July 2012. Grupo Jaragua (BirdLife in the Dominican Republic) has purchased a 100 hectare corridor of transitional, previously unprotected and highly threatened forest within the Jaragua-Bahoruco-Enriquillo Biosphere Reserve. The initiative, a first in terms of land purchase for Grupo Jaragua, is an important step towards halting the conversion of Caribbean forest with high conservation value to low yield cattle or crop farming.
The Jaragua-Bahoruco-Enriquillo Biosphere Reserve is located in the south-west of the Dominican Republic, connecting lowland dry forest at sea level in the Barahona Peninsula (Jaragua National Park IBA) to tropical montane forest in the highlands of Sierra de Bahoruco IBA. These forests are located outside the country's current protected area network and are vital for the maintenance of habitat connectivity to ensure the survival of ecologically-isolated species populations. They also provide an important buffer against the additional stress that climate change is likely to place on the protected areas.
More than 40 globally threatened species
This region holds more than 40 globally threatened species including birds such as Black-capped Petrel, Bay-breasted, La Selle Thrush, Hispaniolan Crossbill, Hispaniolan Amazon and Parakeet. Moreover, the area is home to six Critically Endangered frogs, Hispaniola's only extant endemic land mammals - the Endangered Hispaniolan Solenodon and Hutia, and the Vulnerable Rhinoceros Rock Iguana.
This region holds more than 40 globally threatened species including birds such as Black-capped Petrel, Bay-breasted, La Selle Thrush, Hispaniolan Crossbill, Hispaniolan Amazon and Parakeet. Moreover, the area is home to six Critically Endangered frogs, Hispaniola's only extant endemic land mammals - the Endangered Hispaniolan Solenodon and Hutia, and the Vulnerable Rhinoceros Rock Iguana.
Since 2010, as part of BirdLife's global Forests of Hope programme, Grupo Jaragua has been working to protect forest corridors and create private reserves. Grupo Jaragua's local knowledge, experience and emphasis on the involvement of local communities in protected area management have made their first land purchase initiative a great success.
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