Conservation Strategy for the Tolima Dove (Leptotila Conoveri) in Colombia

Conservation Strategy for the Tolima Dove (Leptotila conoveri) in Colombia

With support from:

American Bird Conservancy

Authored by:

Asociación SELVA: Investigación para la Conservación en Neotrópico Diagonal 42A No 20 - 37, Barrio La Soledad, Bogotá D.C., Colombia [email protected] www.selva.org.co

Editors Sandra Patricia Escudero-Páez Dr. Nicholas Bayly

Analysis & Cartography Dr. Esteban Botero-Delgadillo María Isabel Moreno

Translation from Spanish Dr. Nicholas Bayly

Front Cover Photo Leptotila conoveri Jeyson Sanabria iii

SELVA is a not-for-profit association founded in Colombia in 2009. Our mission is to develop rigorous scientific research that allows for the design, promotion and implementation of conservation actions that benefit the biodiversity and people of the Neotropics. To ensure that results are translated efficiently into actions and solutions, we have a complementary education program that facilitates communication with interested parties.

How is this document organized? This document is organized with the aim of guiding readers through the process by which a conservation strategy was defined for the Tolima Dove, including the information that we consider most relevant in order to be able to define actions in favor of the species. We begin by introducing the species and its current status. We then describe our current knowledge of the species that we consider necessary in order to identify the species’ conservation needs like: Where does the species occur in Colombia? In which regions of the country is it most abundant? On what type of vegetation or habitat does the species depend? What does it eat? Afterwards we examine the current threats to the species and identify where it is protected from these threats and where it is not. At the end of the document, we synthesize all the information presented in order to define conservation actions that could improve the species’ conservation status.

The majority of the information presented here resulted from the project entitled “Identification and conservation of priority areas for the Tolima Dove (Leptotila conoveri) and Yellow-headed Brushfinch (Atlapetes flaviceps) in Colombia”, which was developed by SELVA: Research for Conservation in the Neotropics in Colombia with support from the American Bird Conservancy. Project activities included: a thorough revision of the published literature on the two species; the development of distribution maps for both species; field surveys at several localities throughout the distribution of both species during 2017 and 2018 aimed at obtaining additional information on their biology, ecology and the threats they face; and the identification of information and conservation gaps. The findings from this project are cited as Escudero-Páez et al. (2018) throughout this document.

Table of contents

Introducing the Tolima Dove - Leptotila conoveri ...... 1 ¿Why is a conservation plan necessary? ...... 1 ¿What do we know about the species in order to define conservation actions? ...... 3 Current distribution and variability in abundance ...... 3 Current Distribution ...... 3 Elevation Range ...... 5 Occupancy rates and population density ...... 5 Priority regions for the conservation of the Tolima Dove ...... 7 Habitat and resource use...... 9 Habitat Use ...... 9 Diet ...... 9 Reproduction ...... 9 Threat analysis ...... 10 Remaining habitat ...... 10 Existing conservation and management measures...... 10 Potential Stakeholders ...... 12 Threats ...... 13 Conservation Strategy ...... 14 References ...... 20

Introducing the Tolima Dove - Leptotila conoveri

Leptotila conoveri, known commonly as the Tolima Dove, is a species of dove endemic to Colombia, found only in the Central and Eastern Andes. With its blue-gray head and neck, notorious white forehead and neck, it is a bird mostly found in agricultural mosaics, where forest fragments and vegetation remain, in the Colombian departments of Tolima, Huila, Caldas, Cundinamarca and Cauca. Like the majority of pigeons or doves, it is a bird of intermediate size that typically forages on the ground.

Species value and function Given the considerable value of endemic species for ecotourism and the growing birdwatching industry in Colombia, the Tolima Dove has economic potential for rural communities looking for sustainable and environmentally friendly opportunities. Given the species’ association with coffee plantations, the development of best agricultural practices alongside species protection measures could represent added value in the market place for coffee growers. In addition, the species carries the name of the Tolima department, rendering it a flagship species for the department.

The Tolima Dove is a food source for some local communities (Carvajal-Rueda & Losada-Prado 2011, Casas-Cruz & Ayerbe-Quiñones 2006), nonetheless, hunting represents a clear threat to the persistence of the species.

