What is a "Biodiversity Hotspot"?

What is a "Biodiversity Hotspot"?

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By Alan Lee 

Many readers will I am sure have heard that the Tambopata is part of a World Biodiversity Hotspot. But what actually is a hotspot? The simple answer is that Biodiversity hotspots are geographic areas that contain high levels of species diversity but are threatened with extinction. Norman Myers in 1988 first identified ten tropical forest “hotspots” characterized both by exceptional levels of plant endemism and by serious levels of habitat loss. In 1990 Myers added a further eight hotspots, including four Mediterranean-type ecosystems. Conservation International adopted Myers’ hotspots as its institutional blueprint in 1989, and in 1996, the organization made the decision to undertake a reassessment of the hotspots concept, including an examination of whether key areas had been overlooked.

 

To qualify as a hotspot, a region must meet two strict criteria:

1.     It must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants (> 0.5 percent of the world’s total) as endemics

2.     It has to have lost at least 70 percent of its original habitat.

 

Three factors that usually determine hotspots

1.     The number of total species (species richness)

2.     The number of unique species (endemism)

3.     The number of species at risk (threat of extinction).

 

Some interesting hotspot facts:

●      34 biodiversity hotspots have been identified.

●      They once covered 15.7 percent of the Earth’s land surface.

●      86 % of the hotspots’ habitat has already been destroyed.

●       The intact remnants of the hotspots now cover only 2.3 % of the Earth’s land surface.

●      They contain 150,000 plant species as endemics, 50 %of the world’s total.

●      Terrestrial vertebrates endemic to the hotspots: 11,980, representing 42 percent of all terrestrial vertebrate species.

●      Reptiles and amphibians, are more prone to hotspot endemism than are the more wide-ranging mammals and birds, but the overall similarity between taxonomic groups is remarkable.

●      Overall, 22,022 terrestrial vertebrate species call the hotpots home, 77 percent of the world's total.

 

Defining hotspots: Delineating hotspots is by no means an exact science. It requires that a line, that might be easily discernible or rather vague on the ground, must be drawn to represent a transition between two habitats. Less than a decade ago, the islands of eastern Melanesia, while known to be extremely endemic-rich, still held largely intact habitat. Since then, rampant logging and establishment of oil palm plantations have devastated these islands, leaving only 30 percent of their forests remaining, a situation mirroring the fate of Indonesia’s forests a decade ago.

The problem of stemming the extinction crisis can best be framed by a question: In which areas would a given dollar contribute the most towards slowing the current rate of extinction?

To accomplish this we first need to understand species’ distributions. This requires that we measure endemism: the degree to which species are found only in a given place. This can be thought of as a measure of irreplaceability. Since endemic species cannot be found anywhere else, the area where an endemic species lives is wholly irreplaceable. We also need to decide which species we should consider. Practically, vascular plants and vertebrate animals are the best candidates, because these are the only species for which we currently have sufficient data. Whether the distributions of plants and vertebrates are mirrored by terrestrial invertebrate species remains an open question, although some evidence suggests that they may be. It is less likely that the distributions of aquatic species will parallel these patterns, and so these represent an urgent research priority.

 

The more threatened an area is, the more it will cost to conserve. However, because economic opportunity costs vary dramatically, there do still exist areas of relatively low cost in all hotspots. Intuitively, we want to conserve the most threatened areas first, but we also want to get the greatest return for our conservation dollar. This paradox can best be resolved by identifying areas that hold species found nowhere else and that are guaranteed to lose species if the areas are not conserved.

Hotspots are not the only system devised for assessing global conservation priorities: BirdLife International has identified 218 ‘Endemic Bird Areas’ (EBAs) each of which hold two or more bird species found nowhere else. The World Wildlife Fund-U.S has derived a system called the ‘Global 200 Ecoregions’, the aim of which is to select priority Ecoregions for conservation within each of 14 terrestrial, 3 freshwater, and 4 marine habitat types. They are chosen for their species richness, endemism, taxonomic uniqueness, unusual ecological or evolutionary phenomena, and global rarity. All hotspots contain at least one Global 200 Ecoregion and all but three contain at least one EBA; 60 percent of Global 200 terrestrial Ecoregions and 78 percent of EBAs overlap with hotspots.

