November 2024
Wise Ancestors is partnering with the Alexander von Humboldt Biological Resources Research Institute and the Montañerito Paisa Conservation Initiative led by NGO Neotropical Innovation, on a Pilot Series of Conservation Challenges hosted on the Wise Ancestors Platform. This set of Wise Ancestors Conservation Challenges will generate the world’s first annotated, high-quality reference genomes for the critically endangered Antioquia Brushfinch (Atlapetes blancae), known in Spanish as the “Montañerito Paisa,” and for an enigmatic antpitta in the genus Grallaria, whose taxonomic affinities are under study. In addition to generating two reference genomes, the Conservation Challenges include species population and diet studies for the two endemic and range-restricted birds. These provide key information to strengthen local conservation efforts and enable future studies.
The upfront benefit-sharing component for the Pilot Series of Colombian Conservation Challenges will sponsor five year-long paid training positions, dubbed the Biomonitores Program, for members of the local paisa community. Led by the Humboldt Institute in collaboration with the local NGO Neotropical Innovation as part of the Montañerito Paisa Conservation Initiative, the program will build local capacity for field, laboratory, and bioinformatics research including but not limited to sampling techniques, taxonomic identification, genomics technologies, and biodiversity monitoring. Additionally, Biomonitores will be trained in the propagation and production of mortiño berries (Vaccinium meridionale), a critical component of the Montañerito Paisa’s diet. Currently, mortiño shrubs are being increasingly cleared for cattle ranching; however, because they are also suitable for human consumption, growing the berries can provide an economic opportunity for local farmers while also helping to preserve their existence in the birds’ habitat.
The local paisa community has already played a major role in the Wise Ancestors Pilot Series, as some of them initially noticed an intriguing antpitta, whose genome is to be sequenced. “We’ve been working with them for some time,” Dr. Gustavo A. Bravo, Curator of Ornithological Collections at the Humboldt Institute, said. “Some participants – including local birders – of the citizen science searches for the Montañerito paisa, known as Buscatones, alerted myself and colleagues at the Humboldt Institute about a particular vocalization of an unidentified Grallaria antpitta during the monitoring of the habitat of the Montañerito Paisa. Having obtained the first recordings and high-quality pictures of the bird during these events triggered subsequent expeditions to search for individuals of this population. These two species offer an unparalleled opportunity to establish successful conservation initiatives because they are endemic to the Antioquia Department, a region where local people take great pride in their roots, surroundings, and culture,” Bravo said.
“The great challenge is to build a shared vision for the territory's development, where conserving these two species' habitat becomes an opportunity to strengthen an ecological corridor that ensures genetic flow and species survival. Without a doubt, engaging the local community is the key to success in this strategy, accelerating and amplifying the impact of every conservation action. Beyond recognizing the value of nature, it is essential to create shared value through its sustainable use,” Angélica Diaz Pulido, Research Associate at Humboldt Institute’s Center for Socio Ecological Studies and Global Change, said.
“The disconnection from nature has led to economic models that overlook its value and contributions to development, creating an imbalance in productive systems and increasing vulnerability to climate change,” Santiago Chiquito García, CEO of Neotropical Innovation, shared. “In Colombia, in the northern highlands of Antioquia, we have rapidly lost the Montañerito Paisa and the Grallaria habitat, diminishing our natural infrastructure's capacity to respond. These ecosystems are crucial for the well-being of the bioregion, as they are the sources for water supply and part of the hydroelectric capacity for the Department of Antioquia and the city of Medellín, the second-largest in Colombia. A change in attitude is essential, inspired by the conservation of these two species. By adopting a regenerative approach, we can enrich conventional productive systems and strengthen an ecological matrix based on the belief that the more we protect, the more we can produce,” Chiquito Garcia concluded.
“Our intention is to scale genomic conservation while uplifting and supporting Indigenous science, Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Local Communities in ecosystem management,” said Dr. Ann Pace, Executive Director of Wise Ancestors. “It’s vital to do this work in collaboration with the local paisa community, whose livelihoods largely come from the land on which they live. In this way, we are not only addressing biodiversity loss, but also the root cause which involves human behavior. Our goal is to demonstrate that biodiversity conservation and a strong bioeconomy can co-exist as part of a balanced ecosystem,” said Pace.
“Life forms are Earth's greatest achievement, each billions of years in the making. To save even just one from extinction is to preserve an invaluable treasure,” said Dr. David Haussler, Director and President of Wise Ancestors, and Distinguished Professor of Biomolecular Engineering and Scientific Director of the Genomics Institute at the University of California Santa Cruz. “The Wise Ancestors Conservations Challenges each bring just the right resources and people together to pass a unique and wonderful creation of the Earth on to future generations,” Haussler added.
“Indigenous science, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and western science are three entities that can thrive on their own, but we, together with local communities, want to show how powerful they are when they’re braided together without one taking over the other or any form of appropriation,” said Dr. Solenne Correard, Wise Ancestors Scientific Director.
"I am honored and humbled to be part of Wise Ancestors and their work to conserve critically endangered bird species. Birds are vital indicators of our planet's health, and protecting them is protecting our future," said Dr. Beth Shapiro, Director of Wise Ancestors, and Chief Scientific Officer at Colossal Biosciences.
“Co-developing genomic projects with Indigenous Peoples and local communities is vital to ensuring that research is both ethical and effective. This approach respects the sovereignty and knowledge of Indigenous communities and leads to more comprehensive and culturally sensitive outcomes. It's also a valuable learning opportunity for Western scientists to enrich their research methods by integrating diverse perspectives and practices.” said Dr. Federica Di Palma, Scientific Advisor to Wise Ancestors and Chief Scientific Officer and Vice President of Research and Innovation at Genome British Columbia. “I hope this collaborative model becomes the standard in genomic research, fostering trust and creating solutions that are truly inclusive,” Di Palma added.
“There is literally no reason not to seek co-develop or benefit sharing of genomics projects with Indigenous Peoples. They are the stewards of most of our planet's biodiversity and must be empowered.” said Dr. Rachel Meyer, Scientific Advisor to Wise Ancestors, Adjunct Assistant Professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC Santa Cruz, Director of CALeDNA, and Director of the UC Conservation Genomics Consortium. “The next generation demands biology done ethically. They demand accountability, fairness, and retribution. Wise Ancestors gives individuals to corporations a way to contribute to more ethical genomics and conservation,” Meyer added.
As an Affiliated Project of the Earth BioGenome Project, Wise Ancestors will contribute to the global effort, dubbed “a moonshot for biology,” to sequence all known plant, animal, and fungi species. Both the scientific research and upfront benefit sharing initiative is funded by an initial grant to Wise Ancestors from the Future of Life Institute.
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