The species acts a seed disperser, assisting in the regeneration and maintenance of natural vegetation. Indeed, pigeons and doves in general are known as prolific consumers and dispersers of seeds (Pérez y Bulla 2000). L. conoveri has been recorded consuming the seeds of Bocconia frutescens (Carvajal-Rueda & Losada-Prado 2011), a species used in reforestation programs in several regions of Colombia (Díaz- Páez y Polanía 2017).

¿Why is a conservation plan necessary? The Tolima Dove, being an endemic species, inhabits a highly restricted distribution along a narrow elevation belt between 1,250 and 2,380 m. In addition, it is a rare species, with a global population of probably less than 10,000 individuals (Birdlife International 2017). Further, the area occupied by the species is where the greatest landscape transformation has occurred historically in Colombia, through the growth of human settlements and agricultural expansion, drastically reducing the areas where the species can survive. Despite this, the species appears to tolerate a certain degree of transformation, which can include the establishment of coffee plantations and cattle pastures, provided they are associated with remnants of natural vegetation (Carvajal-Rueda et al. 2014). As a result, the design of best management practices in systems like shade coffee, could protect the species while simultaneously strengthening agricultural production.

Taking into account its restricted distribution and high levels of habitat loss, the Tolima Dove is currently classified in Colombia as Vulnerable to extinction (Renjifo et al. 2014) and as Endangered at the global level (Birdlife International 2017). These designations mean that if we do not act, we could lose the species, just one of two that carry the name of the department of Tolima.

Photo: Jeyson Sanabría

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¿What do we know about the species in order to define conservation actions?

Current distribution and variability in abundance The distribution of a species is defined as the area where it can live, however, abundance can vary within this distribution because of vegetation type, climatic differences and with elevation, among other factors.

Take home messages . The presence of the species has been confirmed in the Colombian departments of Tolima, Huila, Caldas, Cundinamarca and Valle de Cauca (Fig. 1). . The most important known populations today are found on the eastern slope of the Central Andes in the department of Tolima. . A new location for the species was recently described near Garzón, Huila. . Found at elevations between 1,250 y 2,380 m, the species has a higher probability of occurrence between 1,625 y 2,050 m. . The extent of the species distribution is estimated at 5,025 km2. . Abundance (density) was found to be high in the municipalities of Chaparral, Ibagué, and Líbano (Tolima).

Current Distribution The distribution of the Tolima Dove is restricted to the eastern slope of the Central Andes, in the departments of Tolima, Huila, Caldas and Cauca, and to the western slope of the Eastern Andes in Cundinamarca (Casas-Cruz y Ayerbe-Quiñones 2006, Carvajal- Rueda et al. 2014, González-Prieto et al 2014). The majority of the distribution (Fig. 2) is found in the departments of Tolima (32.2%), Huila (39.5%) and Cundinamarca (10.8%) (Escudero-Páez et al. 2018). The species presence in two municipalities in the Huila department was described in 2017 and represents a range extension to the south of the known distribution (Escudero-Páez et al. 2018).

Based on the most recent geographic distribution, produced using a combination of niche modeling and occupancy models (Fig. 2), the species is more likely to occur in a narrow elevation belt on the slopes of the Magdalena valley, especially in the department of Tolima to the north of the city of Ibagué (Escudero-Páez et al. 2018).

The area of remaining habitat for the species has been estimated at 2,359 km2 (Renjifo et al. 2014). Based on the most recent distribution model presented in Figure 2, the extent of the species’ distribution was estimated at 5,025 km2 (Escudero-Páez et al. 2018). 4

Figure 1. Map of confirmed records for Tolima Dove in Colombia, differentiating between historic records and those resulting from the surveys described in Escudero-Páez et al. (2018).

Elevation Range The Tolima Dove is described as occupying an elevation range between 1,200 and 2,500 m in the literature (Carvajal-Rueda et al. 2014, González-Prieto et al 2014, Losada-Pardo et al. 2005). During the surveys carried out between 2017 and 2018, the species was only found between 1,250 and 2,380 m (Escudero-Páez et al. 2018) but see Figure 3 to understand how the probability of occurrence varies within the species’ elevation range.

Occupancy rates and population density Within its distribution, the abundance of L. conoveri is not constant, implying that certain regions and elevations maintain populations more important than others. This variation in abundance has been determined by examining how occupancy rates and density vary between different sites.

