada El Zorzal en el mes de enero del año 2014. Para el levantamiento de las informaciones en la zona se realizó un viaje de tres días. Se hicieron muestreos preferenciales, que consisten en ubicar las unidades muestrales consideradas representativas. Este tipo de Muestreo se basa en suposiciones acerca de las propiedades de la vegetación (Matteucci & Colma, 1982), y es el más factible para trabajar en cualesquier tipo de relieve. Se realizaron muestreos preferenciales por ambiente, haciendo transectos longitudinales según Matteucci & Colma (1982). Los lugares de muestreo fueron seleccionados en base a los tipos de ambientes. Durante los recorridos en los transectos se anotaron todas las especies presentes en los mismos. También se anotaron todas las especies fuera de los transectos que no hubiesen sido registradas dentro de las unidades específicas de muestreo, con la finalidad de hacer más completo el estudio. La mayoría de las plantas fueron identificadas en el campo, aun así se colectaran especímenes de estas y otros taxones que fueron identificados y rectificados por comparaciones con los especímenes del herbario JBSD; también mediante la aplicación de las claves taxonómicas, utilizando los libros de La Flora de La Española de Liogier (1982-2000). Los nombres comunes de plantas que se presentan en este informe fueron tomados del Diccionario Botánico de Nombres Vulgares de La Española (Liogier, 2000), y por el conocimiento de los autores. Los ejemplares colectados se encuentran depositados en el Herbario JBSD del jardín Botánico Nacional de Santo Domingo, bajo la colección de Teodoro Clase. La base de datos se presenta en una tabla anexa que contiene la lista de las plantas vasculares presentes en dicha reserva. Esta lista está organizada en orden alfabético por familias, géneros y especies. Además, se establecen diferentes atributos, como: estatus biogeográficos, tipos biológicos o formas de vida y su estado de conservación. Para determinar las especies amenazadas o protegidas se cruzó la lista de las especies amenazadas y con la Lista Roja Nacional del Ministerio del Ambiente de la República Dominicana. EL AREA DE ESTUDIO Esta Reserva Cientifica está ubicada en la Provincia Duarte, sección o paraje La Quinta; cuenta con una extensión de 4.55 km2; posee una muy buena diversidad biológica, distribuida en múltiples ambientes existentes en la zona, tales como: Vegetación ribereña, Bosque en regeneración, Área de matorrales y Áreas dedicadas a cultivos. Dicha reserva es nueva, declarada en el 2013. Sus suelos son arcillosos-barrosos. El curso de los ríos es rocoso, con gran escorrentía de agua, formando saltos y grandes y profundos charcos. La zona corresponde a lo que es el Bosque muy húmedo subtropical. La vegetación ribereña está bien conservado, donde pueden observarse muchas especies importantes de nuestra flora; incluso varias de ellas protegidas, como es el caso de: cola, Mora abbottii; candongo, Rollinia mucosa; helecho macho, Cyathea arborea; cacao cimarrón, Quararibaea turbinata; manacla colorada, Calyptronoma plumeriana, y cabirma de guinea, Carapa guianensis, entre otras. También en el bosque en regeneración se está desarrollando un buen cúmulo de especies importantes, tanto nativas como endémicas. RESULTADOS Composición florística. En el área estudiada fueron identificadas 371 especies pertenecientes a 281 géneros distribuidos en 75 familias de angiospermas y 24 Pteridofitas. Las familias predominantes fueron: Rubiaceae con 19 especies, Asteraceae 18, Poaceae y Euphorbiaceae 17 cada una y Fabaceae con 15 especies. El grupo de helechos (Pteridofitas) está representado por 24 taxones. Estatus Biogeográfico De las 371 especies registradas en la Reserva Científica El Zorzal, 295 son nativas, ocho endémicas, 25 naturalizadas, 37 introducidas cultivadas y seis taxones indeterminados. Tipos Biológicos De las 371 especies registradas en la Reserva Científica El Zorzal, 148 herbáceas, 97 árboles, 73 arbustos, 43 lianas, seis estípites, cuatro rastreras y una parásita. El endemismo en La Reserva Científica El Zorzal es muy bajo, lo cual se debe probablemente a los impactos antrópicos a que ha sido sometida gran parte del área. Se reportan ocho (8) especies endémicas, las cuales son: Mora abbottii, Calyptronoma plumeriana, Raystonea hispaniolana, Sabal domingensis, Comocladia cuneata, Columnea domingensis, Stigmaphyllon angulosum y Poitaea galegoides. Especie Nombre común Mora abbottii Cola Comocladia cuneata Guao Poitea galegoides Gallito Roystonea hispaniolana Palma real Sabal domingensis Palma cana Stigmaphyllon angulosum Bejuco de manteca Columnea domingensis Calyptronoma plumeriana Manacla colorada Cuadro 1.- Especies endémicas en la Reserva Privada El Zorzal Familia Caesalpiniaceae Anacardiaceae Fabaceae Arecaceae Arecaceae Malpighiaceae Gesneriaceae Arecaceae Especies protegidas y/o amenazadas En la reserva se reportaron 27 especies de plantas vasculares protegidas y/o amenazadas, controladas por diferentes tratados: Convención Internacional sobre Tráfico de Especies de la Flora y Fauna Silvestres en Peligro de Extinción (CITES), o bien incluidas en la Lista Roja de la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza-UICN (Unión Mundial para la Naturaleza) o en la Lista Roja Nacional preparada para el Proyecto de Ley de Biodiversidad (Peguero et al., 2003). Especies Cedrela odorata Roystonea hispaniolana Calyptronoma plumeriana Sabal domingensis Prestoea montana Nombre común Cedro Palma real Manacla colorada Palma cana Manacla CITES UICN X LRN X X X X X Fevillea cordifolia Jayama Alchorneopsis floribunda Palo de gallina Carapa guianensis Cabirma de Guinea Columnea domingensis Eugenia dictyophylla Gayabón Cyathea arborea Camarón Cyathea furfuracea Camarón Chimarrhis cymosa Rollinia mucosa Candongo Mora abbottii Cola Swietenia mahagoni Caoba X X Bletia patula Palmita de monte X Epidendrum carpophorum X Epidendrum difforme X E. nucturnum X E. rigidum X E. wrightti X Isochilus linearis X Jacquiniela globosa X Oeceoclades maculata Lengua de suegra X Polystachya foliosa Cañuela X Tolumnia variegata Angelito X Cuadro 2.- Especies protegidas y/o amenazadas encontradas en el área X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Vegetación. La flora de la Reserva Científica El Zorzal posee una baja diversidad de especies con respeto al tamaño de la misma, pero sí tiene una alta diversidad de individuos, debido a que existen especies que por sí solas forman grandes unidades, como es el caso del jalapón, Miconia prasina. Entre los tipos de ambientes que se pueden describir en dicha reserva están: Vegetacion de riberas, Matorrales en reas abiertas; Bosque en regeneración y Cultivos. Vegetación ribereña. En estos bosques de galerías o ribereños podemos observar un dosel superior con árboles de 15 a 20 metros de altura, compuesto por especies como: cabirma de guinea, Carapa guianensis; Mora abbottii, cola; Guarea guidonia, cabirma santa; Tetragastris balsamifera, amacey; Ocotea floribunda, aguacatillo; Alchornea latifolia, Bija macho, entre otras. En otro estrato de 10-15 metros tenemos especies como: Eugenia domingensis, guazara; Ocotea leocoxylon, aguacatillo; Calophyllum calaba, Mara; Ocotea coriacea, cigua blanca; Quararibaea turbinata, Cacao cimarrón; Inga vera, guama; en el estrato de 5-10 metros podemos observar: Trichilia pallida, palo amargo; Wallenia laurifolia, Caimoní; Calyptronoma plumeriana, manacla colorada; Cordia sulcata, yaguasa; Chrysophyllum argenteum, caimitillo, etcétera. En el estrato arbustivo de 1-5 metros, tenemos especies como: Psychotria spp., cafetan; Cyathea spp., camarón; Eugenia spp., escobón; Piper spp., guayuyo; Miconia prasina, auquey; Exostema longiflorum, lirio; Comocladia cuneata, guao; Tabernaemontana citrifolia, Palito de leche; Urera baccifera, pringamosa, y varios individuos juveniles de los árboles antes mencionados. Las hierbas y trepadoras también frecuentan este ambiente y posemos notar especies como: Fevillea cordifolia, jayama; Entada gigas, samo; Hippocratea volubilis, jaquimey; Rourea surinamensis, Luis Gómez; Phylodendron spp., mano poderosa; Dieffenbachia seguine, mata puerco; Commelina elegans, suelda; Adiantum spp.; culantrillo; entre otras. Vegetación ribereña Bosque en regeneración Esta asociación vegetal puede observarse en la mayor parte de la reserva, y corresponde a un bosque en regeneración, donde la mayorías de las especies oscilan ente 5-10 metros de altura con algunos árboles relictos de manera dispersa; entre estos árboles podemos notar: Buchenavia tetraphylla, ciruelillo; Mangifera indica, Mango; Hura crepitans, jabilla criolla; Roystonea hispaniolana, palma real, y Chrysophyllum oliviforme, Caimitillo. En el bosque que se regenera tenemos especies como: Cecropia schreberiana, yagrumo; Ocotea coriacea; cigua blanca; Zanthoxylum martinicense, Pino de teta; Trichilia hirta, jobobán; Rauvolfia nitida, palo de leche; Spondias mombin; jobo de puerco; Schefflera morototoni, sablito, etcétera. Entre los arbustos o especies menores de cinco metros tenemos: Miconia prasina, auquey; Myrica cerifera, palo de cera; Casearia arborea, cascarita; Chrysophyllum oliviforme, caimitillo; Clidemia umbellata, Peluda; Pretoea montana; manacla; Eugenia monticola, arrayán; Psychotria nervosa, cafetan; Eugenia foetida, escobón; Comocladia cuneata, guao; Picramnia pentandra, palo de pez. Entre las herbaceas predominan los helechos: Gleichenia bifida, Pteridium aquilinum y Odontosoria aculeata, zarza, entre otras. Bosque en regeneración avanzada Áreas abiertas con matorrales Este tipo de asociación vegetal podemos notarlo en diferentes partes de dicha reserva. Éstas, más bien son áreas de potreros y cultivos abandonados, en algunos de los cuales se están llevando a cabo reforestaciones. En las mismas predominan las herbáceas y arbustivas con algunos árboles relictos dispersos, como: Citrus aurantium, naranja agria; Inga vera, guama, Schefflera morototoni, sablito; Roystonea hispaniolana, palma real. En los arbustos que abundan en este ambiente están: Trichilia hirta, jobobán; Psidium guajava, guayaba; Acacia macracantha, cambrón; Miconia prasina, auquey, Clidemia umbellata, peluda; Clidemia hirta, peluda; Piper spp., guayuyo; Casearia arborea, cascarita; Casearia guianensis, palo blanco; Comocladia cuneata, guao; Myrica cerifera, palo de cera. Entre las herbáceas, que son las más frecuentes, en este ambiente podemos citar: Cynodon dactylon, pelo de mico; Andropogon glomeratus, rabo de mulo; Gleichenia bifida, calimete; Panicum maximum, yerba de guinea; Pteridium aquilinum, calimete; Sida spp., escoba; Achyranthes aspera, rabo de gato; Paspalum fimbriatum, pata de conejo; Hyptis capitata, escoba; Desmodium affine, amor seco; Hyptis verticillata, escoba entre otras. Área abierta con matorrales Vegetación de áreas cultivos Este ambiente se observa en una parte de la reserva, la cual ha sido destinada para estos fines; en ella se encuentran cultivos permanentes de algunas especies, tales como: Teobroma cacao, cacao siendo este el cultivo de mayor influencia en el área. También existen otros, como: Macadamia integrifolia, macadamia, Coffea arabica, café; Musa paradisiaca, platano; Persea americana; Musa sapientum, guineo; Citrus reticulata, mandarina; Citrus sinensis, china, entre otros. Entre las especies asociadas a los cultivos tenemos: Gliricidia sepium, piñón; Inga vera, guama; Roystonea hispaniolana, palma real; Annona muricata, guanábana. Vale resaltar una gran variedad de orquídeas epífitas que crecen sobre estos árboles, entre ellas del género Epidendrum. Área de cultivo de cacao CONCLUSIONES • En la Reserva Cientifica El Zorzal la vegetación mejor conservada la constituyen los bosques ribereños que crecen formando galerías en las márgenes del rio Caño Claro y río Los Palitos, donde se observan árboles de hasta 20 metros de especies importantes de nuestra flora, tales como: Mora abbottii, cola; Quararibaea turbinata, cacao cimarrón; Carapa guianensis, cabirma de guinea; Calyptronoma plumeriana, manacla colorada, y Prestoea montana, entre otras. • La diversidad florística en la Reserva puede considerarse como baja, tomando en cuenta el tamaño del área y el grado de alteración en que se encuentra, algunas especies en las áreas que han sido alteradas tienen una cobertura muy amplia formando unidades en diferentes partes, tal como es el caso de Psidium guajava, guayaba; Miconia prasina, auquey; Myrica cerifera, arrayán, etcétera. • Gran parte del area cuenta con un bosque con una muy buena regeneración de especies; algunas de ellas alcanzan hasta 15 metros de altura, además algunos árboles relictos de gran tamaño todavía se conservan allí. • Existe una diversidad de ecosistemas en la zona, aunque algunos bastante impactados debido a múltiples factores. Recomendaciones para la implementación de un plan de manejo ambiental ─● Hacer de esta una Reserva Científica modelo, ya que además de sus área de conservación y cultivos también puede ser un gran atractivo para ecoturismo aprovechando la parte hídrica. ─● Trazar senderos ecológicos por las diferentes áreas de la reserva. ─● Reforestar con criterio de conservación, plantando especies nativas y endémicas, algunas amenazadas de extinción. ─● Plantar las áreas abiertas can especies nativas y endémicas que sean de atractivos para la fauna en general. ─● Difundir programas de socialización a toda la ciudadanía con la finalidad de crear conciencia de por qué debemos conservar el ambiente y cada uno de los ecosistemas presentes allí, de cómo usar los recursos naturales y cuidar de ellos a la vez ─● Eliminar las especies invasoras que aparecen dentro de la reserva, pues ahora se observan pocas pero andándoles rápido podemos erradicar esas plagas. Ejemplo: Leucaena leucocephala, lino criollo y Acacia mangium. Estas especies se registraron en este estudio. ─● Evitar la siembra de pinos en las áreas, ya que esto es una reserva científica no una finca forestal.. ● Usar frutales nativos para la reforestación de las areas: Mammea americana, Mamey; Chrysophyllum cainito, Caimito; Annona reticulata, mamón; Genipa americana, jagua; Annona muricata; Rollinia mucosa, candongo, etcétera. ● Especies apetecidas por las fauna: Petitia domingensis, capas; Citharexylum fruticosum, penda; Bursera simaruba, almacigo; Calophyllum calaba, mara; Tetragastris balsamifera, amacey; Abarema glauca, caracolí; Simarouba glauca, juan primero; Inga laurina, gina; Ficus spp., higo; Ocotea spp., aguacatillo; Cordia collocccca, muñeco; Cordia sulcata, yagua. Entre tantas otras ● También incluir especies protegidas como: Cedrela odorata, cedro, Ceiba pentandra, Ceiba; Carapa guianensis, Cabirma de guinea; Mara abbottii, cola, etc. Literatura citada Liogier, A. H. 1982. La Flora de La Española I. Universidad Central del Este (UCE) Vol. VI Serie Científica XII. Santo Domingo, República Dominicana; Editora Taller C.por A 317 pp. ---------. 