 

HOTSPOTS IN PERIL

1.     Habitat destruction is a pervasive threat affecting hotspots and is already causing extinctions in many areas.

2.     Accelerating anthropogenic climate change will undoubtedly magnify the effects of habitat destruction and fragmentation.

3.     Predatory invasive species have already had a devastating impact on the island hotspots, where species evolved in the absence of animals such as cats and rats. Introduction of exotic plant species into hotspots, particularly those of Mediterranean-type vegetation, is also having massive ecosystem effects.

4.     Direct exploitation of species for food, medicine, and the pet trade is a serious threat to all hotspots, particularly in the Guinean Forests of West Africa and several Asian hotspots.

5.     Another grave concern is the severe decline of amphibians worldwide, the cause of which remains unknown. The most direct measure of this threat can be derived from assessments of conservation status of species. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , compiled by the Species Survival Commission of IUCN-The World Conservation Union, classifies species that have a high probability of extinction in the medium-term future as Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable. For mammals, birds, and amphibians, the three groups of species for which assessments of distribution and conservation status have been conducted, we can measure these proportions with a high level of accuracy.

 

Researchers have also found that the hotspots hold more people than expected. But the relationship between people and biodiversity is not simply one where more people lead to greater impacts on biodiversity. Human population density among hotspots varies widely, from four people per km² to as many as 336 people per km² (in Japan). Hotspots are also notable centers of violent conflict. For example, areas in Mesoamerica, the Caribbean, the Tropical Andes, the Guinean Forests of West Africa, the Eastern Afromontane rifts, the Horn of Africa, the Caucasus, the Irano-Anatolian region, the Mountains of Central Asia, Indo-Burma, Sundaland, Wallacea, the southern Philippines, and the East Melanesian Islands have all been plagued by recent violence. Most of the world's biodiversity persists in some of the world's poorest countries where conservation is not a top priority, there is a great need to develop strategies for maintaining biodiversity in human-disturbed landscapes, a discipline known as "countryside biogeography." Tropical Andes Biodiversity Hotspot The richest and most diverse region on Earth, the Tropical Andes region contains about a sixth of all plant life in less than 1 percent of the world’s land area. One of the more unique plant species is an Andean bromeliad that require 100 years to mature. The threatened yellow-eared parrot, yellow-tailed woolly monkey and spectacled bear are all endemic to the Tropical Andes. This hotspot also maintains the largest variety of amphibians in the world, with 664 distinct species. Almost 450 amphibian species are listed as threatened on the 2004 IUCN Red List. Although a quarter of its habitat still remains, the region is facing a variety of threats including mining, timber extraction, oil exploration, and narcotics plantations, which are all expanding due to the continual growth of many large cities in the region. The cloud forests are facing increased pressure from hydroelectric dams, and invasive species like the American bullfrog and grasses for cattle grazing are becoming problems as well.

 

As such, we hope you enjoy your visit to Tambopata not just for the aesthetic pleasure that it provides, but also because with every tourist dollar brought into the area, this hotspot has a greater chance of survival.

 

Reference: http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/

 

7 Cool Animal facts from Tambopata

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Next time you’re looking for a good piece of trivia, try one of these!

 

1. The Peruvian department of Madre de Dios harbors an estimate of 150 Giant Otters, and is thus considered among the most important refugees for this species.

 

2. Capybaras (the world’s largest rodent) have ears and nostrils located at the same level on the head that allows them to have the entire body underwater while their senses detect a potential predator (jaguars, caimans and humans).

 

3. A Brown throated three toed sloth can turn its head 270 degrees and is among the slowest animals of Earth.  They move so slowly the grow algae on their fur...a good camouflage to hide from predators like the Harpy Eagle.

 

4.  The Red Howler monkey produces its call by passing air through an enlarged bone in their throat.  This bone works as a resonance box making it one of the loudest sounds made by any land animal.

 

5.   The Squirrel Monkey travels in large groups, sometimes with  more than 100 individuals!

 

6.  The Brown Agouti is an important seed disperser for the Brazil nut tree.  They collect the nuts and burry them for storage but sometimes forget where the hid them, allowing the seeds to sprout a new plant.

 

7.  The Harpy Eagle is the world’s second largest eagle after the Philipine eagle.  Its wingspan can reach 2 meters!

 

 

 

 

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Heightened Senses in Tambopata, Peru

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My senses are heightened in the rainforest.

