Asociación Armonía is the leading non-profit bird conservation NGO of Bolivia, whose mission is to protect the most threatened Avifauna through reserve creation, education, improved livelihood and scientific research.
Armonía has 14 conservation programs all over Bolivia that couple environmental protection with improved livelihood. Through land protection more than 11,150 ha of Endangered ecosystems with their interdependent animal and plant life are safeguarded.
Forest composition studies
150 years of extensive cattle ranching, grassland burning by farmers and deforestation have altered the state of the Beni savanna. Very little is known about the original state of local forest types and palm forest islands, dominated by Motacu Palm (Attalea phalerata). Several of these palm forest islands are devoid of regenerating trees as they all get consumed by free roaming cattle and are now being reforested with samplings from a natural nursery in Barb Azul North.
Extensive research on the existing forests is needed in order to model the original state and a close study of the Motacu Palm is necessary to get a better view on the species morphology. Forest islands will function as permanent forest sample plots.
Pre-Hispanic raised island
The Beni savanna, also known as the llanos de Moxos is natural in origin though formed and shaped by landscape modification of pre-Hispanic indigenous peoples for centuries. Within the vast savanna landscape of Barba Azul, a total of 24 raised islands can be found, sufficiently high to support trees as these islands don’t get flooded during the wet season. How old are these islands, what are the soil structures and why are they dominated by Motacu palm?
Beni savanna biodiversity studies
As Barba Azul North and South are now protected for over 8 years, animal and plant diversity and abundance is clearly changing as no hunting is allowed and little by little free roaming cattle, owned by neighboring ranches are removed. Up to 30 different mammals are captured by camera traps, 288 birds are documented and a river system that holds both lake as well as river dependent fish and plant species make this reserve wild in many aspects.
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