Royal Cinclodes (Cinclodes aricomae)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 13256300

Asociación Civil Armonia was founded in 1995. Its initial mission was to encourage young Bolivians to increase their knowledge of the country's extraordinary bird diversity. In 2002, Asociación Armonía was refounded to take a more active conservationist role. Our mission is to prevent the extinction of threatened bird species that occur in Bolivia. The critical state of the most threatened bird species is due to habitat destruction that results from the unplanned, and extensive use of the natural resources. To reduce these threats, we promote the sustainable use of natural resources by local people. We also implemented participative environmental education programs to raise the awareness of nature's importance and cultivate a culture of conservation. Three of the most threatened bird species that are endemic to Bolivia do not have populations within any protected area. We established refuges for these species (Palkachupa Cotinga, Red-fronted Macaw and Blue-throated Macaw). Local communities have an active role in the administration of these reserves, and receive the benefits obtained from visitors. Our projects are located in the biologically most important and most threatened ecoregions of Bolivia. The project we propose is located in the Bolivian high Andes. More specifically, in the highly fragmented Polylepis pepei forests of the cordillera of La Paz. This type of forest is one the most threatened in the world. The Diversity associated to this type of forests is characterized by a high proportion of habitat-specialized species. The most remarkable is the Critically Endangered Royal Cinclodes (Cinclodes aricomae), whose global population is less than 300 mature individuals (IUCN 2010). Another bird species that depends almost exclusively upon these decimated fragments of forests is the Endangered Ash-breasted Tit-tyrant (Anairetes alpinus). Polylepis pepei itself is also considered Vulnerable of extinction (IUCN 2010). The heavy wood extraction practiced upon these forests for the last 500 years has reduced its natural range significantly. As these remnants continue to be destroyed, it is imperative to update the extinction risk of this plant species as well.