 

Despite being legally blind in my right eye, I can see more clearly than ever before....maybe there’s just more to see.  Something as simple as sunlight illuminating a water droplet on a leaf is a vivid representation of the complexity of nature.  I look up to the trees and can imagine which leaf the drop fell from and how many leaves it rolled off before it landed on this one.  I look at the plant it sits on and hypothesize the path the drop will take to the ground and which of the surrounding plants, trees or vines will be nourished by it. 

 

I hear birds calling back and forth.  Some chirp timidly, others caw obnoxiously, while occasionally I’ll hear a terrifying screech, only to figure out that was also a bird.  Tree branches fall, monkeys bicker, insects buzz all at the same time.  Its loud, but I’ll take it any day over the noises of a busy city. 

 

Its really not that much quieter than Lima, especially in the morning, but its far more pleasant to listen to.  Trying to distinguish who’s saying what is initially overwhelming, but when I listen closely, I realize how harmoniously the creatures calls come together.  Its as if the all the plants species of the forest along with her animals are in collaboration, functioning exactly as they should be.  If I concentrate and sit quietly, I can listen in on a conversation between two birds.  On a walk today, I heard a rain shower five minutes before it arrived.  The sound of the raindrops hitting the leaves became louder as the downpour approached giving me just enough time to find an umbrella tree to stand under while the worst of it passed. 

 

I’ve always had a keen sense of smell, but try to suppress it in the city since the scents of food, diesel fuel, and urine do not appeal to me.  I had almost forgotten that to truly experience an odor you must use more than your nose.  It involves breathing through your mouth and using your sense of taste.  You must then allow the odor to infiltrate your entire chest cavity and head until it brings back a memory or creates a new one.  Locals from Tambopata can smell Howler Monkeys from two miles away.  I’m not that good yet, but can appreciate the fresh air, jungle fruits and nuts, flowers, leaves, even dirt.

 

There’s another sense.  I’m not talking about that creepy movie with that little kid who hangs out with dead people.  Its the same full body sensation you get when you first fall in love, or in like with someone.   When I hike in the forest, no matter how hot it is, or whether its raining and I’m soaking wet, my energy increases and I could hike for hours.  Worries cross through my mind for no more than a minute before I’m distracted by a jumble of vines, trees and plants competing with each other for sunlight.  They wrap around each other, always moving upward in a beautiful chaos until they explode through the canopy spreading their branches in every direction to celebrate their triumph.  My worries are forgotten and I realize I’ve been studying the forest for what feels like hours, but maybe was only seconds.  This sense is timeless and unquantifiable.  Its the same as falling in love, only this time I’ve fallen in love with a place. 

 

Top 10 things to do when you visit Tambopata

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1. Feed a Howler Monkey.  The Amazon Shelter is a non-profit organization that has implemented a wildlife shelter called the Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CRCAS), located 11.2 km from the city of Puerto Maldonado.  Take a day trip to tour the Amazon Shelter and meet Pepe, a 12-year old Howler Monkey who resides there.

 

2. Make Chocolate from scratch.  Parayso , owned by the Balerezo Yabar family, has 3 km of trails, two double bungalos right along the river and hosts who know the area like the backs of their hands.  Guests can participate in the process of making chocolate paste from the Cacao fruit that grows throughout their 16 hectares of property.  Try the sweet fruit ripe from the tree and take part in the process of turning it to coco paste that can be used for cooking or making hot chocolate.  Mmmmm!

 

3. Try local fruit.  Copoazu grows in a brown football-sized pod and tastes great when made into ice cream.  Guanabana tastes sweet and has many health benefits.  Starfruit makes an excellent juice.  Whether its one of the 30 different types of plantanes that grow in Tambopata or the local citrus that’s in season, you are guaranteed to try something new if you take a visit to a local farm. 

 

4. Relax.  Botafogo has a 3 km long beach that is excellent to enjoy during the dry season.  If you prefer to relax by a pool, the recreational center Villa Hermosa has a well-kept, large swimming pool just ten minutes by taxi from Puerto Maldonado.

 

5. Take a Yoga class at Kapievi.  Whether you are an expert or beginner, Katerina Zlatar’s morning and evening yoga sessions cater to all abilities.   Yoga lessons in the Maloka focus on a mind and body connection to earth and environment which surrounds you.  Supplement your stay by eating delicious home-cooked dishes in Kapievi’s vegetarian restaurant.   