Occupancy rates in Tolima Dove are related to elevation and latitude at a geographic scale and with canopy height at the habitat scale (Escudero-Páez et al. 2018). Occupancy varies considerably with elevation, with the species being more likely to occur between 1,650 m and 2,050 m, with the highest occupancy rates at 1,900 m (Fig. 3). In terms of latitude, the species has a higher probability of occupancy towards the north of its distribution, above all in Tolima. The species is also more likely to occur in areas with higher canopy cover, reflecting a relation with greater tree cover and the presence of remnants of natural vegetation.

The population density of Tolima Dove has been estimated at 3.6 individuals/km2 for a locality in Tolima (Carvajal-Rueda 2007). This estimate is at the lower end for a Leptotila dove, with other species in the genus having reported densities between 3 and 22 individuals/km2 (Carvajal et al. 2014). Based on recent surveys, population density was estimated at 20.6 individuals/km2 when averaged across 10 sites distributed throughout the species range (Escudero-Páez et al. 2018). The highest densities were recorded in the department of Tolima (Fig. 4), reaching 56 individuals/km2 in the municipality of Chaparral, with lower but important densities in the municipalities of Ibagué and Líbano. The densities reported in Escudero-Páez et al. (2018) likely represent an overestimate to a certain extent, considering the methods used to estimate density and the behavior of the species.

Figure 2. Geographic distribution of the Tolima Dove in Colombia. Probability of presence is signaled by color, being more likely to find the species in regions with warmer colors (e.g. red and yellow). 7

1 Leptotila conoveri 0.9

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0.3 Tasa de Ocupación de Tasa 0.2

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0 750 1000 1250 1500 1750 2000 2250 2500 2750 3000 Elevación (m)

Figure 3: Occupancy rates (probability of presence) in Tolima Dove varied with elevation, being more likely to find the species between 1,250 and 2,380 m, and with the highest probability (>0.5) between 1,650 and 2,050 m.

Priority regions for the conservation of the Tolima Dove Taking into account the most up to date distribution of the Tolima Dove (Fig. 2), variation in occupancy rates (Fig. 2 & 3) and the differences in density between sites (Fig. 4), three regions stand out in terms of their importance for the species. All three are in the department of Tolima, in the municipalities of Chaparral, Ibagué and Líbano (Fig. 4). Within each municipality, the area lying between 1,650 and 2,050 m is of greatest importance for the species.

Figure 4. Three priority regions for the conservation of the Tolima Dove were identified taking into account ecological suitability (variation in color), the regions with the greatest probability of occupancy and the variation in density between sites (filled violet circles): 1. Chaparral (Tolima); 2. Ibagué (Tolima); 3. Líbano (Tolima).

Habitat and resource use Data on the ecology of a species provides clues to its relationship with its environment. Information on habitat use determines the type of vegetation where there is a greater probability of finding the species, while the characteristics of reproductive sites and diet, allow us to understand which sites guarantee a high probability of survival. When some of these elements are absent, the survival of a species may be affected.

Take home messages . The habitats most used by the species include mixed vegetation (agricultural areas mixed with forest fragments), secondary vegetation (native forest in the early stages of succession) and coffee plantations associated with natural vegetation. . The species forages on the ground in areas continuous with streams, forest patches and crops. . The breeding season occurs between March and August, with nests constructed within the forest, at edges and in scrub, typically on the ground or in dense vegetation.

Habitat Use The species is associated with forests, secondary vegetation, and agriculture close to patches of secondary vegetation, scrub and coffee plantations. It adapts to agricultural landscapes when forest patches exist nearby or there are areas of scrub or abundant secondary vegetation. It has been recorded in cacao plantations, vegetable gardens and annual crops (Carvajal- Rueda et al. 2014, González-Prieto et al. 2014, Losada- Pardo et al. 2005, Casas-Cruz 2010). Following the habitat categories adopted by Escudero-Páez et al. (2018), the Tolima Dove is recorded with greater frequency in mixed vegetation (defined as mosaics of crops and natural vegetation).

Diet The Tolima Dove looks for food primarily on the ground in a variety of habitats. It has been observed consuming fallen seeds (Carvajal-Rueda y Losada-Prado 2011), fruit and to a lesser extent insects (Escudero-Páez et al. 2018). On occasions it has been observed in fields of corn and beans (Casas-Cruz 2010) and it is possible that this has led to the species being considered a pest and being hunted in some regions.

