Program Coordinator: Gustavo Sanchez; gsanchez@armonia-bo.org
Program Area: Llanos de Moxos (savannahs), Department of Beni.
The Blue-throated Macaw conservation program has been developing successfully following the priority actions in the Species Recovery Plan. In 2010, through the support of American Bird Conservancy and World Land Trust-US the program was able to extend the Barba Azul Nature Reserve 2,775 acres, creating a total protected area for the Blue-throated Macaws of 11,525 acres. We completed construction of a field station to accommodate eight visitors, and through NMBCA support have started managing the area to protect the forest islands and increase biodiversity, after years of burning and cattle pressure.
Through Bird Endowment nest box support, we offered safe nesting cavities to three pairs of Blue-Throated Macaws, which each raised (without assistance) three chicks to fledging. In order to reduce hunting of all macaws, including the Blue-Throated, Chester Zoo, CEPA, and Parrots International supported a series of alternative feather creation workshops held in four indigenous community centers. The new alternative material headdresses have been created and readily sold to visitors. In 2011, we won National Geographic support to continue developing this worthy project and promote it internationally. The Parrot Society has continued support for our nation wide campaigns against illegal animal trade – which is now coordinated with the CITES office in the capital city of La Paz.
The present priority is to improve our protection actions in the Barba Azul Nature Reserve, and ideal search for areas where we can extend the reserve. Bird Endowment (www.birdendowment.org) is seeking support for our nest box campaign. Please contact us if you would be interested in assisting the creation of a tourism lodge that could sustainable protect the reserve.
