(Note: This meeting and presentation took place online, via Zoom, due to social distancing protocols prompted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.)
At 7:00 pm, President Rochelle Thomas called the meeting of the Society to order.
President Thomas reminded everyone of the annual meeting on March 14th at the Liederkranz Club. The Society will be hosting this event in person for the first time since 2020 and will celebrate this year’s Eisenmann medalist, Dr. Scott Edwards. This event is for members and their guests only, so if you still need to renew your membership, now is the time.
President Thomas has formed a nominating committee to lead the search for new board members to replace those whose terms are ending: Mary Beth Kooper, Debbie Becker, Amy Simmons, and Michelle Zorzi. She thanked these members for their service to the board. The nominating committee consists of Kevin Cisco, Evelyn Wong, and Miriam Rakowski,
President Thomas thanked attendees for participating in the recent membership survey, to which over 230 people responded.
She then reported the passing of Matthew Cormons (1941-2022). Matthew participated in the Great Gull Island community and was a Linnaean Society member for nearly fifty years, joining in 1973. Joseph DiCostanzo wrote a lovely celebration of his life, which is posted on the Linnaean Society website.
President Thomas then announced the result of the online vote to approve the January 2023 members’ meeting minutes. The vote passed with 130 votes of approval.
At 7:05 pm, President Thomas introduced the speaker, David Parra-Puente, whose topic was “Fundación Jocotoco: 25 Years of Habitat Conservation in Ecuador & the Discovery That Sparked a Movement.”
David Parra-Puente is the director of conservation for Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco. He is a biologist with a master’s degree in economics; his work focuses on ecology, sustainability, and community outreach. David’s passions are research, conservation, drawing, mathematics, and nature.
Ecuador is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, but its small size and extremely high rate of deforestation are pushing species to the edge. Fundación Jocotoco’s mission is to protect some of the earth’s most threatened species and habitats. The foundation purchases properties to establish private, strictly managed, protected areas; restore degraded land; and help communities protect their natural resources. The presentation will review what Fundación Jococoto has accomplished since its founding 25 years ago and what it takes to protect some of the world’s most threatened species and habitats.
BIODIVERSITY IN ECUADOR
Mr. Parra-Puente began his talk by stating that Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet. With only 0.17% of the earth’s surface, Ecuador is home to one out of five butterfly species, one of seven bird species, one of ten amphibian species, and one of ten plant species.
Why is this so? The tropics, in general, are more diverse than other landscapes, and Ecuador lies in the middle of the tropical zone. Three distinct mountain ranges contribute to diversity, including the Andes, which create a barrier between the east and west of the country. In addition, the country lies near unique ocean currents: the Humboldt Current brings cold water from the south, and the Panama Current brings warm water from the north. In addition to the Amazon River hotspot, two areas of biodiversity cover the rest of the country: the Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena hotspot and the Tropical Andean hotspot. The Galapagos Islands are also part of Ecuador.
Fundación Jocotoco focuses on the areas that host the most endangered species: in the northwest, where the Chocóforest and Andean forest meet; and in the southern ecosystems, which are an unusual mixture of dry Andean and low, wet forests. Ecuador is a perfect place to do research because the diversity is very high, but it’s also tricky because resources are limited, and priorities must be determined.
FUNDACIÓN JOCOTOCO’S CONSERVATION EFFORTS
Fundación Jocotoco was founded because of the Jocotoco Antpitta – a highly range-restricted bird species with fewer than 1,500 individuals that was discovered in 1998 in the Tapichalaca Reserve. Other rare birds that the foundation studies and protects are the Pale-headed Brushfinch (found on the Yunguilla Reserve), the El Oro Parakeet (Buenaventura Reserve), the Black-breasted Puffleg (Yanacocha Reserve), and the Blue-throated Hillstar (Cerro de Arcos Reserve).
Umbrella birds were selected for conservation because protecting them also indirectly protects many other species that make up the ecological community of their habitat. The foundation has expanded its work to enhance habitats for species such as Spectacled Bear, Jaguar, Baird’s Tapir, and many more. Its conservation efforts also include plants and migrating birds such as the Cerulean and Blackburnian Warblers. In addition, special programs have been implemented to save species like the Blue Whiptail Lizard, which was thought to be extinct.
Another interesting project involves protection of sea turtles, which began as an outgrowth of a hummingbird project. Turtles such as the Hawksbill, the Green, the Olive Ridley, and the Leatherback lay their eggs on the beach where the hummingbird project was initiated—now known to be one of the most important beaches for sea turtles.
PROGRESS SO FAR
Since its founding, Jocotoco has established a network of 16 conservation reserves totaling over 23,000 hectares (57,000 acres), protecting some of the world’s most endangered species by saving their remaining natural habitats. The foundation focuses on species and habitats not already protected by Ecuador’s extensive national park system (20.3% of its terrestrial area and 12.07% of marine territory), complementing the government’s efforts to protect Ecuador’s globally significant biodiversity. Its efforts so far include the following:
- 15 reserves
- 28 target species
- >20 target ecosystems
- >30,000 hectares
- >1,032 plant species
- >105 mammal species
- >120 reptile species
- >125 amphibian species
- >1,072 bird species
The guiding strategy of the foundation has been to work at the ecosystem level while providing efficient and effective management.
The evening concluded with a rousing Q and A session hosted by Douglas Futuyma, after which the president thanked David Parra-Puente for sharing his fascinating research.