Reproduction The breeding period occurs between March and August, although there exists an observation of reproduction from November. The species can nest within forests, in borders of natural vegetation and in secondary vegetation (scrub). Nests are constructed on the ground or low down in shrubs, in dense secondary growth or coffee bushes (Carvajal-Rueda et al. 2014). Part of the breeding season coincides with the coffee harvest and nests within coffee plantations are vulnerable to being robbed of their eggs or being knocked down accidentally. 10

Threat analysis In order to design conservation actions it is important to first understand if actions are already underway, the threats faced by the species and where they occur.

Take home messages . Remaining habitat for the species covers less than 5,000 km2 . 11% of remaining habitat is within existing protected areas . 12 areas within the Colombian Sistema Nacional de Áreas Protegidas (protected areas) overlap with the distribution of the species . Presence possible in 121 private reserves covering 13.5 km2 . Habitat loss and degradation is the biggest threat faced by the species

Remaining habitat The area of remaining habitat has been calculated at 1,160 km2 (Renjifo et al. 2014) and 3,974 km2 (Escudero-Páez et al. 2018). There are two reasons that explain the marked difference between estimates: 1. the known distribution of the Tolima Dove has increased considerable with new records from the eastern Andes and the south of its distribution in Huila; 2. Escudero-Páez et al. (2018) included mosaics of agriculture and natural vegetation within their calculation of potential habitat. As a consequence, while the estimated area does include the land cover type where the species is most commonly reported, it also includes areas of crops and pastures that will not strictly be used by the species. Unfortunately, given the resolution of the geographic information on land cover types, it is not possible to only estimate the area of natural vegetation within these mosaics but it is likely to be less than 30% of the total area of mosaics. This implies that the area of remaining habitat maybe lower than 2000 km2.

Existing conservation and management measures

Presence in the Colombian National Protected Areas System - SINAP The potential distribution of L. conoveri overlaps with 12 protected areas within the SINAP (Fig. 5). National parks (PNN) and regional parks cover the greatest area of the potential distribution. Parks with most overlap include PNN Los Churumbelos and PNN Puracé, however, both are in a region with a low probability of occurrence. In terms of regional parks and other regional conservation figures, the Distrito de Conservación de Suelos de Ibagué and the Cuchilla de Peñas Blancas y Subia in Cundinamarca are notable, above all because they represent one of the few protected areas within the core elevation range of the Tolima Dove. 11

Figure 5. The potential distribution (purple) of the Tolima Dove overlaps (orange) with 12 protected areas (green) within the Colombian National Protected Areas System (SINAP). 12

11.2% of the potential distribution of the Tolima Dove is represented within the SINAP. When considering only remaining habitat, this percentage drops to 10.5%, highlighting the species poor representation in protected areas. The potential distribution also overlaps with 121 private reserves covering 13.5 km2.

Presence in Important Bird Areas – IBAs The species has been reported in six IBAs: RN Ibanazca, Cañon del río Combeima, Cuenca del río Toche, Reservas Comunitarias de Roncesvalles, Cuenca del río San Miguel and PNN Nevado del Huila. It is present in the Ranita Dorada reserve, Falan.

Remaining habitat – a mosaic of crops and natural vegetation in Chaparral, Tolima

Potential Stakeholders The following actors were identified for their contribution (actual/potential) to the conservation of the Tolima Dove. 1. National / International Conservación International Parques Nacionales Naturales WWF Ministerio de Ambiente 2. Regional CORTOILMA Universidad del Tolima Parque Nacional Natural los Nevados Universidad de Ibagué 3. Local Organizations Asociación de Biólogos de la Universidad del Tolima Corporación para la Conservación de los Ecosistemas Naturales y el Desarrollo Sostenible "Flor de Agua" Asociación de Guadua del Cañón del Combeima Corporación y Desarrollo Ciudadano Asociación de Tecnólogos Forestales del Tolima Federación de ONGs Ambientales Asociación Tolimense de Ornitología - Anthocephala Fundación GEMA Corporación Ambiental Ecosistemas Sostenibles Fundación Herencia Natural Corporación Cañón del Combeima F. para el Desarrollo y Conservación de los Recursos Naturales Corporación de Cuencas del Tolima Grupo Ecológico Consejo Verde Líbano Corporación Gaia-Aqua Red Nature Corporación Natural Tolima Red Turismo de naturaleza del Tolima Corp. para el Desarrollo de Comunidades Productivas Tolima Biodiversa 13

Threats In the absence of information generated by medium to long term monitoring programs it is difficult to identify the specific threats faced by a species. Nonetheless, if we can determine how a species’ habitat has been modified by examining its current state, it is possible to identify the pressures a species is facing.

