ARCAS fights to protect endangered parrots in Guatemala. As a founding member of the COLORES consortium, it is saving the last 500 yellow-naped amazons (Amazona auropalliata) on the Pacific coast of the country. In the northern, Peten region, it is working to save the last 350 scarlet macaws (Ara macao) left in the wild by releasing captive-bred birds into the wild. We work with local communities, landowners and officials to protect nests and stop poachers and traffickers.
On the Pacific coast, we protect nests and stop poaching of yellow naped amazons. We have 9 active hot spots where nests are protected and where we conduct annual population surveys, and host education, ecotourism and awareness-raising activities. In Peten, we release captive bred scarlet macaws into the Sierra Lacandon Park in order to reinforce the existing, depleted population of this emblematic species. In both sites, we support enforcement and community outreach activities.
ARCAS works with government officials and local communities to convince people that parrots have a right to exist and that they are worth more flying free as ecotouristic attractions than caged and sold as pets. Education is a key to the success of these efforts, but enforcement is also very important. Research is carried out to determine how successful we are in protecting nests and halting poaching, and artificial nests are installed as many large nesting trees have been logged.
The COLORES and scarlet macaw repopulation projects will contribute to the recovery of these two charismatic species, promoting the growth of a local, community, parrot-watching tourism industry, and contributing to the establishment of protected areas dedicated to preserving these species. The research carried out will also contribute to a better understanding of how to ensure the survival of these parrots into the future, and how to ameliorate the negative effects of agroindustry.