1983. La Flora de La Española II. Universidad Central del Este (UCE) Vol. 44 Serie Científica XV. Santo Domingo, República Dominicana; Editora Taller C. por A. 420 pp. ---------. 1985. La Flora de La Española III. Universidad Central del Este (UCE) Vol. LVI Serie Científica 22. Santo Domingo, República Dominicana; Editora Taller C. por A. 431 pp. ---------. 1986. La Flora de La Española IV. Universidad Central del Este (UCE) Vol. LXIV Serie Científica 24. Santo Domingo, República Dominicana; Editora Taller C. por A. 377 pp. ---------. 1989. La Flora de La Española V. Universidad Central del Este (UCE) Vol. LXIX Serie Científica 26. Santo Domingo, República Dominicana; Editora Taller C. por A. 398 pp. ---------. 1994. La Flora de La Española VI. Universidad Central del Este (UCE) Vol. LXX Serie Científica 27. Santo Domingo, República Dominicana; Editora Taller C. por A. 517 pp. ---------. 1995. La Flora de La Española VII. Universidad Central del Este (UCE) Vol. LXXI Serie Científica 28. Santo Domingo, República Dominicana; Editora Taller C. por A. 491 pp. ---------. 1996. La Flora de La Española VIII. Universidad Central del Este (UCE) Vol. LXXII Serie Científica 29. Santo Domingo, República Dominicana; Editora Taller C. por A. 588 pp. _______ 2000. Diccionario Botánico de Nombres Vulgares de La Española. Jardín Botánico Nacional Dr. Rafael Ma. Moscoso. Santo Domingo, República Dominicana. 598 pp. Martínez, E, et al. 2004. Cinturón Verde. En: Memoria CONAV 20002004.Consejo Nacional de Asuntos Urbanos. Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana. Pp. 95-115. Matteucci, S. D. & A. Colma. 1982. Metodología para el estudio de la vegetación. Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA), Serie Biología. Monografía 22; 168 pp. UICN. 1978. United Nations list of national parks and protected areas. IUCN, The International Nature Conservation Union. Publications Service, Gland, Suiza. 174 pp. Peguero, B.; F. Jiménez, A. Veloz, T. Clase & R. García. 2003. Lista de Plantas Amenazadas en la República Dominicana. Jardín Botánico Nacional Dr. Rafael Ma. Moscoso. Santo Domingo, República Dominicana. 14 pp. Tasaico, H. 1967. Ecología (Zonas de vida de la República Dominicana). En: Organización de Estados Americanos. 1967. Reconocimiento y evaluación de los Recursos Naturales de la República Dominicana. Washington, USA. Mapas. ANEXOS Lista de especies presentes en la Reserva Científica El Zorzal Leyenda: Forma de vida (FV): H, herbácea; Ar, arbusto; A, árbol; L, liana, trepadora o bejuco; R, rastrera; ET, estípite; P, parasita. Status (ST): N, nativa; E, endémica; IC, introducida cultivada; Nat. Naturalizada. FAMILIA / ESPECIES ACANTHACEAE Justisia Ruellia tuverosa L. Thunbergia alata Bojer AMARANTHACEAE Achyranthes aspera L. Amaranthus dubius Mart. FV FV S Guausi, tiquitaqui H H L ? N Nat Rabo de gato Bledo H H N N Chamissoa altissima (Jacq.) H.B.K. Cyathula achyrantoises (H.B.K.) Moq. Iresine diffusa H. & B. AMARYLLIDACEAE Hippeastrum vittatum (Herb.) Herb. ANACARDIACEAE Anacardium occidentale L. Comocladia cuneata Britt. Mangifera indica L. Spondias cytherea Sonn. S. mombin L. S. purpurea L. ANNONACEAE Annona muricuta L. A. reticulata L. Oxandra lanceolada (Sw.) Baill. O. laurifolia (Sw.) A. Richard Rollinia mucosa (Jacq.) Baill. APIACEAE Eryngium foetidum L Hydrocotyle hirsuta Sw. H. verticillata Thunb. APOCYNACEAE Nerium oleander L. Rauvolfia nitida Jacq. Tabernaemontana citrifolia L. ARACEAE Anthurium crenatum (L.) Kunth A. grácile (Rudge) Lindley Alocasia macrorrhiza (L.) G. Don Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott. Dieffenbachia amoena Bull. D. seguine (L.) Schott. Phylodendron lacerum Schott. Philodendrum sp. Syngonium podophyllum Schott Pabellón Molleja L H H N N N Lirio H IC Cajuil Guao Mango Manzana Jobo Ciruela A Ar A A A A IC E Nat IC N IC Guanábana Mamón Yaya Yaya boba Candongo A A A A A N N N N N Cilantro sabanero Papita frita Papita frita H R R N N N Rosa del Perú Palo de leche Palo de leche A A Ar N N N Lengua de vaca Víbora Malanga Yautia Malanga Matapuerco He He He H H H L L L N N N IC Nat N N ? Nat Mano poderosa ARALIACEAE Dendropanax arboreus (L.) DCNE. & Pl. Schefflera morototoni (Aublet.) Maguire Palo de burro Sablito A A N N ARECACEAE Calyptronoma plumeriana (Martius) Lout. Cocos nucifera L. Prestoea montana (Graham) Nichols. Roystonea hispaniolana Bailey Sabal domingensis Becc. Veitchia merrillii (Becc.) H. E. Moore Manacla colorada Coco Manacla Palma real Palma cana Palma Manila Et ET Et ET ET ET E IC N E E IC Puntillo N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N ASTERACEAE Bidens cynapiifolia Kunth. Eleutheranthera ruderalis (Sw.) Sch.Bip. Emilia fosbergii Nicholson E. sonchifolia (L.) DC. Eupatorium odotatum L. Melanthera aspera (Jacq.) Small Mikania cordifolia (L. f.) Willd. Neurolaena lobata (L.) Cass. Parthenium hysterophorus L. Pluchea carolinensis (Jacq.) A. Don Pterocaulon alopecuroides (Lam.) DC. Sphagneticola gracilis (Rich.) Pruski S. trilobata(L.) Pruski Spilanthes uliginosa Sw. Synedrela nodiflora (L.) Gaerth Tridax procumbens L. Vernonia sericea L. C. Rich. Wedelia trilobata (L.) Hitchc. Yerba buena cimarrona H H H H Ar H L H H Ar H H H H H H H H BIGNONIACEAE Catalpa longissima (Jacq.) Dum.Cours. Crescentia cujete L. Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. Spathodea campanulata Beauv. Macfadyena ungií-cati (L.) A. Gentry Roble Higüero Arbol de la Salchicha Amapola Pega Palo A A A A L N N IC N N Bija A NC BIXACEAE Bixa orellana L. BOMBACACEAE Pincelito Pincel de poeta Rompezaraguey Clavel blanco Cepu Yerba amarga Salvia Piquant jambe Quararibaea turbinata (Sw.) Poiret Ochroma lagopus Sw. BORAGINACEAE Cordia mirabiloides (Jacq.) R. & S. Cordia sulcata DC. Heliotropium angiospernum Murray Tournefortia hirsutissima L. Cacaillo cimarrón Lana A A N N Rompe ropa Palo de Yagua Alacrancillo Nigua Ar A H L N N N N Piña IC N N N N N N BROMELIACEAE Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. Catopsis floribunda (Brongn.) Smith Guzmania monostachya (L.) Rusby Tillandsia balbisciana Schultes T. fasciculata Sw. T. setacea Sw. T. recurvada (L.) Tinaja Tinajita Tinaja Tinajita Guaja H He H He He He He BURSERACEAE Bursera simaruba (L.) Sarg. Tetragastris balsamifera (Sw.) Kuntze Almacigo Amacey A A N N CACTACEAE Rhipsalis baccifera (J. S. Mill.) Stearn Fruto de culebra He H Acacia rosada Framboya Cola Casia amarilla Tamarindo A A A A A IC Nat E IC Nat A IC Yagrumo A N Cocuyo A N Mara A N CAESALPINIACEAE Cassia javanica L. Delonix regia (Bojer) Raf. Mora abbotii Rose & León Senna siamea (Lam.) Irw. & Barn. Tamarindus indicus L. CASUARINACEAE Casuarina equisetifolia L. CECROPIACEAE Cecropia schreberiana CHRYSOBALANACEAE Hirtella triandra Sw. CLUSIACEAE Calophyllum calaba L. Clusia minor L. Clusia rosea Jacq. COMMELINACEAE Comelina elegans Kunth. COMBRETACEAE Buchenavia tetraphylla (Aubl.) R. A. Howard Combretum laxum Jacq. Terminalia catappa L. Copellejo Copey Ar A N N Suelda con suelda H N A N L A N Nat L N Bejuco de tabaco Bejuco de tabaco Campanita Aguinaldo L L L L N N N N Insulina H N Auyama Jayama Cundeamor R L L L IC N Nat N Paraguita Coquillo Coquillo H Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha H H H N N N N N N N N N N Almendro CONNARACEAE Rourea surinamensis Miguel CONVOLVULACEAE Ipomoea indica (Burm) Merrill I. tiliacea (Willd.) Croisy Merremia dissecta (Jacq.) Hall. F. Turbina corymbosa (L.) Raf. COSTACEAE Costus scaber Ruiz & Pavon CUCURBITACEAE Cucúrbita moschata L. Fevillea cordifolia L. Momordica charantia L. Psiguria pedata (L.) R. A. Howard CYPERACEAE Cyperus alternifolius L. C. digitatus Roxb C. flavescens L. C. luzulae (L.) Retz Fimbristylis cymosa R. Br. F. dichotoma (L.) Vahl Rhynchospora colorata (L.) Pfeiff. Scleria cubensis Boeck S. lithosperma (L.) Sw. S. scandens (L.) Urb. Coquillo Coquillo Coquillo Cortadera Cortadera Cortadera DILENIACEAE Doliocarpus brevipedicellatus Garche DIOCOREACEAE Dioscorea alata L. D. altissima L. Rajania quinquefolia L. EUPHORBIACEAE Alchornea latifolia Sw. Alchorneopsis floribunda (Benth.) Muell.Arg. Aleurites fordii Hemsl. Chamaesyce hipericifolia (L.) Millsp. C. hirta (L.) Millsp. Codiaeum variegatum (L.) Blume Croton lobatus L. Dalechampia scandens L. Drypetes alba Poit. D. lateriflora (Sw.) Kr. & Urb. Euphorbia cyathophora Murr. Hura crepitans L Jatropha gossypiifolia L. Manihot esculenta Crantz Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thonn. Ricinus communis L. Sapium jamaicense (Rich.) FABACEAE Alysicarpus vaginalis (L.) DC. Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. Centrosema pubescens Benth. C. plumierii (Turp.) Benth. C. virginianum (L.) Benth. Desmodium affine Schleht. Eritrina poeppigiana (Walp.) O. F.Cook Flemingia strobilifera (L.) Ait. Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud. Lonchocarpus latifolius (Willd.) DC. Mucuna urens (L.) Fawc. & Rendl. Ormosia krugii Urb. Poitea galegoides Vert. Rhynchosia mínima (L.) DC. L N Ñame blanco Ñame de muerte Ñame cimarron L L L Nat N N Bija macho Palo de Gallina A A N N Javilla extrangera Yerba lechera Yerba lechera Croton A H H Ar H L A A H A H Ar H Ar A IC N N IC N N N N N N N N N N N H Ar L L L H Ar Ar A A L A Ar L N IC N N N N IC N Nat N N N E N Fogaratey Lechosita Javilla criolla Tua tua Yuca Quina Higuereta Daguilla Pela huevo Gandul Totico Divierte caminante Totico Amor seco Amapola de café Camarón Piñon Anon se rio Ojo de buey Peonia Frijolillo Stylosanthes hamata (L.) Taub. FLACOURTIACEAE Casearia aculeata Jacq. C. arborea (L. C. Rich.) Urb. C. guianensis (Arbl.) Urb. Pela huevo R N Palo de avispa Cascarita Cafetan Ar A Ar N N N He He E N GESNERIACEAE Columnea domingensis (Urb.) Morley C. sanguinea (Pers.) Hanst. HELICONIACEAE Heliconia caribaea Lam. Platanito H N HIPPOCRATEACEAE Hippocratea volubilis Jaquimey L N Panchita Molenillo Albahaca de vaca H H H H H H Ar N N N N N N Nat Aguacatillo A N Aguacatillo Cigua blanca Cigua Aguacatillo Aguacate A A A A A N N N N IC Lengua de suegra H Nat LORANTHACEAE Dendropemon sp. Conde P ? MALPIGHIACEAE Bunchosia glandulosa (Cav.) L. C. Rich Cabrita A N LAMIACEAE Hyptis americana (Poir,) Briq. H. capitata Jacq. H. suaveolens (L.) Poit. H. verticillata Jacq. Leonorus sibiricus L. Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R. Br. Ocimum campechianum P.Mill. LAURACEAE Beilschmiedia pendula (Sw.) Benth. & Hook. Cinnanmomun grisebachianum Mez Ocotea coriacea (Sw.) Griseb. O. floribunda (Sw.) Mez O. leucoxylon (Sw.) Mez Persea americana P. Miller LILIACEAE Sansevieria trifasciata Prain Byrsonima spicata (Cav.) Kunth. Malpighia emarginata Sesee. & Moc. Stigmaphyllon angulosum (L.) A. Juss. S. emarginatum (Cav.) Adr. Juss. MALVACEAE Hibiscus rosa – sinensis L. Malachra alceifolia Jacq. P. fruticosa (Mill.) Fawc. & Rendle Pavonia spinifex (L.) Cav. Sida acuta Burmann. F. S. linifolia L. S. rhombifolia L. S. urens L. Urena lobata L. Maricao Cereza Bejuco de manteca Tumba hombre A Ar L L N N E N Ar H H H H H H H Ar IC N N N N N N N N L N Ar Ar Ar A Ar Ar A Ar Ar H N N N N N N N N N N Nin Cabirma de guinea Cedro Cabilma Caoba hondureña Caoba Jobo ban A A A A A A A A IC N N N IC N N N Oreja de ratón L N Cayena Malva Escoba Escoba Escoba Escoba Cadillo MARCGRAVIACEAE Marcgravia brittoniana Alain MELASTOMATACEAE Clidemia hirta (L.) D. Don C. strigillosa (Sw.) DC. C. umbellata (Mill.) O. L. Wms. Henriettea fascicularis (SW.) G. Maza Miconia impetiolaris (Sw.) D. Don M. laevigata (L.) DC. M. mirabelis (Aubl.) L. O. Wms. M. prasina (Se.) DC. M. raccemosa (Aubl.) DC. Nepsera aquatica (Aubl.) NAUD. MELIACEAE Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Carapa guianensis Aubl. Cedrela odorata L. Guarea guidonia L. Sleumer Swietenia microphylla G. King S. mahagoni (L.) Jacq. Trichilia hirta L. T. pallida Sw. MENISPERMACEAE Cissampelos pareira L. Peluda Peluda Peluda Petigrene Granado Aukey Hypervaena domingensis (DC.) Benth. L. N Aroma, cambron Casia mangiun Cha cha Tamarindillo Samo Guama Lino criollo Morivivi Saman A A A Ar L A A H A N IC Nat N N N Nat N Nat Pan de frutas Laurel Higo Higo Higo Ramón A A A A A Ar IC IC N N N N MUSACEAE Musa corniculata Rumph. M. paradisiaca L. Rulo Plátano H H IC IC MYRSINACEAE Paratesis crenulata (Vent.) Hook. F. Wallenia laurifolia Sw. Caimoni Ar Ar N N N N N N N N N N N Nat N MIMOSACEAE Acacia macracantha H. & B A. mangium Willd. Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. Desmanthus virgatus (L.) Willd. Entada gigas (L.) Fawc. & Rendl Inga vera Willd. Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) De Wit Mimosa pudica L. Samanea saman (Willd.) M. J. W. MORACEAE Artocarpus altilis (Parkins.) Fosberg Ficus benjamina L F. maxima P. Miller F. trigonata L. F. velutina H. & B. Tropis raceamosa MYRTACEAE Eugenia domingensis Berg. E. dictyophylla Urb. Eugenia foetida Persoon E. monticola (Sw.) DC. Eugenia mucronata O. Berg. Gomidesia lideniana Berg. Myrcia leptoclada DC. M. splendens (Sw.) DC. Psydium guajava L. Syzygium jambos (L.) Alst. Escoboncillo Guayaba Pomo A Ar Ar Ar Ar A Ar Ar Ar A NYCTAGINACEAE Guapira fragrans DumCour Muñeco Ar Guazara Escobón Arrayán Pisonia aculeata L. OLEACEAE Chionanthus domingensis Lam. ORCHIDACEAE Bletia patula Hooker E.epidendrum carpophorum Epidendrum difforme Jacq. E. nucturnum Jacq. E. rigidum Jacq. E. strobiliferum RCHB. F. Isochilus linearis (Jacq.) Schltr. Jacquiniela globosa (Jacq.) Schultr. Oeceoclades maculata (Lindl.) Lindl. Polystachya folosa (Hook.) Rchbf. Tolumnia varieigata (Sw.) Braem Uña de Gato L N Lirio A N Angelito H He HE He He He He He H He He N N N N N N N N Nat N N H H N N H H Ar N N N Ar N H H Ar Ar Ar Ar Ar Ar N N N N N N N N H H N Nat OXALIDACEAE Oxalis barrielieri L. O. debilis var. Corymbosa (dc.) Lourt. PHYTOLACCACEAE Petiveria alliacea L. Rivina humilis L. Trichostigma octandrum (L.) H. Walt. PICRAMNIACEAE Picramnia pentandra Sw. PIPERACEAE Peperomia magnolifolia (Jacq.) A. Dietr P. rotundifolia (L.) HBK, Piper aduncum L. P. amalago L. P. glabrescens (Miq.) DC. P. marginatum Jacq. P. jacquemontianum (Jacq.) DC. Potomorphe peltata (L.) Miq. POACEAE Andropogon glomeratus (Walt.) B. S. P. Bambusa vulgaris L. Anamus Tamarindillo Pabellon Palo de pez Guayuyo Guayuyo Guayuyo Guayuyo Guayuyo Aniceto Rabo de mulo Bambu Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst.) Stapf. Bothriochloa pertusa (L.) A. Camus Cenchrus echinatus L. Chloris barbata Sw. Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. C- nlenfuense Banderhust Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. Ichnanthus pallens (Sw.) Munro Lasiacis divaricata (L.) Hitchc. Melinis repens (WILLD.) Zizka Olyra latifolia L. Panicum maximum Jacq. Paspalum densum Sw. Paspalum fimbriatum H.B.K. Zoysia tenuifolia Willd. POLYGALACEAE Securidaca virgata Sw. POLYGONACEAE Coccoloba diversifolia Jacq. C. wrightii Lindl. PORTULACACEAE Portulaca oleracea L. RHAMNACEAE Colubrina arborescens (Mill.) Sarg. Gouania polygama (Jacq.) Urb. RUBIACEAE Chimarrhis cymosa Jacq. Chiococca alba (L.) Hilich. Coffea arabica L. Diodia ocymifolia (Willd.) Brem. Exostema longiflorum (Lamb.) R. & S. Gardenia sp. Genipa americana L Faramea occidentalis (L.) A. Rich. Hamelia patens Jacq. Lasianthus lanceolatus (Griseb.) G. Maza Notopleura guadalupensis (DC.) Taylor N. uliginosa Sw. Grama san Ramon Invasora Cadillo Paraguita chino Pelo de mico Yerba estrell Pata de gollina Pata de conejo Grama H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H Nat N N N Nat N Nat N N Nat N Nat N N Nat Marabelis L N Uva de sierra Chicharroncillo A A N N Verdolaga H N Corazón de paloma Bejuco indio A L N N A Ar Ar H Ar Ar A Ar Ar Ar H He N N IC N N ? N N N N N N Alcarrizo Cabeza de indio Carrizo Yerba de guinea Timacle Café Lirio Jagua Cafetillo Busunuco Palo de peo Ti plante Palicourea chrocea (Sw.) R. & S. P. guianensis Aublet. Psychotria brachiata Sw. P. domingensis P. grandis Swart. P. nervosa Sw. Spermacoce assurgens RUIZ & Pavón Ar Ar Ar Ar Ar Ar H N N N N N N N Ar A A Ar Ar Ar Ar A IC IC IC IC IC IC IC N Ar A A L N N Nat N Caimitillo Caimitillo Níspero A A A N N IC SIMAROUBACEAE Simarouba glauca DC. Juan primero A N SMILACACEAE Smilax domingensis Willd. Bejuco chino L N SOLANACEAE Brumansia suaveolens Pers. Physalis angulatas L. Solanum americanum Miller S.jamaicense Mill. S. torvum Sw. S. virgatum Lam. Campana Tope tope Morita Aguacatillo Berengena cimarrona Berengena cimarrona Ar H H Ar Ar Ar Nat N N N N N RUTACEAE Citrus aurantifolia (Chris.) Sw. C. aurantium L. C. limetta Rosso C. limon (L.) Burm. F. C. reticulata Blanco C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck Murraya paniculada (L.) Jacq. Zanthoxylon martinicense (Lam.) DC. SAPINDACEAE Allaphylus cominia (L.) Sw. Cupania americana L. Melicoccus bijugatus Jacq. Serjania diversifolia (Jacq.) Radlk. SAPOTACEAE Chrysophyllum argenteum Jacq. C. oliviforme L. Manilkara zapota (L.) Van Royen Cafetan Cafetan Tafetan amarillo Cafetan Cafetan Juana la blanca Limón agrio Naranja agria Limón dulce Mandarina China Azahar Pino macho Guarano Limoncillo Bejuco de costilla STERCULIACEAE Guazuma tomentosa H.B.K. Melochia pyramidata L. Theobroma cacao L. Walteria indica L. A H A H N N IC N Escoba H H N N Uña de guaraguao L N Sereno de invierno Pringamoza H H H Ar N N ? N VERBENACEAE Citharexylum fruticosum L. Lantana camara L. L. trifolia L. Lippia micromera Schauer L. nodiflora (L.) Michx. Petitia domingensis Jacq. Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (L.) Vahl. S. cayennensis (L. C. Rich.) Vahl Penda Doña sanita Doña sanita Orégano Orosu Capaz Verbena Verbena A Ar Ar Ar H A H H N N N NC N N N N VITACEAE Cissus trifoliata (L.) L. C. verticillata (L.) Nicolson & Javis Carito Bejuco caro L L N N Helecho de manglar Culantrillo Ha H H H H H Ar Ar Ar N N N N N N N N N TILIACEAE Corchorus siliquosus L. Triunfetta semitriloba Jacq. ULMACEAE Celtis iguanaeaa (Jacq.) Sarg. URTICACEAE Pilea microphylla (L.) Liebm. P. inaequalis (Juss.) Wedd. P. sp Urera baccifera (L.) Gaud HELECHOS Acrostichum aureum L. Adiantum fragile Sw. A. piramidales (L.) Willd. A. tenerum Sw. Anemia adiantifolia (L.) Sw. Blechnum occidentale L. Cnemidaria horrida (L.) K. Prersl. Cyathea arbórea (L.) J.E. Smith C. furfurácea Baker Guacima Escoba Cacao Malva blanca Culantrillo de pozo Camarón Dannaea elliptica J. E. Smith Gleichenia bifida (Willd.) Spreng. Hemidictium marginatum (L.) Presl. Lycopodiela sernua Nephrolepis multiflora (Roxb.) Jarrett Niphidium crassifolium (L.) Lell Odontosoria aculeata J. SM. Phlebodium aureum (L.) J. Smith Pityrograma calomelanos (L.) Link Polypodium polypodioides (L.) Watt. Pteridium aquilinum (Kaulf.) Brade Sellaginela sp. Testaria heracleifolis (Willd.) Underw. T. incisa Cav. Thelypteris pinnata (Poiret.) Marton T. reticulata (L.) Proctor Calimete Camarón Bejuco chino Escarpillare Calimete H H H H H H L He H H H H H H H N N N N Nat N N N N N N ? N N N Finca Ortega: un nuevo paradigma para la Conservación en la República Dominicana Una pieza central de los últimos esfuerzos del VCE para conservar los hábitats de invierno del zorzal de Bicknell es, la Cordillera Septentrional, una cadena de montañas de mediana elevación paralela a la costa norte de la República Dominicana. Nubes cargadas de humedad provenientes del Caribe bañan esta región, haciendo de esta una de la más humedad y exuberante del país. Sin embargo, también es relativamente accesible a los seres humanos y ha sufrido una deforestación extensiva, principalmente de la agricultura y la tala a pequeña escala. Dos reservas científicas, Loma Quita Espuela y Loma Guaconejo son joyas de este paisaje vulnerable, brindando un refugio rico en flora y fauna. Casi dos décadas de investigación del VCE han demostrado que la Cordillera Septentrional tiene una importancia especial para las hembras del zorzal de Bicknell (BITH), que se concentran en las selvas de la región, mientras que sus compañeros varones predominan en los más extensos y elevados bosques de nubes de La Española. En Norte América, el hecho de que la cría de machos adultos superan en número a las hembras en más de 2:1 sugiere que las hembras pueden estar siendo forzadas a salir del hábitat durante el invierno. Con la escasez de hábitats adecuados en toda la isla, los machos más grandes pueden competir efectivamente con las hembras en los bosques nublados primarios, "forzándolas" a ocupar hábitats menos deseables, como los bosques Septentrional, donde alimentos y cobertura son de menor calidad y colocan un estrés un sus presupuestos energéticos. Para esta especie, vulnerable a nivel mundial, la conservación de los hábitats sobre la cual las hembras, es una estrategia clave. El VCE y nuestros socios están trabajando duro para conservar el este de la Cordillera Septentrional, utilizando el BITH como especie bandera. Una novedad interesante en nuestra cartera de conservación es la compra inminente de la primera reserva privada de la República Dominicana, 1200 hectáreas de la Finca Ortega, al noroeste de Loma Quita Espuela. Varios inversionistas, entre ellos nuestros amigos Jesús y Jaime Moreno, de Helados Bon, y Jamie Phillips, de la Fundación Eddy - han unido sus esfuerzos para financiar esta compra. Nuestra meta colectiva es la creación de una reserva modelo que conserve los hábitats de la vida silvestre crítica y apoyes actividades sostenibles con actividades generadoras de ingresos. El historial del uso de la tierra de la Finca Ortega es uno de agricultura activa y mucha de la propiedad dispone de pastos o bosques jóvenes en recuperación. Combinando agricultura sostenible, la agro foresta, el secuestro de carbono y la reforestación, la Finca Ortega podría ser un elemento clave en una red de reservas privadas que anuncian un nuevo paradigma en la conservación del hábitat para la República Dominicana. Finca Ortega Puerco a la puya en la noche El hábitat modelo reciente BITH del VCE para el este de la Septentrional indica que la Finca Ortega tiene un excelente potencial, debido principalmente a que ocupa la zona de elevación preferida por la especie (~ 300-450 m) en la región. Sin embargo, no se había visitado la propiedad para hacer una evaluación sobre el terreno. Es comprensible que los inversionistas estuvieran ansiosos por saber que si su inversión inminente es sabia, por lo que, durante mi reciente visita a la República Dominicana a finales de febrero, se organizó un viaje de campo durante la noche. Nos alojamos en una granja vecina, la Finca Camilo, con 12 de nosotros en caravana en vehículos 4WD por caminos fangosos, ásperos, llegando después de oscurece Una comida de ganso y huevos de pavo nos esperaba, y yo miraba con los ojos abiertos como un cerdo joven fue sacrificado, preparado meticulosamente y se asado sobre un fuego abierto en un anexo exterior mientras que fuertes lluvias cayeron sobre el techo de hoja lata. El almuerzo del día siguiente ofrecía gran promesa. Poco antes de las 6:00 de la mañana, una pequeña fuerza de ataque de cuatro - Chuck Kerchner (también conocido como el capitán de carbono), nuestros guías locales Ramón y Veho, y yo – salimos de la Finca Camilo, linternas iluminando nuestro camino, con la lluvia continuando intermitentemente después de las lluvias torrenciales de la noche. Nuestra búsqueda: del astuto BITH (localmente llamado "Zorzal"). El objetivo era de estar en el bosque más denso que pudiéramos encontrar cuando amaneciera a las 7:00. El camino estaba lodoso y resbaladizo. Muy pronto estábamos empapados, pero afortunadamente la temperatura estaba caliente. Una hora más de caminar cuesta arriba nos encontró en la parte más oriental de la propiedad de Ortega, donde nos volvimos al Oeste y pasamos por un área amplia de pastos antiguos en las primeras etapas de la regeneración. Por fin entramos en el bosque latifoliado a las 7:30, seguimos un pequeño riachuelo por varios cientos de metros, y luego nos volvimos hacia el Norte y empezamos a subir las laderas empinadas. Chuck tomó varios puntos de GPS, los cuales indicaron que estábamos en elevaciones de ~ 325-400 m. Fuertes lluvias nos cayeron periódicamente hasta las 8:30. En medio de reventones, yo transmití grabaciones de las llamadas y las canciones del BITH cada 50 m, con la esperanza de una respuesta. Para sorpresa mía no hubo respuesta. Inmediatamente me impresioné con la propiedad y su potencial para proporcionar un hábitat BITH excelente. De hecho, después de más de una hora de búsqueda infructuosa, puedo decir con confianza que iba a "arriesgar mi reputación profesional en el hecho de que hay BITH sobre la Finca Ortega". Yo sabía que tenían que estar presente. Finalmente, después de haber cubierto mucho terreno y forjado a través de franjas de muchas "hierba de corte", o jabacoa, nos detuvimos en un filo pequeño y estrecho de loma que caía abruptamente en ambos lados. Las lluvias se habían detenido, el cielo totalmente despejado. Mis esperanzas de éxito iban disminuyendo - se estaba haciendo tarde en la mañana, más allá del "tiempo optimo". Transmití nuevamente. No había respuesta. Ramón, con ojo avizor, vio un movimiento en un matorral a 5 m de distancia. Traté de usar los binoculares para avistar el pájaro silente pero estaban empañados por la lluvia, y el denso follaje oscurecía mi vista. Yo estaba listo para rendirme y seguir adelante. Al ver otro movimiento, intenté por vez última obtener una vista clara. El resto, como dicen, es historia. ¡De repente me encontré cara a cara con un BITH! Observé el ave durante un minuto más o menos mientras se revoloteaba en silencio 2-3.2 m del suelo, luego se movió fuera de vista. ¡Confirmación! ¡El zorzal vive en la Finca Ortega! Nuestras emociones eran una mezcla de emoción, alegría y alivio. Un pájaro en mano vale más que dos en el arbusto, por lo que rápidamente se preparó una pequeña via y estableció una red de niebla. Puse la unidad de reproducción abajo en el suelo, y nos alejamos 50 metros, donde nos sentamos en silencio. A pesar de la hora de retraso, esperaba