Sustainable protection of breeding habitat of the Critically Endangered Blue-throated Macaw (Ara glaucogularis) in Bolivia.

The aim of the project is to sustainable protect the Blue-throated Macaw breeding habitat within a new protected nature reserve. The 681 Ha reserve will be purchased in August 2018 to protect the most important nesting area of the Critically Endangered Blue-throated Macaw in Bolivia. Armonía’s successful nest box program has produced over 70 chicks fledge from this forested area, demonstrating the importance of this site. By educating local communities of the importance of the Blue-throated Macaw, and by establishing low-impact tourism and ranching within the reserve, we will be able to ensure its protection forever.

The creation of this reserve with an interpretation centre will allow communities and indigenous people to see the Blue-throated Macaw up close for the first time. We will conduct planned school and community trips to the reserve to educate them on the Blue-throated Macaw in the wild and our nest box activities to save the bird from extinction. We will create a management plan to sustainably manage the reserve. The plan will initiate a low-impact ranching and tourism program, involving local communities in protection, education and management activities as well as opening a market for selling handicrafts to tourists.