Leontopithecus chrysomelas
The Golden- headed lion

The Leontopithecus chrysomelas species is listed on the Red List as an Endangered species A2c,due to an estimated reduction of greater than 50% in the last three generations (21) years. The high rate of forest loss or habitat destruction of the Atlantic forests has the Remaining populations highly fragmented. Threats to the population include illegal logging, poaching, mining, infrastructure development and urbanization. They were first listed as endangered in 1982, moving up to critically endangered in 1996, then back to endangered by 2003. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) who are dedicated to finding solutions to our most environment and development challenges; warns that extreme deforistization is causing habitat fragmentation. This is leaving no chances of expansion for the population therefore if something is not done this will lead to the extinction of the species. The IUCN’s has a mission to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the biodiversity and integrity of nature and, to make sure that the natural resources of the world are equitable and ecologically sustained. One of the solutions to the problem would be to support the Guaraquecaba Climate Action Project - Reforestation and Forest Enhancement. The Sociedada de Pesquisa em Vida Selvagem e Educaao Ambient (SPVS), is a Brazilian conservation organization with an investment of 5.4 million dollars in this project. In a period of five years the EMBRPAPA and SPVS will plant approximately 500,000 trees. This project is attempting to recover degraded areas, and forests in the Atlantic Forest. Forest restoration will help to reinstate forest covered areas that have been devastated by deforestation. The reforestation objective is to recover degraded pasture areas, by promoting natural forest regeneration by planting the native species. It will also restore degraded forests which are used by the golden-headed lion. The project will introduce new techniques allowing existing agriculture and ranching to be done in smaller areas. Leaving more land to be used for reforestation for the ecologic and environmental environment. In addition to this solution I think you should use the public and the media, too raise awareness of this issue. If more people and businesses are made aware of the status of the species, then they could make charitable contributions to supplement the funding of the reforestation efforts. They could also make it possible to put more policies and laws preserving the forest and the species. Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the government protects the habitats and the plants or animals that depend on it. They require federal agencies that any authorization from them will not jeopardize any species, or habitat of a species. The ESA protects species world wide. In 1966, there was a fiscal incentive law (Lei no.5.106) that was enacted, which enacted up to 50% of income tax could be taken for approved reforestation projects. It was later dropped to 25% since then more than one million hectares have been approved for reforestation. By law, at least 1% of the area, had to be reforested with native species. Recently in 1972, the regulation was increased to 25% within the Araucaria region. As long as this programme remains affective the reforestation will continue. During the deforestation in Brazil, the golden -headed lion has been forced to move and congregate in only certain areas. If reforestation is working which it seems to be there have been 450,000 trees planted since 2009. As for the getting people involved it is catching on in the Brazilian communities, and making major progress. The only drawbacks are the amount of time that it takes for the trees to grow which is normally twenty years, and the continued support of the communities. Under current Brazilian law, native forests must cover a portion of private land owners property. Therefore there will always be a percentage of trees growing. In reforestation there are ups and downs, in one hand you are creating forests for the species. On the other hand you are taking agricultural land away from the people. Involving the media, and the public is a great idea for getting the situation known. If you can keep the involvement to a minimum, if you can not you end up with too many hands in the cookie jar. Another words everyone is trying to do things their own way. Brazilian law is wonderful when it comes to getting the reforestation done, although putting the responsibility on the residents could backfire. I think the best solution is to use all of the proposed solutions in conjunction with each other. To do this you would need the support of the Brazilian law makers; the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). the Guaraquecaba Climate Action Project - Reforestation and Forest Enhancement; the Sociedada de Pesquisa em Vida Selvagem e Educaao Ambient (SPVS); the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and the public and media. The Brazilian law makers can take on the responsibility of getting everything under way. The cost will be of great proportions, this can be funded by donations, grants, fundraisers, and the greatest portion would come from the Brazilian people themselves. There should be a meeting of the minds, involving all agencies, here decisions will be made of where to start the process. The funding should be the first part of the process. After receiving the funding an area should be chosen, this should be one of the worst areas they are dealing with. Then where to acquire the trees, and the hiring of the people that will be planting them. With this solution there can be benefits from the employment side, and the fact that endangered species such as the golden-headed lion, will again have there habitat renewed for them. Then they will be able to get off the endangered list for good. The more trees that are planted the better the air quality will be. So therefore the population will also get great benefits for their sacrifices. The biggest challenge that will be faced will be the findings of the projects, these will not just be handed over. The agencies will really have to work at this part of the solution, the other challenge will be to keep everyone’s enthusiasm up about the projects. The growth time that it takes for trees will propose problems keeping people interested. Most people expect change to happen immediately, and when they do not see that they tend to get board it is human nature. The media should be used for getting support for the cause. They can create commercials, asking for support from the entire world. There will have to be British official decisions made to start the process. If they show the world the golden-headed lion and show how they are becoming extinct, people are pushovers for this, and normally they will donate something. When the challenges of enthusiasm of the people comes up, they will need to have a celebration of some kind. This would be focused on the progress that had been made up to date. To show the people that they are making progress with the project. There should be actual numbers for them to see. This in turn should bring them back, if they have gotten discouraged. When they become excited again, they will start to work on getting donations as hard as they did in the beginning. The laws of the Brazilians support everything about the solution. The tree growth being slow is a tiny set back, if you take the proper steps you can deal with this when it comes. If the people are put first for a short period of time, and given a pat on the back every once in a while you can keep your public happy. Showing them the progress being made, or recognizing their accomplishments goes a long way too. The Sociedada de Pesquisa em Vida Selvagem e Educaao Ambient (SPVS), and the Guaraquecaba Climate Action Project - Reforestation and Forest Enhancement reforestation is great for the forest, not so good for the agricultural areas. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Will be able to make sure that the nature and natural resources are not being disturbed during this process. The Endangered Species Act (ESA), will be in control of protecting the different species affected by this project. They will make sure no harm comes to any species that happens to be in the path of the project. The public and media will mainly be in control of keeping public interest up, and donations coming in at a controllable amount. Then the project will be able to continue in an uninterrupted flow, the flow being smooth will make the project accomplish the goals in a timely manner. The sooner the project is done the sooner the golden-headed lion will be taken off the endangered species list.