que el ave estuviera todavía lo suficientemente motivado para volver e investigar, metiéndose en la red. No había respuesta vocal después de 20 minutos. Sin embargo, repentinamente un BITH empezó a llamar cerca de la red, participando en una batalla vocal con la reproducción, incluso pronunciando un "gruñido" gutural para indicar molestia con un intruso sospechoso. Escuchamos esperanzadamente a este intercambio por 10 minutos, pero el ave finalmente se alejó y se hizo silente. Sabiendo que a veces más de un zorzal podría acercarse a una reproducción, decidí revisar la red y por lo menos rebobinar la cinta para otro intento. ¡Allí, colgando en silencio en la malla fina, estaba nuestra presajunto con 2 machos cigüitas azul)! Veho, CCR, and Ramón con un BITH El ahora famoso primer BITH de la Finca Ortega Pasamos la siguiente media hora más o menos colocando bandas de este histórico zorzal (# 2.34124.208), registrando mediciones detalladas (ala = 90 mm, peso = 25,8 g), y tomando muchas fotos, así como un vídeo de corta duración. El ave tenía un año de edad, lo que significa que había nacido en algún lugar de América del Norte el pasado verano. No podemos determinar si se trataba de un macho o una hembra, pero me estoy inclinando hacia macho con una envergadura de ala de 90 mm. Nunca lo sabremos con certeza. Hemos escuchado el segundo BITH varias veces más respondiendo a la cinta cerca de la red, pero nunca lo capturamos. Supongo que vio la primera ave en la red cuando se acercó, y nuestro juego terminó. Soltamos # 2341- 24208 a las 9:30, y voló hacia el bosque espeso, y no estaba peor por el desgaste. Unos “high fives” (palmas en alto en señal de celebración), y estábamos de regreso a la Finca Camilo para compartir la buena noticia y participar de cerdo asado para el almuerzo. No hay que decir que los Moreno y los os nuestros compatriotas nuestros estaban eufóricos, y reconfortados. Mantuve un registro cuidadoso de todas las aves oídas y vistas durante la mañana (la lista). No teníamos mucha diversidad, pero había un buen número de ciertas especies, en especial el vireo Julián Chiví, que parecía cantar en casi todas las copas de los árboles. Encontrar las dos especies endémicas de San Pedrito junta una a la otra era fascinante - generalmente el barrancolí se produce en elevaciones más bajas y el Chi-cui en los bosques de alta elevación, pero allí estaban lado a lado En resumen, me sorprendió y me animó encontrar tanto bosque saludable en la Finca Ortega, y el potencial tan grande para recuperar más. Nuestra interpretación de los mapas de cobertura de 2003 de SIG de la tierra y el mapa de Google Earth 2008 nos llevó a creer que no existe mucho bosque intacto en la Finca Ortega. Definitivamente eso no es el caso en general, y hay muchas áreas candidatas para la reforestación. Este fue una visita muy productiva (y divertida) y estoy seguro de que la Finca Ortega tiene una promesa destacada como la primera reserva privada de la Republica Dominicana. Con Juan Carlos Martínez, guiando con experticia las actividades futuras del VCE en la propiedad, este proyecto de múltiples facetas tiene un enorme potencial para proporcionar un modelo innovador de cómo lograr una conservación duradera, mientras proporciona medios de vidas locales y sostenibles. Como dicen en la República Dominicana, ¡adelante (onward)! Chris Rimmer Marzo, 2012 Finca Ortega: 28 de febrero, 2012 6:15 AM 12:15 PM Scaly-naped Pigeon/Paloma Turca (Patagioenas squamosa) 16 Hispaniolan Lizard-Cuckoo/Pajaro Bobo (Coccyzus longirostris) 4 Ashy-faced Owl/Lechuza Cara Ceniza (Tyto alba) 1 Hispaniolan Emerald/Zumbador Mediano (Chlorostilbon swainsonii) 1 Broad-billed Tody/Barrancolí (Todus subulatus) 12 Narrow-billed Tody/Chi-cuí (Todus angustirostris) 9 Antillean Piculet/Carpintero de Sierra (Nesoctites micromegas) 6 Hispaniolan Woodpecker/Carpintero (Melanerpes striatus) 8 Gray Kingbird/Petigre (Tyrannus dominicensis) 3 Black-whiskered Vireo/Julián Chiví (Vireo altiloquus) 56 (all singing males) Bicknell's Thrush/Zorzal de Bicknell (Catharus bicknelli) 2 Red-legged Thrush/Chua-chuá (Turdus plumbeus) 10 Northern Mockingbird/Ruiseñor (Mimus polyglottos) 1 Palmchat/Cigua Palmera (Dulus dominicus) 10 Louisiana Waterthrush/Ciguíta del Río (Parkesia motacilla) 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler/Ciguíta Azul (Setophaga caerulescens) 2 Bananaquit/Ciguíta Común (Coereba flaveola) 19 Dos Mundos un Ave: Conservación del Zorzal Migratorio Antecedentes: Se considera que la isla de la Española sostiene más de 90% de la población global invernal del Zorzal Migratorio (Bicknell) (Catharus bicknelli). Dicha especie es de la mayor categoría entre las aves migratorias neo-tropicales con prioridad de conservación en el noreste de los Estados Unidos, donde se encuentra restringida a bosques de mayor elevación necesarios para el apareamiento de la especie. La Española también alberga poblaciones invernales importantes de por lo menos 5 especies de aves migratorias así como también 31 especies endémicas y 50 sub-especies endémicas. Evaluaciones a nivel mundial de prioridades de protección de aves colocan a la Española en la mayor categoría en cuanto su importancia biológica y su contribución a la biodiversidad global. Ilustración del Zorzal Migratorio (Bicknell) Sin embargo, los hábitats boscosos de la isla se encuentran severamente amenazados por pérdida continua, quedando una cobertura forestal natural restante de sólo 10% de su extensión original en la República Dominicana y 1% estimado en Haití (Stattersfield et al. 1998, Latta 2005, Rimmer et al. 2005). La mayor parte restante del bosque y hábitat primario para el Zorzal se encuentran mayormente dentro de las áreas protegidas. Por consiguiente, la creación de mecanismos financieros para apoyar el desarrollo continuo de las áreas protegidas de la Española es crítico para la conservación a largo plazo de su avifauna migrante y residente y de la Meta del Proyecto: desarrollar un proceso replicable de unificar el sector privado, público y sin fines de lucro para alcanzar metas conjuntas de conservación que puedan ser aplicadas a nivel nacional y global. Objetivos del Proyecto: Aumentar el área protegida entre las Reservas Científicas de Loma Quita Espuela y Loma Guaconejo en un 10 por ciento de 10,330 hectáreas forestadas a 11,363 hectáreas forestadas; La incorporación de inversiones del sector privado para la creación de reservas privadas en la zona de amortiguamiento y en los corredores. Desarrollar mecanismos de Pagos por Servicios Ambientales (ej. mercados de carbón y agua) para conservar el hábitat para el Zorzal de Bicknell y otras especies de aves co-ocurrentes; Restaurar y recuperar hábitat degradado y monitorear los efectos de las condiciones mejoradas del habitar en las poblaciones invernales del Zorzal Migratorio, al igual que otras especies migrantes y residentes, y sobre la integridad del Mapa de áreas de hábitats conocidos y ruta migratoria ecosistema; probable del Bicknell’s Thrush Continuar desarrollando un programa de guarda-parques a nivel comunitario Socios: Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE.UU (USFWS) Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (UNDP) Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales Consorcio Ambiental Dominicano (CAD) Vermont Center for Ecostudies Fundación Loma Quita Espuela (FLQE) Sociedad para el Desarrollo Integral del Nordeste (SODIN) Eddy Trust and Eddy Foundation Helados Bon Area del Proyecto: Las Reservas Científicas de Loma Guaconejo y Loma Quita Espuela forman un área céntrica de un hábitat boscoso relativamente intacto, pero altamente amenazado en la zona del este de la Cordillera Septentrional. El área total comprendida por dichas Reservas es de alrededor 200 km2, de los cuales aproximadamente un tercio consiste de un “núcleo” que es “propiedad del estado.” La superficie restante consiste en zonas de amortiguamiento donde más de 30 comunidades locales practican agricultura y agroforesta, de las cuales muchas son ecológicamente insostenibles. En reciente investigación de campo se ha identificado a los bosques de “montano” de la zona este de la Cordillera Septentrional como un hábitat potencialmente crítico para la supervivencia de las hembras del Zorzal Migratorio. Mientras las investigaciones proveen un mayor entendimiento de la compleja ecología invernal del Zorzal Migratorio, la supervivencia de las hembras durante la época del invierno es reconocidas como el factor potencialmente limitante de la población. Así, la conservación de los hábitats boscosas preferidas por la hembra es una prioridad inmediata para la supervivencia de esta especie globalmente vulnerable. La restauración del hábitat degradado y la protección del hábitat adecuado que existe en la Cordillera Septentrional, será crucial para mantener la viabilidad de la población total del Zorzal Migratorio en la Española. Mapa del Área Focal del Proyecto [CONSORCIO AMBIENTAL DOMINICANO, FUNDACION LOMA QUITA ESPUELA, & SPATIAL INFORMATICS GROUP] Two Worlds – One Bird (2W1B) Sustainable Financing of Habitat and Biodiversity Conservation in the Dominican Republic and United States Charles Kerchner, Ph.D. & Sesar Rodriguez 1/20/2014 Abstract: The project will generate carbon offsets through reforestation with native species and improved forest management practices to protect migratory bird habitat in the Dominican Republic and United States. Contents Key information .................................................................................................................. 2 1 Project objectives and activities .................................................................................. 3 2 Identify target groups/communities ............................................................................ 4 3 Description of proposed project area .......................................................................... 5 4 Ownership of carbon rights and land-tenure ............................................................... 7 5 Description of applicant organisation(s) and proposed governance structure ............ 8 6 Community-led design plan submitted ..................................................................... 10 7 Additionality Analysis Provided ............................................................................... 12 8 Compliance with regulations and notification of relevant bodies ............................ 12 9 Sources of start-up funding identified....................................................................... 13 1 Key information Project title Project location (country and region/district) Two Worlds – One Bird (2W1B): Sustainable Financing of Habitat and Biodiversity Conservation in the Dominican Republic and United States Loma Quita Espuela and Loma Guaconejo protected areas, Dominican Republic; and Adirondacks, New York Project coordinator & contact details Principal Investigator (PI)/Coordinator - Sesar Rodriguez; [email protected] Co-PI/Coordinator -Charles Kerchner, Ph.D. [email protected] Co-PI/Local Coordinator – Altagracia Camilo, Executive Director of the Quita Espuela Foundation. [email protected] Summary of proposed activities (max 30 words) Summary of proposed target groups (max 30 words) The project involves reforestation with native species, agroforestry systems, and improved forest management to protect migratory bird habitat in the Dominican Republic and United States. The target groups are small-scale landowners, conservation oriented landowners, and strategic properties located adjacent to protected areas in the Dominican Republic and United States. 2 Heading 1 Requirements/ guidance Project objectives and activities The Two Worlds – One Bird (2W1B) program is an alliance between the private, public and non-profit sectors that have united forces to develop a sustainable business partnership to protect biodiversity and habitat on both ends of the Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus Bicknelli) migratory spectrum. The Associated Press has identified the project as being one of the most cutting edge eco - business ventures, blending sustainable cacao (“chocolate”) and macademia production with conservation of a global biodiversity hotspot and an endangered rainforest. http://news.yahoo.com/saving-dominican-forest-elusive-songbird-165741784.html Bicknell’s Thrush spends their summers nesting in the spruce-fir forest in Northeast U.S. and migrates thousands of miles annually to their “winter” habitat in mountainous forests on the island of Hispaniola, i.e. the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Degradation of habitat on both ends of its migratory range has resulted in ~5% annual population decline. The 2W1B carbon project’s objective is to protect biodiversity and restore Bicknell’s thrush and other migratory bird species habitat in the Dominican Republic and the United States. In addition to conservation benefits, the project will contribute to sustainable development in the area by improving the livelihoods of community members, strengthening local institutions, and building capacity of local leaders in sustainable forest management. The carbon project will create a framework for on-the-ground actions and investment in ecosystem connectivity while having positive socioeconomic benefits by: • Reforesting with native species in the Dominican Republic; • Creating additional revenue through sustainable forest management activities; • Developing a biological corridor around and in between the buffer zone of two Scientific Reserves in the Dominican Republic via reforestation efforts; • Creating connectivity via Improved Forest Management (IFM) in The Split Rock Wildway, which is a proposed wildlife corridor between the Split Rock Wild Forest and the Jay Mountain Wilderness Area in the eastern Adirondack Park in Essex County, New York; 3 • Building capacity of local park rangers in the Dominican Republic to monitor and measure forest carbon plots; • Expanding the project to include additional community members in and around the Quita Espuela and Guaconejo Scientific Reserves in the Dominican Republic and the Adirondack State park in New York; and • Verifying the project with Plan Vivo certificates. 