SUPPORTED PROJECTS

Cambridge Flores/Sumbawa conservation project, Indonesia 1993

Stuart Butchart

A survey of the remaining forests and the threatened endemic birds of Flores and Sumbawa. Ornithological inventories were produced to support current initiatives for the creation of protected areas in this region; much urgently required information was gathered on the conservation status and ecological requirements of the region's endemic birds; and Indonesian counterparts trained in bird identification and surveying techniques. On Sumbawa, twenty 'restricted-range species' were recorded, three of which had not previously been recorded on the island. On Flores, twenty-five restricted-range species were recorded including three species endemic to the island including the virtually unknown Wallace's Hanging Parrot, and the recently discovered Flores Monarch.

Project update: 12/2/98. This survey of the remaining forests and the threatened endemic birds of Flores and Sumbawa: (1) rediscovered important populations of three birds endemic to Flores: Wallace’s Hanging Parrot (Loriculus flosculus), Flores Monarch (Monarcha sacerdotum) and Flores Crow (Corvus florensis); (2) identified the conservation priorities on the island; and (3) made recommendations which helped to gazette the first protected area on Sumbawa (S. Butchart in litt. 1993; S. Butchart in litt. 1998). This project is being followed-up in some detail by a joint PHPA / BirdLife International project to redesign the protected areas network for the islands of Flores and Sumbawa. BirdLife is also in discussions with a mining company to explore the extent to which they might support conservation at one of the sites on Sumbawa (R. Grimmett in litt. 1998).