Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco
Encyclopedia
Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco (Jocotoco Conservation Foundation) is an Ecuadorian non-governmental environmental organization. Fundación Jocotoco was founded in 1998 when a group of conservationists came together to purchase the type locality of the newly discovered Jocotoco Antpitta
(Grallaria ridgelyi). Robert S. Ridgely and others discovered the striking new bird
species
in wet upper subtropical forest in southeastern Ecuador
(ca. 2,500 m elevation) . That the species had evaded detection for so long suggested it must have a tiny range. Indeed, over 10 years since its discovery, Jocotoco Antpitta's known range remains very small. Land clearance for cattle ranching and gold mining are currently the two most significant threats to the species. Fundación Jocotoco established Tapichalaca Biological Reserve to protect the habitat of the highly localized and threatened antpitta. The reserve now protects > 2870 hectares of forest and an associated 380+ species of birds and numerous range-restricted plants, amphibians, mammals, and invertebrates.
Using Tapichalaca as a successful example, Fundación Jocotoco has greatly expanded its efforts and the organization now administers eight reserves across Ecuador. The reserves are strategically located in hotpots of avian diversity, threat, and endemism. The tropical Andes offer a rare opportunity for species conservation with small reserves because the region is an intersection of these three types of biodiversity hotspot. In total, Fundación Jocotoco's reserves protect approximately 800 species birds on just ~14000 hectares of land. The organization is primarily funded by World Land Trust-US, World Land Trust (UK), and donations from individuals.
Current Fundación Jocotoco reserves and some focal bird species:
Fundación Jocotoco and its funding bodies support an active research program that seeks to gather critical baseline natural history information on the endangered birds protected in the reserves. Results of these studies will facilitate more effective conservation of the threatened species. Recent projects include:
See Fundación Jocotoco's website for more information on:
Jocotoco Antpitta
The Jocotoco Antpitta, Grallaria ridgelyi, is an endangered antpitta, a bird from Ecuador and Peru. It was only discovered in 1997, and scientifically described in 1999.-Description:...
(Grallaria ridgelyi). Robert S. Ridgely and others discovered the striking new bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
in wet upper subtropical forest in southeastern Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
(ca. 2,500 m elevation) . That the species had evaded detection for so long suggested it must have a tiny range. Indeed, over 10 years since its discovery, Jocotoco Antpitta's known range remains very small. Land clearance for cattle ranching and gold mining are currently the two most significant threats to the species. Fundación Jocotoco established Tapichalaca Biological Reserve to protect the habitat of the highly localized and threatened antpitta. The reserve now protects > 2870 hectares of forest and an associated 380+ species of birds and numerous range-restricted plants, amphibians, mammals, and invertebrates.
Using Tapichalaca as a successful example, Fundación Jocotoco has greatly expanded its efforts and the organization now administers eight reserves across Ecuador. The reserves are strategically located in hotpots of avian diversity, threat, and endemism. The tropical Andes offer a rare opportunity for species conservation with small reserves because the region is an intersection of these three types of biodiversity hotspot. In total, Fundación Jocotoco's reserves protect approximately 800 species birds on just ~14000 hectares of land. The organization is primarily funded by World Land Trust-US, World Land Trust (UK), and donations from individuals.
Current Fundación Jocotoco reserves and some focal bird species:
- Tapichalaca, wet lower subtropical forest up to páramo on east slope of Andes. Jocotoco AntpittaJocotoco AntpittaThe Jocotoco Antpitta, Grallaria ridgelyi, is an endangered antpitta, a bird from Ecuador and Peru. It was only discovered in 1997, and scientifically described in 1999.-Description:...
, Golden-plumed ParakeetGolden-plumed ParakeetThe Golden-plumed Parakeet is a Neotropical parrot species within the Psittacidae family, belonging to the monotypic genus Leptosittaca. This somewhat Aratinga-like species is found in humid temperate highland forests, especially with Podocarpus, on the east Andean slope in Colombia, Ecuador, and...
, White-necked ParakeetWhite-necked ParakeetThe White-breasted Parakeet or White-necked Parakeet is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family. It is found in southern Ecuador and adjacent northern Peru....
, Peruvian AntpittaPeruvian AntpittaThe Peruvian Antpitta is a species of bird in the Formicariidae family. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes. It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
, Bicolored Antvireo, Masked SaltatorMasked SaltatorThe Masked Saltator is a species of cardinal in the Cardinalidae family.It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru...
, Greater ScythebillGreater ScythebillThe Greater Scythebill is a species of bird in the Dendrocolaptinae subfamily. This species is found at very low densities in highland forest in the Andes, ranging from Colombia to Peru... - Río Canandé, wet Chocó lowlands of the northwest. Scarlet-breasted DacnisScarlet-breasted DacnisThe Scarlet-breasted Dacnis is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
, Banded Ground-CuckooBanded Ground-cuckooThe Banded Ground Cuckoo is a species of cuckoo in the Cuculidae family. It is found in the Chocó of western Colombia and Ecuador....