2 Identify target groups/communities (max 350 words) There are two primary target groups. The first target group is rural community members around the Loma Quita Espuela and Loma Guaconejo Scientific Reserves in the Dominican Republic. The second target group is landowners around The Split Rock Wildway in New York. There have been several cultural exchanges between the two target groups. http://vtecostudies.blogspot.com/2009/07/visitors-travel-from-afar-to-see.html Individuals in Target Group #1 are located in 30 communities in the buffer zone of Quita Espuela and Guaconejo Reserves. The communities differ with respect to socio-economic conditions, ranging from fewer than 10 to as many as 100 households (SODIN, 2002). The primary source of income for families in the area is from: cacao production, cattle ranching, and root crop production from shifting agriculture. The average size parcel for the smallholders and non smallholders in target group #1 is ~5 hectares and 15.5 hectares, respectively. Recruiting smallholders in the Dominican Republic was completed with several community-based workshops held with over 100 landowners in the Quita Espuela and Guaconejo Reserves in the Dominican Republic. Invitations were sent out to community organizations in the buffer zone and meetings were open to the public. The objectives of the workshops were to: (1) explain forest carbon markets to landowners; (2) identify landowners interested in a forest carbon offset project; and (3) evaluate the eligibility of landowners to participate in carbon markets. Several landowners were identified as candidates for the forest carbon project. . Target group #2 will include both smallholders and non smallholders located in the buffer zone of the Adirondack Park in New York. The smallholders will be family forest landowners located within the Split Rock Wildway Project Area within Essex county; New York. Essex county has a population of approximately 39,000 with a median annual income of $37,596. It is a rural area with approximately one housing unit every 21.9 square mile. The primary family income source is from the wood products industry, agriculture, and manufacturing. The average parcel of family forest holders in eastern New York is 20.5 hectares. The project coordinators will use several criteria for selecting the Plan Vivo smallholder participants in New York. For example, participants must meet the 4 Plan Vivo definition of smallholder – a land holder who manages their property with their family’s labor force. The participants must also be dedicated to sustainable forest management and participation in a transparent, democratic process. Initially, the project coordinators will target forester’s cooperatives and associations in the Project Area. The first non smallholder to enter the Plan Vivo project in New York will be the Eddy Foundation property. An executive agreement will be created between Eddy Foundation and the property manager that outlines project management responsibilities, forest management objectives, and rights to the Plan Vivo certificates. 3 Description of proposed project area Max 500 words (excluding maps and other figures). In the Dominican Republic, the Loma Guaconejo and Loma Quita Espuela Scientific Reserves form a core of largely intact, but highly threatened forest habitat in the eastern Cordillera Septentrional. The Reserves lie in the municipalities of Maria Trinidad Sanchez and Duarte in the northeast of the Dominican Republic (see Figure 1). Loma Quita Espuela is 15 km northeast of San Francisco de Macoris and Guaconejo is located 20 km west of the city of Nagua. The Reserves’ elevation ranges from 200 – 900 m, with an average rainfall of > 2,000mm per year. These Reserves were designated as conservation areas by the Dominican government in 1990 (Quita Espuela) and 1996 (Guaconejo), because of their recognized ecological values at the local, regional, and global scale. The total area comprised by Quita Espuela and Guaconejo is nearly 250 km2, of which approximately 100 km2 consists of a “government-owned” nucleus. The two Reserves support a high degree of unique and globally significant biodiversity. The moist broadleaf forests of Guaconejo and Quita Espuela that support many endemic flora and fauna have been identified as the most endangered habitat on the island (Latta and Lorenzo 2000). A total of 581 and 639 plant species have been reported in Guaconejo and Quita Espuela, respectively. Both Reserves have been designated as Important Bird Areas (IBAs) by BirdLife International (Perdomo and Arias 2008). The primary threats to forests and biodiversity is slash-and-burn agriculture, grazing, and illegal timber harvesting for charcoal. The Reserves’ buffer zones have >30 local communities that differ with respect to socio-economic conditions, ranging from fewer than 10 households to as many as 100. The Reserves are only 10 km in distance from each other, providing a unique opportunity to create a biological corridor. The majority of landowners are smallscale cacao producers with an average of ~5 hectares and an annual income of US $3,000. Several community groups within the buffer zone exist, including Mother’s Clubs, agricultural associations, religious groups, and youth groups. In New York, the project area includes the Split Rock Wildway which lies within 5 the Adirondack Park jurisdictional district. The Adirondack Mountains are located in Upper State New York and make a circular geologic feature composed of the Grenville Province, which is a belt of basement rock. Lake Champlain lies four miles to the east of the Eddy Foundation property. Forest cover is primarily northern hardwood overstory consisting of American beech, sugar maple, red maple, red oak, poplar, pignut and shagbark hickory, black cherry and white oak. The Eddy Foundation property has trained over 15 farmers in organic agricultural production. The Lakeside Waldorf School resides on the property and educates 50 children per year in alternative education. The property has a network of trails managed by Champlain Area Trails System (http://www.champlainareatrails.com/) and is open to the public for hiking, recreation, photography and enjoyment free of charge. The property had the first Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Essex, New York, which was the catalyst for the largest CSA in the county. Figure 1. Project area in the Dominican Republic 6 Figure 2. Project area in New York 4 Ownership of carbon rights and land-tenure (350 words max) Recent analysis of the project area in the Dominican Republic indicates 85% of landowners do not have a legal deed to their property. However, this will not prohibit landowners from participating in the Plan Vivo project. Currently, the Dominican government issues cutting permits (i.e. Derecho al Corte) for anyone who plants trees. Therefore, an ad hoc property rights mechanism exists to claim rights to forest carbon stock. The first two Dominican Republic properties enrolled in Plan Vivo are larger than the average properties in the area (>2 hectares) and have a family living on each property. Each producer will hold a long-term contract (minimum of 20 years) with landowners and be issued a Derecho al Corte in the producer’s name to serve as an informal method for recognizing property rights. In addition, all Plan Vivos will have a document signed by adjacent landowners and a local community sheriff recognizing the producers’ property boundaries. This will avoid any future conflict over land tenure and property boundaries. This form of ad hoc property rights in the Dominican Republic is common and widely accepted. There is no conflict or instability in the area regarding property rights.. The project will have both non smallholder and smallholder participants, 7 but at no time will the non smallholder parcel size represent more than a third of the Project Area (per Plan Vivo Standard 2013 requirement). The inclusion of non smallholders is crucial for landscape level ecosystem benefits between and around the Guaconejo and Quita Espuela Reserves. Non smallholder participants will help bring the project to scale, reduce transaction costs, and lower the barriers to entry for smallholders to participate. Properties in the Adirondacks in the United States will have deeds of title. The Eddy Foundation will be the first to be enlisted as a Plan Vivo project in the U.S. and the non-profit Waldorf School will hold the contract (for a minimum of 20 years) for carbon rights with the Eddy Foundation. As owner of the land, Eddy Foundation will have rights to the carbon credits. However, as a prerequisite to participate in Plan Vivo an equitable contract will be created with the land manager that outlines the responsibilities and benefiting sharing from carbon revenue. The contract will be equitable and voluntarily signed by both parties. There is no precedent in the United States that would prevent the Eddy Foundation or other smallholders for contracting with Plan Vivo participants to hold carbon rights on their own land or participate in the voluntary carbon market. 5 Description of applicant organisation(s) and proposed governance structure (max 750 words) Project Coordinator - Fundacion Quita Espuela: The proposed governance structure is for the local non-profit, Fundacion Loma Quita Espuela (FLQE), to manage the project, conduct outreach and education, and facilitate all project activities. FLQE is an NGO formed in 1990 and located in the city of San Francisco de Macoris in the Duarte Province, Dominican Republic (http://www.flqe.org.do/English/1home_english.html). FLQE co-manages the Loma Quita Espuela Reserve with the Secretariat for Environment and Natural Resources. FLQE currently has four main outreach components: 1) Reserve management, monitoring, and policing; 2) community outreach and education; 3) forestry and agroforestry extension; and 4) eco-tourism. FLQE is the ideal institution to facilitate the Plan Vivo initiative for several reasons. First, they have over 25 years of experience working with landowners in the buffer zone of the protected area. Second, they have the institutional capacity to implement project activities, including forestry and community development expertise. FLQE has sufficient personnel to be the Project Coordinator. The staff includes: office manager; forester; financial accountant; park ranger; and Executive Director. Third, FLQE has the legal authority given by the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources to manage the Quita Espuela Scientific Reserve. Therefore, they are well positioned to navigate the political avenues 8 necessary to implement project activities adjacent to protected areas. Consorcio Ambiental Dominicano (CAD) will provide outside technical support and assist FLQE with project activities. These activities include: registration; recording of Plan Vivos; sale agreements; managing project finance; negotiating sales and payment distribution; contracting project validation/verification; and managing project data to report to the Plan Vivo Foundation. The Eddy Foundation land in the Adirondacks will be treated just like Plan Vivos in the Dominican Republic. FLQE will be responsible for facilitating the transactions to Adirondack properties. Having FLQE as the Project Coordinator for both New York and Dominican Republic properties will build institutional capacity for the institution. FLQE, with assistance from CAD, will complete the social components of Plan Vivo, including continued workshops with communities, helping individuals demonstrate land-tenure, setting up bank accounts, and settling disputes. FLQE booking and payments will be transparent to all Plan Vivo participants. Participation will be equitable and a steering committee, led by Plan Vivos, will be established to ensure participants have an equal voice in all activities. External Support Services - Consorcio Ambiental Dominicano (CAD): CAD will also be an important institution involved in project development. CAD is an NGO in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and, to date, has written, solicited, and received funds for project activities. In an effort to transfer project ownership to regional and local NGOs in the Project Area, the carbon project will be facilitated directly by FLQE with support by CAD in the initial 2-3 years. Recently, CAD has been involved in the coordination of the new Payments for Environmental law passed by the Dominican Republic Congress. Thus, in the next few years CAD will transition from helping coordinate local project activities to PES and climate change policy development. This will ensure efforts at the national level align with the Plan Vivo project. Key FLQE personnel: Ms. Altagracia Camillo has been the the Executive Director of FLQE for six years. She will be responsible for local project coordination, administration, and financial records. She will be the primary local contact with Plan Vivo once the project is verified. She holds a master’s in finance and B.A. in business from Universidad Nordestana in the Dominican Republic. Mr. Ramon Belen: Mr. Belen is the agricultural extension officer for FLQE. He 9 has over 8 years of experience spearheading forestry and agricultural projects with landowners in the buffer zone of the Quita Espuela Reserve. He is charged with sourcing trees, designing the planting systems, and coordinating reforestation efforts for the carbon project. Mr. Belen will be the technical coordinator for the Plan Vivo project. He holds a B.A. in agriculture from Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.Key CAD personnel: Mr. Sesar Rodríguez has been the project manager since the 2W1B project inception. Currently, he is the Director of Consorcio Ambiental Dominicano (CAD), a non-profit organization in the Dominican Republic that is leading the 2W1B project. Mr. Rodriguez is responsible for the overall project management, including submitting reports, managing the budget and ensuring tasks are completed in a timely fashion. In addition to the administrative responsibilities, he will lead the policy initiative to establish procedures for incorporating PES schemes within the national environmental framework. Dr. Charles Kerchner is a forest economist responsible for project implementation and administration with Mr. Rodriguez. He is also responsible for completing reports and soliciting funds to support project activities. Dr. Kerchner is a Senior Scientist at Spatial Informatics Group (SIG) where he leads the development of over 6 million credits being verified under the Verified Carbon Standard, Climate Action Reserve, and California’s Air Resources Board. He received a B.A. from Lafayette, a M.S. in forest economics and Ph.D. in forestry and forest economics from the University of Vermont. 