Global Population Assessment and Conservation Monitoring Programme for the Threatened Southern Horned Curassow Pauxi Unicornis in Bolivia

17 Jan 2004 Carrasco and Amboró National Parks, Bolivia, Central and Latin America Birds

Rodrigo Soria Auza

By means of this project, we will be able to estimate the global range of this species in Bolivia, as well as estimate its population. We will initiate the first long-term monitory programme for a globally threatened bird species in Bolivia.

Pauxi unicornis lives only along the eastern slopes of the Andes in Bolivia and Peru, This species has a restricted range and supports hunting and habitat destruction (regarded as Vulnerable for IUCN 2004).

In Bolivia it’s known only one population into the Carrasco and Amboró National Parks. There is big gap between this population and the Peruvian records in Cerros del Cira and Cerros del Tavara (near to Bolivian border). According with some expertise working in Bolivia it’s probable this species occurs in Cordillera Mosetenes and Cocapata (MaCleod & Maccormick 2000, Herzog per. Com.), as well as in Communal Territory and National Park TIPNIS (Soria; local information). All these sites are located between the Bolivian and Peruvian records. In this light, the aim of this project is establish the real conservation status of this species, develop a programme of conservation and long-term population monitory. To achieve this aim we propose carry out the following objectives:

1) Determine the true distribution of Pauxi unicornis in Bolivia, estimate the national population size and identify the highest priority sites for conserve this species and its habitat;

2) Work together with local communities through education and workshops to mitigate human impact on this species and its habitat;

3) Design and initiate a long-term conservation monitoring program with Bolivia’s national parks for the most important populations of the Southern Horned Curassow.

This project has two phases; the first consists of field surveys to estimate the global population inside Bolivia and identify the most important sites for this species, at same time we evaluate human impact on natural habitat in every visited site. During the second phase we carry out environmental educational workshops at the most important sites identified during the first phase. The objective of these workshops is to change local communities’ perceptions about this species and the importance of maintains its natural habitat for the local biodiversity and local community as well. Training workshops will be carried out with park guards from those important protected areas for Pauxi unicornis, the objective of these workshops is to identify and capacitate people for a long-term monitory programme of this species.

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