Yaigojé Apaporis Park
Credit: Asociación de Capitanes Indígenas Yaigojé Apaporis

There was more good news from the Boreal's sister, the Amazon, recently. In late October, the government of Colombia announced the creation of Yaigojé Apaporis Park, a 2.6-million-acre park that enables local indigenous groups to carefully manage the land and keep it intact. This park comes less than two months after the government of Peru made a similar park creation, which I wrote about in an earlier post.

Located at the intersection of the Amazon Basin and Guiana Shield, this new park serves as a perfect example of successful collaboration between government and non-government parties. Around two years ago a mining company began prospecting the region for potential gold mines. Some of the local indigenous communities expressed concern, but were hesitant to work with environmental groups trying to protect the area as they thought it would eliminate their ability to manage the land. However, after sitting down with groups like Conservation International as well as government officials, they managed to create a win-win situation where local groups would be at the forefront of management decisions for the park and would be able to exclude industries like mining and continue their traditional uses of the land.

Indigenous communties will lead in park management
Credit: Asociación de Capitanes Indígenas Yaigojé Apaporis

The Tanimuka, Letuama, Makuna, Yuhup, Barasano, Itana, Eduria and Tatuyo ethnic groups that call this place home are certainly the main beneficiaries, but so are the colorful collection of species found throughout this region. Local beauties like this Buff-tailed Coronet (below) will certainly gain from the newly-protected area, as well as migratory birds like the Boreal-breeding Solitary Sandpiper, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and Blackpoll Warbler, who either winter or pass through the region along their migration routes.

Buff-tailed Coronet
Credit: Pete Morris/Birdquest, from the surfbirds galleries

Hats off to the local indigenous groups, environmental organizations and the government of Colombia for protecting this important region. Let the momentum continue!