6 Community-led design plan submitted (300 words max) The 2W1B project has held several community outreach workshops from 2009 – 2013 to explain carbon offset projects, payments for environmental services, and addressed equity concerns with community members. The current plan is to conduct workshops with all Plan Vivo participants twice a year to address project related issues and enroll interested landowners. Forestry consultants BARCA from Costa Rica have developed the following native species planting design that will be adapted to various landowners at a planting density of 1,111 trees/ha: • • Grupo 1. Especies de crecimiento rápido: • o Simarouba glauca (Juan Primero) • o Inga vera (Guama) • o Cedrela odorata (Cedro) • o Coloubrina arborescens (Corazón de Paloma) Grupo 2. Especies de crecimiento lento o intermedio: • o Calophyllum calaba (Maria) 10 • • o Catalpa longissima (Roble Dominicano) • o Ocotea spp. (Sigua) • o Guarea spp. (Cabima santa) Grupo 3. Especies de copa grande: • o Sterculia apetala (Anacahuita) • o Ceiba pentandra (Ceiba) • o Samanea saman (Saman) • o Hura crepitans (Javilla) Grupo 1 de especies de crecimiento rápido representan 400 árboles por hectárea (un 36%). Grupo 2 de especies de crecimiento lento representan 533 arb./ha. (un 48%). Grupo 3 de especies de copa grande representan 178 arb/ha. (16%). The other reforestation efforts will take place in cacao and coffee parcels to promote shade grown, diversified crop production system. In New York, the activity will include an Improved Forest Management (IFM) type project that encourages sustainable yield among other factors. 11 7 Additionality Analysis Provided (300 words max) The project is not legislatively required in the Dominican Republic or New York. The Dominican Republic has a reforestation program. However, the majority of species planted are non-native and some are invasive species impacting native flora and fauna. Reforestation data from communities around the Project Area indicates that >90% of species planted from 2008 -2012 were non-native. Nonnative species grow faster and are more economically viable than slower growing native species. Thus, there is a financial barrier to planting native species for sustainable forest management, biodiversity benefits, and migratory bird habitat recuperation. Three elements of the proposed project make it unique and more expensive than the common practice of reforestation with non-native species: (1) planting on strategic properties to recuperate habitat for Bicknell’s thrush and other migratory bird habitat; (2) planting two to three species of complementary shade tolerance in polycultures rather than monocultures; (3) planting as part of agroforestry system that would of otherwise not of been economically viable, and (4) extending cutting rotations beyond typical 10-15 year length by at least 5 years. Points 2 and 3 above area also technical barriers. There is a lack of knowledge and experience in the Dominican Republic in planting a system with a diversified horizontal and vertical structure to protect biodiversity and migratory bird habitat. Further, there is limited technical knowledge in planting timber species as part of an agroforestry system within cacao or coffee. In New York, there are no financial incentives to reduce harvesting frequency and have greater basal area retention post-harvest. Therefore, the New York Improved Forest Management project can also demonstrate financial additionality. The technical barrier does not apply to the New York Plan Vivos. It is important to note the Plan Vivo participants‘ properties are located adjacent to national protected areas, but have no protected status and is private property without encumbrances or specific conservation requirements. The sources of funding identified in section 9 show indication of a financial barrier. 8 Compliance with regulations and notification of relevant bodies The 2W1B project is one of the three national pilot PES projects highlighted by Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Recurses Naturales.. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources is aware of the forest carbon project and actively participates in monthly project meetings. 12 The project will comply with all relevant national and international regulations. 9 Sources of start-up funding identified The project has several sources of start-up funds. The sources of start-up funds support forest carbon technical specifications. It also helps fund bird monitoring, management plans, institutional capacity building, outreach and education, and other technical support. Donors include: 1. US Fish and Wildlife –Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act; 2. Global Environmental Facility (GEF); and 3.Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF). 13 CAPACITÉ Capacité - the CEPF Caribbean newsletter is here! The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) as the Regional Implementation Team (RIT) of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) in the Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot is very pleased to share the first issue of our newsletter Capacité with you! Through this quarterly newsletter, we hope to provide you with updates on our work in the region, share lessons learned and best practices from CEPF supported projects and other related initiatives. Capacité will also provide a space for CEPF Caribbean grantees and other stakeholders to share their insights on biodiversity conservation and civil society capacity building in the region. The word Capacité reflects a key work programme area of CANARI - capacity building of civil society organizations - and is reflective of the actions of CEPF Caribbean grantees in building the strength of biodiversity conservation efforts in these hotspot areas. We hope that you enjoy reading Capacité and learning of the experiences of these groups throughout the region. We also invite you to share this publication with others and encourage your feedback on this first issue! Issue 1 June 2012 Special features Map of CEPF Caribbean islands Biodiversity Hotspot News from Grantees CANARI - RIT for CEPF in the Caribbean Mentors on board! Call for proposals! Inside this issue: The CEPF in the Caribbean CANARI’s role as the CEPF Caribbean RIT Meet the RACC team CAD’s historic breakthrough in the Dominican Republic 2 3 4 Tools to share information 6 and experiences The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) is a joint programme of l'Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, the MacArthur Foundation and the World Bank. FoProBiM protects coastal 7 life in Massif - Plaine du Nord, Haiti project Grant approvals: June 2010 - June 2012 8 The programme was launched in August 2000 and since then, has supported civil society to conserve critical biodiversity in 20 hotspots, committing over US$ 131 million in grants. CEPF is investing US$ 6.9 million in the Caribbean islands during a five-year period (October 2010 – October 2015). Help from a regional pool of Mentors is here! 10 Engaging stakeholders in Massif de la Hotte, Haiti 12 Call for Proposals 13 CAPACITÉ Page 2 The CEPF in the Caribbean CEPF provides grants to civil society to help them protect biodiversity hotspots, which are Earth’s most biologically rich yet threatened areas. These grants are guided by strategic directions and investment priorities that are developed collaboratively with stakeholders in the hotspot regions. To determine the greatest return value, CEPF uses ecosystem profiles to identify investment niches. The profile is primarily a rapid assessment of the underlying causes of biodiversity loss and helps to target areas and activities that are in greatest need of investment. This investment strategy comprises a series of strategic funding opportunities, known as strategic directions. In the Caribbean islands Biodiversity Hotspot, the strategic directions are: 1. To improve the protection and management of 45 priority key biodiversity areas; 2. To integrate biodiversity conservation into landscape and development planning and implementation in six conservation corridors; 3. To support Caribbean civil society to achieve biodiversity conservation by building local and regional institutional capacity and by fostering stakeholder collaboration in all of the 45 key areas; 4. To provide strategic leadership and effective coordination of CEPF investment through a regional implementation team; 5. To provide emergency support to Haitian civil society. Photo credit: CANARI CEPF is investing in biodiversity conservation to ensure that we can continue to sustainably reap the benefits of our biologically rich environment. CEPF eligible Caribbean countries The 11 countries eligible for CEPF support in the region are: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. These islands are all signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity and are all eligible for World Bank assistance. The 17 highest priority key biodiversity areas (KBAs) are all found in the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica. Out of the 6 priority conservation corridors, 5 are found in these 3 countries and the sixth is found in St. Vincent. This map shows the islands that form the Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot. Conservation International identified these hotspots globally. The areas were then further assessed by an Ecosystem Profiling Process. Issue 1 Page 3 CANARI’s role as the CEPF Caribbean RIT After a competitive process, CANARI was awarded the responsibility to implement, coordinate and manage CEPF investments in the Caribbean islands Biodiversity Hotspot. It established a team that includes CANARI staff members based in Trinidad and country coordinators in the three principle countries for CEPF investment – the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica. The Regional Implementation Team (RIT) issues calls for proposals, advises applicants, coordinates an external committee to review applications for small and large grants, works with CEPF to issue grants, to support grantees and to monitor and evaluate their work. Other aspects of the RIT’s role are to build a broad constituency of civil society groups to work on the conservation goals of the hotspot and to widely communicate CEPF objectives, lessons learned and results. Anna Cadiz, Senior Technical Officer at CANARI is the Manger of the CEPF Regional Implementation Team. She is seen in the centre of the photo at right, with Dr. LaVerne Ragster, Chairman of CANARI’s Board (left) and Nicole Leotaud, Executive Director of CANARI (right). Photo credit: CANARI Meet the RACC team The Regional Advisory Committee for CEPF (RACC) provides an independent technical review of proposals submitted to the RIT to increase transparency and accountability. The RACC draws together a team of experts which has core strengths in biodiversity conservation, civil society capacity building, climate change, creation and management of protected areas and ecosystems and environmental and forest management in the 11 countries eligible for CEPF support. RACC members are also competent in the four languages of the hotspot (English, French, Kreyol and Spanish) . CANARI is very proud to have the RACC members on board – a ‘Dream Team’ that’s working hard on CEPF in the Caribbean! RACC Members and some of the CANARI team, from left to right: Elaine Fisher (Jamaica), Loïza Rauzduel (CANARI), Neila Bobb‐Prescott (CANARI and RACC member), Owen Evelyn (Jamaica), L. Fitzgerald Providence (St Vincent and the Grenadines), Anna Cadiz (CANARI), Alex Bellande (Haiti), Hélène Souan (Guadeloupe), Giles Romulus (Barbados), Nicole Leotaud (CANARI), Cletus Springer (Saint Lucia), Judi Clarke (Barbados), Claus Ecklemann (FAO), Florence Sergile (Haiti), Howard Nelson (Trinidad and Tobago), Dr David Smith (Jamaica) and Alberto Sanchez (Dominican Republic). Missing: Maria Eugenia Morales (Dominican Republic), Dr Christopher Cox (Saint Lucia) and David Wege (United Kingdom). Photo credit: CANARI Issue 1 Page 4 CAD’s historic breakthrough in the Dominican Republic - Charles Kerchner The Reserva Privada Zorzal a new realm in biodiversity conservation efforts for the Dominican Republic Photo credit: Charles Kerchner (2012) In the Dominican Republic, a rare and threatened migratory songbird, biodiversity, carbon stocks, and an entire region’s water quality will all benefit from the establishment of the country’s first private nature reserve. An international consortium of stakeholders from the United States and the Dominican Republic, representing the private, pubic and non-profit sectors have united forces to develop a sustainable business partnership to protect biodiversity and migratory bird habitat in the northern mountain range (Cordillera Septentional) of the Dominican Republic. The partnership will expand the protected area system by 404 hectares around the Loma Guaconejo and Loma Quita Espuela Scientific Reserves and by doing so will protect a “biological jewel” in a vulnerable landscape. The project heralds a new realm in biodiversity conservation efforts for the Dominican Republic. The unique and novel aspect of the project is that investors of the private reserve represent both ends of the migratory range of the project’s flagship species – Bicknell’s thrush. A Land Trust from the breeding habitat in New York and private investors from the wintering habitat in the Dominican Republic have rallied to conserve the critical habitat. In fact, the private reserve’s name in Spanish, Reserva Privada Zorzal, is Issue 1 Page 5 named after the Bicknell’s thrush (Zorzal de Bicknell). CEPF, along with other donors such as U.S. Fish and Wildlife, provided critical support in advancing the establishment of the private reserve. “CEPF provided us with key support to establish the private reserve in the Dominican Republic”, said Sesar Rodriguez, Executive Director of Consorcio Ambiental Dominicano. “The project is an alliance between non-governmental organizations, the business sector and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resource and has created a new vision for environmental sustainability in the country”. The landmark purchase by conservation minded investors has The Bicknell’s thrush created a model for private landowners to participate in Photo credit: Charles Kerchner (2012) conservation. The Dominican Republic has received accolades from the international community for establishing over 120 public protected areas. However, recent Geographic Information System analysis of the project area indicates that 57% of the two public owned Scientific Reserves consist of primary forests, while only 4% of private property in the buffer zone consists of primary forest. Therefore, it appears private property is where the majority of deforestation is occurring. Without a mechanism to work with private landowners – and the funding to support them – it will be hard to achieve the intended biodiversity conservation outcome. But a grant from CEPF made it possible to take advantage of a new law that allows private Dominican lands to be conserved. And, critically, that grant made it possible to link two areas that constitute critical winter habitat for the Bicknell’s thrush. This small bird is an indicator species for biodiversity wherever it’s found. It has been recognized as a globally “vulnerable” species, as threats on both ends of its migratory route have made its breeding and winter grounds less and less hospitable. Ornithologists consider the main limiting factor for the bird’s survival to be its winter habitat in the Dominican Republic. “Nearly two decades of research have shown the project area holds special importance for female Bicknell’s Thrushes (BITH)”, says ornithologist Chris Rimmer at the Vermont Center for EcoStudies. “With suitable habitat in short supply island-wide, larger males may effectively outcompete females in primary cloud forests, “forcing” them to occupy less desirable habitats like the Septentrional’s forests, where lower quality food and cover stress their energetic budgets. For this globally vulnerable species, conserving habitats on which females depend is a key strategy. The new private reserve, Reserva Privada Zorzal, provides excellent habitat, mainly because it occupies the species’ preferred elevational zone (~300-450 m) in the region.” The two Reserves also support unique and significant biodiversity that includes many native flora and fauna. Its broadleaf forest has been identified as the most endangered forest type on the island. Research suggests the montane forests in these two areas have also been identified as crucial habitat for other migratory birds (e.g. Black-throated blue warbler) and native birds (e.g. Broad-bill Tody) as well as a diverse population of frogs and other reptiles. But without adequate protection of abutting lands, the biodiversity in Guaconejo and Quita Espuela faced a number of threats, including unsustainable farming practices such as slash-and-burn agriculture on steep hillsides, illegal timber extraction, livestock farming, sand extraction, and water pollution. Conservation practices had no perceived economic value, so landowners logically prefer the economic benefits of agricultural production to the intangible public benefits of protecting biodiversity, water supply or other Continued from page 5 ecosystem services. The passage of the "Reglamento para la Declaracion de Areas Protegidas Privadas o Conservacion Voluntario" bylaw in 2011 made it possible to establish reserves on private land, and consequently for landowners to be compensated for conserving their land. And the support of CEPF made it possible for CAD to take its next steps in preserving this critical habitat that’s home to diverse, unique, threatened species. In absence of CEPF financing, the project would not have the necessary capital to transcend the project from a planning phase to on-the-ground implementation of payment for ecosystem services (PES) or establishment of the first private reserve. With this project, CAD has been able to secure 50% of the land estimated to be necessary to create the biological corridor between two critically important protected areas, while also: 1. Creating a reforestation carbon project that will mitigate climate change and improve farmers’ livelihoods; 2. Increasing biodiversity and ecosystem connectivity between the two Reserves from reforesting, via carbon offsets, with native species; 3. Serving as a model for similar projects by developing the regulations and procedures for incorporating private reserves into other key conservation areas; 4. Hosting a national conference to disseminate experience and lessons learned from private reserves; and 5. Creating document that serves as a guide for establishing private reserves in the Dominican Republic. Charles Kerchner, a forest economist working on the project, says “While it’s impossible to say just what the end results of this model project will be, what we do know is that the CEPF funding has helped leverage private sector financing and bring the key partners together to protect biodiversity, threatened species and water quality in a way that’s new for the Dominican Republic because it also incorporates the economic realities of its region.” Tools to Share Information and Experiences ‐ Melissa Normann and Esther de Vito CEPF has awarded a three-year grant to the Rainforest Alliance to add grantee profiles to the Eco-Index, a database of more than 1,000 biodiversity conservation projects in the Caribbean and North, Central and South America. “The diverse countries across the Caribbean hotspot are facing common conservation challenges, and it’s crucial that grantees have high-quality, multilingual tools to share information across geographic and language barriers,” explains Melissa Normann, the Eco-Index’s manager. “This project aims to provide grantees with a suite of tools to share project information, best practices, and lessons learned and connect with fellow grantees and colleagues.” Founded in 1987, the Rainforest Alliance has grown to become a leader in developing best practices for sustainable land-use, and offers third-party certification and eco-labeling services to farms, forests and tourism businesses, managed in ways that reduce environmental impacts and increase social benefits. For the past ten years, the Rainforest Alliance has provided conservation organizations, research institutions, and government agencies working throughout the Americas with a variety of high-quality tools to share information, experiences and best practices. The Eco-index has built capacity and fostered collaboration by providing conservationists with a space where they can share information and coordinate efforts across geographic and language barriers. Continued from page 6 The site features: A searchable database in English and Spanish of projects in the Americas and the Caribbean, representing the work of more than 900 NGOs, government agencies, and research institutions. Caribbean hotspot project profiles in 3 languages. A connection to the Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Initiative (WHMSI) Pathway, a tool that matches identified priority migratory species conservation needs with the resources that can address them. Through this project, a series of webinars for grantees working on similar projects, and with experts in thematic areas of recognized significance to the hotspot’s conservation priorities will be organized. Interviews and newsletter articles featuring grantee projects will also be published. FoProBiM protects coastal life in Massif‐Plaine du Nord, Haiti ‐ Jean Wiener Organized in 1992, Fondation pour la Protection de la Biodiversité Marine (FoProBiM) is an apolitical, non-governmental, non-profit organization headquartered in Haiti and was officially recognized by the Haitian government in 1995 as a foundation working on environment issues in the areas of sustainable development, education, research, monitoring, and advocacy. FoProBiM’s mission includes: i. raising awareness concerning needed changes in regulations and attitudes concerning the environment; ii.increasing knowledge and capabilities at the government, community and individual levels in order to make sustainable improvements in the environment and the lives of people, and; iii.conducting educational programs as well as scientific research, including environmental monitoring, in order to promote improved management of the environment and the protection of biodiversity through a better understanding of the need to sustainably use environmental resources. FoProBiM is currently undertaking a project supported by the CEPF with the objectives of protecting and managing mangroves, fisheries and sea turtles along Haiti’s northern coast while also seeking to determine the possibilities for sustainable eco-tourism initiatives. This will include educational activities and developing a system for monitoring sea turtles and the development of alternative income generating initiatives such as apiculture and plant nurseries while maintaining discussions with local stakeholders including the tourism industry. Outdoor educational activities for school children. Photo credit: Jean Wiener Issue 1 Page 8 Grant approvals: June 2010 - June 2012 To date, CEPF has issued a total of 25 grants in the Caribbean region totaling over USD 2.2 million. The individual grant investments range from small grants of $11,473 to large grants of $251,354. The projects cover a spectrum of initiatives including building local capacity for invasive species management in Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Lucia and the development of participatory management and action plans for longterm conservation of two national parks in the Dominican Republic. The list of grants approved up to June 2012 is given below. For more details on the grants and project summaries that have been issued up to June 2012, visit the CEPF Caribbean webpage at: http://www.canari.org/civil_sub5.asp Applicant Country Grant (US$) Title/Description Strategic Direction 1: Improve protection and management of 45 priority Key Biodiversity Areas Caribbean Coastal Area Jamaica Management Planning in the Hellshire Hills and Portland Management Foundation 141,187 Ridge and Bight Key Biodiversity Areas of Jamaica (C-CAM) Caribbean Wildlife Alliance Jamaica Floristic Survey of the Hellshire Hills, Manatee Bay, and (CWA) 20,000 Goat Islands, Jamaica: A Contribution to Improved Protection and Management of the Jamaican Iguana Consorcio Ambiental Dominican Assessing the feasibility of sustainable financing Dominicano (CAD) Republic 19,720 mechanisms in Bahoruco Oriental Consorcio Ambiental Dominicano (CAD) Dominican Republic 209,860 Environmental Awareness Group Inc. (EAG) Antigua & Barbuda 117,160 Fauna & Flora International (FFI) Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia Dominican Republic Fondo Pronaturaleza Inc (PRONATURA) 116,725 110,880 Instituto Dominicano de Desarrollo Integral, inc. (IDDI) Dominican Republic 49,669 Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) Dominican Republic 59,101 Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) Dominican Republic 19,954 Sustainable