The Rufford Small Grants Foundation
Final Report
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Congratulations on the completion of your project that was supported by The Rufford Small Grants
Foundation.
We ask all grant recipients to complete a Final Report Form that helps us to gauge the success of our
grant giving. We understand that projects often do not follow the predicted course but knowledge of
your experiences is valuable to us and others who may be undertaking similar work. Please be as
honest as you can in answering the questions – remember that negative experiences are just as
valuable as positive ones if they help others to learn from them.
Please complete the form in English and be as clear and concise as you can. We will ask for further
information if required. If you have any other materials produced by the project, particularly a few
relevant photographs, please send these to us separately.
Please submit your final report to jane@rufford.org.
Thank you for your help.
Josh Cole Grants Director
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Grant Recipient Details
Your name
Renzo P. Piana
Project title
Abundance, distribution and responses to habitat change across a
diurnal raptor community in north-western Peru.
RSG reference
17.02.09
Reporting period
May 2009 – May 2010
Amount of grant
£5,000
Your email address
Date of this report
rufigularis@gmail.com
May 25th 2010
1. Please indicate the level of achievement of the project’s original objectives and include any
relevant comments on factors affecting this.
Objective
Evaluate 35 1 km²
square plots to collect
information on the
relative abundance and
distribution
of
20
species of raptors
To collect information
on the distribution and
relative abundance of
the Endangered greybacked hawk and other
raptor species in Peru,
and produce relevant
data
for
its
conservation.
Generate
information
on he impact of grazing
to
ecosystems
degradation
Train local students and
park rangers so data
collection
on
the
abundance
and
distribution of diurnal
raptor species in the
North
Western
Biosphere Reserve
Not
achieved
Partially Fully
Comments
achieved achieved
x
All plots were censured twice a day and data
on habitat characteristics were measured in
eight points on each plot. Results indicate
that diversity and abundance of raptors is
higher outside protected areas and is
severely affected by the intensity of forest
fragmentation generated by cattle ranching.
x
Data on relative abundance and distribution
was produced for 14 raptor species
including the Grey-backed Hawk (GBH). The
GBH was the fourth most abundant raptor in
the study site and was linked to forest
patches and forested borders, including
gallery forests in the north, central and
eastern part of my study site. GBH
population outside the CANP is still high.
x
I evaluated 140 points that were randomly
distributed to measure the impacts of cattle
grazing on forest understory and raptor
population and community structure. Data
are being analysed but preliminary results
indicate that cattle grazing is altering the
structure of forest understory.
x
Two local students and two park rangers
were trained in data collection an analysis. A
monitoring protocol was produced and later
implemented by park authorities.
2. Please explain any unforeseen difficulties that arose during the project and how these were
tackled (if relevant).
No difficulties were encountered during this research.
3. Briefly describe the three most important outcomes of your project.
I have produced the first scientific information on the abundance and habitat use of the Endangered
and endemic grey-backed hawk Leucopternis occidentalis in Peru.
I have produced the first detailed account on the structure and habitat attributes (width, position
and overlap) of a community of raptors in Peru. This information is now being prepared as a
scientific article that will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
I have collected relevant data on the impacts of cattle grazing on forest understory and structure
and how it affects raptors in the North Western Biosphere Reserve.
4. Briefly describe the involvement of local communities and how they have benefitted from the
project (if relevant).
Although my research was mainly oriented at the collection of field data inside protected areas, I
was positively impressed by the local concern towards the conservation of these conservation units.
During my research I worked and have close involvement with local people from several towns
around my study area; this included cattle herders, local guides and local authorities. All the people I
contacted were concerned about the conservation of the North Western Biosphere Reserve (NWBR)
and were eager to support conservation initiatives that allow the sustainable use of forest resources.
5. Are there any plans to continue this work?
Yes. I am planning to conduct an assessment to determine the global status of the Endangered greybacked hawk by surveying occurrence localities in Peru (southern part of my study site) and Ecuador.
After this survey is conducted, I will produce a conservation plan for the species to be used in both
countries. This plan will identify important sites and localities for the species, identify current threats
and conservation opportunities and will produce an accurate estimation of the global population for
the species. This conservation plan will be presented to Peruvian and Ecuadorian conservation
authorities and NGO and will be used as a basis to promote joint (bi-national) conservation activities
in the Tumbesian Endemic Area.
6. How do you plan to share the results of your work with others?
All the results will be used to produce a PhD thesis for my degree as an Ecologist at Manchester
Metropolitan University - UK. Additionally all the data collected and analysed will be used to produce
at least three scientific articles to be published in peer reviewed journals - one is already finished
and ready to be submitted.
I have produced one article for a Peruvian online magazine detailing some of the threats that face
the NWBR and will produce two more in order to raise public awareness on the conservation of this
highly biodiverse, yet fragile ecosystem. In the near future I will present the results of my research
on the VII Ornithological Peruvian Congress and Neotropical Ornithological Congress (both to be held
in Cusco-Peru, September 2011).
7. Timescale: Over what period was the RSG used? How does this compare to the anticipated or
actual length of the project?
The grant was used from June 2009 until May 2010. I started data collection on April 2009 (with
support from other grants) and finished on April 2010, as scheduled.
8. Budget: Please provide a breakdown of budgeted versus actual expenditure and the reasons for
any differences. All figures should be in £ sterling, indicating the local exchange rate used.
Item
(E.R: 1£ = 4.5 soles)
Equipment
Budgeted
Amount
2400
Actual
Amount
2400
Difference Comments
0
Expenditures on equipment were as
planned
Field expenses
2300
2300
0
Fuel and transport
300
300
0
Expenditures on field expenses were
as planned
Expenditures on fuel and transport
were as planned
TOTAL
5000
5000
9. Looking ahead, what do you feel are the important next steps?
First: to broadcast the results and all scientific evidence generated during my research to regulate
cattle grazing inside the Cerros de Amotape National Park (CANP) and the Tumbes National Reserve
(TNR).
Second: to assess the current size, status of the global population and threats of the Endangered
grey-backed Hawk in Peru and Ecuador. There are still no accurate data on the population size of the
species in Ecuador and how the population is distributed. It seems that it is rapidly diminishing as
remaining forest tracts are being converted to pastures and fields. If the species is to remain viable,
is urgent to identify relevant sites for the species and try to protect them.
Third: after my research, it appears now that the highest concentration of the species along its
entire range occurs inside the CANP and in the buffer zone north of the park. The Tumbes Regional
Government is working on a proposal to create a conservation area in part of this buffer zone; the
data I have collected on the abundance of the hawk in this area could help to speed up the creation
of this conservation area and secure another important site for the species.
10. Did you use the RSGF logo in any materials produced in relation to this project? Did the RSGF
receive any publicity during the course of your work?
No, but several publications will be broadcast in the near future and RSGF will be publicly
acknowledged.
11. Any other comments?
Yes. My sincere gratitude to the RSG for its support. This grant was vital to complete my field
research. In all I am very satisfied with the results and outcomes I have accomplished; particularly
regarding the relative abundance, distribution and habitat attributes of the endangered grey-backed
hawk. The information I generated will have a very positive impact on the conservation of the
species in Peru, and hopefully in Ecuador. I will keep on working on the conservation of this species.