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Birders' Exchange | |
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BIRDERS' EXCHANGE RECIPIENTSReserva Ecologica de Guapiaçu by Nicholas Locke, President a) History  The development of our wetlands - May 2005. The Reserve  The development of our wetlands - May 2005. The Association  The Regua tree nursery. The Staff  The Regua tree nursery. b)The Activities REGUA primarily focuses on protection and education, reinforced by its activities in research, habitat restoration and sustainable development. Our Field Monitoring coordinator and 5 rangers, patrol the REGUA forests with the aim of reducing the intrusion of hunters aside from looking for evidence of heart of palm removal, and the capturing of songbirds. This whole activity has been particularly successful considering that the state of Rio de Janeiro has virtually no rangers walking its Conservation Units. The incidence of hunting at REGUA has reduced to 1% of the old days. We find these results are due to a constancy in presence, which frightens the potential hunters away. This is done through frequent patrolling, visitation and invited scientific projects.  The Regua tree nursery. Our Environmental Education coordinator works with school visiting groups and holds teacher training courses. REGUA also organized a hugely successful program group of 8 Young Rangers focusing on adolescents from the local community in volunteer work within the Reserve. They assist the Rangers and the Researchers in their work. They are also involved in tree planting and other REGUA programs. Several times a month they participate in workshops on environmental, biological and social issues (pollution, endangered species, evolution, ecology, ethics, environmental law, climate change etc.) and receive training on special skills (first aid, drawing, photography, computers, languages). This small program was so successful in its objectives that we are searching funding for a larger group this year. REGUA is also working towards setting up a Conservation Center with classrooms, visiting center , library where visiting schools can visit and courses in further education can be held.  The Regua tree nursery. Most of the 7% left of the Atlantic Rain Forest occurs in mountainous areas where there is difficult access. Studies have identified the region as one with an exceptionally high level of biodiversity and endemism however there is an urgent need to complement this with inventories and research. REGUA is focusing on making an inventory of its biodiversity prioritizing birds. Visiting researchers have revealed that of the 403 species seen at the reserve more than 120 species are endemic. There are several species that are on the Cites red data book and there is the strong possibility that the kinglet calyptura ( Calyptura Cristata ) could be present, having been seen 12 years ago in Teresopolis, some 20km away from REGUA land. There are few migrant species that come from another continent , one recalled solitary sandpiper( Tringa solitarius). There is little doubt that there is a lot of research to be conducted here in SE Brazil as a whole, since altitudinal migration is very evident with many species becoming more apparent at times of the year and fairly well disappearing at others.  The red billed curassows ready to come to Regua. REGUA aims to set itself as an example of sustainable ecotourism and habitat restoration in the NGO world, teaching principles and showing the future generations what biodiversity is all about. To cater to volunteers we are refurbishing two houses which when furnished will offer comfortable lodgings for students wishing to contribute to the environment. We would expect the students to help in walking the forests, monitoring the recently planted 3500 trees and help plant seeds and then plant the 50,000 trees within the wetland.  The red billed curassows ready to come to Regua. c) The needs There is always a constant need for resources. REGUA has rangers, its young rangers and visiting volunteers to help monitor the presence of birds and other animals thereby constantly protecting its endemic species. We don't have any equipment for any of the young guards and our monitoring coordinator has no binoculars. We yearn for a good telescope to be able to see birds and sound equipment to be able to record the vocalizations that we wish to put on our web site for downloading. We know that visitors appreciate some available vocalizations in order to train their ears for their visits. We also have learnt that bird songs differ regionally and results could generate some further studies.
Binoculars are the very best tools for people to see these birds in a perspective never seen before. By almost touching the birds, people can learn to appreciate and care for them and set an example so sorely needed in this continent. We hope that the American Birding Association can help us providing some needy equipment for our daily activities.  The planned Conservation Center.  Houses for visiting students under construction.  Houses for visiting students under construction.  Our tree planting certificate.
Birders' Exchange |
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