Financing and Establishment of Private Reserves for Biodiversity Conservation in Loma Quita Espuela and Loma Guaconejo, Dominican Republic Offshore Islands Conservation Programme: Maintaining Rat-Free Islands for the Benefit of Antigua's Biodiversity and People Islands Without Aliens: Building Regional Civil Capacity to Eradicate Alien Invasive Species Management Planning and Threats Reduction from Agricultural Encroachment for La Humeadora and Valle Nuevo Nationals Parks in the Dominican Republic Management Planning and Stakeholder Alliance Building for Sustainable Conservation in the Bahoruco East Key Biodiversity Area Promoting a Payments for Environmental Services Scheme through the Economic Valuation of Water Resources in the Quita Espuela and Guaconejo Science Reserves, Dominican Republic Informing Biodiversity Conservation Actions in Lake Enriquillo: Demonstrating the Recovery of Critically Endangered Species by the Removal of Invasive Alien Species. Measures to Support the Zoning Plan in Unit II of the Forest Reserve in "La Foret des Pins." Organisation des Paysans Haiti pour le Développement de 70,845 l’Unité II de la Forêt des Pins, Mare Rouge (OPDFM) Strategic Direction 2: Integrate biodiversity conservation into landscape and development planning and implementation in six conservation corridors Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières (AVSF) / VSFCIDA Haiti 261,092 Forest Diversified Restoration in Fonds-Melon River Basin in South-East of Haiti Issue 1 Applicant Fondation pour la Protection de la Biodiversité Marine (FoProBim) Grupo Jaragua, Inc. (GJ) International Iguana Foundation (IIF) Page 9 Country Haiti Dominican Republic Grant (US$) 83,800 19,943 Haiti 49,885 Sociedad Ornitológica Hispaniola (SOH) Dominican Republic Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds (SCSCB) Dominican Republic & Jamaica 64,999 62,754 Title/Description Protecting Biodiversity by Promoting Nature-Based Tourism and Sustainable Livelihoods in the Massif – Plaine du Nord Conservation Corridor Agro-forestry Model for Biodiversity in Neighbouring Communities of the Jaragua and Bahoruco National Parks, Dominican Republic Supporting a Local Community in Creating a Municipal Wildlife Habitat for the Conservation of Ricord’s Iguanas (cyclura ricordi) in Anse-a-Pitres, Massif de la Selle Conservation Corridor, Haiti Developing and Implementing a Participatory Nature Tourism Strategy for Nalga de Maco National Park Key Biodiversity Area Building a Framework for Sustainable Tourism in Key Biodiversity Areas in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica: The Caribbean Birding Trail Strategic Direction 3: Support Caribbean civil society to achieve biodiversity conservation by building local and regional institutional capacity and by fostering stakeholder collaboration Fundación Loma Quita Espuela Coordinadora de Animación Socio Cultural (FLQE / CASCO) Organisation pour la Réhabilitation de l’Environnement (ORE) Dominican Republic Haiti 11,473 The Panos Institute All eligible CEPF countries in the region Rainforest Alliance, Inc. All eligible CEPF countries in the region Réseau d’Enseignement Professionnel et d’Interventions Écologiques (REPIE) 19,947 152,721 105,021 Haiti 19,990 Youth Network of the Loma Quita Espuela Scientific Reserve: Strengthening the Capacity of Civil Society Organisations and Youth Groups for Biodiversity Conservation Stakeholder Consultation and Strategic Planning for Coordinated Biodiversity Conservation Action in Parc Macaya, Massif de la Hotte. Strengthening the Engagement of Caribbean Civil Society in Biodiversity Conservation Through Local and Regional Networking and Effective Sharing of Learning and Best Practices Connecting Conservationists in the Caribbean Islands Hotspot Supporting the Community in Forêt des Pins, Haiti to Preserve Biodiversity by Strengthening the Capacity of Schools in Collaboration with Farmers Associations and Other Community Groups. Strategic Direction 4: Provide strategic leadership and effective coordination of CEPF investment through a regional implementation team Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) All eligible 655,000 CEPF Regional Implementation Team in the Caribbean CEPF islands countries in the region Strategic Direction 5: Provide emergency support to Haitian civil society to mitigate the impacts of the 2010 earthquake BirdLife International Haiti 13,188 BirdLife International Haiti 251,354 Stakeholder Consultation and Planning for Post-Earthquake Environmental Support for the Haitian NGO Sector Post-Earthquake Environmental Support for the Haitian NGO Sector Issue 1 Page 10 Help from a regional pool of Mentors is here! The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) successfully initiated a key step in the process of providing sustained support to other civil society organisations in the region. This was facilitated through a training workshop under CANARI’s mentorship programme, which is one component of a three-year (2011 – 2013) project being implemented by CANARI titled Consolidating the role of civil society in biodiversity conservation in the Caribbean islands and is being funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The purpose of the mentorship programme is to develop a pool of mentors throughout the region, who can help strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations (CSOs) in the islands of the Caribbean so that they can play a larger and more effective role in biodiversity conservation. The mentorship programme will also help to strengthen CANARI’s capacity to provide effective and sustained support to other CSOs in its role as the Regional Implementation Team (RIT) for the five-year (2010-2015) Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) Caribbean islands investment and other work. Through its network of partners and liaison with other key civil society, state and academic stakeholders, a shortlist of 20 persons took part in the first Mentor Orientation Workshop conducted over five days in October 2011 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Meet the RACC team The workshop was very participatory in nature and confirmed the willingness of the mentors to help build the capacity of civil society to play a more effective role in biodiversity conservation in their countries. Participants were able to define what mentoring means to them and explored the different capacities that are needed to be an effective mentor. In particular, mentors built and strengthened their capacity in participatory Workshop group discussing what they believe is the definition problem analysis and identification; project planning of a mentor Photo credit: CANARI and proposal writing; and participatory facilitation. As participants and facilitators discussed, mentoring entails a long-term supportive and developmental relationship that does not necessarily fall into structured terms but rather one that can be guided; mentors in this group recognized their role in facilitating action research and learning when offering support and guidance to civil society groups. Details on this training can be obtained in the workshop report on CANARI’s website at: http://www.canari.org/documents/CANARIMentorOrientationWorkshopReport-May2012.pdf The mentors that have been brought on board have varied strengths and experience in mentoring and so CANARI is tailoring the session plans for a follow-up training workshop, scheduled for July 2012, to try to address the diverse capacity needs. An online, closed forum for mentors was recently constructed to enable exchanges among mentors and CANARI staff as a means of continuing to build the relationships of the group of mentors; to discuss issues of concern; and to build on the Action Research and Learning approach that is being nurtured within the group. Issue 1 Page 11 The group of mentors from across the Caribbean gather for a photograph during a break between training sessions at their workshop in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, October 2011. Photo credit: CANARI Mentors from six islands (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines) have also been facilitating national training activities/workshops over the month of June 2012 and will continue these activities in July 2012. After the follow-up training by CANARI , this team will be well prepared to strengthen the capacity of CEPF applicants in their proposal development and project implementation. CANARI is excited by the introduction of this regional team of mentors, and is looking forward to valuable interactions between these persons and the various applicants to the CEPF! Do you want to know more about the mentors in your island? Contact the RIT at: Tel: (868) 626-6062 Fax: (868) 626-1558 or send an e-mail message to: [email protected] Issue 1 Page 12 Engaging stakeholders in Massif de la Hotte, Haiti Along with the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, Haiti is one of the three priority countries for CEPF investment in the Caribbean. The country hosts some of the highest priority key biodiversity areas that CEPF aims to support and among these is the Massif de la Hotte. Massif de la Hotte has an area of 128, 700 hectares and is among the highest priority KBAs for CEPF investment in the region. It has also been recognised as among the sites hosting the largest number of Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) species in the world with 13 endemic and critically endangered species. The site contains remains of a mosaic of deciduous forests and degraded areas, surrounded by farmlands and subject to severe erosion. The population of Massif de la Hotte is estimated at more than 360,000 people. CEPF has a limited amount of funding available to support biodiversity conservation in Massif de la Hotte. Due to the fact that there are a number of partners at the local, national and international level already investing in conservation initiatives in this priority KBA, CANARI and the CEPF Secretariat, with support from Organisation pour la Réhabilitation de l’Environnement (ORE), facilitated a stakeholders meeting to identify complementary projects and initiatives currently being implemented to help avoid duplication of efforts and increase collaboration. This meeting was held in La Borde, Haiti on 30th March 2012 and was also an opportunity to reflect on actions that would lead to tangible conservation results with local stakeholders. Park Macaya, within the Massif de la Hotte KBA, emerged as the focus of the discussions. Following this meeting, CANARI issued a call for proposals on 15th May 2012 soliciting projects for biodiversity conservation initiatives in Massif de la Hotte, taking into account the recommendations made during the meeting. The full report of the stakeholders meeting including conclusions and recommendations can be found in French on CANARI’s website: http://canari.org/documents/ CANARI-CEPFMacayaStakeholdersMeeting.pdf. Participants introducing themselves to the group and identifying the area of Massif de la Hotte where they work. To the left of the photo is the RIT Country Coordinator, Paul Judex Edouarzin, who co-facilitated the meeting (Photo credit: CANARI) There was a great turn out of participants with representatives from local civil society, community groups, donors and government departments (Photo credit: CANARI) Issue 1 Page 13 The Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot Call for Proposals CANARI will continue to open rolling calls for proposals for both small and large grants. A new call is open to biodiversity conservation projects implemented by civil society and focused in the following countries in the Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts & Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines The opening and deadline dates for this call for proposals: Opening Date: Monday 2nd July 2012 Deadline Date: Monday 13th August 2012 Full details of the call are provided in English, Spanish and French and will be available on the CANARI website at: www.canari.org/ and on the CEPF website at: www.cepf.net from Monday 2nd July 2012. We want to hear from you! All grantees are invited to contribute updates on their projects in subsequent issues of Capacité. Share copies with others in your network and please send us your comments on our first issue of Capacité to the address below! About CANARI The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) is a non-profit organisation registered in Saint Lucia, St. Croix and Trinidad and Tobago, with its main office in Port of Spain, Trinidad. It has 501(c) (3) status in the United States and charitable status in Trinidad and Tobago. Our mission is promoting and facilitating equitable participation and effective collaboration in the management of natural resources critical to development in the Caribbean islands, so that people will have a better quality of life and natural resources will be conserved, through action learning and research, capacity building and fostering partnerships. CANARI’s geographic focus is the islands of the Caribbean but its research findings are often relevant and disseminated to the wider region. Our programmes focus on research, sharing and dissemination of lessons learned, capacity building and fostering regional partnerships. Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) Fernandes Business Centre Building 7, Unit 8 Eastern Main Road, Laventille, TRINIDAD CEPF Caribbean Contact us: Tel: (868) 626-6062 Fax: (868) 626-1558 E-mail address: [email protected] Webpage: www.canari.org