Restoring golden-winged warbler habitat in Colombia's central Andes

Background

The Central Andes Birdscape in Colombia supports populations of several steeply declining migratory landbirds of conservation concern such as the Golden-winged Warbler, Cerulean Warbler and Canada Warbler. These species occur at mid-elevations within the birdscape and these same elevations also hold the greatest diversity and abundance of migratory landbirds in the Colombian Andes, with notable populations of species like Acadian Flycatcher and Mourning Warbler. Importantly, Appalachian-breeding Golden-winged Warblers, which have experienced steeper population declines relative to populations in the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest, spend the non-breeding season in the Andes of Colombia and Venezuela.   

Since 2018, SELVA has been working in this Birdscape to enhance and protect habitats for migratory birds and threatened and endemic residents, through education, outreach and conservation orientated activities. These efforts have been focused on two main regions: the municipality of Manizales in the department of Caldas on the western slope of the Central Andes and the municipality of Libano in the department of Tolima on the eastern slope of the Central Andes. Activities have included environmental education in schools, the design of outreach materials and restoration workshops for local landowners, as well as supporting eight native tree nurseries and habitat restoration through the planting of close to 20,000 trees.

Proposed activities 2026-2027

In the next project phase (2026-2027), we propose to continue activities to restore and enhance Golden-winged Warbler habitat in the Caldas department through a community led approach, as well as restart restoration activities in Libano, building on previous project phases. As part of this effort, we will continue to build local capacity through workshops and community-led processes, based on the conviction that ecological restoration is most effective when rooted in collaborative planning and community stewardship. 

Proposed activities

Habitat creation and enhancement – Alcazares-Planalto conservation corridor, Manizales

§  Continue tree planting activities at key elevations and close to sites know to be occupied by Golden-winged Warblers in the Alcazares-Planalto Corridor.

§  Plant 6,000 trees through a community-led process within participating properties in the corridor.

§  Provide technical support to tree nurseries in the corridor and facilitate the production of trees that provide favored substrates for Golden-winged Warblers and Cerulean Warblers.

§  Carry out maintenance and monitoring of trees planted under previous project phases.

§  Develop zoning plans with participating landowners as a mechanism for setting aside land for conservation.

§  Workshop to facilitate the use of a restoration application (Myfarmtrees) developed by the CIAT for monitoring trees on farms.

Habitat enhancement and creation in the Del Nevado al Rio corridor, Libano, Tolima

§  Revisit restoration plots established in 2020-21, carry out monitoring of plots and undertake additional plantings on participating properties.

§  Strengthen local nurseries and enable the production of 6,000 trees.

§  Plant 6,000 trees around the primary habitat nuclei in Libano to increase habitat availability.