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Fundación Proyecto Tití

Cotton-top tamarins are found only in northwestern Colombia.

Nicknamed the cutest monkeys in South America, cotton-top tamarins are among the most endangered primates in the world.
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Many Colombians who live near the cotton-tops’ forest home don't know that they are endangered.

The tiny cotton-top, which weighs less than a pound, is named for the shock of white hair that sits atop its head. The monkeys, nicknamed the cutest in South America, entertain researchers with their endless antics. However, cotton-top tamarins are among the most endangered primates in the world. They are found only in northwestern Colombia, and their tropical forest habitat is being destroyed for cattle ranching, agriculture, and urban development. Cotton-tops are also captured and illegally sold as pets.

Many Colombians who live near the cotton-tops’ forest home do not know that these monkeys—known locally as “titís”—are endangered. Proyecto Tití (PT) aims to change this by providing information about the cotton-top alongside employment opportunities that enable locals to protect the forest and its monkeys.

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Integrating conservation and education to save cotton-tops.

Proyecto Tití uses an integrated approach that includes forest conservation, environmental education, awareness, and income generation to combat the threats facing cotton-top tamarins and protect their future in Colombia.
Proyecto Titi - cotton top (Rosamira Guillen)
All of the deforestation that has been going on in Colombia for the last few decades has made the cotton-tops and the dry tropical forest of northern Colombia critically endangered.
Rosamira Guillen

Rosamira Guillen, Executive Director

Rosamira Guillen entered the wildlife conservation field via a different path than many conservationists. She worked as a landscape architect for the Barranquilla Zoo in northwest Colombia and became the director of the zoo in 2001.

As Zoo Director, Rosamira was dedicated to developing partnerships with conservation organizations both in Colombia and around the world. One of these partnerships was with Proyecto Tití to create an education campaign about the local endangered cotton-top tamarin. When the project became an official Colombian non-profit organization, Rosamira was excited to join as Executive Director. She is proud to lead a project that has important benefits for local and urban communities while also protecting Colombia’s incredible biodiversity.

A Unique Conservation Approach

Community Development

Community Development

In order to reduce local families’ dependence on forest-product income, Proyecto Tití helps community members find other ways to make a living. PT sponsored the development of “eco-mochilas,” eco-friendly totes made from discarded plastic bags. Women craft the colorful eco-mochilas and through this business provide for their community and families.

Conservation Education

Conservation Education

The CARTITILLA program taught by Proyecto Tití education staff in local schools helps children think about their role in protecting cotton-tops. CARTITILLA engages students by drawing parallels to the similarities that cotton-tops have with humans. The most promising students become part of Proyecto Tití’s environmental leadership programs, which allows them to continue involvement with conservation actions.

Preserving Forests

Preserving Forests

To save tamarins, you need to save their forest home- they only live up in the trees, and never come to the ground. Proyecto Tití works to restore fragmented habitat strands by working with local farmers and cattle ranchers to preserve selected areas of their land and creating new protected reserves, connecting them to create safe corridors for the tamarins to travel and live in. They’re happy to say that they’ve recently secured another 200 acres specifically for cotton-tops, and are looking to secure many more.

Icon_community

Community Development

Community Development

In order to reduce local families’ dependence on forest-product income, Proyecto Tití helps community members find other ways to make a living. PT sponsored the development of “eco-mochilas,” eco-friendly totes...
Icon_education

Conservation Education

Conservation Education

The CARTITILLA program taught by Proyecto Tití education staff in local schools helps children think about their role in protecting cotton-tops. CARTITILLA engages students by drawing parallels to the similarities...
Icon_land management

Preserving Forests

Preserving Forests

To save tamarins, you need to save their forest home- they only live up in the trees, and never come to the ground. Proyecto Tití works to restore fragmented habitat...

Community Development

Community Development

In order to reduce local families’ dependence on forest-product income, Proyecto Tití helps community members find other ways to make a living. PT sponsored the development of “eco-mochilas,” eco-friendly totes made from discarded plastic bags. Women craft the colorful eco-mochilas and through this business provide for their community and families.

Conservation Education

Conservation Education

The CARTITILLA program taught by Proyecto Tití education staff in local schools helps children think about their role in protecting cotton-tops. CARTITILLA engages students by drawing parallels to the similarities that cotton-tops have with humans. The most promising students become part of Proyecto Tití’s environmental leadership programs, which allows them to continue involvement with conservation actions.

