The most
detailed study to date of the status of birds and other
wildlife
in Panama, for its size one of the world's most biologically
diverse nations, has revealed that many of its most globally
important sites enjoy no formal protection and are in danger
from deforestation, development, and other threats.
The Directory
of
Important Bird Areas in Panama, launched today, shows that El
Chorogo-Palo Blanco, the best remaining site for the endemic
birds of Panama's western Pacific slope, and the Upper Bay of
Panama, used by more than 1.3 million migratory shorebirds from
North America each year, are in urgent need of conservation
action.
The book has
been produced by BirdLife International's Partner in Panama,
the
Panama Audubon Society (PAS) with financing from
Vogelbescherming Nederland (BirdLife's Partner in the
Netherlands) and the United States Forest Service, and is based
on studies sponsored by Panama's Fundacion Natura.
Panama's
western
Pacific lowlands, despite being home to many endemic birds such
as Baird's Trogon and White-crested Coquette and other endemic
wildlife such as Red-backed Squirrel Monkey, have been almost
entirely deforested. El Chorogo-Palo Blanco is the largest
remaining refuge in Panama for many of these species, but is
threatened by logging and conversion to cattle pasture. Now,
however, PAS is working to have the area declared a wildlife
refuge, and with support from the Amos Butler Audubon Society
of
Indianapolis and the American Bird Conservancy, has recently
purchased about 10 percent of the area's forest to form the
core
of a reserve.
Data compiled
by
PAS have shown that the Upper Bay of Panama qualifies as a
Wetland of International Importance under the international
Ramsar Convention, and this designation has recently been
approved by Panama's National Environmental Authority. This
site
is used by more than 30 percent of the world population of
Western Sandpipers and 20 percent of Semipalmated Plovers, and
is globally important for at least five other species of
shorebirds.
The 342-page
book, written in both English and Spanish, describes each of
the
88 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in the country, and also
includes
a list of threatened birds, data on other threatened/endemic
fauna, and conservation issues for each site. The directory was
launched at the Ernesto J. Castillero National Library in
Panama
to an audience of Panamanian Government representatives,
figures
from the academic, business and political worlds,
environmentalists, diplomats and media.
The book's
other
key findings include:
• IBAs
have
been identified that include 210 of Panama's 216 endangered,
endemic and biome-restricted species, including two of Panama's
most threatened birds, the Yellow-billed Cotinga and Spiny-
faced
Antshrike.
• IBAs
cover almost 28 percent of Panama's land area (75,516 sq km),
and most are threatened at some level. Among the most serious
threats are deforestation for cattle ranching and subsistence
agriculture; logging; road-building and urban and other
development; and, for a few species, over-hunting and capture
for the pet trade.
• Just 35
(40 percent) of Panama's IBAs are formally protected.
"Although
the preparation and publication of this directory took six
years, in reality it represents a culmination of over 30 years
of constant discovery, observation and recording by past and
present members of our society," comments Bill Adsett,
Treasurer, Panama Audubon Society. "Above all, the
directory allows us and everyone else to know for certain where
our efforts have to be concentrated so that Panama will remain
one of the most biodiversity-rich countries --- for its size ---
in the world."
The Directory's
author, Dr George Angehr, says: "While the majority of
Panama's Important Bird Areas are protected by law, some of the
most important sites --- including the El Chorogo-Palo Blanco
forests and the Upper Bay of Panama --- have no formal
protection and are in great danger of being destroyed. Urgent
action will be needed to save them."
For further
information, please contact Adrian Long at BirdLife
International by email at adrian.long@birdlife.o
r
g.uk
Also in this
section:
Cool Internet sites
Philharmonic Youth
Orchestra
of the New England Conservatory
The Directory of Important
Bird Areas in Panama
BBC's "Israel's Secret
Weapon"
