Pioneers

Tree planting again and I was struck by the huge variety of young saplings interspersed across the hillside. At REGUA up to 120 species are used in reforestation, around 70% of any mix will be ‘pioneer species’ –  trees that first colonise an area of open ground, tolerate full sunlight and grow rapidly. These three photos of a Cecropia tree were taken just one year apart and show how quickly some pioneers grow. As they die off, sometimes in as little as seven years, they decompose and add vital nutrients to the depleted soil.

Nicholas, the man standing by the tree, is one of the founders of the reserve. With the work that’s been achieved here you could say he is a pioneer too.

Photo Credit: Alan Martin.

Upsetting a moth expert

Studying the ‘Hawkmoths of REGUA’ leaflet I commented to our visiting moth expert, birder and trustee, Alan, that none were so impressive as the flamboyant pinks and golds of Britain’s Elephant Hawkmoth. This did not go down well and he spent the proceeding evenings producing numerous moth specimens for my inspection. Agrius cingulata pictured here is one of the more common species, and with a wingspan up to 12cm is twice the size of the Elephant Hawk.

Bright lights of REGUA’s open-fronted communal area attract plenty of moths and I mistakenly remarked to Alan we’d been enjoying watching a Pygmy Owl swoop in and pluck them from the air. He was less pleased to see his prize specimens disappear into the hooked beak!

Photo Credit: Alan Martin. Thanks Alan, it’s a beauty!

Snake sightings are rare. Apparently.

Draped over a stream-side rock just off the trail was an impressive Jararacussa Lancehead (Bothrops jararacussa). These highly venomous snakes are members of the pit viper subfamily, so called because of a highly tuned heat-sensing pit organ located between eye and nostril; effectively a sixth sense. Around 1.5 metres long it preys on frogs and small rodents. Human fatalities have been recorded and a ranger told us he lost a donkey due to this snake’s bite. Our snake appeared lethargic on this relatively cool and cloudy day and we felt safe observing from the bank.

Yesterday’s sighting was more colourful and less dangerous. At 2.5 metre long, the non-venomous Tiger Ratsnake (Spilotes pullates) is unsurprisingly black and yellow and preys on rats! The belly was a striking ‘piano key pattern’, clearly visible as it slithered off the trail and up a tree.

Snake sightings are apparently quite rare; a herpetologist (snake expert) saw just one during his three week visit. We’ve seen two in two days thanks to Fi’s keen eye.

How to keep your soil on the hill

More tree planting today and a chance to see the stark effects of deforestation. In this area trees have been removed for timber and cleared for farming, nutrients in the soil are quickly depleted without the forest ecosystem, so crop yield reduces without additional fertiliser. On steep slopes used for cattle pasture, grass does not bind soil together as well as trees. Overgrazing  further weakens the grass and creates bare patches. Torrential tropical downpours wash the thin sandy soils down the hill.

The hillside on the left of the photo shows bad erosion, but worse still is the gully eroded in the centre of the frame which is a few metres deep and will take centuries to recover, even with reforestation. REGUA has purchased the land to the right of the fence, where the tree planting is taking place. See how to plant a tree in 27 seconds here: https://youtu.be/FDn4JWp3xJ8

Ser um guarda na Inglaterra

The Jovem Guarda (Young Rangers) an initiative to engage young people in conservation, meet weekly to learn about this unique forest and do practical tasks like seed planting. Being a ranger in England was my contribution to their curriculum. Based on a talk for UK students, more editing could have been beneficial, as the youngsters stared wide eyed at pictures of felling, timber extraction and controlled burns. I did emphasise how differently we manage forests! They expressed sympathy at the lack of Pumas in the UK, an understanding of issues with non-native species and disappointment with the size of a smooth snake. Raquel (translating for me) questioned the length with arms wide apart, I had to confess 30 cm was more usual.

Trees by the pannier load

Deforested slopes are a restoration priority as they are extremely vulnerable to erosion. Tree planting today took place on newly acquired land. Coarse grass and other vegetation that would hinder young trees had been sprayed with herbicide and the mulch burnt off. Working with a team of 12 rangers, each had their own task; hoeing to prepare the ground, hole drilling with a petrol-driven auger (this guy had the toughest job), and dropping a handful of compost into the hole. Once the horse had unloaded its panniers full of saplings, the planting began. Each new tree was firmly trodden in, a task made more difficult by the increasing gradient.

Growing Pains

REGUA has an ambitious re-forestation programme, growing all its trees on site. Seeds gathered from the forest are sown into open beds. Once large enough, seedlings are potted into small bags and grown on under shade netting until established.  Today’s task was potting and planting in the nursery.

Bruno, a friendly nursery worker, took time for some Portuguese lessons. Dor de costas, back pain, being particularly memorable. Those little wooden stools aren’t as comfortable as they look.

Common or Garden Lizard

Strolling through the Botanical gardens came an imposing figure. The Black and white tegu, a one 1.5 metre long monitor lizard was exciting to see. Our Brazilian friend Vinicius was less excited; turns out he’d kept an injured one as a pet in the garden, feeding it a diet of eggs and dog food!

Our first afternoon at the REGUA reserve held another reptilian treat; two tegus fighting on the trail ahead. After a vicious bout of neck-biting, tail-swiping and wrestling, the defeated lizard scuttled into the undergrowth.

The bird life is amazing here, but you have to hand it to the reptiles for drama.

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started