El Silencio Reserve expansion benefits critically endangered species and a beloved U.S.-nesting songbird
WARRENTON, VA, Jan. 15, 2021 Rainforest Trust announced 5,407 acres in the El Silencio Natural Reserve, located in Colombia’s Middle Magdalena Valley, have been secured for conservation. In addition to Rainforest Trust, other partners in the powerful conservation alliance include World Land Trust, Saving Nature, American Bird Conservancy and Fundación Biodiversa Colombia. This has more than doubled the size of the reserve to 6,844 acres. Additional assistance came from a partial voluntary compensation from the owner companies La Zebra and Tierra y Río.
Conserving and protecting this land is extremely important. Over 98% of the lowland rainforest in the Magdalena Valley has been destroyed for cattle ranching and illicit coca production. It is also under pressure from illegal logging. In addition to providing habitat for many rare species, the land has long been an important