Saving La Primavera's Reserve last wildlife corridor for pumas, Mexico.
The objective of the project is to reforest 10 hectares located between the La Primavera Forest and the Ahuisculco mountain range. To do this, we will plant 10,000 trees to restore the forest cover in the area and create a new small island of habitat that allows the movement of wildlife between these two forest areas. The project also includes the installation of wildlife monitoring camera traps and the analysis of the information generated. In addition, workshops will be held with local communities and a communication campaign to show the importance of wildlife corridors.
Background
Since 2010, CIPAD’s team in collaboration with Selva Negra Ecological Foundation, has worked in the Sierra de Ahuisculco in Jalisco, Mexico with the communities of the area, to restore and conserve this important biological corridor of the Bosque La Primavera Biosphere Reserve (BLP ), and thus promote sustainable local development, climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.
Our initiative “Saving La Primavera's Reserve last wildlife corridor for pumas, Mexico” is participating in the call for support for biodiversity conservation projects and action against the climate emergency of the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA).
As part of the call, an online voting is carried out from March 25 to April 9, 2021. The project with the most votes will be supported by EOCA in its call for biodiversity conservation projects and action in the face of the climate emergency.
Description
The project will restore 10 ha between the BLP and the Ahiusculco mountain range, which is the most important active wildlife corridor of this Biosphere Reserve, the last for large mammals such as pumas. The restored habitat will serve as a stepping stone for wildlife on their way to and from BLP, particularly pumas, which are the main predator and are therefore used as emblematic or indicator species of environmental health (Puma concolor). If this species were to become locally extinct, due to the isolation of BLP and the inability of existing individuals to maintain a viable population within the reserve, this will demonstrate that the regional development model neglects the loss of biodiversity, generating an unsustainable model that would modify negatively local ecological functions. By restoring 10 ha of habitat and promoting its conservation, the project will contribute to halting the loss of local biodiversity through the conservation of this wildlife corridor.
The conservation of the BLP and its wildlife corridors contributes to the generation of environmental services for more than 5 million people who live in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, the second largest city in Mexico.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the BLP received 250,000 visitors a year (31% cyclists, 9% hikers, 60% general), visits are still allowed but the number of people who can enter the BLP at any time is more limited. The BLP is a living ecosystem connected to other wooded areas that are not formally protected, such as the Ahuisculco mountain range. Maintaining these connections ecologically functional is essential to maintain the ecological balance in BLP and thus safeguard the conditions that provide the experiences enjoyed by enthusiasts of outdoor activities and also enhance the provision of environmental services to the population of Guadalajara.
The restored areas will be integrated into a broader conservation project in the region in coordination with Selva Negra and local communities, this includes monitoring trees to ensure adequate survival and replanting new trees when necessary; it also includes patrolling and monitoring by fire control brigades.
Action in the face of the Climate Emergency.
Previous research carried out by the CIPAD team in the area indicates that the carbon content in the BLP tree vegetation is around 4.7 million tonCO2e with an average value of 170 tonCO2e per hectare of forest. This indicates that the restoration of 10 ha as part of the project has the potential to sequester around 1,700 tCO2e when the reforested trees reach maturity.
The project will also contribute to climate change adaptation by helping to maintain the integrity of the local food web, this will increase the resilience of the reserve to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Habitat restoration also contributes to conserving ecosystem-based adaptive services.
Main Activities
-Project start-up workshop with members of local communities and permanent follow-up.
-Reforestation of 10 ha in summer 2021 and subsequent monitoring.
-Installation of wildlife monitoring cameras, and 12 monthly rounds of field work.
-Production of messages and a communication campaign to promote the conservation of biodiversity and wildlife corridors.
Help us reforest 10 critical hectares of the main biological corridor of pumas between the La Primavera Forest and the Ahuisculco mountain range in Mexico 🇲🇽!!
You are one click away 🌳🐾🐾🐾🌲!
1. Enter the EOCA site at the Forest Projects voting page 🌳🌲: http://bit.ly/VoteEOCABLP
2. Select the La Primavera Forest biological corridor project proposed by CIPAD (tip, is the sixth on the list).
3. Vote for the project!
4. Forward this information to your contacts! Thanks a lot! 🙏🏼
Voting will take place from March 25 to April 9, 2021.
The project with the most votes will be supported by EOCA in its round of biodiversity conservation projects and action in the face of the climate emergency.
Photo credits: Antonio Márquez and Francisco Quintero.
