PROYECTO TITI, INC.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA

Proyecto Tití is a multi-disciplinary on-site conservation program that combines field research, education initiatives and community programs to make the conservation of natural resources economically feasible for local communities in Colombia. The program is designed to provide useful information to assist in the long-term preservation of the cotton-top tamarin and to develop local community advocates to promote conservation efforts in Colombia. Since its inception in 1985, Proyecto Tití has been committed to raising public awareness to the plight of the cotton-top tamarin through a variety of projects involving numerous individuals and organizations. The field program began in Colosó in 1987 and in 1999 the field program was moved to Santa Catalina at Hacienda El Ceibal. The field staff is composed of Colombian biologists and field assistants who are responsible for the daily operations of both the field and educational aspects of the program managed under our Colombian non-profit organization Fundación Proyecto Tití. Latin American students are also provided with training in field biology and grass-roots conservation methods. Making the conservation of natural habitats and resources economically feasible for local communities will insure the survival of not only the cotton-top tamarin, but the native flora and fauna of Colombia. The goal, is to use the cotton-top tamarin as the flagship species for the conservation of Colombia’s natural resources. Rosamira Guillen, Executive Director of Fundación Proyecto Tití sees Proyecto Tití “as a model for effective conservation programs in Colombia. The team’s commitment to not only save this critically endangered primate but to provide opportunities for local communities to learn and get involved with the conservation of this little monkey, will make a life-long difference in the lives of many Colombians.” Proyecto Tití is a multi-disciplinary on-site conservation program that combines field research, education initiatives and community programs to make the conservation of natural resources economically feasible for local communities in Colombia. The program is designed to provide useful information to assist in the long-term preservation of the cotton-top tamarin and to develop local community advocates to promote conservation efforts in Colombia. Since its inception in 1985, Proyecto Tití has been committed to raising public awareness to the plight of the cotton-top tamarin through a variety of projects involving numerous individuals and organizations. The field program began in Colosó in 1987 and in 1999 the field program was moved to Santa Catalina at Hacienda El Ceibal. The field staff is composed of Colombian biologists and field assistants who are responsible for the daily operations of both the field and educational aspects of the program managed under our Colombian non-profit organization Fundación Proyecto Tití. Latin American students are also provided with training in field biology and grass-roots conservation methods. Making the conservation of natural habitats and resources economically feasible for local communities will insure the survival of not only the cotton-top tamarin, but the native flora and fauna of Colombia. The goal, is to use the cotton-top tamarin as the flagship species for the conservation of Colombia’s natural resources. Why Cotton-top Tamarins Need Our Help Colombia harbors a greater concentration of species per unit area than any other country, but is among the top ten countries in terms of deforestation, losing more than 4000 km2 annually. The majority of the forest within the tamarin’s range has been cleared for agricultural purposes harvesting to provide wood to build homes, and for charcoal production. Remaining forest patches occur on agriculturally-unfit land. Currently, there are five protected areas created by the Colombian government within historical range of cotton-top tamarins in northwestern Colombia. Three of these protected areas, Natural Paramillo National Park, Sanctuary Fauna and Flora Los Colorados and Protective Forest Reserve Serrania de Breastplate and Montes de María, have lost 42%, 71% and 70% of its forested areas, respectively, since inception of protected status. With cotton-top tamarins found only in the northwest region of Colombia, efforts to protect the remaining tropical forest habitat is essential to their future survival. Proyecto Tití is committed to making the conservation of the cotton-top tamarin a top priority. HOW CAN I HELP? Our thanks to the generous individuals and organizations that have supported us over the years and have helped to create and support our efforts to conserve cotton-top tamarins in Colombia. AAZK Chapter of Greater Philadelphia, Abilene Zoo, Agencia Presidencial de Cooperación Internacional de Colombia, Akron Zoological Society, Alma Park Zoo, American Society of Primatologists, Asciación de Parques Zoológicos y Acuarios – Acopazoa, AZA Conservation Endowment Fund, Battersea Park Children’s Zoo, Boras Zoo, Brevard Zoo, Buffalo Zoological Society, Buttonwood Park Zoo, Cape May County Zoo AAZK Chapter, Caracol, CARDIQUE, CARSUCRE, Central Florida Zoological Park and Botanical Garden, Chesapeake Chapter of the American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK), Chicago Zoological Society, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Colegio Biffi de Cartagena, Colegio Rochester Bogotá, Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park, Conservation International, Cotton-top Tamarin SSP, CRA, Dickerson Park Zoo, Disney Interactive, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney Club Penguin, Drayton Manor Zoo, East Bay Zoological Society, Ecopeterol, El Paso Zoo, Ellen Trout Zoo, Elmwood Park Zoo, European Zoo and Aquarium Association – EAZA, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Friends of Paradise Wildlife Park, Fundación Botánica y Zoológica de Barranquilla, Furuviksparken, Heart of Illinois Chapter of the AAZK, INDERENA, Institute for Museum Services, International Primatological Society, IUCN Small Grants for the Conservation of Nature, John Ball Zoo Society, Knoxville Zoo, La Citadelle de Bensancon, Lake Superior Zoo, Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation, Mesker Park Zoo, Milwaukee County Zoo, Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible de la República de Colombia, Minnesota Zoo Conservation Fund, Missouri Botanical Garden, Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Moody Gardens, Naples Zoo, Nationale Postcode Loterij, National Science Foundation, Nashville Zoo, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, Orange County Chapter of AAZK (Santa Ana Zoo), Parc Zoologique de La Barben, Parco Natura Viva Garda Zoological Park, Parken Zoo, Phoenix Zoo, Pittsburgh Zoo, Redken Laboratories Inc., Redwood Coast AAZK, Rhode Island Zoological Society, Roger Williams Park Zoo, The Rufford Foundation, Safari West, San Francisco Zoo AAZK Chapter, Salisbury Zoological Park, St. Augustine Alligator Farm, Twycross Zoo, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Universidad del Norte, University of Wisconsin, USAID, Utica Zoo, The Walt Disney Company Latin America, Whitley Fund for Nature, The Wilds, Wildlife Protection Foundation, Wildlife Safari, Wild Wonders, Zoo Boise, Zoo Wroclaw, Zoofari, Inc., Zooland Park