Located in the montane region of the Espírito Santo state, the Ecological Corridor will contribute to the conservation of the critically endangered Cherry-throated Tanager, in addition to other 6 globally threatened species
June was a month of great advancements for the conservation of the Brazilian natural heritage. In addition to the creation and expansion of protected areas in the state of Bahia, the government of the state of Espírito Santo signed last month a decree that will contribute to the preservation of one of the rarest birds in Brazil: the Cherry-throated Tanager (Nemosia rourei). Restricted to well-preserved forests, the species can only be found in the montane region of Espírito Santo.
The Decree nº 2529-R, from 2 June 2010, recognizes as priority areas for the conservation of the Espírito Santo’s biodiversity 10 Ecological Corridors (1): Saíra-apunhalada; Córrego do Veado; Pedra do Elefante; Sooretama-Comboios-Goytacazes; Alto Misterioso; Centro Norte Serrano; Duas Bocas-Mestre Álvaro; Guanandy; Burarama-Pacotuba-Cafundó and Caparaó. The Decree also recognizes the Rio Doce Marine Corridor.
With the signature of the Decree, these corridors will receive greater visibility and will be prioritized by the government and non-governmental organizations. At the terrestrial corridors, the objective is to connect forest remnants through the development of forest conservation and restoration actions, promotion of sustainable activities and adequate soil management.
The montane region of the Espírito Santo state is characterized by important Atlantic Forest remnants that house a great diversity of plants and animals. The region is considered an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International and SAVE Brasil. More than 250 bird species occur in this area, six of them considered globally threatened with extinction, as it is the case of the critically endangered Cherry-throated Tanager.
This species remained undetected for more than 50 years, with no confirmed records. For this reason, it was already considered extinct in the wild by many researchers and conservationists. In 1998 it was rediscovered in a forest remnant in the montane region of Espírito Santo state. Some years later, in 2003, the bird was recorded in an area in the vicinity of the original site and, since then, it is frequently observed at these two sites.
Surveys demonstrate that the Cherry-throated Tanager is a rare bird. Beautiful and restricted to the Atlantic montane forests of Espírito Santo, the species has been adopted as the symbol of the region, contributing to campaigns for the conservation of its forests.
SAVE Brasil works since 2004 in collaboration with governments, researchers, civil society organizations and local communities in the development of actions and articulation of public policies to ensure the conservation of the forests on which the Cherry-throated Tanager depends to survive.
Cherry-throated Tanager Ecological Corridor (2)
Hydrographic Basin: Doce and Itapemirim
Municipalities: Afonso Cláudio, Brejetuba and Conceição do Castelo
Protected Areas : none
Approximate area : 37,000 hectares
(1) Ecological Corridors: areas planned to connect forest remnants and to proportionate the dispersal of animals and seeds among patches, increasing the forest cover and allowing the conservation of natural resources and biodiversity.
(2) Source: Site da Secretaria de Estado de Meio Ambiente e Recursos Hídricos (SEAMA) and Instituto Estadual de Meio Ambiente e Recursos Hídricos (IEMA) www.meioambiente.es.gov.br