在哥倫比亞濱加勒比海地區被開發成渡假小屋前，所幸保育人士迅速串連起來，籌募了13萬美元買下這個瀕絕動物的天堂。這個位於哥國東北部近委內瑞拉國界的地點，是現在全球性瀕絕動物聖瑪麗亞鸚哥的主要繁殖地，未來將會被規劃為保護區。
美國鳥類保育協會、「國際保育」組織（CI）與哥倫比亞護鳥基金會共同合作，保護內華達山脈西北坡到聖瑪爾塔山之間的1,600英畝大小的區域。這3個保育團體是零滅種聯盟55成員團體之一，該聯盟於2005年12月發表報告證明世界上有595個極重要棲地，棲息著一種以上的瀕絕哺乳類、鳥類、爬蟲類、兩棲類動物和植物。內華達山脈到聖瑪爾塔山脈間也是該聯盟指定的重點保護範圍之一。
去年12月，哥國護鳥基金會得知這個地點即將標售並作為家庭渡假中心開發預定地，立即向零滅種聯盟通報此一危機，在不到一個月的時間，美國鳥類保育協會和CI為護鳥基金會募得13萬美元購買整塊土地，保障這個地點成為黃金國自然保護區。
內華達山脈到聖瑪爾塔山之間的地區，是全世界最高的海岸山脈，從海岸線到山峰短短17哩的距離內，幾乎包羅了所有的氣候類型。
根據在此從事保育工作的自然保育協會（Nature Conservancy）統計，這塊區域內有120種哺乳類動物，包含大型食蟻動物、白腹蜘蛛猴（white-bellied spider monkey）、白吻西貒（white-lipped peccary）、紅冠樹鼠（red crested tree rat）和紅面吼猴（red howler monkey）等，另外有一些貓科動物如美洲豹、美洲獅和小斑貓。
這片區域得以被保護下來，不僅可確保脆弱的生物多樣性不被破壞，也保護兩處流域的源頭，確保沿海城鎮水資源的潔淨。
Quick action by an alliance of conservation groups has raised $130,000 to purchase a haven for endangered species on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, before it could be developed for vacation homes. Now the site will be protected as a nature reserve. The site in the northeast corner of Colombia, near the Venezuelan border, is the sole breeding ground for the Santa Marta parakeet, classed as globally endangered.
The American Bird Conservancy, Conservation International, and Fundación ProAves of Colombia stepped in to protect the 1,600 acre site on the northwest slope of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta massif. All three conservation groups are among the 55 members of the Alliance for Zero Extinction. The alliance issued a report in December 2005 that identified 595 sites around the world containing the last significant habitat for one or more endangered species of mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian and plant. The Alliance listed the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta site as one of the most crucial sites to protect.
In late December, Fundación ProAves learned of the imminent sale of plots at the site for construction of vacation homes. The group alerted the Alliance for Zero Extinction of the crisis, and in less than a month, the American Bird Conservancy and Conservation International had secured the $130,000 necessary for Fundación ProAves to buy the entire site. The site now will be safeguarded as the El Dorado Nature Reserve.
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is the highest coastal mountain range in the world, it encompasses almost all climatic zones across a strip only 17 miles in a straight line from the sea to the tops of the mountains.
Giant anteaters, white-bellied spider monkeys, white-lipped peccaries, red crested tree rats, and red howler monkeys are among the 120 species of mammals that roam the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, along with elusive cats such as the jaguar, puma and little spotted cat, according the Nature Conservancy, which also does conservation work in the area.
Protecting the new El Dorado Nature Reserve prevents destruction of valuable and rare biodiversity, and also ensures a clean water source for coastal towns that depend on two watersheds that have their sources at the site.
