Funds for Endangered Parrots
The Funds for Endangered Parrots (FbP) (German: Fonds für bedrohte Papageien) is a German
History
A working group for parrots was established in 1989 within the German Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations (German: Zoologische Gesellschaft für Arten-und Populationsschutz e. V. (ZGAP), which itself was founded in 1982. This working group was the first organisation worldwide to highlight the parlous situation of the Spix's macaw, which has now become extinct in the wild. Funds for Endangered Parrots was formed from the working group in October 1991.
The Funds does not only decide on the promoting of projects - for the most part on its own initiative. More than 475.000 euros in today's[when?] currency was raised in the first twenty years.[1]
Since 1996 the Funds has organized an annual open one-day convention in the autumn for members and all other interested parties.
Species conservation and project promotion
Almost 50% of all parrot species are endangered and almost 25% of the species are
The Funds supports projects, which serves the conservation of parrots. Of great importance is close cooperation with conservation groups and the local people in the relevant region to ensure, through partnership and education, the long-term success of measures for the protection of the species concerned and their habitats.
The following are just two examples of the work of the Funds. With the conservation project for the Santa Marta conure in Colombia the Funds promotes a project of the Colombian foundation Alianza para Ecosístemas Críticos. The latter strives for close co-operation with the Indigenous people of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The endemic Santa Marta conure is a keystone species for education on the uniqueness of the flora and fauna of the mountain chain. The conservation project means that all involved work as equal partners in observation activities within the Indian reservation and in the determination of distribution patterns, the identification of breeding areas and migratory routes as well as the analysis of population and causes of decline. By optimizing cheese production among the small farmers in the distribution area of the conure through a dairy specialist working on behalf of the Funds and the establishment of a brand for this production the long-term security of the habitat structure of the conure is assured at the same time.
The causes for the endangered status of the
Further examples of supported projects for parrot species:
- red and blue lory
- .
- Africa: black-cheeked lovebird
The Funds is represented in the
Conventions
The one-day annual conventions, which have been held since 1996, bring together members and other interested parties. The day's agenda consists of presentations on a wide range of topics relevant to parrots such as conservation in the wild and the activities of the Funds as well as
The conventions, which to date have been held in Germany, are usually attended by only 150 persons, so that there is a considerable dissemination effect among German parrot-keepers. The proceeds of the conventions are used for conservation projects. They are held either alongside a parrot and bird exhibition or at the premises of a
Composition and tasks
Funds for Endangered Parrots consists of parrot specialists dedicated to the protection of parrots in the wild. It functions formally as a working group, which chooses a committee for decision-making and project oversight for two-year periods The tasks of the Funds, i.e. the committee members, are the analysis and assessment of project applications, suggestions for projects, evaluation of work carried out on the projects as well as the preparation and organisation of the conventions. The committee at present consists of Thomas Arndt, Dr. Marcellus Bürkle, Detlev Franz, Hans-Jürgen Künne, Dr. Rainer Niemann, Dr. Matthias Reinschmidt, Klaus Sasse, Marion Wiegel and René Wüst (spokesperson for the Funds).
Literature
- George Arc, Franz Robiller (Hrsg.): Das große Lexikon der Vogelpflege. Ulmer, Stuttgart 2003, ISBN 3-8001-4425-5
- Hans-Jürgen Künne: Der „Fonds für bedrohte Papageien“. In: Gefiederte Welt 121, 3/97, S. 95–97. [1]
- Rene Wüst: 20 Jahre Artenschutz für Papageien. In: ZGAP Mitteilungen 2/2009, S.29
- Rene Wüst: Fonds für bedrohte Papageien: 20 Jahre Artenschutz für Papageien. In: Gefiederte Welt
References
- ^ Wüst 2009, S. 29