 J Tobias
Landowners make an important contribution to the conservation of the Boa Nova IBA.
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SAVE Brasil thanks the landowners who are helping save Boa Nova
13-06-2008
SAVE Brasil (BirdLife in Brazil) has held a ceremony to recognise and acknowledge the huge contribution made by landowners to the conservation of the Boa Nova Important Bird Area.
Boa Nova, which occupies a transitional area between the Atlantic Forest and the Caatinga, is one of SAVE Brasil’s 16 priority IBAs (out of a total of 167), because of its exceptionally high biodiversity and the severity of the threats it faces.
Boa Nova is home to at least 382 bird species, including the Endangered Slender Antbird Rhopornis ardesiacus, and the near-threatened Narrow-billed Antwren Formicivora iheringi, both confined to a small area of Eastern Brazil which includes Boa Nova.
Although the forest at Boa Nova has been drastically reduced, there are many substantial fragments left, all on private land. These remnants are maintained by landowners and managers, whose dedication was recognized and acknowledged by SAVE Brasil during the ceremony.
Approximately 80 representatives of the local community, including members of the local government, attended the event, which was promoted in the Chamber of the City Council with the support of the local government of Boa Nova.
“The whole community is very proud that this initiative was developed at Boa Nova”, said Priscila Napoli of SAVE Brasil. Among many other signs of the success of SAVE Brasil’s efforts to raise awareness and support for Boa Nova’s biodiversity among the community, local schoolchildren wear bracelets carrying the slogan Sou amigo do Gravatazeiro (I am Slender Antbird's Friend).
“The whole community is very proud that this initiative was developed at Boa Nova” —Priscila Napoli, SAVE Brasil
Each landowner received a certificate and a t-shirt and cap celebrating the campaign Juntos pela conservação da natureza de Boa Nova (Together for the conservation of Boa Nova’s nature). SAVE Brasil also produced a sign-board for each landowner, to be installed at their properties, recognising their contribution to the conservation of the region’s biodiversity.
The landowners SAVE Brazil wishes to thank are Charme Primo Barreto; Etevaldo Andrade Cardoso; Geórge Tadeu Marques de Souza; Jaílton Batista Santos; João Batista Pereira dos Santos; Joaquim Abade José Augusto Marinho da Silva; José Élio Alves Santana; Marlon Luiz de Assis Coelho; Mauro Barreira Alencar (in memoriam) and family; Thales Fernandes Viana; Wandinaldo Paulo Teixeira Júnior and Zenaide Mascarenhas de Oliveira.
The Boa Nova Conservation Project is funded by Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and Ricoh Co., Ltd.
Credits: SAVE Brazil