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Grant Proposal

Harpy Eagle Conservation Project in Madre de Dios

2005 2006

By Renzo P. Piana

During the project execution, the researcher will focus his activities in involving Brazil nut

collectors in the conservation efforts of the Harpy Eagles in the Tambopata and Madre de

Dios river basins, department of Madre de Dios, south eastern Peru. For this I will contactBrazil nut extractors that work in the area in order to train them in the identification and

monitoring of Harpy Eagles (and other eagle species

) nests. We will train them with the use

of presentations and will other materials (posters, resumes, ). The methodology will be very

similar to that used in the Infierno Native Community (INC).

The major goal of this project is to involve local people in the conservation efforts of this and

other raptor species. As previous studies have shown, people that extract Brazil nuts havegreater opportunities to find Harpy Eagles nests than other forest resources extractors.

Because of this their involvement in the conservation efforts of harpies and other raptor

species is very important.

ACCA (Asociacion para la Conservacion de la Cuenca del Amazonas) is a Peruvian NGO

working in the management and certification of Brazil nut extraction. They are supporting an

association of local Brazil nut collectors that work along the Madre de Dios river. We arecoordinating with ACCA staff to start our project with the members of this group.

One of the goals of this association is to achieve the certification of Brazil nut extraction. Wewill propose they collect data on Harpy Eagles occurrence in their Brazil nut concessions. For

this we will coordinate with ACCA so they can get extra points to achieve the certification of

their operations. This can promote extractors involvement in raptors conservation.

In addition, Harpy Eagles nests can be used as an ecotourism attraction if careful steps are

taken in the process. I have worked with this approach in the INC for some years and as a

result local inhabitants at de INC are deeply involved in the conservation of the species. It isimportant to mention, however that one of the reason of this success is the participation of the

Peruvian ecotourism company Rainforest Expeditions (RFE). Conversations will be

conducted with RFEs manager so they can include these nests in their operations (i.e. takingbirdwatchers, photographers or filmmakers). This can provide an extra source of income for

Brazil nut extractors participating in harpy Eagles monitoring and conservation..

Lastly, Peruvian National Institute for the Management of Natural Resources (INRENA)

should be involved in order to collect data on the occurrence of Harpy Eagles (and other

Other eagle species in the area include Guianan Crested Eagle (Morphnus guiannesis), Ornate Hawk Eagle(Spizaetus ornatus), Black Hawk Eagle (Spizaetus tyrannus), and Black and White Hawk Eagle (Spizastur

melanoleucus).

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eagle species as well). For this we will design a protocol for the gathering of data of nesting

eagles. The forms will be filled by the nut extractors and passed to INRENA officers viaACCA. Ideally INRENA officers will visit the extractors to check and complement the

information.

After the conduction of this project we will have trained at least one group of well organizedBrazil nut extractors in the identification and monitoring of Harpy Eagles nests and

individuals. They will also be trained in order to conduct low impact ecotourism activities

(mainly observation of adult and juvenile eagles) in their concessions. The project will helpthese people to generate and extra income through the sound management of this and other

big raptor species and will contribute to their certification process.

In addition Peruvian authorities will be able to gather more data in the occurrence of Harpy

Eagles. This data will help to better understand the current status of the species in the Madre

de Dios department.