Here we present the threats identified for the Tolima Dove and the process behind their identification in a visual format (adapted from Escudero-Páez et al. 2018):

Threats . Situation Intensification of agricultural practices for short

The species’ distribution overlaps term gain generating a loss of shade trees and with the most developed region of natural vegetation . the Andes in terms of agriculture Expansion of the agricultural frontier . and urbanization Conversion of agroforestry systems to systems that do not provide habitat for the Tolima Dove . Land use conflicts generating displacement and colonization – post-conflict

Threats Situation . Loss of natural vegetation to increase the area used Reduction in the area of forest, for agriculture secondary vegetation, and scrub . Degradation of natural vegetation by cattle

within the species’ distribution . Absence of protected areas between 1600 and 2100 m, above all in the department of Tolima . Loss of natural vegetation due to extractive industries (mining)

Situation Threats The factors affecting habitat . Conservation actions may be inappropriate for quality in rural landscapes improving the amount and quality of habitat unknown for the Tolima Dove . Acceptance of landscape configurations that do not favor the maintenance of Tolima Dove habitat

Situation Threats Knowledge and adoption of the . Value of Tolima Dove habitat not recognized by Tolima Dove by local communities decision makers and institutions limited or absent . Management of agricultural landscapes does not in priority areas take into account threatened species

Situation Disruption of key life cycle stages Threats through hunting and impacts on . Population viability reduced through hunting and nest in rural landscapes nest loss 14

Conservation Strategy The conservation strategy for the Tolima Dove was designed taking into account the complete information presented in Escudero-Páez et al. (2018). The species has adapted to rural landscapes but only when patches of forest, scrub or secondary vegetation remain, for this reason, the strategy is directed towards incentivizing the implementation of diverse agroforestry practices, maintaining and incentivizing the creation of corridors of natural vegetation in the landscape, filling ongoing information gaps, and using education as a tool to minimize the pressures on remaining habitats.

Aims

■ Maintain viable populations of Tolima Dove in three priority areas by promoting and incentivizing landscapes that combine productive systems with natural vegetation, while simultaneously improving ecosystem services and the resilience of productive areas.

■ Support initiatives that favor socio-economic change or initiatives to adopt and diversify agroforestry practices in communities within three priority areas.

■ Create alliances with environmental agencies, universities, and national and international organizations that facilitate the conservation of the species.

■ Reduce the pressure on the remaining habitat for the species and reduce the hunting pressure through an environmental education campaign.

Objectives and activities The majority of the actions presented in the conservation strategy for the Tolima Dove are complementary and although they are presented under separate objectives in the following pages, they were designed as a set of actions and workshops that together address a range of threats (see threats) and objectives. They include important first steps (e.g. community workshops) that are essential in order to define the specific set of actions that would be applicable in a given priority area. It should be kept in mind that the success of any of the proposed actions depends on several factors at a local level that might affect the expected results.

In addition, the objectives and actions were designed with a view to contributing towards the conservation of other species, like the Yellow-headed Brushfinch (EN), that share a similar distribution and occur in several of the priority areas identified for L. conoveri in Tolima. 15

THEME 1. Agroecosystems General Objective Improve habitat quality by identifying and promoting/incentivizing good agricultural practices that favor the presence of the Tolima Dove

Specific Objectives Activities Indicators Approximate cost x 1 priority area

1.1. Characterize land use in priority areas A. Generate a cartography of land use types 1. Cartography for the Tolima Dove and establish which $4,000 crops and agricultural practices contribute B. Verify land use types in the field and 2. Database of favorable to maintaining suitable habitat identify agroecosystems with suitable agricultural practices for characteristics for the Tolima Dove each priority area 1. Database relating the A. Hold community workshops in each level of technification of priority area with the participation of an crop production in each 1.2. Establish the level of technical agronomist priority area management of the crops identified in 2. Report evaluating the objective 1.1 and their profitability in the B. Contact growers associations and groups relative profitability of the priority areas for the Tolima Dove to obtain information about productivity in principal agricultural the different agricultural sectors in each activities in each priority $10,000 priority area areas 1. Database of current and 1.3. Identify current and historical historical initiatives initiatives favoring the maintenance of A. Hold workshops with communities and local stakeholders in each priority area Tolima Dove habitat in the priority areas 2. Database of local actors and identify local actors interested in and their level of interest implementing conservation actions 1.4. Increase habitat quality for the Tolima Dove in the priority areas by promoting and A. Provide technical assistance to 50-100 1.Signed attendance sheets incentivizing the adoption of agricultural $16,309 farms during one year of monthly visits in digital format practices that favor the species

