Gunma Park loses birds in the Amazon rainforest: warning of forest emptying
The Gunma Ecological Park (PEG), located in Santa Bárbara in the metropolitan region of Belém (PA), faces a silent crisis: at least 11 bird species have disappeared or become rare in recent years. This phenomenon, known as “forest emptying”, is a worrying sign of environmental imbalance in the Amazon.
Species already disappeared or rare
- Marbled Wood-Quail (Odontophorus gujanensis) – not heard in the park since 2007
- Scaly-breasted Wren (Microcerculus marginatus), Snethlage's Antpitta (Hylopezus paraensis), and Variegated Antpitta (Grallaria varia) – absent for more than 20 years
- Mealy Parrot (Amazona farinosa), Razor-billed Curassow (Pauxi tuberosa), Purple-breasted Cotinga (Cotinga cotinga) and others – increasingly difficult to spot
Main threats
- Urban expansion and deforestation around the park
- Oil palm and açaí plantations
- Construction of industrial projects near the area
- Falta de reconhecimento oficial como unidade de conservação
Pará Birding Tour: sustainable tourism as a solution
Amid this scenario, biologists Danielson and Fernanda Freitas founded the Pará Birding Tour in 2023, an ecotourism initiative focused on birdwatching. The project seeks to highlight local biodiversity and raise awareness among residents and visitors about the importance of preserving Gunma Park.
The proposal is to transform contact with nature into an experience of contemplation, showing that tourism can be an ally of conservation. According to the founders, the biggest challenge is changing the perception of the local community, which often does not see biodiversity appreciation as an attractive activity.
Why does this matter?
Birds are essential for seed dispersal and forest maintenance. Their disappearance can turn the park into an “empty forest”, where biodiversity is lost and silence replaces the songs that once echoed.
Paths to preservation
Initiatives such as birdwatching tourism are gaining strength, showing that it is possible to combine conservation and sustainable development. Valuing biodiversity is essential to ensure that Gunma Park continues to be a refuge for Amazonian life.
Read the full article and understand why this warning is so urgent for Amazonian biodiversity.
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