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Diego Ochoa Laverde’s dedication to observing, cataloging, and discovering the status of bird populations shows how birdwatching can be a powerful tool to raise awareness, promote conservation, and improve habitats. Ochoa Laverde worked as director of external affairs for the Humboldt Institute in Colombia and not once but twice chaired the Bogota Ornithological Association. In his 20-yearcareer, he has helped make bird-watching an activity that is more than just a form of entertainment, encouraging interest in the species and creating the bird enthusiasts of the future.
"There are a variety of characteristics that make this country unique.
How has avitourism contributed to the knowledge and conservation of birds in Colombia?
“It has allowed the discovery that Colombia is a megadiverse country” OR It has revealed that Colombia is a megadiverse country. I don’t think any Colombian, including myself, fully grasps what it means to be megadiverse because when you’re born and grow up here it all seems normal. It seems normal for us to look out the window and see 30 different bird species. That’s not common anywhere else in the world. We live in an avian paradise, and the wealth of bird species encourages discovery. But without cataloging, classifying, and studying them, these wonders remain unknown.
How does the variety of thermal floors affect bird diversity?
That’s the key. Colombia doesn’t just have one Andean mountain range; it has three. Humboldt[ … ] tried to find out if there was a direct relationship between altitude and the distribution of plants. He climbed Chimborazo, then he discovered two important variables in the distribution of life on earth: temperature and altitude.
Colombia has three mountain ranges, ranging from sea level to snow-capped peaks, inter-Andean valleys (the Cauca Valley and the Magdalena Valley), and the Caribbean floodplain. There is water everywhere and the Choc6 region is one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet. We are in the tropics and we have two oceans. In other words, there are a huge variety of characteristics that make this country unique.
How does avitourism differ from birdwatching?
Birdwatchers are one thing and avitourism is another. [ … ] If you look at the Bogota Ornithological Association, I can assure you that a very small percentage have a background in natural sciences or are biologists. They are doctors, dentists, architects, and psychiatrists. In other words, they are people with an interest in birdwatching. There aren’t any expert birdwatchers here, what we really need to create here is curiosity. I think that if people are more curious about birds, They will begin the connection they have with nature. If that connection can be sustained, then people begin to acquire more knowledge. And they can use that knowledge for their own benefit.
How can avitourism be done responsibly?
We need people to be more curious so that this curiosity can drive a desire for conservation. [. .. ] Avitourism is, fundamentally, an economic activity driven by people’s passion for birdwatching. It provides many people who live in rural areas with a valuable source of income for their work. Avitourism can yield very rich information, but its primary goal is not to create conservation initiatives.
Source: Colombia – A Luxury Adventure https://online.pubhtml5.com/ltll/rleb/
Photographys: Federico Hoyos
