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THE BELIZE HARPY EAGLE RESTORATION PROGRAM (BHERP)
WORKING TO EMPOWER THE MESOAMERICA BIOLOGICAL CORRIDOR, MBC
Update Number 8 July 2006 CURRENT SUMMARY OF BHERP The BHERP is a conservation program put forward by The Peregrine Fund, TPF, in collaboration with the Government of Belize, The Belize Zoo and TEC, and Programme for Belize, in an effort to conserve the Harpy Eagle and their habitats in the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, MCB, of Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico, a trans-border conservation area. This tract of tropical forest is also known as the Selva Maya, and is the largest area of tropical forest north of the Amazon basin. Captive-raised Harpy Eagles have been released into the forests of the Rio Bravo Conservation Management Area, RBCMA, and are being studied, and tracked by satellite telemetry, as well as conventional VHF radio-telemetry. The goal of the program is the long-term survival of the Harpy Eagle and to change human behaviours that affect the species either directly (e.g. shooting), or indirectly (e.g. habitat degradation and loss). A. Field Initiatives This includes species restoration and ecological field studies. Field studies on the released birds will aim to determine whether viable populations can once again survive in the forests of the Selva Maya. These important studies will determine what factors limit the Harpy Eagle’s distribution and abundance, and how these relate to human-induced environmental changes. The Peregrine Fund has engaged two professional biologists, Mr. Ryan Phillips and Mr. Chris Hatten, who diligently monitor the Harpy Eagles released in the RBCMA. Besides sharing their expertise with field personnel at Rio Bravo, Phillips and Hatten, through their daily studies, have brought to light new information about the ecology of these rare birds. Using their data, outreach education has been accomplished in the villages located nearby the RBCMA. With one of the Harpy Eagles spending time in Mexico, visits to communities located nearby these forests were accomplished, and an understanding about the importance of protecting the Harpy Eagle, has spread across the border. Many of the photographs viewed from the Harpy Eagle Updates come from Ryan Phillips. A series of photos taken by him show one of the released eagles preying upon a grey fox, providing the first documentation ever of this predator/prey event. B. Environmental Education Initiatives These efforts address the greatest immediate threats to Harpy Eagles: Human persecution and deforestation. Progressive education is arguably the most effective tool for empowering people to make wise management decisions about natural resources and change their behaviour toward wildlife and their habitats. One of the released female Harpies seems to have established somewhat of a territory within the tropical forests of Calakmul, Mexico. Given this data, obtained from her PTT (satellite telemetry), an effort was made in March, to take information and resources to the communities surrounding this part of the Selva Maya, about the important role the Harpy Eagle plays within the ecology of all three nations, Belize, Guatemala and Mexico. Posters and brochures were handed out and people in communities, as well as schools, were approached about this important conservation project. Early in 2006, it was sadly discovered that one of the released Harpy Eagles, a male known as “Salub” was shot in Guatemala. This was a tremendous loss to the BHERP, and a severe reminder that the need for raising awareness about these birds of prey, is essential to seeing that the program continues on a successful level. In Belize, Environmental Education addressing this issue, is strong.
The BHERP received good news that grant requests, addressing expanded Environmental Education about the Harpy Eagle, have been approved. With this important assistance, from the Columbus Zoo Conservation Program, and from IdeaWild, there will be a stronger and very active effort involving education and awareness, both in Belize, and across our borders. C. Conservation Impact Restoring the Harpy Eagle into the forests where it once lived, not only restores biodiversity, but also has a long-term effect of returning a top-predator to its former range where its impact on prey species and trickle-down effect are important in maintaining ecological and evolutionary processes. The information gained from field studies on the factors affecting Harpy Eagle distribution and abundance is valuable to conservation managers, government-level decision makers (e.g. protected areas vs development), and to local communities (hunting prey or direct persecution) and will be shared through formal publications, annual written and verbal reports and through education. By emphasizing the responsibility bestowed upon local communities to ensure the well-being of released harpy Eagles, an important sense of ownership is developed. A pride for the welfare of the birds begins to form, and attitudes toward the Harpy Eagle and other birds of prey, are greatly improved. D. Assorted Matters Relative to BHERP
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BHERP extends gratitude to the following:
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Research
October 2007 | June 2007 | July 2006 | December 2005 | May 2005
Conservation
Conservation
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