Talara forest shelters the endemic and endangered Peruvian Plantcutter. |
The dry forest of Talara, located in the province of Talara, Piura, is a predominately flat area of about 24,700 acres (10,000 hectares) that is bounded on the east side by the Amotapes Mountain Range. The area mainly comprises thin forest with low trees and shrubs, of which the carob tree is clearly representative.
Talara is a critical site for conservation of the globally endangered "Peruvian Plant Cutter" (Phytotoma raimondii)—an endangered and endemic species of the dry forests of the northern Peruvian coast—because Talara shelters the most significant populations of this bird. At the moment, the zone has no official protection; not long ago, it was property of PETROPERU, but has since reverted to the State.
What NCI Is Doing
The project "Promoting the Conservation of Areas of Importance for Conservation of Birds in the Piura Region" has prioritized protection of the Talara area, and NCI has applied for a conservation concession for 15,000 acres.
The project “Promoting the Conservation of Areas of Importance for Conservation of Birds in the Piura Region” has prioritized protection of the Talara area, and NCI has applied for a conservation concession for 15,000 acres.
Coordinating with the local NGO, Light and Hope, NCI is also emphasizing development of educational activities on various environmental topics. To date, 14 teachers of the educational institution nearest to the conservation area have received training courses on the Schoolyard Ecology methodology , an educational guidebook has been produced with information on dry forests in the area, and a Children’s Birdwatchers Club created. In addition, a bachelor of science pre-graduation thesis is written on "The Biology of the Cortarrama Peruana (Phytotoma raimondii)."
Donors: British Birdwatching Fair (BBWF), BirdLife International