 

7. Go Fish.  Many homestays in Tambopata offer piranha fishing in locals lakes and ponds.  Fish as the locals do using nothing more than a piece of meat on a string.  The four types of Piranhas go wild!

 

8. Learn about Brazil Nut farming.  Did you know that Brazil Nut extraction brings ten thousand dollars annually to the Madre de Dios region?  This seasonal job requires farmers to spend weeks in the forest collecting the nuts and hauling them out in large sacks on their backs.  Try the nuts and learn about the hard work required to export them from Javier Huinga who has spent years farming his families Brazil Nut concession. 

 

9. Try Ayahuasca.  Ayahuasca is a traditional medicine which has been used by natives to the Amazon for more than 5,000 years.  In recent years, this hallucinegenic plant has gained the attention of modern doctors, psychologists, scientists, philosophers, and religious and spiritual leaders.  It is said to have the ability to cure many ailments from cancer to depression.  Whether looking for an alternative to modern medicine, seeking answers to life’s questions, or wanting nothing more than the cultural adventure, many travelers journey to Tambopata to participate in a traditional Ayahuasca ceremony. Ayahuasca should only be taken under the guidance of an experienced shaman who can help and individual better understand their visions.

 

10. Volunteer helping local wildlife at the Amazon Shelter.  Whether you stay for a week or a month, all proceeds from your stay go directly towards helping rescued animals from Tambopata’s rainforest.  The diet for these animals is prepared daily, sometimes involving special medicines or supplements and often requiring trips to the local markets in Puerto Maldonado to pick up supplies.  You will work directly with the animals preparing their food, feeding them, maintaining their cages, and providing the TLC they need to recover and be re-introduced into the wild.  

 

9 Reasons a Tambopata Homestay is better than a Peru Backpacker Hostel

The price is right.  Most Tambopata homestays are far less expensive than staying in a backpacker hostel in Tambopata.  They can cost slightly more than staying in a backpacker hostel, but that brings us to our next point...

It’s all inclusive.  You will be provided with all meals and snacks, lodging and activities.  Your stay comes complete with a local guide, and for those who are unsure of their Spanish, English guides are available.  

Meet locals families, not just other backpackers. As enlightening as it is to meet people from different countries around the world, is that really why you came to Peru?  Or did you come to learn about Peruvian culture, meet Peruvian people, and see how they live?  If you’re tired of staing in a hostel and having the same old conversations with other backpackers who are following similar routes as you, try staying with a local family instead.

Truly connect with the people and the culture. What better way to learn local traditions than by participating in them.  Take a tour of the Durand’s family farm and gain a true appreciation of the hard work that is required to farm by hand.  See how Jose Mishaja uses traditional plants from the Amazon to cure common illnesses.  Experience the closeness of the family structure as you spend time interacting with your hosts in their natural environment.

Home cooking. Are you sick of eating every meal in restaurants or cooking them in the kitchen of a backpacker hostel?  The food you eat in the Tambopata homestays is prepared in the home using local ingredients.  The food can be tailored to your dietary preference while allowing you to sample traditional ingredients and authentic dishes from the Tambopata area.  If you are interested in the culinary side of things you can help cook dinner or request cooking lessons.

Experience the rainforest, not just the city.  Many of the homestays are centred right within the communities that call the rainforest their home.  Some are only accessible by taking a boat up the Tambopata river.  With a Tambopata homestay you can really escape, and go to sleep listening to the sounds of insects, birds, and a light breeze moving through the top of the canopy.  

Leave the party behind.  As much fun as the parties are, the scene can get old.  Thin walls, with large groups on the other side, drinking until the sun comes up.  A Tambopata homestay is a nice way to escape the party for a few days and relax in a home environment.

Practice your Spanish.  While it is possible to have English speaking guides at most of the Tambopata homestays, why not try your luck at Spanish?  Your host family will be patient and help teach you simple words and expressions.  There is no better or more fun way to learn a language than to immerse yourself in it.  If all else fails, remember that only 7 percent of language is verbal, the rest is comprised of tone, facial expressions and gestures, use this opportunity to improve your charades game!

Support the local communities.  Profits from Tambopata home stays go directly to the family with which you are staying.  Most families build their properties with a bottom-up approach.  They start small and add to their properties each time they earn profit.  Your stay in a Tambopata home directly supports local Peruvians who work hard to make life better for themselves and their families.  

