The broad goal of this project was to provide local residents in northwest Ecuador with the basic information and technical capacity to conserve forest fragments and the biodiversity they contain. The project site is the Mache Chindul Ecological Reserve, a global priority for conservation of biodiversity currently experiencing extensive deforestation and forest fragmentation. The research focus of the project was how fragmentation impacts nocturnal birds, including owls, nightjars, and the oilbird. Researchers assessed diversity in 30 fragments that vary in size and distance from a large ‘control’ patch of primary forest, and proactively shared information with stakeholders.
Transect data revealed 11 total species of nocturnal birds, with an average of 3.4 (± 1.5) per forest fragment. In contrast to all other taxa studied so far, nocturnal bird species richness increased as elevation decreased. The distribution data are being further analyzed in order to prioritize fragment conservation, including an outlier fragment with 7 nocturnal bird species. To facilitate this conservation, a “Friends of the Forest” program was established to create a network of community representatives who will be employed to continue biological monitoring of local fragments and engage with fragment owners to identify needs for sustainable management of existing land use.
Two local residents and one graduate student were trained on the project, and study results were presented to more than 1,500 residents at an environmental fair. The researchers also convened a special symposium in one of the local communities and produced a high quality booklet for local audiences. In addition, the project planted 12,000 hardwood saplings around forest fragments for reforestation, with the goal of expanding and connecting existing fragments. ($8,000)