Issue

Costa Rica hosts more than 5% of the world’s biodiversity even though its land mass is only 0.03% of the planet’s surface. An incredible one third of the country is a protected area or national park. The Scarlet Macaw and Great green Macaw are two charismatic and colorful parrots that used to have a wide range across the country. Due to illegal trafficking and habitat loss their numbers have declined immensely and the small populations left, are found in isolated corners of the country.

Response

The Ara Project is a conservation organization with its mission to "Protect and restore Costa Rica’s parrot populations and their habitats for the benefit of nature and human well being". It's world-leading successes include captive breeding and reintroduction programs for both species and is now expanding its work to country and worldwide efforts to address the threats that the wild populations face.