About Ayahuasca - Answers to 7 commonly asked questions

What is Ayahuasca?

Ayahuasca is a psychotropic medicine originally used by indigenous communities in the Amazon rainforests of South America.  It is taken as a drink prepared by a traditional healer, called a Shaman.  Preparation involves boiling leaves from the Ayahuasca vine together with leaves from the Chacruna plant as well as the bark of various native trees.  Ayahuasca should only be taken under the guidance of an experienced Shaman who can help an individual better understand their visions.
While Ayahuasca has been used by natives to the Amazon for more than 5,000 years, only in recent years has it gained the attention of modern doctors, psychologists, scientists, philosophers, and religious and spiritual leaders.  It is said to have the ability to cure many ailments, including Parkinson’s disease, HIV, addictions, cancer, anxiety, depression.  Whether looking for an alternative to modern medicine, seeking answers to life’s questions, or wanting nothing more than the cultural adventure, many travelers journey to Tambopata to participate in a traditional Ayahuasca ceremony.

What is an Ayahuasca ceremony?

An Ayahuasca ceremony is led by a Shaman and often takes place in a Maloka, which is a hut or a special place dedicated to the ritual.  It takes place at night and can last anywhere from six to eight hours. Participants in the ceremony form a circle by sitting or laying on the floor on cushions or mats.  Each person is given a container to use in the event that the medicine’s effects on the body induce vomiting.  The atmosphere will be calm and the room will be dark or very faintly lit with candles.
 The ceremony is sometimes opened by clearing the room of bad energy and evil spirits, this is done through carrying out a short ritual using leaves from the Tobacco plant, another master plant of the Amazon.  Following this, each individual, one by one, is given the opportunity to drink Ayahuasca.  The Shaman also takes the drink, this helps him understand and interpret each persons’ visions.  Participants are encouraged to remain silent and relaxed while the Shaman chants.  As the infusion begins to take effect, the Shaman may approach individuals to discuss their visions and offer comfort or encouragement.  At the end of the evening, as the effects wear off, the ceremony is closed by lighting more candles and allowing participants to discuss their experiences with each other.

How do I prepare for an Ayahuasca ceremony?

For three days prior and three days after, those who wish to take part in an Ayahuasca ceremony should abstain from alcohol, acidic foods (such as citrus), spicy foods, red meat (especially pork), papaya fruit (very common in the Amazon), and sexual activity. It is also important to prepare mentally for the ceremony, an Ayahuasca ceremony should be entered into with an open mind and positive attitude.

What does it taste like?

In general, Ayahuasca is not palatable, it is thick, gritty and bitter, with a mud-like consistency.  The infusion is not drunk for it’s flavor as the taste alone can elicit a gag-reflex.  Following the medicine with a glass of water will help take away the unpleasantness of the drink.

Will I vomit?

Ayahuasca is a purgative medicine, and while everyone reacts differently, vomiting is common.  The Shamans believe this to be a means of expelling bad things inside of us, and is not something to be afraid of.  In most Ayahuasca ceremonies, participants are provided with a vessel into which they can purge if necessary.

What will I see and experience when I take Ayahuasca?

Each person who takes Ayahuasca responds differently.  For some, it can be a strictly visual experience, allowing them to see colors and shapes more brilliantly or see things that do not exist in the physical world.  Others have described the experience as emotional sometimes causing them to cry.  Shamans view crying as a form of positive emotional release.  Many say that Ayahuasca helps them to better understand themselves or see certain situations in their life more clearly.  They enter the ceremony with questions which the plant helps them answer.  It has been said that Ayahuasca allows you to see into your past, present and future.  While this may be true, it is important to remember that the visions you see may not be true representations of the future, but instead might represent your hopes or fears.
For some individuals, an Ayahuasca ceremony can be a very dark experience, giving them the perception of passing into the underworld from which only the Shaman can bring them back.  Some have even described it as an exorcism of the demons inside themselves.
 It is important to keep in mind that Ayahuasca is a curative plant, therefore, visions or feelings that you experience while on it are meant to help you to heal.  Remember that is it important to take Ayahuasca in a safe place with an experienced Shaman who can support you and help you better understand your experience.

What will I feel like the day after?

The day after drinking Ayahusaca, you will feel tired from having stayed up late the night before.  Many people describe feeling peaceful and reflective following an Ayahuasca ceremony.