Thanks to generous support from our donors, we have successfully reached our fundraising goal for this project.

The northern tropical forest region of Colombia is just one  ecosystem in the country’s impressive array of ecosystems.  But it’s also deeply imperiled due to increasing development  and agricultural expansion. Cotton-headed Tamarins, more  commonly referred to as the Cotton-top Tamarins, are  completely dependent on these forests and severely impacted  by the ongoing, extensive habitat loss. Due to this habitat  destruction, this small, endemic and Critically Endangered  primate has faced an estimated population decline of over  80% in less than two decades.

To help secure forest habitat for the Cotton-top Tamarin,  Fundación Proyecto Tití established the 173-acre Los Titíes  de San Juan Reserve next to Los Colorados National Park. This  property was at risk of becoming a cattle ranch, and Rainforest  Trust and Fundación Proyecto Tití are currently working on  purchasing an adjacent 188-acre parcel of land to expand that  reserve. The proposed 110-acre purchase is another strategic  step in creating corridors that connect forest fragments to  existing protected areas in the region, improving the long term viability of the Cotton-top Tamarin population.

Biodiversity

Cotton-top Tamarins usually live in extended family groups and  are endemic to the forests of northern Colombia.

In 2008, the  IUCN Red List upgraded their status to “Critically Endangered”  due to rampant destruction of their forest habitat. Currently,  there are less than 7,000 Cotton-top Tamarins left in their  natural habitat. Securing forest habitat for Cotton-top Tamarins will also  contribute to the long-term survival of other native species.  The Brown-headed Spider Monkey (CR) and the Peroba Rosa  tree (EN) are both known to live in this area. Other species  include the endemic Colombian Red Howler Monkey (LC),  Scarlet Macaw (LC), Blue-and-yellow Macaw (LC), Yellow striped Poison Frog (LC), Shaw’s Dark Ground Snake (LC)  and Northern Tamandua (LC). F In addition, there have been  sightings of the Dahl’s Toad-headed Turtle (CR) which would  make this purchase one of only a few protected areas in the  world that help safeguard this species.

Challenges

When the Colombian government  signed a peace treaty with rebel  guerilla militias in 2016, areas of the  country once held by rebel groups  became open for development.

Large  landowners and smaller illegal armed  groups quickly took advantage and  began grabbing lots of land and  converting old growth forests to pasture  land. As a result, deforestation in the  country since then has skyrocketed.  In the San Juan Nepomuceno area,  home to the Cotton-top Tamarin,  forest clearing for cattle ranching and  local agriculture activities are the main  threats to conservation. These forests  must be secured to prevent further  deforestation and the decline of the  Cotton-top Tamarin population.

Solutions

Rainforest Trust and Fundación Proyecto Tití  seek $179,505 to expand the forest reserve by  purchasing 110 acres, increasing the size of  Los Titíes de San Juan Reserve and helping to  create a conservation buffer adjacent to the  Los Colorados National Park.

This property  is key to connecting the existing sanctuary  with other important forest fragments  northwest of the national park. Fundación  Proyecto Tití is implementing an integrated  conservation approach that includes field  research, forest protection and connectivity,  education and community empowerment to  safeguard the Cotton-top Tamarin and the  region’s other threatened wildlife. In addition  to management for the primates, Fundación  Proyecto Tití will conduct biodiversity surveys,  as well as patrol and monitor the area.