2. Management of natural vegetation within rural landscapes General Objective Increase the habitat available for the Tolima Dove by maintaining and regenerating elements of natural vegetation within rural landscapes in the priority areas

Specific Objectives Activities Indicators Approximate cost x 1 priority area

A. Community workshops (pride 1. Number of participants in 2.1. Avoid habitat loss by maintaining the campaign and the value of ecosystem each workshop. 2. Number See 4.1 below natural vegetation associated with water services) of voluntary conservation courses and ensure that the width of agreements signed for the vegetation complies with existing Colombian protection of water courses environmental law (minimum 5 m) B. Provide technical assistance in 50-100 5. Assistance sheets in See 1.4 above farms during one year of monthly visits digital

1. Database of landowners A. Identify landowners that want to with an interest in participate in a program of regeneration participating in $3,000 in each priority area and sign conservation agreements. conservation agreements 2. Number of conservation agreements signed 2.2. Increase available habitat by assisting the regeneration of natural vegetation along 10 B. Purchase and provide materials to 1. Length of water courses $8,500 km of water course in each priority area delimit 10 km of water course delimited C. Establish a nursery of 5000 saplings of pioneering native plants and distribute 1. Number of saplings in the them in farms that signed a conservation nursery 2. Number of plants $15,000 agreement distributed.

Cont. 2. Management of natural vegetation in rural landscapes

1. Number of agreements A. Establish conservation agreements with signed. 2. Number of farms in order to set the boundaries of $3,000 2.3. Protect Tolima Dove habitat by hectares delimited in protective zones establishing protective zones equivalent to protective zones between 10% and 30% of the area of a farm, covering 300 hectares in total in each priority area B. Develop and present each farm that 1. Number of maps signed a conservation agreement with a $5,000 delivered detailed map of their farm

A. Community workshops (pride 1. Number of assistants in campaign and the importance of See 4.1 below each workshop 2.4. Have a private/community reserve that ecosystem services) functions as a nucleus for conservation, education and ecotourism activities in each B. Generate a cartography in order to be priority area able to identify the most suitable areas for 1. Cartography $2,000 the creation of a reserve in each priority area

A. Assess, together with regional environment authorities in each priority 2.5. Establish a regional protected area in each area, if there exist the conditions To define To define of the priority areas necessary for the establishment of a regional protected area

3. Evaluation of habitat quality and monitoring of conservation actions General Objective

Design effective conservation actions by establishing which configurations of rural landscapes support the highest densities of Tolima Dove and by determining which factors negatively affect dove populations

Specific Objectives Activities Indicators Approximate cost x 1 priority area

A. Characterize and map the variation in 1. Cartography $2,500 3.1. Establish how the abundance of the rural landscapes within the priority areas Tolima Dove varies with the percentage of B. Study how the abundance of the Tolima natural vegetation in rural landscapes Dove varies between different landscape 1. Database. 2. Technical Report $10,000 configuration using a balanced experimental design A. Undertake interviews focused on 1. Number of interviews $2,000 3.2. Establish how hunting pressure varies hunting in local communities conducted between the priority areas and evaluate if there exists a conflict because of consumption B. Undertake a citizen science project to 1. Number of individuals or use of crops by doves determine if the Tolima Dove consumes $3000 participating in the project commercial crops

A. Supervise an undergraduate student in 3.3. Have a description of the reproductive a study of the reproductive ecology of the 1. Undergraduate thesis $3,000 ecology of the species in order to determine its Tolima Dove needs during reproduction 3.4. Determine whether the abundance of A. Establish fixed transects in each area Tolima Dove in the priority areas varies in where conservation actions will take place To define To define response to conservation actions through a to monitor abundance in the long term monitoring program

4. Environmental Education General Objective

Reduce the hunting pressure on the Tolima Dove and the loss of suitable habitat by generating pride for the species within local communities in each of the priority areas

Specific Objectives Activities Indicators Approximate cost x 1 priority area

4.1. To have communities that know of the A. Community workshops (pride existence of the Tolima Dove and take pride in 1. Number of assistants in each campaign and the importance of $10,000 the fact that the species is conserved by their workshop ecosystem services) community