Preserving Forests

Preserving Forests

To save tamarins, you need to save their forest home- they only live up in the trees, and never come to the ground. Proyecto Tití works to restore fragmented habitat strands by working with local farmers and cattle ranchers to preserve selected areas of their land and creating new protected reserves, connecting them to create safe corridors for the tamarins to travel and live in. They’re happy to say that they’ve recently secured another 200 acres specifically for cotton-tops, and are looking to secure many more.

Impact by the Numbers

13,600 Fill 1 Created with Sketch.

acres of forests in Colombia's departments of Atlántico and Bolivar that have been protected for cotton-top tamarins between 2011-2018

4M Fill 1 Created with Sketch.

plastic bags have been removed from the Colombian countryside to be recycled into colorful “eco-mochila” bags

1,600

students are taught every year about cotton-tops and forest conservation through the CARTITILLA and TITÍ KIDS programs

$150 will purchase CARTITILLA workbooks for a classroom of 40 students to teach Colombian children about the importance of cotton-top conservation.

$300 will outfit one field assistant with research gear such as a backpack, boots, rain gear, insect repellent, and a water jug.

An “eco-mochila” is a traditional bag used in Colombia that is hand-crocheted by women in the village of Los Limites near Proyecto Tití’s field site in Santa Catalina. It is created entirely from recycled plastic bags. By purchasing an eco-mochila, your money will help the community of Los Limites generate income to support their families while reducing their dependency on forest resources.

Purchase an Eco-Mochila

The tiny cotton-top tamarin faces big threats.

Rosamira Guillen explains how Proyecto Tití is protecting Colombia's endangered cotton-top tamarins by saving the species' forest homes. Watch this video from TV network HITN to learn more.

Johanna Vega and Juan Carlos Barrios Talk Cotton-tops

Colombia’s tropical forests are the charismatic cotton-top tamarin’s only home. Learn about the challenges and opportunities of working with endemic wildlife with Johanna Vega and Juan Carlos Barrios of Proyecto Tití.

News & Stories

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Future Forests for Cotton-top Tamarins

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Cotton-top tamarins live only in the tropical northern forests of Colombia and spend their entire lives up in the trees.... Learn More
A Snapshot of the Fall 2018 Wildlife Conservation Expo

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October in San Francisco signals the return of our flagship Wildlife Conservation Expo, providing wildlife enthusiasts with the opportunity to... Learn More
Rebuilding Forests for Cotton-tops

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The ancient Ceiba tree towers over Rosamira at roughly 230 feet. With a massive spiny trunk and branches heavy with... Learn More
Meet 2018 WCN Scholar Francy Forero

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A short drive from the bustling city of Barranquilla, in northern Colombia, lies the Ceibal National forest. Learn More
Building Trust with Cotton-Top Tamarins

Building Trust with Cotton-Top Tamarins

Putting a transmitter onto a cotton-top tamarin isn’t easy. You need to win its trust first. So biologists at Proyecto... Learn More
Combating the Pet Trade

Combating the Pet Trade

The small stones whizzed through the lush, green leaves ricocheting off of the tree bark before thudding to the ground.... Learn More
Celebrating the Weird and Wonderful

Celebrating the Weird and Wonderful

Some animal species look a little weird, and there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, there’s something wonderful about the... Learn More
Rosamira Guillen Wins Whitley Award

Rosamira Guillen Wins Whitley Award

Rosamira Guillen of Proyecto Tití has been honored with the Whitley Award, a major recognition for her work conserving the endangered cotton-top... Learn More
Day of the Cotton-top in Colombia

Day of the Cotton-top in Colombia

The Day of the Cotton-Top brings together a community in a day of celebrating the little monkey that shares their... Learn More
New Land for Cotton-tops

New Land for Cotton-tops

The charismatic cotton-top tamarin resembles the popular Troll dolls of the 1980s with its puff of wild hair and cute... Learn More
Successful Recycling Campaign

Successful Recycling Campaign

As part of the CARTITILLA education program run by Proyecto Tití, students learn how they can help cotton-top tamarins. There... Learn More
Uncovering Conservation Secrets from an Unusual Source

Uncovering Conservation Secrets from an Unusual Source

Collecting scat or animal poop may not be the most glamorous or enviable part of conservation fieldwork, but it’s essential... Learn More
World Environment Day 2018

World Environment Day 2018

Today—on World Environment Day—we'd like to highlight some of the actions our Conservation Partners are taking to help create a... Learn More
Photography Credits: Jacqueline Deely, Arnel DeLeon, Katie G, Steve Gold, Cámara Lúcida, Milton Mayo
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