REESTABLISHMENT OF CONNECTIVITY IN PRIOR

The Mexican Grassland Priority Conservation Area (GPCA) El Tokio comprises 6,500 hectares of inter-mountain grasslands, 80% of them heavily overgrazed, degraded, and highly fragmented.

This project will 1) increase protection of 3,000 ha through a conservation agreement with Ejidos /Private Ranches in Coahuila and San Luis Potos; 2) restore critical habitat (700 hectares) to suitable conditions for grassland migratory birds (Sprague's Pipit, Lark Bunting, Baird's Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Brewer's Sparrow) following the Chihuahuan Desert Grassland Bird; 3) improve habitat management, reduce soil erosion and promote grass re-growth on hundreds of acres of grasslands; 4) monitor grassland migratory birds densities and vegetation structure before and after management and restoration activities and continue to monitor Phase I-II effects; 5) continuing to identify critical needs and threats to avoid in order to increase grassland migratory birds winter survival; 6) involve Ejido members/private owners through their participation in the generation of the third Community Management Plan; 7) educate 300 local children and train 30 rural teachers through environmental education workshops focused on grassland migratory neotropical birds.

These activities will reestablish a long-term ecological functionality of areas without previous conservation work, increasing connectivity among already protected areas within GPCA El Tokio grasslands.