, Great CurassowGreat CurassowThe Great Curassow is a large, pheasant-like bird from the Neotropics. At in length and in weight, this is a very large cracid. No other cracid match its maximum weight, but its length is matched by a few other cracids....
, Golden-chested TanagerGolden-chested TanagerThe Golden-chested Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes.... - Buenaventura, wet upper foot hill forest on west slope of Andes. One of only a few localities for El Oro ParakeetEl Oro ParakeetThe El Oro Parakeet, Conure D'Orcès, Cotorra De El Oro, or Perico De El Oro is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family, endemic to Ecuador...
, and El Oro Tapaculo. Other species of interest include Long-wattled UmbrellabirdLong-wattled UmbrellabirdThe Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Cephalopterus penduliger, is a bird found in the humid forests of the Chocó of western Colombia and Ecuador. It is sensitive to habitat destruction, and its large size make it easy to hunt...
, Ochraceous AttilaOchraceous AttilaThe Ochraceous Attila is a species of bird in the Tyrannidae family.It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and plantations ....
, and Club-winged ManakinClub-winged ManakinThe Club-winged Manakin is a small passerine bird which is a resident breeding species in the cloud forest on the western slopes of the Andes Mountains of Colombia and northwestern Ecuador...
. - Yanacocha, upper temperate forest on Volcán Pichincha. Black-breasted PufflegBlack-breasted PufflegThe Black-breasted Puffleg is an average sized species of hummingbird endemic to Ecuador. It has a very restricted range, being found only on the Northwestern slopes of the Pichincha volcano and it is critically endangered...
(one of the few remaining world localities for this critically endangered species), Imperial SnipeImperial SnipeThe Imperial Snipe, Gallinago imperialis, is a small stocky wader which breeds in the Andes. For a century it was known only from two specimens collected near Bogotá, Colombia, and was presumed extinct, but it was rediscovered in Peru in 1967 and Ecuador in 1988...
, Rainbow-bearded ThornbillRainbow-bearded ThornbillThe Rainbow-bearded Thornbill is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland.-References:... - Narupa, wet foothill forest on the east slope of the Andes. Coppery-chested JacamarCoppery-chested JacamarThe Coppery-chested Jacamar is a species of bird in the Galbulidae family. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
, Napo SabrewingNapo SabrewingThe Napo Sabrewing is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests....
, many other foothill species - Jorupe, Tumbesian dry forest. Henna-hooded Foliage-gleanerHenna-hooded Foliage-gleanerThe Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner is a species of bird in the Furnariidae family. It is found in Ecuador and Peru....
, Rufous-necked Foliage-gleanerRufous-necked Foliage-gleanerThe Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaner is a species of bird in the Furnariidae family.It is found in Ecuador and Peru....
, Blackish-headed SpinetailBlackish-headed SpinetailThe Blackish-headed Spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariidae family.It is found in Ecuador and Peru.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, and pastureland.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:* BirdLife...
, Gray-headed Antbird - Utuana, temperate forest on slopes above interandean valley. Piura Hemispingus, Rainbow StarfrontletRainbow StarfrontletThe Rainbow Starfrontlet is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family. It is found in Ecuador and Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, and heavily degraded former forest.-References:* BirdLife International...
, Black-crested Tit-Tyrant - Yunguilla, woodland south of Cuenca. Only world locality for the Critically Endangered Pale-headed Brush-FinchPale-headed Brush-finchThe Pale-headed Brush Finch is a species of bird in the Emberizidae family. It is endemic to arid areas with low scrub at altitudes of 1650–1800 m in south-central Ecuador....
Fundación Jocotoco and its funding bodies support an active research program that seeks to gather critical baseline natural history information on the endangered birds protected in the reserves. Results of these studies will facilitate more effective conservation of the threatened species. Recent projects include:
- Radio telemetry and natural history observations of Jocotoco Antpitta at Tapichalaca
- Reproductive montoring of Pale-headed Brush-Finch at Yungilla and El Oro Parakeet at Buenaventura
- Documenting reproductive biology and identifying critical breeding habitat of Esmeraldas WoodstarEsmeraldas WoodstarThe Esmeraldas Woodstar, Colibri De Berlepsch, ColibrÍ De Esmeraldas, or Estrellita EsmeraldeÑA is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It is found only in Ecuador....
in coastal Ecuador
See Fundación Jocotoco's website for more information on:
- Reserves and the species they protect
- Current projects
- Ways to donate
- Funding partners
- Current staff and board members