International Conservation Fund of Canada

Project:

Management for Blue-throated Macaws at the Barba Azul Nature Reserve, Bolivia

Background | Purpose | Actions and Results

In Brief
Location:	Bolivia
Timeframe:	August 2010 to July 2011
Goal:	Protect and increase the Blue-throated Macaw population at Barba Azul Nature Reserve
Threats:	The endangered Blue-throated Macaw is found only in the Beni Savannas of Bolivia, and there is ongoing loss of its habitat from conversion for cattle ranching.
Actions & Results:	A reserve manager was hired and worked on creating fire breaks, building and maintaining fences to keep out cattle, continuing a nest box program, establishing a nursery for palm tree stock for new forest islands, and monitoring ecological changes. Results: the fenced portion of the reserve is now cattle free; a firebreak was established around a forest island and portions of the reserve boundary; new nest boxes were used by various species; biological data were collected (with outside assistance) that will provide a baseline for monitoring.
Cost:	ICFC portion: $10,000 (51%) Total: $19,700
Size of area involved:	4676 hectares/47 km² (11,555 acres)	Compare with: Manhattan Island is 60 km²

(World Land Trust)
The Critically Endangered Blue-throated macaw is found only in the Beni Savannas of Bolivia, where the Barba Azul Nature Reserve protects the species from ongoing conversion of its habitat for cattle ranching.

In more depth...

Project Partners and Personnel

Our partners are Asociación Armonía, Bolivia, which is carrying out the work, and World Land Trust. ICFC's support has equal matching funds from another source. Key personnel were Bennett Hennessey, of Asociación Armonía and World Land Trust-US, and Hernan Vargas, who was hired as reserve manager.

Background

The Critically Endangered Blue-throated Macaw is found in only one place on Earth: the Beni Savannas of Bolivia. This complex ecosystem of grasslands, marshes, forest islands and gallery forest is largely in the hands of cattle ranchers and every year more of this habitat is lost to intentional burning for pastureland.

In 2008, with support from American Bird Conservancy and World Land Trust-US, Asociación Armonía in Bolivia was able to purchase land to form the Barba Azul Nature Reserve, creating the first protected area for the Blue-throated Macaw, whose wild population is believed to be only 350 individuals. The impetus for the reserve was the finding of a thriving colony of at least 80 birds, whereas previous surveys had turned up only small groups of 2-3 pairs. Initially 3557 hectares, the reserve now protects 4664 hectares of tropical savannahs and palm forest islands.

The reserve also protects several other threatened bird species and the neglected Beni Bolivian grassland habitat.

In November 2008, cattle were removed from the reserve and fifty nest boxes were placed in "forest islands" within the reserve.

Efforts are underway to expand the reserve to ensure the survival of the greater ecosystem, which includes habitat for large mammals such as Jaguars, Peccaries, Pumas, Giant Anteaters, Pampas Deer, and Maned Wolves and for the Black Caiman.

The Barba Azul Nature Reserve includes wetland, savannah and palm forests "island" habitats. (Asociación Armonía)

Purpose

The project was aimed at protecting and increasing the Blue-throated Macaw population at the Barba Azul Nature Reserve in the Beni Savannas of Bolivia. The project had the following objectives:

To maintain cattle fences to keep cattle off the reserve;
To protect the reserve's forest islands from fire;
To continue the nest box program and deter nest box use by competing species;
To monitor ecological changes in the reserve;
To manage a palm nursery for future forest island creation.

Actions and Results

Macaw habitat. (Fundacion ProAves)

Key activities included:

Personnel reviewed the border of the entire reserve and created a plan to fence out cattle. The main parts of the fence of the northern part of the reserve were put in place and this section of the reserve has been cattle free since September 2010. (The southern section of the reserve, below Rio Omi, has a purchase agreement that allows the previous owner to run cattle until December, 2012.)
A small tractor (rider mower size) was purchased to clear and mow a firebreak for the forest island. The rental of large tractor was required to create the initial firebreak and grade the land for some sections of the reserve boundary; that work will be completed in August 2011. The rented tractor will also be used to make new forest islands.
Fifty nest boxes were established and maintained in selected forest islands. Blue-throated Macaws did not breed in the boxes, but many boxes were used by other species, including Crane Hawk, Barn Owl, Toco Toucan and White-eyed Parakeets. In 2011, we established another twenty nest boxes for the threatened Orinoco Goose; at least count, four pairs were nesting in them.
Working with Bolivian students and students from the University of Glasgow, project personnel established research and monitoring programs for five threatened species on Barba Azul, including the Blue-throated Macaw. Asociación Armonía is creating a savanna management program to study the diversity of the savannas and habitat preferences of species in the area. Glasgow University's report will serve as a biological baseline for future monitoring.
A small nursery was established and Motacu palm trees will be moved from the nursery to newly created forest islands when they are large enough for transplanting.

The Barba Azul Nature Reserve protects 47 km² of tropical savanna, palm forests and freshwater ecosystems. (Asociación Armonía)

Related viewing

Here's a with a nice 3-minute glimpse of the Barba Azul Reserve, the macaws, a giant anteater and other wildlife on this YouTube video.

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