A new reserve and educational foundation in western Colombia has an affiliated corridor project under development. What began as a private forest reserve and bird lodge in the western Andes has now established a foundation to manage that forest, run education programs for the local schools, and work with national universities to develop ecological corridors.
Fundación Reserva La Esperanza is a non-profit forest reserve, environmental education center and scientific research station. La Esperanza is tucked in between the central and western ridges of the Andes in Colombia, near Jardín in the province of Antioquia. About 50% of the property is forested at the moment, with the rest growing back. Most deforestation in the region is done to create pasture for beef and dairy cattle, coffee/banana plantations, pine and Eucalyptus plantations, and other crops such as sugar cane and vegetables.
Corredor Biológico La Esperanza focuses on re-establishing connectivity along and between ridges and waterways. The corridor project involves 2400 hectares ranging in altitude from 1700-2800 m, with lower montane wet forest becoming cloud forest above 2500 m. The biodiversity is incredibly high in all areas and the highest globally in avifauna. A continuous canopy is the most important goal of this corridor project.
To better understand the incredible bird community, consider that all of North America shows an avian diversity of about 800 species. The municipality of Jardín has around 400 species of birds and La Esperanza has almost 175 species on 20 hectares of land. Of those, 4-6 are national endemics, including the Yellow-eared parrot. The plant list is at approximately 350 species, including about 65 species of trees such as the critically endangered endemic Magnolia jardinensis. Local mammals include the Olinguito, newly described to science in 2012 and breeding on the property. This nocturnal herbivore resembles a two-pound weasel with a face like a bear. Other mammals include the Western Night-Monkey, the Tamandua (an arboreal anteater), the Kinkajou, the Brown-throated Three-toed sloth, the Water opossum, and three small cats.
As the current management districts within the provincial authority have already done extensive and intelligent zoning work, our main goal with the project is to see the actual implementation of policy at the municipal level. Careful attention was given in the existing plans to the best areas for sustainable production, restoration of native habitat and conservation of existing forest habitat.
Threats to the forested areas in the region from mining and large agricultural interests are considerable, especially from cattle pastures and what is ironically considered “reforestation” (actually the planting of exotic trees for harvest).
Our focus on ecological corridors at La Esperanza came about as we realized our unique ability to see this corridor project used as a model in southwest Antioquia, as well as elsewhere in Colombia. Most important to point out about this corridor project and its potential success is the current political climate at all levels. The current municipal leadership is sympathetic, even enthusiastic about the foundation and its work, which includes both support for our developing educational program and the growing tourist industry.
For more information about Fundación Reserva La Esperanza or how you can get involved, contact esperanza.gerencia@gmail.com.
