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Magdalena Manatee Reserve

Sirenians squeak and squeal beneath the surface, lapping waters wet the land, sodden turtle footprints preserved in the thirst quenched earth, crocodiles snap at the incessant booms of the curassow, tails sway as five cats prowl under the canopy, its branches are shaken by the brown spider monkey, keen to be seen, not forgotten.

Acres Saved

Watch our short film about our other Puro Coffee Colombian Rainforest Reserves.

Catherine Barnard, CEO, World Land Trust

“Annual deforestation rates are increasing in Colombia, and it was feared that El Silencio would be gone by 2025. However, FBC’s determined approach to conservation continues to protect the wetlands and forests of El Silencio, and is empowering local communities to tackle their own challenges. By extending the reserve, FBC can now protect more of this precious landscape and its remarkable threatened wildlife.”

Reserve Profile:

Organisation:
Fundacion Biodiversa Colombia (FBC)

We have saved:
247 acres

Total reserve size:
1,460 acres

Reserve:
El Silencio

Biodiversity:
The middle-Magdalena Valley hosts a variety of unique species. It accounts for ~20% of the species of Colombian birds (345 species, 4 endemic), 33% of the bats (58 species), ~21% of ants (~180 species), 4% of the vascular plants (723 species, 1 endemic) and 6% of the amphibians (42 species, 3 endemic), as well as a high diversity of rodents (27 species) and primates (6 species, 1 endemic, 2 near endemic). However, only 10-15% of the original ecosystems remain and many of the species in the area are threatened, with several being critically endangered. This project will protect important habitat for endangered species such as Lorenzo’s Salamander (Bolitoglossa lozanoi, DD), Magdalena River Turtles (Podocnemis lewyana, CR), American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus, VU). The endangered primates and forest birds will also have more and better connected forest area – this includes Blue-billed Curassow (Crax alberti, CR), the Variegated Spider Monkey (Ateles hybridus, CR), Varied White-fronted Capuchin (Cebus albifrons, EN), the White-footed Tamarin (Saguinus leucopus, EN) and the Grey-handed Night Monkey (Aotus griseimembra, VU) as well as 5 cat species (Jaguar, Puma, Ocelot, Margay and Jaguarundi). This all captures a unique ecosystem where all these species come together – Barbacoas is one of the few places where Saguinus leucopus exists sympatrically in one place with the other primate species, i.e. only on the west side of the Madgalena river.

Key species protected here:
Blue-billed Curassow (Crax alberti, CR), Magdalena River Turtle (Podocnemis lewyana, CR), Brown Spider Monkey (Ateles hybridus, CR), Silvery-brown Tamarin (Saguinus leucopus, EN), American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus, VU), American Manatee (Trichechus manatus, VU)

Habitat type:
Tropical and Sub-tropical Rainforest, protecting a mix of well-preserved forest, secondary forest, wetlands and flooded areas.

Elevation:
Ranges from 90 to 130 meters a.s.l.

Location:
Located in the Barbacoas wetlands in the middle Magdalena Valley, Antioquia Dept, Colombia View in Google Maps


Colombia Rainforest Map

 

 

Saving the Rainforest

We have been buying and protecting rainforest in partnership with World Land Trust, since 2005. Take a look at the other Puro Rainforest Reserves we have managed to create.