VORTEX

Vortex is a computational model that simulates the complex dynamics of wildlife population growth and how these dynamics can change with time in the presence of threatening human activities. By providing a diverse set of input data on parameters such as average rates of reproduction and survival among individuals in a population, and the variation of these rates over time, Vortex users can create realistic and informative simulations of a variety of different wild species within a broad spectrum of management intensities. More importantly, the user can also test alternative options for managing species, creating various scenarios and comparing their results to identify the ideal conditions for the viability of the population at risk of extinction.

In 2019, Parque das Aves sponsored a Vortex training course in Campo Grande – MS taught by Phil Miller and Kathy Traylor Holzer from CPSG and organized by the Wildlife Conservation Institute (ICAS) and by the National Initiative for the Conservation of the Brazilian Tapir – INCAB. To promote using the tool for the conservation of Atlantic Rainforest birds, we sponsored professionals from the Jacutinga Project and the Blue-fronted Amazon Parrot Project to participate, as well as the nucleus that works with the conservation of the marsh antwren alongside Parque das Aves professionals.

With the support of CPSG, they began a process of mentoring Parque das Aves staff in using the tool through a process to support the team at Parque das Aves to develop Vortex models for the piping guan and the blue-fronted Amazon parrot. The long-term objective is that professionals from Parque das Aves and from our IUCN Species Survival Commission in Brazil can train professionals to use this tool and provide modeling services as a way to give support to conservation projects.