Parrots International Attends Meetings for Spix’s and Lear’s Macaws
March 2009 marked two very important meetings for endangered parrots: the meeting of The Working Group for the Recovery of the Spix’s Macaw, and the meeting of the Committee for the Conservation and Management of the Lear’s Macaw.
A full week was devoted to the two meetings in Sao Paulo, Brazil, which represented a gathering of world experts in parrot conservation. Parrots International, a member of both Committees by invitation of the official Brazilian wildlife authority, ICMBio (Institute Chico Mendes, Biologica), was represented by Mark and Marie Stafford. Two other Parrots International Advisory Board Members were also honored to receive invitations to participate - Dr Neiva Guedes PhD (Hyacinth Macaw Project) and Dr Donald Brightsmith PhD (Tambopata Research Center).
As advisors to the Committees, the four PI members delivered presentations and participated in developing the strategic action plans for the future of both the Spix’s and Lear’s Macaws. Parrots International also strengthened strategic partnerships with the organizations that are involved in the conservation, captivity coordination and reintroduction plans of these species.
Important organizations invited to attend the meetings included AWWP (Al Wabra Wildlife Conservation – Qatar), Loro Parque Foundation (Spain), ACTP (Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots – Germany), Lymington Foundation (Brazil), Sao Paulo Zoo (Brazil), Rio Zoo (Brazil), SAVE Brazil, and and Itaipu Binacional (Brazil).
