Objective:
It is an integral part of Norteak’s objective to take care of the natural values in our work area and encourage the restoration of habitats for wild flora and fauna that has been marginalized. Actions within planted areas, such as the protection of areas without intervention are equally important for the care of nature.
Management guidelines:
In Plantations: Forest plantations is the income generator for the enterprise, but within this framework we have a number of considerations:
- Leave the presence of herbs and shrubs in the undergrowth to the extent that they do not adversely affect the growth of the plantation.
- Only use agrochemicals for weed control, when no other efficient method is identified.
- Preserve large trees that were scattered in the pastures and which are of scarce species, or that may have economic value within the forest cultivation.
- Take action to avoid hunting and trash thrown away in the areas.
Areas of protection: As a basic pattern, the least possible intervention is made, considering that the best generator of natural values is nature itself. The possibility of selective forest management in some areas is not ruled out, when identifying them as being suitable, but for the moment they have not been selected as areas for handling.
Reserves: These are areas where special natural values have been identified. In reserves, forest harvesting should not be done, except for the purpose of favoring the natural values identified. Up to date, a reserve of 120 hectares, called Forest of Tanzania, has been defined.
Biodiversity Monitoring
Major fauna
Norteak is in the process of setting up a biodiversity development monitoring system. First stage is to identify the species currently present in the area, and since the number of reported species tends to increase, we are still in this phase.
| Wild animal species observed in Norteak farms | |||||
|
Class |
Total
species |
Out of
Reserve |
Just in
Reserve |
Shared |
%
Shared |
| birds | 212 | 67 | 107 | 38 | 18% |
| Reptiles/amphibious | 63 | 26 | 33 | 4 | 6% |
| mammal | 44 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 32% |
| 319 | 109 | 154 | 56 | 18% | |
It is observed that there is much difference between the species observed within the reserve, which is a natural forest, and in the rest of the areas which have been strongly impacted by livestock. Only a small group of animals are shared between both areas. We value that this phenomenon should be subject to further investigation. We pay special attention to the species considered in danger of extinction at international level. In the table below it can be appreciated that two species are in imminent danger and that there are another 6 that raise concern.
| Endangered animal species on Norteak Farms | ||
| Common name | Scientific name | IUNC* Status |
| Spider monkey | Ateles geoffroyi | Danger |
| Otter | Lontra longicaudis | Danger |
| Cucala | Bradypus variegatus | Medium |
| Ocelot | Leopardus wiedii | Medium |
| Chachalaca | (Penelopina nigra) | Vulnerable |
| Lizard | Crocodylus acutus | Vulnerable |
| Yellow naped parrot | Amazona auropalliata | Vulnerable |
| boar | Tayassu pecari | Vulnerable |
| *International Union for Nature Conservation | ||
Butterflies
We have had the support from the Entomological Museum of León, which has facilitated two volunteers to raise inventory of butterflies in the Bosques de Tanzania reserve. The result of Mr. Kevin Goutier and Witold Zawadzki can be seen in:
https://www.bio-nica.info/RevNicaEntomo/147-Mariposas-Bosque-Tanzania.pdf
Between the two works a total of 127 species of butterflies have been identified in the Tanzania Forest Reserve and its surroundings. The two species Calephelis schausi (Riodinidae) and Rhinthon molion (Hesperiidae) have not been reported before in Nicaragua.
Trees
Up to date, 103 tree species have been identified on Norteak farms, but there is another unidentified amount in the reserve forest.
The tree species conservation program faces some difficulties because we are required by law to protect species such as Ceiba, Royal Cedar and Bombax, which are abundant and without any threat level. There is also some resistance between population and authorities to eliminate species that have been encouraged by the management of pastures, which are not really typical of the area, such as Laurel, Conacaste and Oak.
Norteak is in a process of identifying the species which were native of the area, before it was razed by the agricultural frontier 80 years ago.
The table below shows the species identified as important to preserve. “Preserve” indicates very low presence and seeks to preserve all individuals in good condition. “Promote” indicates they are attractive for their ecological value or that they may have a potential for cultivation in the future.
| Native trees in the area with special attention in the management of Norteak | ||||
| Level | Local name | Another name | Genre | name |
| Preserve | Myrtle | Sour guava | Psidium | Sp. |
| Preserve | Barazón | |||
| Preserve | Bimbayán | |||
| Preserve | Mahogany | Swietenia | macrophylla | |
| Preserve | Cortez | Tabebuia | guayacán | |
| Preserve | Blackwood | Dalbergia | (tucurensis) | |
| Preserve | Guayabón | Terminalia | oblonga | |
| Preserve | Rubber tree | Castilla | elástica | |
| Preserve | Medlar | Manilkara | chicle | |
| Preserve | Patacón | |||
| Preserve | Sapodilla | Couroupita | Nicaraguans | |
| Preserve | Soncoya | |||
| Preserve | Tempate | Jatropha | curcas | |
| Preserve | Mora | Clorophora | tinctorea | |
| Preserve | River almond tree | Andira | inermis | |
| Promote | Chilamate | Ficus | spp. | |
| Promote | Guapinol | Hymenaea | courbaril | |
| Promote | Matapalo | Ficus | spp. | |
| Promote | Breadnut tree | Brosium | sp. | |
| Promote | Tambor | Ochroma | piramidale | |
Forests of Tanzania Private Reserve
Member of the Private Wildlife Reserve Network
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