A. Design a curriculum for primary school 1. Education curriculum $2,500 students covering a week of activities delivered 4.2. Install signposting that highlights the B. Implement the curriculum in 2 to 3 importance of different elements in the 1. Participation lists $2,500 landscape for the survival of the Tolima Dove schools in each priority areas in each priority area 1. Interviews – how the C. Make wooden signs with students and perception of local communities $1,000 install them in public spaces has changed in relation to the role of natural vegetation

4.3. Reduce the hunting pressure on the A. Community workshops – campaign 1. Reports of ongoing hunting $3,000 species against the hunting of wild animals

References

BirdLife International. 2017. Leptotila conoveri (amended version of assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T22690898A119259378. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22690898A119259378.en Downloaded 24 May 2018.

Casas-Cruz, C. y Ayerbe-Quiñones, F. 2006. Primer registro para el departamento del Cauca de Leptotila conoveri (Columbidae), una especie endémica y En Peligro. Ornitología Colombiana 4: 73-75.

Carvajal-Rueda, A. 2007. Caracterización y uso de hábitat de la Caminera Tolimense (Leptotila conoveri) en la microcuenca de la quebrada Cay (río Combeima). Teiss de Pregrado. Programa de biología, Facultad de ciencias. Universidad del tolima, Ibagué.

Carvajal-Rueda, A. y Losada-Prado, S. 2011. Uso de hábitat de la Caminera Tolimense (Leptotila conoveri) en un área degradada de la cuenca del Río Combeima (Tolima, Colombia). Ornitología Neotropical 22: 539-551.

Carvajal-Rueda, A., Moreno-Palacios, M. y S., Losada-Palacios. 2014. Leptotila conoveri. En: Libro rojo de aves de Colombia, Volumen I: bosques húmedos de los Andes y la costa Pacífica. Renjifo, L. M., Gómez, M. F., Velásquez-Tibatá, J., Amaya-Villarreal, A. M., Kattan, G. H., Amaya-Espinel, J. D., y Burbano-Girón, J. (eds). Editorial Pontificia Universidad Javeriana e Instituto Alexander von Humboldt. Bogotá D.C., Colombia.

Díaz-Páez, M. y Polanía, J. 2017. Experiencia piloto de nucleación con especies nativas para restaurar una zona degradada por ganadería en el norte de Antioquía, Colombia. Biota Colombiana 18 (1): 60-68.

Escudero-Páez, S., Botero-Delgadillo, E., Moreno, M.I. y Bayly, N.J. 2018. Identificando áreas prioritarias para la conservación del Atlapetes de anteojos y la Paloma Caminera en Colombia. Informe técnico. Selva: Investigación para la Conservación en el Neotrópico, Bogotá D.C.

González-Prieto, A., Espejo, N., Sanabria-Mejía, J., González-Prieto, C., Cormier, D. & Hobson, K. 2014. First record of Tolima Dove Leptotila conoveri in the Colombian East Andes. Bulletin of British Ornithologist’s Club 134(4): 307-310.

Pérez, E & Bulla, L. 2000. Dietary relationships among of granivorous doves in Venezuelan savannas. Journal of Tropical Ecology 16 (6): 865-882.

How to cite this plan: Escudero-Páez, S., Botero-Delgadillo, E., Moreno, M.I. y Bayly, N.J. 2018. Conservation strategy for the Tolima Dove in Colombia. SELVA: Investigación para la Conservación en el Neotropico, Bogotá D.C., Colombia. 25 pp.

Acknowledgements We thank the American Bird Conservancy for financing this project and especially to Wendy Willis for her constant support and advice. We also want to thank all the people at the survey sites throughout Colombia for their logistic support, company and interest in the project. We highlight the participation of the Corporación para el fomento del Aviturismo en Colombia, CORAVES (Neira-Caldas), Organización Ambiental Vida Silvestre (Apía-Risaralda), Comité Intersectorial AISECT (Zuluaga- Huila), Mashiramo Ecoaventura /Asociación agroecológica y ecoturistica del alto Magdalena, RESPIRA MACIZO (Pitalito-Huila) and the Corporación Autónoma Regional del Alto Magdalena. Camila Gómez and Andrés Páez provided important ideas and helped with several revisions of this document. Finally, we thank Jeyson Sanabria and Pilar Caicedo for leading field surveys and generating the information that made the definition of conservation actions possible.