Greenpop and the Wild Bird Trust’s Cape Parrot Project are collaborating to restore the bird’s habitat in Hogsback, Eastern Cape.
South Africa (07 July 2023) – The Wild Bird Trust’s Cape Parrot Project is working to restore the forest that these endemic birds call home. The plan is to plant trees and raise awareness about the beautiful bird. In collaboration with the Greenpop Foundation, they are making it happen!
The Mistbelt Habitat Restoration Project aims to improve land management and restore indigenous forests near Hogsback, South Africa. The Cape Parrot is listed as BirdLife’s Bird of 2023. Restoring the habitat helps the bird thrive too. At present, there are only 2000 parrots in the wild, making it an endangered species on a national level.
The Cape Parrot Project was founded in 2009 in Hogsback by Dr Steve Boyes. This has been his base for research and the space where these projects have taken shape.
“Since 2019, in collaboration with the Greenpop Foundation, this project has restored and managed 15.56 hectares of protected Mistbelt forest land and planted 8,500 indigenous trees.
In 2023, the project will focus on restoring a further 3.5 hectares through alien invasive plant management, natural regeneration management, and, where needed, active planting of 5,000 indigenous tree seedlings. By improving forest land use, this project will assist in increasing several ecosystem services for the local community including climate change adaptation, improved soil stability, increased species biodiversity, and decreased fire risk.”
Some of the trees being planted in these areas include Outeniqua Yellowwood, Cape Chestnut, Real Yellowwood and Red Current.
“Cape Parrots are typically found in high-altitude Afromontane forests. However,these forests were heavily affected by historical logging of large hardwood trees (like Yellowwoods). This has caused a shortage of natural nesting sites (in natural tree hollows) which in turn has resulted in low reproductive output.
In addition, historical logging reduced food availability, forcing them to seek food away from their natural forest habitat, making them more vulnerable to the illegal wild bird trade. Cape Parrots are also susceptible to the highly contagious and often fatal Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease.” – Cape Parrot Project
They live on fruits, seeds and occasionally flowers from indigenous and exotic trees. They live in small flocks and start becoming active just before sunrise.
Related Story
Since this project was launched, 12 people have been employed to help with the reforestation and rehabilitation of land that has been invaded by alien species, logging and man-made infrastructure like roads and powerlines.
You can read the full report and plan for the rest of 2023 here and if you want to know more about these local parrots, check out the Cape Parrot Project here.
They are aiming to raise R3 million towards this phase of the project so you can help by donating using the details below:
Account name: Wild Bird Trust
Bank: First National Bank OR may appear as Rand Merchant Bank
Branch: 261251
Account number: 62612271932
Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ (may be requested when doing a transfer internationally)
Reference: MyForest
by 