Thanks to the previous support of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, Armonía and ABC were able to establish in the community of Ch’aqui Potrero the first tree nursery where the Bolivian endemic Polylepis subtusalbida is being produced. This is the first, and therefore, the only tree nursery producing this native plant species which is threatened of extinction (Vulnerable). P. subtusalbida is the most important habitat for numerous bird species who depend on this habitat for reproducing and finding food recourses. The Endangered Cochabamba Mountain-finch (Compsospiza garleppi), the most emblematic bird of this region, depends on the extremely fragmented Polylepis woodlands of the central Bolivian high Andes.
As helping native forest patches of P. subtusalbida to regenerate is extremely important , through this proposal we aimed to expand our habitat restoration activities to the community area of San Miguel. San Miguel is located approximately 8 km northeast from the Ch’aqui Potrero, and it is frequently visited by bird watchers who want to observe the Cochabamba Mountain-Finch and other Polylepis specialist bird species. We also aim to integrate this community into the ongoing bird watching eco-tourism.
Program Report: Protecting and Restoring Habitat for the Endangered Cochabamba Mountain-Finch with Local Communities