Privately owned, fragmented forests in Costa Rica can support as many vulnerable bird species as can nearby nature reserves, according to a study from the University of California, Davis.
Privately owned, fragmented forests in Costa Rica can support as many vulnerable bird species as can nearby nature reserves, according to a study from the University of California, Davis.
The research suggests that working with landowners to conserve or restore forests on working landscapes can help protect wildlife. In Costa Rica, working landscapes include forest patches, crops, pastures and small towns.
The study, published June 5 in the Journal of Applied Ecology, found that reforesting private lands in regions that are wetter and already forested would yield the greatest gains for bird communities.
Such information is being used by local conservation organizations to help prioritize sites for rainforest restoration across the study region.
Read more at University of California - Davis
Image: A Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa) excavating a muddy hole to build its nest. The species persists in privately-owned forests but declines in open agricultural fields. (Credit: Daniel Karp/UC Davis)
