Program: Great Green Macaw Recovery
The Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus) is native to the Caribbean lowlands of E Honduras to NW Colombia, as well as Esmeraldas, W Ecuador. Smaller numbers occur in the Cordillera de Chongon-Colonche, Guayas on the central Pacific coast of Ecuador.
Once common throughout the entire Caribbean, Great Green Macaw populations have declined alarmingly in recent years due to poaching, persecution and deforestation, in particular the clearing of Mountain Almond trees. Overall the global population is estimated to have decreased 80-99% over three generations.
Since the mid-1990s the World Parrot Trust has supported several in-country NGOs helping to save Great Green Macaws. Partner projects include preserving lowland Atlantic forest in Costa Rica and helping increase Great Green Macaw populations through captive breeding, rescue, release, nest protection and reforestation efforts. Awareness efforts also bring to light the ongoing plight of these macaws. From the late 2010s on, the WPT has helped local partners to establish protected areas, carry out community education, survey populations, learn to mitigate an increasing wildfire threat, secure breeding areas and nests and support wild chicks in need of extra care.
Make a difference in the lives of parrots.
Find out what projects the World Parrot Trust is supporting for Great Green Macaw Recovery
