Wonderful Groups to Support and Follow to 14.8.13 The Para La Tierra in Paraguay The rich forests, wetlands and savannahs of Paraguay boast great biodiversity and endemic species, but they are also greatly threatened, as are most forests, by agricultural expansion and all its associated ills - controlled burns, clear cutting and huge swathes of chemically saturated industrial farms. In some areas this land conversion is rapid: the Paraguayan Chaco, for instance, is being lost at a rate of 10% per year. One organization, however, is working to reverse this trend. Para La Tierra (PLT) is a small group dedicated to the conservation of threatened habitats and, over the past four years, the PLT has attracted over 200 students and professionals to their field site, providing them with the equipment and training needed to conduct independent research projects. Recently these projects turned up some 40 new species in the area, and, at the moment, researchers are focusing efforts on the conservation of the white-winged nightjar, a critically endangered bird known to breed in only three locations worldwide, including the Reserva Natural Laguna Blanca. The Scottish co-founder of the PLT, Karina Atkinson says, because the PLT’s main goal is to conserve the fragile habitats of this country though scientific research, it is very frustrating to see the Paraguan government allowing foreign companies free reign in places like Chaco. “The biggest threats are cattle ranching and soy farming. Low land prices attract large international corporations to buy up huge tracts of pristine habitat to convert to agricultural land. Clear cutting and controlled burns are a common sight when driving through Paraguay and I still get angry when I see the huge pillars of black smoke rise on the horizon, an indication that another huge fragment of Atlantic Forest is being burnt to make room for more agriculture.” At the moment, she added, the group’s main focus is saving the remaining Chaco forest from development. news.mongabay/2013/0812-kimbrough-plt-interview.html
Posted on: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 21:37:05 +0000
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