The mache-chindul reserve in northwest ecuador is a birdlife international important bird area that houses at least 28 neotropical migratory species, 3 of which are birds of conservation concern

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation program awarded a $800,161 Project Grant to Fundacion Para La Conservacion De LOS Andes Tropicales Cat, a non-profit organization, to support conservation efforts in the Mache-Chindul Reserve in Ecuador. The primary objectives of this 2-year grant are to: (1) acquire 91 hectares of priority habitat to establish connectivity with a globally important wetland, (2) monitor migratory bird use of overwintering habitat, (3) protect 4,000 hectares of at-risk habitat through patrols, (4) provide training and education to local youth, and (5) build capacity and diversify income sources for women artisans to produce and sell woodblock prints of migratory birds. Additionally, the grant will contribute to establishing a 5,000-hectare conservation corridor in this globally significant area for neotropical migratory birds.

Yet, several thousand people with limited education and economic opportunities live within its borders, leading to deforestation and habitat loss. This project directly contributes to the conservation of neotropical migratory birds and endemic taxa in this diversity hotspot via the purchase of priority habitat, protection of habitat at immediate risk of illegal land invasion, and capacity building and income diversification activities. In previous phases of this project, we documented the importance of our project area for neotropical migrants, identified priority forest fragments for conservation of migratory birds, acquired 565 HA of priority habitat, established a field station with capacity for 50 visitors, reforested 100 HA, and increased awareness, capacity, and economic alternatives via womens art workshops, youth environmental programs and other programs. We are now poised to extend this work and impact the conservation of migrants by (1) acquiring 91 HA of strategically located habitat to advance our goal of establishing connectivity with a global priority wetland wetland, (2) monitoring habitat use of migratory birds during the overwintering period, (3) protecting our 4,000 HA of at risk habitat by patrolling the our reserve and surrounding areas, (4) provide training and education to young men and women that can lead the next generation toward a more sustainable future, and (5) build capacity and diversify income for local women artisans to make and sell woodblock prints of migratory birds in local and international markets. More broadly, this project will contribute to our establishment of a corridor linking 5,000 HA of continuous, priority habitat to achieve integrated and synergistic benefits for both local communities and local ecosystem alike, a crucial requirement for any realistic, long term conservation strategy for migratory birds in the mache-chindul reserve.